A4988 Stepper Motor Driver with Expansion Board — Solderless JST Motor Connection, DIP Switch Microstepping, Arduino Compatible

Stop wrestling with loose jumper wires and breadboard connections. This A4988 Stepper Motor Driver with Expansion Board combines Allegro's proven A4988 microstepping driver with a purpose-built breakout board that gives you clean, solderless connections for your motor, power supply, and control signals — all through dedicated connectors and onboard DIP switches. The A4988 driver plugs into the expansion board via header sockets, so you can easily swap or replace drivers without soldering.

⚡ Why Choose the Expansion Board Kit vs. the Standalone A4988 Module?

• JST motor connector — Plug your stepper motor directly into the onboard JST XHP-4 socket. No soldering, no loose wires, no missed connections. Solder pads are also provided if you prefer a permanent connection.
• DIP switch microstepping — Set your microstepping resolution (full, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16) with three onboard DIP switches instead of fiddling with jumper wires on tiny MS1/MS2/MS3 pins.
• Organized pin headers — Separate headers for power (5V logic + 8–35V motor supply) and control signals (Enable, Step, Dir, GND) keep your wiring clean and your project professional.
• Swappable driver — The A4988 module plugs into header sockets on the expansion board. If a driver fails, swap it in seconds — no desoldering required.
• Heatsink included — Achieve up to 2A per phase with the included heatsink; 1A continuous without additional cooling.

🔧 How It Works

1. Plug in the A4988 driver module — Insert the included A4988 module into the expansion board's header sockets (align the potentiometer toward the motor connector end).
2. Attach the heatsink — Peel and stick the included adhesive heatsink onto the A4988 driver IC.
3. Connect power — Wire your 8V–35V motor power supply and 5V logic supply to the power header (Jv).
4. Connect your motor — Plug your bipolar stepper motor's JST XHP-4 connector into the motor socket (Jm), or solder motor wires to the provided pads. Pins map to: 1B, 1A, 2A, 2B.
5. Set microstepping — Use the three onboard DIP switches to select your desired resolution (see table below).
6. Set current limit — Adjust the A4988's onboard potentiometer. Measure VREF with a multimeter: Current Limit = VREF × 2.5.
7. Wire to your controller — Connect Enable, Step, Dir, and GND from the control header (Jc) to your Arduino or microcontroller. Only Step and Dir are required for basic operation.

Microstepping Resolution — DIP Switch Settings

🎯 Perfect For

• Arduino stepper motor projects — Clean wiring with dedicated connectors eliminates breadboard spaghetti.
• 3D printer builds & upgrades — Reliable motor connections for custom or DIY printer electronics.
• CNC machines — Drive NEMA 17 and smaller NEMA 23 motors for routers, laser cutters, and engravers.
• Robotics & automation — Precise positioning for robotic arms, turntables, and linear actuators.
• STEM education — DIP switches and labeled connectors make it easier for students to understand stepper motor control.
• Prototyping & testing — Swappable driver and solderless connections speed up development cycles.

📐 Specifications

Expansion Board

• Motor connector: JST XHP-4 socket (solderless) + solder pads
• Power header (Jv): 5V logic + 8–35V motor supply
• Control header (Jc): Enable, Step, Dir, GND
• Microstepping selection: 3-position DIP switch (MS1, MS2, MS3)
• Driver interface: Header sockets (plug-in, no soldering)
• Board dimensions: 43mm × 35mm × 10mm (excluding A4988 module)

A4988 Driver Module

• Driver IC: Allegro A4988 DMOS Microstepping Driver
• Motor supply voltage: 8V – 35V
• Logic voltage: 3V – 5.5V
• Continuous current per phase: 1A (no heatsink)
• Maximum current per phase: 2A (with heatsink / active cooling)
• Microstep resolutions: Full, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16
• Current adjustment: Onboard potentiometer (VREF)
• Protection: Thermal shutdown, overcurrent, ground fault, load short-circuit

📦 Package Contents

• 1 × A4988 Expansion / Breakout Board
• 1 ×
• 1 × Adhesive Heatsink

Stepper motor, power supply, microcontroller, and JST motor cable are not included.

📄 Documentation & Resources