# Motor Driver First Checks

Check power, ground, enable pins, signal voltage, and load wiring before blaming firmware.

## Outcome
Bring up a small motor driver safely enough to test direction and speed.

## Safe first step
Disconnect the motor until logic power and driver wiring are understood.

## Ladder steps
### 1. Separate logic and motor power
Learn to separate logic and motor power as one discrete move in the project path.

Check: You can explain or demonstrate: separate logic and motor power.

### 2. Check enable or sleep pin
Learn to check enable or sleep pin as one discrete move in the project path.

Check: You can explain or demonstrate: check enable or sleep pin.

### 3. Confirm signal voltage
Learn to confirm signal voltage as one discrete move in the project path.

Check: You can explain or demonstrate: confirm signal voltage.

### 4. Test without mechanical load
Learn to test without mechanical load as one discrete move in the project path.

Check: You can explain or demonstrate: test without mechanical load.

## Examples
### Practice measure vmot and gnd
```sh
Measure VMOT and GND
```
Expected signal: A visible result you can compare before moving on

### Practice measure logic vcc
```sh
Measure logic VCC
```
Expected signal: A visible result you can compare before moving on

### Practice check en or sleep state
```sh
Check EN or SLEEP state
```
Expected signal: A visible result you can compare before moving on

## Common traps
- Powering a motor from a microcontroller pin.
- Skipping flyback or driver requirements.
- Changing firmware before proving enable wiring.

## Practice task
Create a small practice case for motor driver first checks and write what each step proves before moving to the next one.

## Next steps
- Download the Obsidian note.
- Review the Anki cards.
- Pick one related ladder and do the practice task.

## Related
- [Browse topic clusters](/topics/)
- [All learning ladders](/learn/)