# Stepper Motor Wiring First Checks

Identify stepper coil pairs, driver connections, current limits, and direction before tuning motion.

## Outcome
Wire a small stepper motor without randomly swapping leads.

## Safe first step
Find the two coil pairs before connecting the driver.

## Ladder steps
### 1. Identify coil pairs
Learn to identify coil pairs as one discrete move in the project path.

Check: You can explain or demonstrate: identify coil pairs.

### 2. Check driver current limit
Learn to check driver current limit as one discrete move in the project path.

Check: You can explain or demonstrate: check driver current limit.

### 3. Connect one driver at a time
Learn to connect one driver at a time as one discrete move in the project path.

Check: You can explain or demonstrate: connect one driver at a time.

### 4. Test slow movement first
Learn to test slow movement first as one discrete move in the project path.

Check: You can explain or demonstrate: test slow movement first.

## Examples
### Practice continuity between coil wires
```sh
Continuity between coil wires
```
Expected signal: A visible result you can compare before moving on

### Practice driver current-limit adjustment
```sh
Driver current-limit adjustment
```
Expected signal: A visible result you can compare before moving on

### Practice low-speed step test
```sh
Low-speed step test
```
Expected signal: A visible result you can compare before moving on

## Common traps
- Guessing wire colors.
- Running current too high.
- Tuning acceleration before wiring is proven.

## Practice task
Create a small practice case for stepper motor wiring 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/)