> **Source:** Core Electronics is an Australian maker-electronics retailer and manufacturer based in Newcastle, NSW, run by a team of makers and educators. We design and manufacture our own product lines (PiicoDev, CE originals) and are official retailers for iconic maker and industrial brands including Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Adafruit, SparkFun and DFRobot. Orders ship Australia-wide from our Newcastle warehouse. Prices are in AUD and include GST. Pricing, stock and dispatch on this page are generated from the store's live catalog. Full machine-readable index: https://core-electronics.com.au/llms.txt # VClamp for RoboClaw or MCP Controllers **Type:** Product page · **SKU:** POLOLU-3597 · **Brand:** [Pololu](https://core-electronics.com.au/brands/pololu-australia) **Page:** https://core-electronics.com.au/vclamp-for-roboclaw-or-mcp-controllers.html ([markdown](https://core-electronics.com.au/vclamp-for-roboclaw-or-mcp-controllers.html.md)) The VClamp allows RoboClaw and MCP motor controllers to be used with switching power supplies by dissipating excess regenerative energy through a... ## Pricing - **Price:** $40.40 (inc GST) — $36.73 AUD, exc GST - **Quantity discounts:** 10+ $35.25 (exc GST) · 25+ $34.15 (exc GST) ## Availability & dispatch - Out of stock — the product page offers email notification when it returns. ## How to buy - **Build a cart:** compose `https://core-electronics.com.au/cart/link?items=POLOLU-3597:1` (comma-separated SKU:qty pairs) and share the link. Opening it shows a confirmation page with live pricing and stock before anything is added to the cart. - **Verify the cart first:** fetch `https://core-electronics.com.au/cart/link/POLOLU-3597:1.md` for live line prices (inc & exc GST, quantity discounts applied), stock and dispatch estimates, and totals. Append `/to/{AU-postcode}` (or `/to/{country-code}:{postcode}`) before `.md` for delivery options and prices to that destination. Unknown, retired, or out-of-stock SKUs are flagged. (Query form `cart/link.md?items=...` also works but some robots parsers refuse query strings here.) - **Checkout** is completed on-site and includes a captcha at the payment step. Share the cart link; checkout takes it from there. - **Search the catalogue:** `https://core-electronics.com.au/search/{query}.md` (URL-encode the query; pages 2-3 at `search/{query}/{page}.md`; `search.md?q=` also works) - **Payment methods, purchase orders, policies and contact details:** https://core-electronics.com.au/llms.txt ## Description Most motor controllers encounter scenarios (typically when a motor is slowing down) where energy from a motor is returned to the power supply. That power supply is commonly a battery that can tolerate the current fed into it, and the reverse current can be a welcome “regenerative braking” feature that extends the total life of the battery. For applications that do not involve batteries, however, that reverse current can be a problem when the power supply does not deal with the current well. In some cases, the voltage can build up to a high value that the power supply can tolerate but which might be damaging to the motor controller or other electronics supplied by the power rail. In other scenarios, power supplies have “over-voltage protection” features that detect the output voltage going up and shut down the power supply. | [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J10921_22661d0e506.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J10921_26172c541be.jpg) | |---| | Top view of VClamp for RoboClaw or MCP Controllers. | The VClamp works with RoboClaw and MCP motor controllers to dissipate excess energy from decelerating the attached motors and prevents large voltage spikes at the power supply input. When the controller detects an increase in the supply voltage, it activates the VClamp which redirects the energy to a large external resistor (not included) that converts it into heat. The VClamp connects directly to the motor power supply and gets logic power and signals from the RoboClaw or MCP controller. The clamping voltage is set in the Basicmicro Motion Studio software and a digital control signal from the controller is used to activate the VClamp board. While the amount of energy that can be dissipated depends on the attached resistor, the VClamp board itself can handle peak voltages and currents up to 60 V and 60 A. A status LED lets you know when the voltage is being clamped. Instructions for connecting the VClamp and selecting an appropriate external resistor can be found in the VClamp’s [datasheet](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/vclamp_datasheet_21754870c74.pdf). Note that the VClamp requires a controller to activate it. It does not contain logic to detect a voltage spike on its own, so it must be used with a RoboClaw or MCP motor controller. For a similar lower-power transient suppressing solution see Pololu's [shunt regulators](https://core-electronics.com.au/shunt-regulator-33-0v-4-00o-9w.html). Like the VClamp, they dissipate excess motor energy through a resistor, but they feature a set or potentiometer adjustable over-voltage cutoff, so Pololu do not need any input signals or controller. **People often buy this product together with:** | [![Case with Fan for RoboClaw 2x15A, 2x30A, and 2x45A](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J10024_46345f5adc.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/case-with-fan-for-roboclaw-2x15a-2x30a-and-2x45a.html) | [Case with Fan for RoboClaw 2x15A, 2x30A, and 2x45A](https://core-electronics.com.au/case-with-fan-for-roboclaw-2x15a-2x30a-and-2x45a.html) | |---|---| **Dimensions** | Size: | 1.885" × 1.455" × 0.62" | |---|---| **General specifications** | Maximum operating voltage: | 60 V | |---|---| **Recommended links** - **[Using a voltage clamp with the RoboClaw](https://resources.basicmicro.com/using-a-voltage-clamp-with-roboclaw/)** Application note for using a VClamp board or voltage clamping circuit with the RoboClaw. - **[VClamp datasheet](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/vclamp_datasheet_21754870c74.pdf)** Datasheet for the Basicmicro VClamp voltage clamp. - **[Dimention diagram of VClamp](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/VCLAMP_DIMS_1497171dbd7.PDF)** Dimention diagram of the Basicmicro VClamp board. - **[Basicmicro application notes](https://www.basicmicro.com/blog.asp)** These application notes from Basicmicro explain their motor controllers and some of their features and modes of operation. ## Images - [Product image 1](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/catalog/product/i/m/image_5811.jpg)