The voltage of the LEGO EV3 motors is determined by the battery voltage supplied by the EV3 controller. According to the provided reference, the standard or maximum operational voltage for the EV3 system, as set by its battery options, is 9 volts (9V).
Powering the EV3 Motors
LEGO EV3 motors, such as the Large and Medium motors, do not have their own internal power source. They receive power directly from the LEGO EV3 Intelligent Brick (controller) through the data/power cables. Therefore, the voltage supplied to the motors is effectively the voltage provided by the batteries powering the Intelligent Brick.
Battery Options and Voltage
The LEGO EV3 Intelligent Brick typically uses either:
- Six AA batteries (alkaline or rechargeable)
- A rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery pack
The reference specifically states, "At maximum voltage (set by possible battery options, 9V for EV3 & NXT, 7.2V for Spike)... Both the EV3 and the NXT controllers can handle 9+ voltage on the batteries, depending on what you put in." This confirms that 9V is the characteristic operating voltage for the EV3 system based on standard battery configurations.
While the controller might technically handle slightly higher voltages depending on battery type (e.g., fresh alkaline batteries might initially exceed 1.5V per cell), the system is designed and rated around the 9V level provided by standard configurations (6 x 1.5V AA batteries or the rechargeable pack). The performance characteristics of the motors (speed, torque) are specified based on operation at this voltage.
Key Voltage Information
- Standard Operational Voltage: 9V
- Source: LEGO EV3 Intelligent Brick battery (AA batteries or rechargeable pack)
- Impact: Determines motor speed and power
In summary, when discussing the voltage of the LEGO EV3 motor, we are referring to the voltage level supplied by the EV3 Intelligent Brick, which is characteristically 9V.
