# Controlling a mini DC motor with 0,1, and 2 pins

**URL:** <https://forum.makecode.com/t/controlling-a-mini-dc-motor-with-0-1-and-2-pins/28886>\
**Category:** micro:bit\
**Created:** [May 22, 2024, 9:27pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/controlling-a-mini-dc-motor-with-0-1-and-2-pins/28886 "2024-05-22T21:27:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![drrich](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/drrich/32/15408_2.png) [@drrich](https://forum.makecode.com/u/drrich)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 9:27pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/controlling-a-mini-dc-motor-with-0-1-and-2-pins/28886/1 "2024-05-22T21:27:07Z")

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I recently purchased some a Micro Coreless Motor in hopes of getting motor that can be controlled without having to add extra power to the micro:bit. It’s a 4.5V motor, but I saw several demos of it running off of a single CR2032 battery. They are tiny (4mmx8mm) and take up only 0.12A. When I hook it up to the micro:bit’s 3V pin, it starts running immediately. However, if I hook it up to the 0, 1, or 2 pins (using the same alligator clips), and send a digital signal of 1, the motor won’t do a thing. What’s the reason that the motor can run off 3V and not one of the other ports?

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**Author:** ![bsiever](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/bsiever/32/1032_2.png) [@bsiever](https://forum.makecode.com/u/bsiever)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 11:53pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/controlling-a-mini-dc-motor-with-0-1-and-2-pins/28886/2 "2024-05-22T23:53:15Z")

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Hi @drrich — Welcome to the forum!

Please see the response in this post: [Motor not spinning](https://forum.makecode.com/t/motor-not-spinning/28735) . Summary: It’s probably a power problem. The output pins are limited to about 15 milliamps (0.015A — about 1/10th of the 0.12A you mentioned). That post includes a link to an example circuit using Elecfreak’s Micro:bit Starter kit. The circuit uses the output pin to control a transistor and the transistor is capable of higher current that the motor needs.