DRV8873HPWPR - 40V 10A H-Bridge Motor Driver | Texas Instruments
MPN: DRV8873HPWPR ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.42 | $3.42 |
| 10 | $3.08 | $30.80 |
| 100 | $2.74 | $274.00 |
| 500 | $2.45 | $1,225.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.18 | $2,180.00 |
| 3,000 | $1.86 | $5,580.00 |
DRV8873HPWPR Overview
An H-bridge motor driver is an integrated power stage that uses four switching transistors arranged in an H topology to drive a DC motor forward or reverse from a single supply rail. It sits below the brushed-DC motor in the system hierarchy, fed by a DC bus and commanded by a microcontroller. Compared with discrete MOSFET half-bridges, an integrated H-bridge shrinks board area, adds dead-time control, and provides on-chip current sensing.
Key specifications include 10-A peak / 3.5-A continuous output current (with proper PCB thermal design), 4.5-V to 38-V operating supply, integrated current sensing with proportional output on the IPROPI pin, and a low RDS(on) of approximately 200 mOhm per HS+LS FET. The device supports both hardware (HW) PH/EN mode and PWM mode through MODE pin strapping. Protection features include VM undervoltage lockout, overcurrent protection (OCP), thermal shutdown (TSD), and automatic fault recovery. Smart-tune and integrated current regulation reduce BOM count by eliminating external sense resistors.
The DRV8873 architecture combines four N-channel power FETs, charge-pump gate drivers, a current-shunt amplifier, and a small analog state machine in a single monolithic die. The IPROPI output delivers a ground-referenced analog voltage proportional to motor current, eliminating the need for a high-side shunt amplifier. This architecture enables closed-loop torque control without an external sense resistor and allows cycle-by-cycle current limiting.
Typical applications include industrial brushed-DC motor drives, robotics, small appliances, e-bike and e-scooter traction motors, home automation actuators, and 3D-printer extruders. The wide 4.5-V to 38-V input range comfortably supports 12-V and 24-V industrial buses as well as 6-cell Li-ion battery packs up to 25.2 V nominal.
When designing with the DRV8873, ensure the PowerPAD is soldered to at least 200 mm² of copper for thermal performance above 2 A continuous. Add 0.1-µF and 10-µF bypass capacitors close to VM and to the charge-pump CP pin. Use MODE pin strapping to choose PH/EN (hardware) or PWM interface before first power-up.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, AEC-Q100 alternatives, drop-in compatibility notes, and practical PCB-thermal design guidance not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for DRV8873HPWPR — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with DRV8873HPWPR (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, MSL Level, Control Interface, Protection Features, Output Configuration.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DRV8873HPWPRQ1
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.42 / Unit
View Datasheet →DRV8873HPWPT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DRV8871DDAR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DRV8806PWPR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →DRV8872DDAR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.42 / Unit
View Datasheet →DRV8434ARGER
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →DRV8873HPWPR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Motor Type | Brushed DC |
| Topology | H-Bridge (4 N-channel MOSFETs) |
| Supply Voltage (VM) | 4.5 V to 38 V |
| Absolute Maximum VM | 40 V |
| Peak Output Current | 10 A |
| Continuous Output Current | 3.5 A (with proper PCB thermal design) |
| Integrated Current Sensing | Yes (IPROPI analog output) |
| Control Interface | PH/EN (hardware) or PWM, selectable via MODE |
| Current Regulation | Yes (Smart-tune or fixed off-time) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C |
| Package | 24-pin HTSSOP (PWP) with PowerPAD |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 hr / 260 C) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| AEC-Q100 | Not qualified (use DRV8873-Q1 for automotive) |
DRV8873HPWPR Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VM — Motor power supply input (4.5 V to 38 V) |
| Pin 2 | CP1 — Charge pump flying capacitor 1 |
| Pin 3 | CP2 — Charge pump flying capacitor 2 |
| Pin 4 | VCP — Charge pump output, decouple to VM |
| Pin 5 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 6 | OUT1 — H-bridge output 1 to motor |
| Pin 7 | OUT2 — H-bridge output 2 to motor |
| Pin 8 | GND — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | IPROPI — Analog current-sense output (proportional to motor current) |
| Pin 10 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 11 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 12 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 13 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 14 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 15 | MODE — Control interface select (PH/EN or PWM) |
| Pin 16 | PH/EN — Logic input: phase/enable (HW mode) or PWM (PWM mode) |
| Pin 17 | nFAULT — Fault indicator output, open-drain, active low |
| Pin 18 | nSLEEP — Sleep mode input, active low |
| Pin 19 | AVREF — Analog reference supply |
| Pin 20 | GND — Ground reference |
| Pin 21 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 22 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 23 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 24 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
DRV8873HPWPR is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Brushed DC Motor Drive, Robotics Actuator Module, Small Appliance Motor Control, E-Bike and E-Scooter Traction, 3D Printer Extruder Drive, Home Automation Actuators.
Industrial Brushed DC Motor Drive
The DRV8873HPWPR fits industrial brushed DC motor drive applications because of its 4.5 V to 38 V supply range, 10 A peak current, and integrated IPROPI current-sense output that eliminates an external shunt amplifier. The PH/EN hardware interface requires only two GPIO pins from a microcontroller, simplifying the bill of materials. Compared with discrete MOSFET H-bridges, the integrated current regulation enforces a programmable torque limit cycle-by-cycle. Designers should allocate at least 200 mm² of 1 oz copper on the top layer tied to the PowerPAD to maintain continuous current above 2.5 A.
Recommended
Robotics Actuator Module
In robotics, the DRV8873HPWPR drives joint actuators, grippers, and wheel modules from a 6-cell Li-ion pack (up to 25.2 V nominal). Its integrated current sensing enables closed-loop torque control without an external amplifier, reducing PCB area and BOM count per actuator. The hardware PH/EN mode simplifies software, leaving the MCU free for higher-level kinematics. Multiple DRV8873HPWPR parts can be paralleled on separate PCB modules to control several actuators simultaneously, all sharing the same VM rail.
Recommended
Small Appliance Motor Control
The DRV8873HPWPR is well-suited to small-appliance motor control - blenders, mixers, vacuum cleaners, and food processors - where 100 V to 240 V rectified mains produces a 24 V to 36 V bus. The 38 V supply ceiling handles rectified-line ripple with margin, and the 10 A peak supports high-inrush startup. Integrated current regulation prevents stall-current damage, and the IPROPI output can be read by the MCU to implement soft-start and adaptive load detection without extra components.
Recommended
E-Bike and E-Scooter Traction
E-bike and e-scooter traction systems use 24 V to 36 V battery packs that align with the DRV8873HPWPR's 4.5 V to 38 V operating range. The 10 A peak supports acceleration surges and modest hill climbing; cycle-by-cycle current limiting protects the motor windings and FETs from stall damage. Integrated IPROPI output enables throttle-by-wire torque control and battery-current monitoring for accurate range estimation. Designers should pair the driver with a fuse on VM for battery short protection and add an RC snubber across the motor terminals to suppress EMI.
Recommended
3D Printer Extruder Drive
The DRV8873HPWPR drives 3D-printer extruder and bed-leveling stepper/DC motors from the 12 V or 24 V printer bus. Integrated current sensing on the IPROPI pin enables real-time extrusion force feedback for advanced filament-flow control algorithms. The PH/EN hardware interface accepts signals directly from the printer mainboard's step/dir output without software overhead. Low RDS(on) keeps the FETs cool even at the typical 1.5 A extruder current, eliminating the need for external heatsinking in a compact printer enclosure.
Recommended
Home Automation Actuators
Smart-blinds, automated valves, door-lock motors, and HVAC damper actuators all use small brushed DC motors driven from a 12 V or 24 V bus - a perfect fit for the DRV8873HPWPR. The hardware PH/EN interface simplifies integration with low-cost 8-bit MCUs, and integrated current sensing detects stall conditions to flag jammed blinds or valves back to the home-automation controller. The wide supply range also supports battery-backed actuators in fail-safe scenarios without additional circuitry.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DRV8873HPWPR — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DRV8873HPWPRQ1 | DRV8873HPWPT | DRV8871DDAR | DRV8806PWPR | DRV8872DDAR | DRV8434ARGER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments |
| Package | 24-pin HTSSOP (PWP) | 24-pin HTSSOP (PWP) - same | 24-pin HTSSOP (PWP) - same | 24-pin HTSSOP family | 24-pin HTSSOP (PWP) | 24-pin HTSSOP family | 24-pin HTSSOP family |
| Peak Output Current | 10 A | 10 A | 10 A | 3.6 A | 1.5 A | 3.5 A | 12 A (dual H-bridge) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 4.5 V to 38 V | 4.5 V to 38 V | 4.5 V to 38 V | 6.5 V to 45 V | 8 V to 38 V | 4.5 V to 36 V | 4.5 V to 36 V |
| Integrated Current Sensing | Yes (IPROPI) | Yes (IPROPI) | Yes (IPROPI) | No (external shunt required) | No | Yes (IPROPI) | Yes (SPI-monitored) |
| Control Interface | PH/EN or PWM (MODE pin) | PH/EN or PWM (MODE pin) | PH/EN or PWM (MODE pin) | PH/EN or PWM | Parallel (step/dir) | PH/EN or PWM | SPI |
| AEC-Q100 Automotive | No | Yes (qualified) | No | No | No | No | No |
| Unit Price (1 pc) | $3.42 | $3.78 | $3.42 | $2.10 | $2.45 | $2.85 | $4.20 |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated current sensing with IPROPI output (vs DRV8871DDAR)
- 10 A peak current capability (vs DRV8872DDAR)
- PH/EN or PWM selectable interface (vs DRV8806PWPR)
- Wide 4.5 V to 38 V supply range (vs DRV8871DDAR)
- Available with AEC-Q100 qualification (vs DRV8873HPWPR (standard part))
Design Notes
Estimated: at 24 V supply, 5 V across motor, and 3 A continuous, the DRV8873HPWPR dissipates approximately 19 W minus motor shaft power; FET conduction losses alone are roughly 19 mOhm x 3 A x 3 A ~= 1.7 W. With theta_JA ~31 C/W on a small 4-layer PCB, this drives a 53 C junction temperature rise. Solder the PowerPAD to at least 200 mm² of top-layer copper, ideally with thermal vias to an inner ground plane, to keep Tj below 125 C at continuous full load.
Place a 0.1 uF X7R ceramic capacitor directly across VM (pin 1) and ground to bypass high-frequency switching noise. Add a 10 uF X5R or larger bulk capacitor on VM to absorb motor back-EMF and reduce ripple. Decouple the charge-pump VCP pin (pin 4) with a 1 uF capacitor to VM. Inadequate bulk capacitance on VM will trigger undervoltage lockout under motor stall conditions.
Route motor output traces (OUT1, OUT2) as wide and short as possible - at least 1 mm width per ampere. Keep the IPROPI trace short and shielded to avoid noise injection into the analog current-sense signal. Place the IPROPI filter capacitor close to the IC. Avoid routing digital signals (PH/EN, nFAULT, nSLEEP) over the PowerPAD copper pour.
Do not leave the MODE pin floating - tie it to VM for PH/EN hardware mode or to GND for PWM mode before first power-up. Float mode can cause unexpected behavior at startup. Do not exceed the 38 V supply ceiling; load-dump transients above 40 V can damage the H-bridge FETs. Always include an nFAULT pull-up resistor to a logic rail so the host MCU can detect fault conditions.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per TI product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose DRV8873HPWPRQ1 for automotive designs. MSL Level 3 per JEDEC J-STD-020.