How to use Power Functions with Mindstorms EV3?

Question

Having learned that Mindstorms EV3 doesn't work directly with Power Functions,

Q: Can you use Power Functions motors with the EV3 programmable brick?

A: No, the connector does not match.

I still wonder what could be possible workarounds to use them together?

Answer 1

You can accomplish this with these two parts:

• https://brickset.com/sets/8528-1/Converter-Cables-for-Mindstorms-NXT
• https://brickset.com/sets/8886-1/Extension-Cable

Answer 2

As mentioned by @guestguy123 and @eficker, it is easy to combine an EV3 cable and a PF cable to make a custom cable that allows the EV3 to control. This can even be done without soldering - I just twist the wires together and tape them with electrical tape. The full schematic is here:

All you need is 2 resistors (1x1kOhm and 1x10kOhm) which are cheap to get at your local electronics store (e.g. Radioshack or Maplin's) and the willpower to cut through 2 good Lego wires (1 PF cable and 1 EV3 cable). But once you do, it recognizes a PF motor as an NXT style unregulated motor and you can send it commands.

Answer 3

You can use 3rd party modules:

• HiTechnic NXT IRLink Sensor

  • control PF motors using PF IR receiver
  • EV3 blocks
  • Lejos IRLink class

• MindSensors PF Motor controller for NXT (PFMate)

  • control PF motors using PF IR receiver
  • No EV3 blocks (yet)
  • Lejos PFMateMotor class

• Mindsensors GlideWheel PF Motor controller for NXT or EV3

  • can power PF motor directly from EV3
  • PF motor can be used as regulated motor (servo)
  • EV3 blocks
  • Lejos MindsensorsGlideWheelMRegulatedMotor class

Or third party cable NXT to PF Cable (however I am not 100% sure if it will work with EV3). Accoring to answer on lejos forum it should work with Lejos RCXMotor class.

Answer 4

You can connect the Power Functions motor to the EV3 with a LEGO 8528 cable and a LEGO 8886 cable.

In addition to the cables, you need to know how to trick the software. You can use the unregulated motor block, but it will stop after a short time (1 second or so). You have to constantly change the speed to keep the motor powered.

Here is a simple example to run the motor at 75% of full power:

Using a single unregulated motor in a block like this won't work because the power value does not change. It seems that changing the power value is what resets the timeout on the EV3.

Answer 5

this explains how to make a conversion cable:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns3TODgRlCE

You take a cable from the EV3 and a power functions cable, add some resistors and solder it up. Not a tough mod, but you do have to sacrifice two cables to the cause. Although, the possibilities are worth it imo, as you can now control a lego train or other power functions sets with EV3.