<p>It is completely normal for a stepper motor to get hot. Taking <a href="https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/product-files/324/C140-A+datasheet.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this datasheet</a> for example, specifies a 80 °C temperature <em>rise</em>. That is, in an room that is 25 °C ambient temperature, the motors would get up to 105 °C.</p>

<p>To prevent the motors from getting as hot you could further reduce the operating current, but likely the temperature they're running at is normal.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-21T08:36:09.310Z
and add a cooler as well :)
profesor79
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-21T08:42:21.337Z
@profesor79 That should not be necessary. Steppers are designed to run without active cooling.
Tom van der Zanden
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-21T08:50:46.560Z
agree. I just don't like to get burnt when touching stuff
profesor79
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-21T07:12:13.443Z
2018-06-21T07:12:13.443Z
Tom van der Zanden
<p>Using a 24&nbsp;V power supply I have two NEMA 17 stepper motors each driven by a DQ542MA stepper motor driver. I have the current settings on the driver set for a RMS of 1.69 and a pulse/rev of 400. When I run the motors they run extremely well but become extremely hot. I need help to figure out what would be the proper settings to use in order to stop the overheating.</p>

<p>Attached is a photo of the motor's setting tables: </p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/QiCNw.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Driver with current and REV tables"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/QiCNw.jpg" alt="Driver with current and REV tables" title="Driver with current and REV tables"></a></p>

<diy-3d-printer><electronics><stepper><motor><stepper-driver>
DQ542MA Driver proper settings for NEMA 17 Stepper Motor
LDF
# DQ542MA Driver proper settings for NEMA 17 Stepper Motor

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-06-21)

Using a 24 V power supply I have two NEMA 17 stepper motors each driven by a DQ542MA stepper motor driver. I have the current settings on the driver set for a RMS of 1.69 and a pulse/rev of 400. When I run the motors they run extremely well but become extremely hot. I need help to figure out what would be the proper settings to use in order to stop the overheating.

Attached is a photo of the motor's setting tables:

[![Driver with current and REV tables](https://i.sstatic.net/QiCNw.jpg "Driver with current and REV tables")](https://i.sstatic.net/QiCNw.jpg "Driver with current and REV tables")

**Tags:** diy-3d-printer, electronics, stepper, motor, stepper-driver

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-06-21. Score: 2

It is completely normal for a stepper motor to get hot. Taking [this datasheet](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/product-files/324/C140-A+datasheet.jpg) for example, specifies a 80 °C temperature *rise*. That is, in an room that is 25 °C ambient temperature, the motors would get up to 105 °C.

To prevent the motors from getting as hot you could further reduce the operating current, but likely the temperature they're running at is normal.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: and add a cooler as well :)  
> **username_1**: @profesor79 That should not be necessary. Steppers are designed to run without active cooling.  
> **username_2**: agree. I just don't like to get burnt when touching stuff  

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