Answers.Body: <p>You can accomplish this with these two parts:</p>
  <ul>
  <li><a href="https://brickset.com/sets/8528-1/Converter-Cables-for-Mindstorms-NXT" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://brickset.com/sets/8528-1/Converter-Cables-for-Mindstorms-NXT</a></li>
  <li><a href="https://brickset.com/sets/8886-1/Extension-Cable" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://brickset.com/sets/8886-1/Extension-Cable</a></li>
  </ul>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-09-08T17:56:34.667Z
Answers.Text: 8886 | (8871 & 8528) http://powerfunctions.lego.com/en-us/faq/default.aspx
Answers.UserDisplayName: auselen
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-06-13T18:15:28.943Z
Answers.Text: How does this accomplish anything? The cables are incompatible. Bad answer and non-helpful. @guestguy123's answer was better, even without details (which I added).
Answers.UserDisplayName: eficker
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-11-12T16:47:58.763Z
Answers.Text: As of Nov 2014, the top link doesn't work.  And, honestly, I don't think this was ever a valid solution.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Nick2253
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-11-13T22:18:12.033Z
Answers.Text: @Nick2253 The top link has since rotted. I've updated it to the new location.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Timtech
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-02-09T11:52:49.893Z
Answers.Text: Just to confirm (as auselen's link to the FAQ points out) this *is* the LEGO approved way of connecting PF Mindstorms parts.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-01-10T18:24:16.090Z
Answers.Text: That FAQ entry is for the NXT not the EV3.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Peter Green
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-03-22T15:31:09.960Z
Answers.Text: https://web.archive.org/web/20150122045709/http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Converter-Cables-for-LEGO-MINDSTORMS-NXT-8528
Answers.UserDisplayName: Jarod Thornton
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-09-26T08:57:38.240Z
Answers.Text: I can confirm 8528 and 8886 combination works, as long as you alter the speed of the motor. See David Lechner's answer for more details.
Answers.UserDisplayName: jk_
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-08-28T14:15:00.947Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2022-09-05T09:28:47.297Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2022-09-05T09:28:47.297Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Timtech
Answers.Body: <p>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:
  <img src="https://i.sstatic.net/RE9L3.jpg" alt="Schematic for cable"></p>
  
  <p>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.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-11-21T02:38:04.053Z
Answers.Text: forgot to mention that I snipped that image from the youtube video - not my work ;)
Answers.UserDisplayName: Phil B.
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-01-05T16:44:01.743Z
Answers.Text: Do the resistors avoid the timeout problem mentioned in David Lechners answer?
Answers.UserDisplayName: Peter Green
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-01-05T21:19:12.257Z
Answers.Text: I have used my modified cables regularly and never encountered that problem, so I think the answer to your question is Yes.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Phil B.
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-11-20T18:38:11.557Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-11-20T18:38:11.557Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Phil B.
Answers.Body: <p>You can use 3rd party modules:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p><a href="https://www.hitechnic.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&amp;key=NIL1046" rel="nofollow">HiTechnic NXT IRLink Sensor</a></p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>control PF motors using PF IR receiver</li>
  <li>EV3 blocks</li>
  <li>Lejos <a href="http://www.lejos.org/ev3/docs/lejos/hardware/device/IRLink.html" rel="nofollow">IRLink</a> class </li>
  </ul></li>
  <li><p><a href="http://www.mindsensors.com/index.php?module=pagemaster&amp;PAGE_user_op=view_page&amp;PAGE_id=107" rel="nofollow">MindSensors PF Motor controller for NXT (PFMate)</a></p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>control PF motors using PF IR receiver</li>
  <li>No EV3 blocks (yet)</li>
  <li>Lejos <a href="http://www.lejos.org/ev3/docs/lejos/hardware/device/PFMateMotor.html" rel="nofollow">PFMateMotor</a> class</li>
  </ul></li>
  <li><p><a href="http://www.mindsensors.com/index.php?module=pagemaster&amp;PAGE_user_op=view_page&amp;PAGE_id=153" rel="nofollow">Mindsensors GlideWheel PF Motor controller for NXT or EV3</a> </p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>can power PF motor directly from EV3</li>
  <li>PF motor can be used as regulated motor (servo)</li>
  <li>EV3 blocks</li>
  <li>Lejos <a href="http://www.lejos.org/ev3/docs/lejos/hardware/motor/MindsensorsGlideWheelMRegulatedMotor.html" rel="nofollow">MindsensorsGlideWheelMRegulatedMotor</a> class</li>
  </ul></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Or third party cable <a href="http://www.robotshop.com/en/firgelli-technologies-nxt-to-pf-cable.html" rel="nofollow">NXT to PF Cable</a> (however I am not 100% sure if it will work with EV3). Accoring to <a href="http://www.lejos.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&amp;t=7177#p26075" rel="nofollow">answer on lejos forum</a> it should work with Lejos <a href="http://www.lejos.org/ev3/docs/lejos/hardware/motor/RCXMotor.html" rel="nofollow">RCXMotor</a> class.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-07-12T19:33:18.807Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-09-12T10:33:49.203Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2014-09-12T10:33:49.203Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: rafalmag
Answers.Body: <p>You can connect the Power Functions motor to the EV3 with a <a href="http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Converter-Cables-for-LEGO-MINDSTORMS-NXT-8528" rel="nofollow noreferrer">LEGO 8528 cable</a> and a <a href="http://powerfunctions.lego.com/en-us/Products/Default.aspx#8886" rel="nofollow noreferrer">LEGO 8886 cable</a>.</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/qMhUc.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/qMhUc.jpg" alt="LEGO 8528 cable"></a></p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ZSXDP.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ZSXDP.jpg" alt="LEGO 8886 cable"></a></p>
  
  <p>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.</p>
  
  <p>Here is a simple example to run the motor at 75% of full power:</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/gNX5f.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/gNX5f.png" alt="Unregulated motor loop"></a></p>
  
  <p>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.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-12-06T03:42:05.990Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-12-06T03:42:05.990Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: David Lechner
Answers.Body: <p>this explains how to make a conversion cable:</p>
  
  <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns3TODgRlCE" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns3TODgRlCE</a></p>
  
  <p>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. </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-03-09T15:00:39.603Z
Answers.Text: Can add details (in your answer) about how this cable is made before referring to this external link?
Answers.UserDisplayName: pcantin
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-03-09T09:25:41.523Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-06-14T17:48:49.117Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2014-06-14T17:48:49.117Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: guestguy123
Body: <p>Having <a href="http://mindstorms.lego.com/en-us/News/ReadMore/Default.aspx?id=476781" rel="noreferrer">learned</a> that Mindstorms EV3 doesn't work directly with Power Functions,</p>
  <blockquote>
  <p>Q: Can you use Power Functions motors with the EV3 programmable brick?</p>
  <p>A: No, the connector does not match.</p>
  </blockquote>
  <p>I still wonder what could be possible workarounds to use them together?</p>
  
Tags: <mindstorms><power-functions>
Title: How to use Power Functions with Mindstorms EV3?
UserDisplayName: auselen
ThreadText: # How to use Power Functions with Mindstorms EV3?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2013-08-26)
  
  Having [learned](http://mindstorms.lego.com/en-us/News/ReadMore/Default.aspx?id=476781) 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?
  
  **Tags:** mindstorms, power-functions
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 5 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2013-08-28. Score: 6 | Accepted answer
  
  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>
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: 8886 | (8871 & 8528) http://powerfunctions.lego.com/en-us/faq/default.aspx  
  > **username_2**: How does this accomplish anything? The cables are incompatible. Bad answer and non-helpful. @username_11's answer was better, even without details (which I added).  
  > **username_3**: As of Nov 2014, the top link doesn't work.  And, honestly, I don't think this was ever a valid solution.  
  > **username_1**: @username_3 The top link has since rotted. I've updated it to the new location.  
  > **username_4**: Just to confirm (as username_0's link to the FAQ points out) this *is* the LEGO approved way of connecting PF Mindstorms parts.  
  > **username_5**: That FAQ entry is for the NXT not the EV3.  
  > **username_6**: https://web.archive.org/web/20150122045709/http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Converter-Cables-for-LEGO-MINDSTORMS-NXT-8528  
  > **username_7**: I can confirm 8528 and 8886 combination works, as long as you alter the speed of the motor. See username_10 username_10's answer for more details.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_8 on 2014-11-20. Score: 11
  
  As mentioned by @username_11 and @username_2, 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:
  ![Schematic for cable](https://i.sstatic.net/RE9L3.jpg)
  
  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.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_8**: forgot to mention that I snipped that image from the youtube video - not my work ;)  
  > **username_5**: Do the resistors avoid the timeout problem mentioned in username_10 Lechners answer?  
  > **username_8**: I have used my modified cables regularly and never encountered that problem, so I think the answer to your question is Yes.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_9 on 2014-07-12. Score: 4
  
  You can use 3rd party modules:
  
  * [HiTechnic NXT IRLink Sensor](https://www.hitechnic.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=NIL1046)
  
    + control PF motors using PF IR receiver
    + EV3 blocks
    + Lejos [IRLink](http://www.lejos.org/ev3/docs/lejos/hardware/device/IRLink.html) class
  * [MindSensors PF Motor controller for NXT (PFMate)](http://www.mindsensors.com/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=107)
  
    + control PF motors using PF IR receiver
    + No EV3 blocks (yet)
    + Lejos [PFMateMotor](http://www.lejos.org/ev3/docs/lejos/hardware/device/PFMateMotor.html) class
  * [Mindsensors GlideWheel PF Motor controller for NXT or EV3](http://www.mindsensors.com/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=153)
  
    + can power PF motor directly from EV3
    + PF motor can be used as regulated motor (servo)
    + EV3 blocks
    + Lejos [MindsensorsGlideWheelMRegulatedMotor](http://www.lejos.org/ev3/docs/lejos/hardware/motor/MindsensorsGlideWheelMRegulatedMotor.html) class
  
  Or third party cable [NXT to PF Cable](http://www.robotshop.com/en/firgelli-technologies-nxt-to-pf-cable.html) (however I am not 100% sure if it will work with EV3). Accoring to [answer on lejos forum](http://www.lejos.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=7177#p26075) it should work with Lejos [RCXMotor](http://www.lejos.org/ev3/docs/lejos/hardware/motor/RCXMotor.html) class.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_10 on 2015-12-06. Score: 3
  
  You can connect the Power Functions motor to the EV3 with a [LEGO 8528 cable](http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Converter-Cables-for-LEGO-MINDSTORMS-NXT-8528) and a [LEGO 8886 cable](http://powerfunctions.lego.com/en-us/Products/Default.aspx#8886).
  
  [![LEGO 8528 cable](https://i.sstatic.net/qMhUc.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/qMhUc.jpg)
  
  [![LEGO 8886 cable](https://i.sstatic.net/ZSXDP.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/ZSXDP.jpg)
  
  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:
  
  [![Unregulated motor loop](https://i.sstatic.net/gNX5f.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/gNX5f.png)
  
  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 by username_11 on 2014-03-09. Score: 2
  
  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.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_12**: Can add details (in your answer) about how this cable is made before referring to this external link?  
  
  ---
  
  