diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 24a4fdc..687155a 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import serial
 import glob
 
 import dyn4
+import relays
 
 ENCODER_PPR = 65536
 
@@ -22,6 +23,20 @@ dmm1 = None
 dmm2 = None
 
 
+MOTOR_EN1 = 0
+MOTOR_EN2 = 1
+
+def enable_motors():
+    logging.info('Enabling both motors...')
+    relays.relay_on(MOTOR_EN1)
+    relays.relay_on(MOTOR_EN2)
+
+def disable_motors():
+    logging.info('Disabling both motors...')
+    relays.relay_off(MOTOR_EN1)
+    relays.relay_off(MOTOR_EN2)
+
+
 async def send_mqtt(topic, message):
     try:
         async with aiomqtt.Client('localhost') as client:
@@ -84,6 +99,7 @@ async def monitor_mqtt():
 async def init_motor(path, name):
     try:
         dmm = dyn4.DMMDrive(path, 0)
+        _ =  dmm.read_AbsPos32()
     except BaseException as e:
         logging.error('Problem opening %s port %s: %s - %s', name, path, e.__class__.__name__, e)
         await send_mqtt('server/motor_status', name + ' disconnected')
@@ -103,8 +119,8 @@ async def read_motor(dmm, name):
         return dmm.read_AbsPos32()
     except BaseException as e:
         # any problems, kill both motors
-        # TODO: add tripping e-stop
         set_motors(0)
+        disable_motors()
 
         logging.error('Problem reading %s: %s - %s', name, e.__class__.__name__, e)
         await send_mqtt('server/motor_status', name + ' disconnected')
@@ -119,8 +135,8 @@ async def check_sync(rev1, rev2):
 
     if abs(difference) > 1.0:
         # out of sync, kill both motors
-        # TODO: add tripping e-stop
         set_motors(0)
+        disable_motors()
 
         dmm1 = False
         dmm2 = False
@@ -178,6 +194,8 @@ def task_died(future):
 
 
 def main():
+    enable_motors()
+
     loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
 
     a = loop.create_task(monitor_dyn4()).add_done_callback(task_died)
diff --git a/relays.py b/relays.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c248797
--- /dev/null
+++ b/relays.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+import time
+import smbus
+import sys
+
+DEVICE_BUS = 1
+DEVICE_ADDR = 0x10
+bus = smbus.SMBus(DEVICE_BUS)
+
+def relay_on(num):
+    bus.write_byte_data(DEVICE_ADDR, num, 0x00)
+
+def relay_off(num):
+    bus.write_byte_data(DEVICE_ADDR, num, 0xFF)
+
+def test():
+    while True:
+        try:
+            for i in range(1,5):
+                relay_on(i)
+                time.sleep(1)
+                relay_off(i)
+                time.sleep(1) 
+        except KeyboardInterrupt as e:
+            sys.exit()
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    test()