A method for controlling a motor-driven sheet material dispenser to provide an indication that the supply of sheet material on a roll is low, the method comprising - providing a sensor for generating a sensor signal indicative of sheet material roll rotation; - providing a motor for producing movement of the sheet material when current is supplied to the motor; - providing a low material indicator; - providing a controller coupled to the motor, sensor and indicator, said controller having an analog to digital converter; - detecting pulses in the sensor signal during a time interval of sheet material roll rotation and determining sheet material roll rotational speed therefrom; - digitizing the signal of said sensor indicative of the sheet material roll rotation; - detecting pulses in the sensor signal during a time interval of sheet material roll rotation and determining sheet material roll rotational speed therefrom; - determining the motor rotational speed; comparing the rotational speeds of the sheet material roll and of the motor; and - providing an indication that the supply of sheet material on the roll 811) is low; said method being characterized in that - the motor is a brushed direct current motor having an armature; - the pulse in the sensor signal is detected in the digitized sensor signal - a motor signal of the brushed DC motor indicative of at least one of motor current and motor voltage is digitized; - the motor rotational speed is determined by detecting pulses in the digitized motor signal during a time interval of motor armature rotation; and - the indication that the supply of sheet material on the roll is low is provided when said comparison of the rotational speeds reaches a threshold. - providing a sensor for generating a sensor signal indicative of sheet material roll rotation; - providing a motor for producing movement of the sheet material when current is supplied to the motor; - providing a low material indicator; - providing a controller coupled to the motor, sensor and indicator, said controller having an analog to digital converter; - detecting pulses in the sensor signal during a time interval of sheet material roll rotation and determining sheet material roll rotational speed therefrom; - digitizing the signal of said sensor indicative of the sheet material roll rotation; - detecting pulses in the sensor signal during a time interval of sheet material roll rotation and determining sheet material roll rotational speed therefrom; - determining the motor rotational speed; comparing the rotational speeds of the sheet material roll and of the motor; and - providing an indication that the supply of sheet material on the roll 811) is low; said method being characterized in that - the motor is a brushed direct current motor having an armature; - the pulse in the sensor signal is detected in the digitized sensor signal - a motor signal of the brushed DC motor indicative of at least one of motor current and motor voltage is digitized; - the motor rotational speed is determined by detecting pulses in the digitized motor signal during a time interval of motor armature rotation; and - the indication that the supply of sheet material on the roll is low is provided when said comparison of the rotational speeds reaches a threshold.