Digitrax DN163A4 Ground pad?

[sizemore]

Cant find it through normal internet searches, looking for the ground pad on a DN163A4 to wire in a Keep-Alive. Common+ two on top, ground not found.

Thanks,
The S.

[sizemore]

Digitrax tech support provided an amswer, no pad exists. Promptly ordered two ESU replacements.

The S.

[Sumner]

The common + is shown ( HERE ) .

I found another picture of the other side of the board that wasn't very good and saw what looked like a capacitor (or maybe 2 side by side) and I'd bet that one side of that cap is ground (just a guess).

Sumner

[peteski]

These do not have a specific negative or ground pad, but if you take a clear photo of the top of the decoder (so I can identify the components) and post it here I'll show you where you can connect the keep-alive's negative wire.

[sizemore]

These do not have a specific negative or ground pad, but if you take a clear photo of the top of the decoder (so I can identify the components) and post it here I'll show you where you can connect the keep-alive's negative wire.

This is provided on the Digitrax website:



There are two common+ pads, 9 other unlabeled pads but unknown what they do. The documentation states Series 6 decoders depending on size can accept a power-extender, so followed two paths (no pun). See what Digitrax would provide and the braintrust here since I have a number of DN163A4's in the fleet.

Appreciate the help,
The S.

[peteski]

LOL! I need a photo of the other side (the component side where the majority of electronic components are).

[Tad_T]

LOL! I need a photo of the other side (the component side where the majority of electronic components are).

[peteski]

We need to try again Tad - you posted the same photo of  the wrong side.  I need the other side, facing down when installed in the chassis.

[Tad_T]

We need to try again Tad - you posted the same photo of  the wrong side.  I need the other side, facing down when installed in the chassis.

[peteski]

These are three easily accessible ground/negative locations.  Alternative would be to scrape off the green coating from the trace connecting those three components.  That will create a solder "pad".

[Sumner]

These are three easily accessible ground/negative locations.  Alternative would be to scrape off the green coating from the trace connecting those three components.  That will create a solder "pad".

Good work!



What is the component in the middle between the diodes?

Sumner

[peteski]

Going by the fact that it is reverse biased I believe it is a Zener diode which in theory will clip any excessive voltage from the track. But just going by its physical size, it is a fairly low power component which would burn up before the much more beefy rectifier diodes would. But it should safely handle very short duration (microseconds) voltage spikes.

[sizemore]

Appreciate it Pete. Since I am replacing the decoders looks like I have some spares to fry

Thanks,
The S.