Cutting the Trace on the Motor Shield

From the DCC++ documentation, videos and GitHub it is recommended to "cut the trace" on the back of the motor shield when supplying more that 12v of power to the Base Station. What exactly does "the trace" refer to? The two traces from the two pads to the pin or the area between the two pads. Please see attached photo.

I've already scraped away the two traces from the two pads to the pin. The base station still works but have I really cut the traces I needed to?

 

the VIN trace (which is cut in the above pic, could also be cut between the square pads) will supply the Arduino with the same input voltage from the motor board. If you supply over 12V you will very likely destroy the Arduino since the voltage regulator will not be able to compensate for the extra voltage.

I generally cut the VIN trace and use a dedicated supply for the Arduinos and Motor Boards.

 

So either may be cut? So I'm good without cutting between the pads?

 

They intended for you to cut between the pads, so that if you wanted to, you could re-connect it with a blob of solder.
So long as that brake is clean, that should work.

 

I'll cut between the pads to be doubly sure.

 

Of course, I had the very same question when I viewed the Dave Bodnar page on DCC++ and the video on You Tube. Where exactly is the trace to be cut??? Inquiring minds want to know the details. So this post quite clearly recommends that you cut the trace either pictured above or between the two square pads. On Dave Bodnar´s page it just shows the back of the motor shield board with a yellow circle drawn around the general area that needs to be cut. Now I know exactly where to interrupt the power being supplied to the Arduino board. Thank you for this post as it clarifies exactly what is to be done.

 

Us non-engineering/electronics educated laymen need further clarification.

 

Follow up report.

Do not cut both the trace between the pads and the traces to the posts.
One or the other but not both.
Fortunately I only killed a $5 motor shield.

On my real Arduino Motor Shield I cut the trace between the two pads and it works like a charm.

 

You can repair the board with some wire and soldering

Sent from my ONE E1005 using Tapatalk

 

Guys .... an easier method is to just bend the VIN pin of the motor shield out to the side ..... and it is then reversible without soldering, if necessary. I have done this on all of my base station stacks and find it more efficient than cutting traces etc etc. Just sayin'.

 

The VIN pin, is the one next to the scrape? And you bend it away from the pads, correct?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk