The guy :
The image/picture above is from someone else, mine is not in good shape as you will see below.
the symptom: No gauge is detected anymore and display shows ???ID
Edwards Active Gauge Controller Teardown
- AngeloGomes
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2019 9:02 am
- Real name: Angelo Gomes
- Location: Brazil
- AngeloGomes
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2019 9:02 am
- Real name: Angelo Gomes
- Location: Brazil
Re: Edwards Active Gauge Controller Teardown
Well, this is a long story already posted here, and the original topic was lost with the forum last week.
Below is how my AGC looks right now.
Sometime ago, the membrane keyboard died, all keys. I´ve sent to Edwards representative who said the cheapest option I have was to forget the membrane keys and install mechanical switches/buttons, that I accepted.
So, here is mine AGC (the front panel), of course, now with some key caps missing after 5-7 years.
Below is how my AGC looks right now.
Sometime ago, the membrane keyboard died, all keys. I´ve sent to Edwards representative who said the cheapest option I have was to forget the membrane keys and install mechanical switches/buttons, that I accepted.
So, here is mine AGC (the front panel), of course, now with some key caps missing after 5-7 years.
- AngeloGomes
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2019 9:02 am
- Real name: Angelo Gomes
- Location: Brazil
Re: Edwards Active Gauge Controller Teardown
The AGC has tree boards:
1) Power board
2) Display board
3) Mainboard
The display board is shown below:
The conector pin (PL9) is where the keyboard flat cable is attached.
After some time playing around with these pins I found:
Pin 1 = Up Key
Pin 2 = Down Key
Pin 3 = Cycle Key
Pin 4 = Enter Key
Pin 5 = Escape Key
Pin 6 = None/Unknown
Pin 7 = VCC
Pin 8 = None/unknown
1) Power board
2) Display board
3) Mainboard
The display board is shown below:
The conector pin (PL9) is where the keyboard flat cable is attached.
After some time playing around with these pins I found:
Pin 1 = Up Key
Pin 2 = Down Key
Pin 3 = Cycle Key
Pin 4 = Enter Key
Pin 5 = Escape Key
Pin 6 = None/Unknown
Pin 7 = VCC
Pin 8 = None/unknown
- AngeloGomes
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2019 9:02 am
- Real name: Angelo Gomes
- Location: Brazil
Re: Edwards Active Gauge Controller Teardown
As none of membrane keys are working, I suppose the VCC line is broken somewhere. The plastic flat cable is not so easy to fix and after digging inside the display I messed up a bit, but I realize it is better to replace every membrane key separetely. As soon as individual membrane keys arrive from aliexpress I will test the idea and post the results here, meanwhile I have to work with the mechanical switches as the main problem now is the AGC not recognizing the gauges.
- AngeloGomes
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2019 9:02 am
- Real name: Angelo Gomes
- Location: Brazil
Re: Edwards Active Gauge Controller Teardown
Below is the power Board.
There are three stages here: one for 5V, 15V and 24V.
the voltages go to the mainboard through soldered wires, the white ones at left. Here in Brazil, we call this as "dirty economy". A power connector at the mainboard should be right choice !
There are three stages here: one for 5V, 15V and 24V.
the voltages go to the mainboard through soldered wires, the white ones at left. Here in Brazil, we call this as "dirty economy". A power connector at the mainboard should be right choice !
- AngeloGomes
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2019 9:02 am
- Real name: Angelo Gomes
- Location: Brazil
Re: Edwards Active Gauge Controller Teardown
Now the mainboard
- AngeloGomes
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2019 9:02 am
- Real name: Angelo Gomes
- Location: Brazil
Re: Edwards Active Gauge Controller Teardown
As you can see at right, just behind the RJ45 connectors (where the gauges are to be connected) there are a lot of varistors, they are 5 for each port.
At top left the power wires and behind them the flat cable for the display board.
This controller uses the voltage between pins 4 and 5 of the RJ45 connector to identify the gauge. Every Edwards Gauge has between pins 4 and 5 a resistor ID, for identification purpose.
I was expecting to find an ADC chip in this board, but I think my AGC is too old and the AGC circuitry was implemmented in a hard way at that age !
Next photos, I will focus on the IC's on this board.
At top left the power wires and behind them the flat cable for the display board.
This controller uses the voltage between pins 4 and 5 of the RJ45 connector to identify the gauge. Every Edwards Gauge has between pins 4 and 5 a resistor ID, for identification purpose.
I was expecting to find an ADC chip in this board, but I think my AGC is too old and the AGC circuitry was implemmented in a hard way at that age !
Next photos, I will focus on the IC's on this board.
- AngeloGomes
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2019 9:02 am
- Real name: Angelo Gomes
- Location: Brazil
Re: Edwards Active Gauge Controller Teardown
My AGC does not have the Serial COMMS option. As I found a RS232 CI on the board, I was wondering if the connector is the only part missing for this option.