# Electron schematic help **URL:** \ **Category:** Troubleshooting\ **Created:** [February 9, 2019, 2:08pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669 "2019-02-09T14:08:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![thresholdengineering](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@thresholdengineering](https://community.particle.io/u/thresholdengineering)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 3:33pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669/41 "2019-02-27T15:33:26Z")
Will I damage anything connecting the shield power inputs (@5.4v max) directly to the LiPo battery connector on the Electron as shown in the green circle above? If not, is it reasonable to expect the Electron board to run normally? ---
**Author:** ![thresholdengineering](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@thresholdengineering](https://community.particle.io/u/thresholdengineering)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 1:37pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669/42 "2019-02-28T13:37:02Z")
> [@ScruffR](#): > > I think it’s due to the response time of the DC/DC block which can’t keep up with the spikes in current demand during cell connection and transmission Scruff, will this work or will it ruin my boards? ![Question](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/particle/original/3X/c/1/c1b8618535f199c232671cbb55437832d56bab1f.png) ---
**Author:** ![ScruffR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/scruffr/32/6952_2.png) [@ScruffR](https://community.particle.io/u/ScruffR)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 2:29pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669/43 "2019-02-28T14:29:07Z")
I wouldn’t do it. I’d rather add some buffer caps to deal with the power spikes. ---
**Author:** ![Pescatore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Pescatore](https://community.particle.io/u/Pescatore)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 3:58pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669/44 "2019-02-28T15:58:15Z")
Don’t do it! I blew up the 3.3V converter on a Photon by powering a stepper from the Vin pin to the Photon. Luckily that’s all that broke. What worked for me was adding 47uF and a diode in series with the motor power pin. That way the motor cannot feed voltage back to the cap… at least in one direction. ---
**Author:** ![thresholdengineering](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@thresholdengineering](https://community.particle.io/u/thresholdengineering)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 1:50am UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669/45 "2019-03-01T01:50:11Z")
How about directly from the shield power terminals to Li+ and GND on the electron? ![Capture2](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/particle/original/3X/8/6/86b41b37dfb0a5f3f10552cf4cdd39678dfc9a17.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![Rftop](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/rftop/32/16896_2.png) [@Rftop](https://community.particle.io/u/Rftop)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 2:15am UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669/46 "2019-03-01T02:15:02Z")
I'd try this instead: > [@ScruffR](#): > > I wouldn’t do it. > I’d rather add some buffer caps to deal with the power spikes. Powering your entire system "may" be possible with only using the Li-Po connector (it's withing the max Spec), and the neopixels tapped before the Electron, but several people here have made recommendations against going much higher than the typical Li-Po 4.2V max voltage on the Li-Po connector. I certainly wouldn't want to connect the Screw Terminals to the Li+ pin, or Li-Po connector as shown in your Green Circles. The Screw Terminals are Labeled for 12V max, since it's essentially Vin I believe. That's asking for trouble later-on if you tie that to your Li-Po circuitry (even when you don't plan on using a Li-Po). Have you measured the instantaneous peak current during switch closure, with all your gadgets firing up at once? If Caps are needed (per @ScruffR), they will be needed no matter where you land your battery source. You might also want to test with batteries at ~ 50% capacity, before deployment. That may reinforce the idea of using Caps ? ---
**Author:** ![thresholdengineering](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@thresholdengineering](https://community.particle.io/u/thresholdengineering)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 2:41am UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669/47 "2019-03-01T02:41:14Z")
I understand what it’s for, but I don’t know how to size a cap or where to hook it up? The asset tracker spec sheet says it will run just using the shield terminals without the LiPo, but nothing I try seems to work. ---
**Author:** ![thresholdengineering](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@thresholdengineering](https://community.particle.io/u/thresholdengineering)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 3:10am UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669/48 "2019-03-01T03:10:00Z")
(I have not tried a car battery, but that’s really not an option) ---
**Author:** ![thresholdengineering](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@thresholdengineering](https://community.particle.io/u/thresholdengineering)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 12:06pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669/49 "2019-03-01T12:06:22Z")
I **“MAY”** be on to something… I just hooked it up with only the shield terminals (5.4 batt) and the USB charging cable I did not connect the electron’s LiPo battery Everything worked correctly!!! SO… I’m thinking I can take an old USB cable and hook just the +5v and GND wires to the screw terminals which are +5.4 max? What I don’t know is if 5.4v is too much for the USB connection? ---
**Author:** ![ScruffR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/scruffr/32/6952_2.png) [@ScruffR](https://community.particle.io/u/ScruffR)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 12:18pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669/50 "2019-03-01T12:18:07Z")
> [@thresholdengineering](#): > > What I don’t know is if 5.4v is too much for the USB connection? The USB Vcc/VUSB goes via a Schottky diode to Vin which is rated for 12V (plus plenty of safety). ---
**Author:** ![Rftop](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/rftop/32/16896_2.png) [@Rftop](https://community.particle.io/u/Rftop)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 12:32pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669/51 "2019-03-01T12:32:00Z")
The USB connector will block the GPS antenna on the Asset Tracker. @ScruffR Am I correct in my assumption that the only difference in Powering the Asset Tracker with it’s Screw Terminals is the additional Schottky Diode circled below ( vs Vin) ? I assume that diode’s only purpose is for reverse polarity protection of the Screw Terminals ? ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/particle/original/3X/5/7/57683265373b596079155a1a2cff6442c102b810.jpg) If this is causing his problems (due to peak demands), isn’t it possible to test this theory by going Straight to Vin ? ---
**Author:** ![ScruffR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/scruffr/32/6952_2.png) [@ScruffR](https://community.particle.io/u/ScruffR)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 1:15pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669/52 "2019-03-01T13:15:25Z")
You are correct. You can find the schematics here [https://github.com/particle-iot/shields/blob/master/electron-shields/asset-tracker/pdfs/asset-tracker-v200.pdf](https://github.com/particle-iot/shields/blob/master/electron-shields/asset-tracker/pdfs/asset-tracker-v200.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![thresholdengineering](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@thresholdengineering](https://community.particle.io/u/thresholdengineering)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 1:38pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669/53 "2019-03-01T13:38:12Z")
This cable looks like it may not get that close to the GPS antenna? > **[Amazon.com: HDMIHOME Right angled 90 degree Micro USB 5pin Male to USB Data Charge Cable 5ft 1.5m for Cell phone & Tablet: Electronics](https://www.amazon.com/HDMIHOME-angled-degree-Charge-Tablet/dp/B00J21SET2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=K3JUB0USZTVN&keywords=90+degree+micro+usb+cable&qid=1551446624&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011%2Cp_n_feature_keywords_three_browse-bin%3A8079994011&rnid=8079992011&rps=1&s=wireless&sprefix=90+degree+micro+usb%2Caps%2C189&sr=1-1)** ---
**Author:** ![ninjatill](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/ninjatill/32/17370_2.png) [@ninjatill](https://community.particle.io/u/ninjatill)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 3:33pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669/54 "2019-03-01T15:33:15Z")
> [@thresholdengineering](#): > > I don’t know how to size a cap or where to hook it up? Not hard... Grab the largest cap you have available and try it. The cap should probably be in the hundreds of uF (maybe a 470uF would work). If it doesn't, try larger. You can get "super caps" in the 1-10F range. I have a bunch. I would take a quick look at the discharge response curves... but, in general, a cap should be much quicker to discharge than a battery. Hook the cap between the 3.3v pin and ground. ---
**Author:** ![ScruffR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/scruffr/32/6952_2.png) [@ScruffR](https://community.particle.io/u/ScruffR)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 3:44pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669/55 "2019-03-01T15:44:47Z")
Partly true 😉 Usually the larger the cap the slower the response. That’s especially true for super caps. I usually tend to add a combination of “staggered” cap values (e.g. smaller ~100nF+ tantalum or ceramic and bigger 100µF+ electrolytic). ---
**Author:** ![thresholdengineering](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@thresholdengineering](https://community.particle.io/u/thresholdengineering)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 4:25pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669/56 "2019-03-01T16:25:31Z")
What do you guys think of the feasibility going directly from the screw terminals on the shield to the micro-USB of the electron with a right angle micro plug? Will this get me past the hurdle of powering everything from 3 AA LiOn batteries? (and not fry my boards) ---
**Author:** ![Rftop](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/rftop/32/16896_2.png) [@Rftop](https://community.particle.io/u/Rftop)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 4:41pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669/57 "2019-03-01T16:41:05Z")
> [@thresholdengineering](#): > > What do you guys think of the feasibility going directly from the screw terminals on the shield to the micro-USB of the electron with a right angle micro plug? Try going straight to Vin and Ground..... not using the Screw Terminals. ---
**Author:** ![thresholdengineering](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@thresholdengineering](https://community.particle.io/u/thresholdengineering)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2019, 1:57pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669/58 "2019-03-02T13:57:45Z")
Can you explain the issues with the screw terminals and USB concept? (schematic below) > [@Rftop](#): > > What do you guys think of the feasibility going directly from the screw terminals on the shield to the micro-USB of the electron with a right angle micro plug? > > Try going straight to Vin and Ground… not using the Screw Terminals. ![ElectronWiring5](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/particle/original/3X/e/e/eeee3b6243d1bc310073f29618202cbc93bd935f.png) ---
**Author:** ![Rftop](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/rftop/32/16896_2.png) [@Rftop](https://community.particle.io/u/Rftop)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669/59 "2019-03-02T14:01:41Z")
> [@thresholdengineering](#): > > Can you explain the issues with the screw terminals and USB concept? (schematic below) See Below: > [@Rftop](#): > > I certainly wouldn’t want to connect the Screw Terminals to the Li+ pin, or Li-Po connector as shown in your Green Circles. > > The Screw Terminals are Labeled for 12V max, since it’s essentially Vin I believe. That’s asking for trouble later-on if you tie that to your Li-Po circuitry (even when you don’t plan on using a Li-Po). Try Just the "Yellow" Connections below for Vin and Ground: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/particle/original/3X/5/4/542a7762a82f026adf9b6cde184dde72bd86eb57.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![thresholdengineering](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@thresholdengineering](https://community.particle.io/u/thresholdengineering)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2019, 2:09pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669/60 "2019-03-02T14:09:53Z")
> [@Rftop](#): > > Try going straight to Vin and Ground… not using the Screw Terminals. I'm only asking because I think this is how I fried my first electron... Is this what you are suggesting? - Allows full functionality without the Electron's LiPo? - Won't damage the electron board? ![ElectronWiring6](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/particle/original/3X/c/c/cc1d454fccf892354cd09c7c06574aae8a0d7b2d.png) [Previous page](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669.md?page=2) [Next page](https://community.particle.io/t/electron-schematic-help/47669.md?page=4)