Can DCC Concepts 4/8 way boards be cut?

[davepallant]

I have some DCC Concepts ADS-8FX boards on their way to me.

 

On one of my layout boards I will have a spare pair of point drivers on a ADS-8FX and on another layout board I will be short a pair. The block of 8 point drivers looks suspiciously like four of the dual driver boards joined together. Has anyone cut a single block off of a ADS-8FX to use elsewhere? I know the ADS-2 and 2FX are also available but it seems a shame to have 2 that I already have going spare.

 

The alternative will be to run a cable across between the two boards carrying the two point drivers which is possible but messy.

 

Dave Pallant

 

[CoBo]

Hi Dave

 

Not tried with one of these boards but have done with a dcc concepts AD4 (a bank of 4x AD1 decoders) which I assume is made of the same base material. Long story short - I burnt out one decoder which stopped the other three from working, hacking off the burnt section gave me a useable (and unique) AD3.

 

It's not easy and, as soon as you offer up a saw blade to it, you'll void any form of warranty. As said, I have done it, but you need to have a close inspection of the etching as to whether any of the internal circuitry is connected board to board, If it is I wouldn't bother. On the AD4 the only connection between boards was the power input connections so didn't cause me too much hassle. I used a fine toothed razor saw 'very very carefully'.

 

Mike

[davepallant]

Thanks Mike,

 

I've found where the power jumps between the boards on the top surface adjacent to the DCC/DC feed on each module. The other thing I had to watch out for was a thin track around the LED pads on the underneath of the board. I ended up cutting from both sides with a razor saw to ensure I missed all the important bits before cutting all of the way through but the two parts seem to be working fine!

 

Thanks

 

Dave