Baseline

Supplemental Assembly Instructions

For Kits using the NodeMCU-32S processor in the OnStep and Smart Hand Controller, the
LOLIN (WEMOS) D1 Mini Pro Wifi module, and various stepper drivers

Bob Benward
12/22/2021
Version 1
 MaxESP V3 PCB
Assembly Notes

12V Power Fuse, use RA DEC Rotator Focuser

5.1x2.1mm 1 pair Note 11

Note 2
Note 3

Note 6

Note 12

Pin 5 Pin 6

J16 Note 1
Note 13
Note 1 detail
Note 11
J11

Note 11
J14
Note 4 Note 7
J15

J10
Note 8
J13
Note 10
J12 Note 9
J9

Note 5

JP2

Measure short Position Encoder and

Guide Camera (ST4) Home SW Input
or SHC Input

Typical Driver. White box around lower left pin is enable (EN).
Orient as shown. Not all drivers are marked this way! Confirm by
measuring a short between ground pins on opposite side, or
match pictures on Driver Reference page.

4 Pins 6 Pins

RTC
Pins
Glue
fillet
Socket header

Maxboard
Cut header pins

Note 13 RTC support detail

Assembly Notes:
1) This board is wired for the A4988 driver. For many other drivers, the short between pins 5&6 on the PCB must be removed. The standard
recommendation is to cut the clock pin on the module (pin 6 on PCB). A big note here: the pin numbering on some of the drivers are
different from the numbering on the MaxESP board. Sometimes Pin 3 on the module correlates to pin 6 on the board. Refer to the “Driver
Reference” or the datasheet for your particular driver type. In addition, some drivers may need pin 6 pulled low. For example, TMC5160
V1.1 requires a cut pin and a pulldown, V1.2, V1.3 does not require a pulldown (pulldown is already incorporated on the driver). Again, may
different drivers can be used, but not all drivers are pin for pin compatible. Do your research!
2) Either use a wire jumper (use the molex if desired) or wire directly to these pads for a power switch
3) Secondary bus motor driver regulator for split voltage/driver systems. Axis 1&2 uses the primary bus (VM) and Axis 3&4 uses a secondary
bus (VM2). This regulator is for Axis 3&4 (the secondary bus), and is used where you wish to use higher voltage rated drivers and
corresponding bus voltage on Axis 1&2, but the drivers used in Axis 3&4 cannot withstand that higher voltage. All newer drivers can
withstand 35V minimum. Most users typically use 24V primary bus voltages, thus, for most applications the regulator is not used, and simply
jumpered across.
4) Check the height of this cap, the one provided may be too tall to provide proper clearance from RTC board. If so, lay this capacitor (C12) on
its side. Tack down with hot melt glue or silicon rubber. See Note 7.
5) Be sure to use female sockets on the DE-9 to prevent bare exposed male pins connected to the WEMOS processor.
6) Use 8 pins sockets when possible. Cutting and trimming larger socket strips is tedious and can damage sockets. If the ends are not filed
properly, there will be an interference fit between sockets strips (the tolerance is tight). You cannot fit in one long strip; The module pins
pacing is 0.1" and the pin spacing between modules is 0.12"
7) Aux2 selection:
*TMC2130/TMC5160 status and error detection, shunt Aux2 selection to Axis1&2 MISO;
*WEMOS ESP8266 RST control, shunt Aux2 to RST; WEMOS pass thru programming. This function is to be deprecated.
*Focuser1 DC motor enable, shunt Aux2 to AXIS4 EN, typically used for servo motors, otherwise not required.

Background: The WEMOS pass through programming is rarely used and has not been thoroughly tested. This function may be deprecated in
the future and the code may be removed from SW.
NOTE, the focus driver does not need the Aux2 focuser enable input to operate a stepper. The enable line is pulled down internally and
outputs are active unless you pull it high. This function is more of focuser “disable” to prevent DC motor runaway while the Onstep is booting.
The wiki does not describe the exact advantage of using an enable for the Axis focuser. I do not believe this focuser DC motor function has
been fully vetted on the MaxESP.

8) For position encoders, signal pull up or pull down. See Note 9. Check encoder data sheet.
9) VSEL: If using encoders, must be set to 3.3V or 5V. Note: WEMOS is not 5V tolerant, you must insure encoder signal pins do not put out
more than 3.3V if powered by 5V. Many encoders are TTL output, i.e. 5V supply, Vout minimum = 2.4V, but maximum is still 5V. This is still
enough to damage the WEMOS. Check on the Onstep boards for recommendations.
10) +5V to the ST4 connector. +5V required for the Smart Hand Controller
11) See Wiki. Aux7: Input only, PPS or Limit input. Aux8: I/O Buzzer or Reticle driver. Both may simultaneously connect to J2
12) Microstepping mode options for A4988 and similar drivers
MS1 MS2 MS3 Microstep Resolution
Low Low Low Full step
High Low Low Half step
Low High Low Quarter step
High High Low Eighth step
High High High Sixteenth step

13) The RTC is unsupported on this side. Recommend installing 4 pins into RTC module. Plug these pins into a 4 pin socket header. Cut socket
header PCB pins, leave the metallic socket intact (there are no pad/holes on the Max board). Install the module and apply epoxy or Gorilla
glue to the OUTSIDE of the header where it interfaces with the Max board. Do not apply under the header, it may wick up into the socket/
pins (apply a tiny piece of cellophane tape to cover the bottom of the header).

Jumper Descriptions Aux Descriptions

J1: Power header; switch or jumper Aux 1 N/A
J2: Not used, not implemented Aux 2 Reset for Wemos or SPI for TMC5160 driver status, or DC
J3,4,5: Microstepping selection for A4988 type drivers Axis 3 motor focuser enable
J6,7,8: Microstepping selection for A4988 type drivers Axis 4 Aux 3 DEC home Switch, or I2C for RTC
J9: 3.3V or 5V selection for position encoder power (3.3V default) Aux 4 RA Home Switch, or I2C for RTC
J10: Encoder pull up (+V) or pull down (gnd) for encoder signals (pullup Aux 5 N/A
Voltage per J9) Aux 6 N/A
J11: Aux* function. Either buzzer or 1/8" jack (tip) reticle driver Aux 7 Limit SW or PPS from RTC
J12: +5V for ST4 connector. Required if using smart hand controller Aux 8 Recticle driver or Buzzer
J13: Test points.
J14/15: Aux2 to WEMOS RST, axis 4 enable, or MISO
J16: Aux7 to PPS or from 1/8" jack (ring) limit input
 MaxESP Bill of Material
ID QTY Description Mfr Part number or value Reference Designator Footprint Comments
1 2 Capacitor, Polarized, radial lead generic 100uF 50V C1,C2 CAP-D8.0XF3.5 8x3.5mm
2 1 Capacitor, Polarized, radial lead generic 100uF 25V C3 CAP-D6.3XF2.5 6x2.5mm
3 2 Capacitor, Polarized, radial lead generic 47uF 35V C4,C5 CAP-D5.0XF2.0 5x2mm
4 1 Ceramic, epoxy dipped generic 0.33uF 50V C8 CAP-PTH-SMALL-KIT
5 5 Ceramic, epoxy dipped generic 0.1uF 100V C6,C7,C9,C10,C11 CAP-PTH-SMALL-KIT
6 1 Capacitor, Polarized, radial lead generic 10uF 10V C12 CAP-D4.0XF2.0
7 1 LED3/5mm same color or red/green generic D1, D2 LED3/5MM
8 1 Diode, axial lead generic 1N4001 D3 DO-41
9 2 Diode, surface mount On Semi NRVBS310FA D4,D5 SOD-123F
10 1 Fuse holder TE Connectivity 35684 F1 FUSEHOLDER_MINI_BLADE
11 1 1x2 pin header, locking, MOLEX KK 1X2 MOLEX 22-23-2021 J1 MOLEX KK 1X2
12 1 3.5mm Audio Jack (PJ-325M) CUI inc SJ1-3533NG J2 AUDIO-PJ325
13 11 1x3 pin header generic J3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,15,16 1X3 HEADER
14 1 1x2 pin Header generic J12 1x2 HEADER
15 1 1x5 pin header generic J13 1X5 HEADER
16 1 1x1 pin Header generic J14 1X1 HEADER
17 1 1x6 socket header (RTC) generic 1X6 HEADER
18 10 1x8 socket header (drivers & WEMOS) generic 1X8 HEADER
19 2 1x19 socket header (ESP32) generic 1X19 HEADER
20 1 POWER_JACK 5.5mm x 2.1mm JP1 POWER_JACK_PTH
21 1 DE9 RT PCB Female Amphenol D09S33E4GV00LF JP2 DB9
4POS_SCREW_TERMINAL_3.5mm, (ALT
22 2 to RJ style motor connectors) TE Connectivity 1776275-4 JS1,JS2 4POS_SCREW_TERMINAL_3.5MM
4POS_SCREW_TERMINAL_2.54mm, (ALT
23 2 to RJ style motor connectors) TE Connectivity 282834-4 JS3,JS4 4POS_SCREW_TERMINAL_2.54MM
24 1 Resistor, axial, 4.7KΩ, 0.1W generic R1 AXIAL-0.3
25 1 Resistor, axial, 470Ω, 0.1W generic R2 AXIAL-0.3
26 1 Resistor, axial 3.3KΩ, 0.1W generic R3 AXIAL-0.3
27 1 Resistor, axial, 220Ω, 1/4W generic R4 AXIAL-0.4
28 1 Resistor, axial, 2KΩ, 0.1W generic R5 AXIAL-0.3
29 2 Motor Jack, RJ style, 8P, axis 1&2 TE Connectivity 5520426-4 RJ1,RJ2 5520426-4
30 2 Motor Jack, RJ style, 4P axis 3&4 TE Connectivity 5555980-1 RJ3,RJ4 5555980-1
31 1 ST4 guiding jack, RJ style 6P TE Connectivity 5569026-2 RJS 6P6C
32 2 4 Resistor Network 5 Pin, 2.0K bussed Bourns 4605X-101-202LF RP1,2 4 RESISTOR ARRAY
DS3231-RTC-24C32-EEPROM-
33 1 DS3231-Real Time Clock (RTC Module) Aliexpress or Amazon DS3231 RTC RTC1 SINGLE-HEADER
34 1 BUZZER, Piezeo CUI inc CEM-1203 SP1 BUZZER-12MM-KIT
35 1 Diode array, ESD Protection, (optional) ST micro DALC112S1RL U1 S08
Stepper Driver, A4988 compatible, GENERIC STEPPER MOTOR DRIVER
36 4 DRV8825, TCM2130, TCM5160, etc. Various U2,U3,U4,U5 CARRIER
Requires 24Vmax, 15Vmin. Not
OKI-78SR-12/1.0-W36-C used when powering from 7-15V
37 1 LM78xx style switching reg. 12V Reg Murata Power Solutions U6 OKI78SR (jumpered out).
38 1 LM78xx style switching reg. 5V Reg Murata Power Solutions OKI-78SR-5/1.5-W36-C U7 OKI78SR
39 1 Processor, WeMos D1 Mini Pro LOLIN (WeMos) D1 Mini-Pro U8 WEMOS_D1_MINI Pro
40 1 Processor, NodeMCU, ESP32S-narrow NodeMCU-32S U9 NODEMCU-ESP32S-NARROW
 Motor Driver Information
CONFIRM ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE!
All drivers rotated for pin 1 EN in the upper left and pin 9 GND in the lower right. Some pin text may be upside down.
PIN 6 CLK: The default procedure is to cut pin 6 on the driver module. If a pull down is also required, it may be easier to cut the trace between pin 5&6 on the MaxESP board and add the
pulldown there. Note: Some drivers with CLK have internal fallback protection; they revert to internal CLK when signal is lost (or when it is left floating). Which means a pulldown may not be
required. Refer to the driver module datasheet.
For the purposes of these drivers, VCC = VDD = VIO = VCC-IO
Motor Connections: In the end it doesn’t matter; if the direction is wrong, you can swap terminals on one winding, or change it in Onstep SW, or in the SWS. All drivers are pin for pin
compatible (pins 11 thru14) for the MOTOR WINDINGS! Refer to the motor winding page.

Driver needs Pin 6 open (short removed) Driver needs Pin 5&6 shorted
Lettered Winding Nomenclature
Winding A, term 1&2
Winding B, term 1&2 S2209 Fysetc V3.1 S2209 Fysetc V3.0
Silent5160 Fysetc TMC5160 V1.2 to V1.3
DRV8825
BigTreeTech
1 16 1 16
1 16 1 16 2 15
1 16 2 15 2 15
3 2 15 3 14
2 15 14 3 14 3 14
3 14 4 13 4 4 13 4 13
5 13
4 13 12 5 12 5 12 5 12
5 12 6 11 6 11 6 11 6 11
6 11 7 10 7 10 7 10 7 10
7 10 8 9 8 9 8 9 8 9
8 9 Short pin 5&6 on mother board and connect Fault
Gnd pin 6: V1.1 Gnd pin 6 Float pin 6 pin 10 to VDD (Pin 10 already wired to VDD on all
Gnd pin 6 Float pin 6 V1.2, V1.3 sockets).

Numbered Winding Nomenclature

Winding 1, term A&B A4988
Winding 2, term A&B TMC5160 Watterott 1 16
2 15
TMC2100 LV8729 3 14
TMC2130 1 16
1 16 1 16 2 15 1 16 4 13
2 15 2 15 3 14 2 15 5 12
3 14 3 14 4 13 3 14 6 11
4 13 4 13 5 12 4 13 7 10
5 12 5 12 6 11 5 12 8 9
6 11 6 11 7 10 6 11 Short pin 5&6 on mother board
7 10 7 10 8 9 7 10
8 9 8 9 V1.3 CLK, GND pin 6 8 9
Float pin 6 Float pin 6 V1.4 DCO, FLOAT pin 6
FLOAT? pin 5&6 not specified
V1.5 DCO, FLOAT pin 6
 Motor Driver Winding Nomenclature

A2 or 2B

A1 or 2A } Winding A or
Winding 2
Do not confuse
letter vs number
nomenclature!!!
B1 or 1A

B2 or 1B } Winding B or
Winding 1

In the end, all you need to insure is that one winding is attached to the upper set of pins, and the other
winding to the lower set of pins. The terminal or winding polarity is not important; you can flip motor
direction in SW or just flip the winding polarities to reverse direction.

Onstep Standard Bipolar Stepper Interface

Onstep Axis 1&2
1 Bipolar Stepper
B2 or 1B
2
3 B1 B2
B1 or 1A
4
5 A1
A1 or 2A
6
7
8
A2 or 2B M
8 Pins A2

Onstep Axis 3&4 Bipolar Stepper

1 B2 or 1B
B1 B2
2 B1 or 1A
3 A1 or 2A A1
4 A2 or 2B

4 Pins
M
A2
 Onstep Hookups using Original Losmandy DDS Motors
Unipolar motor hooked up in Bipolar mode
1 6 3 5 6 1 3 1 3
A1 B1
1

4 4 5 4 5
A1 B1
2
2 6 2 6
A2 B2 A2 B2
Option 1 Using half the windings Option 2 Using the full windings

Motor Cable Option 1 using half the windings

Onstep Mating Connector RJ45 Losmandy Mating Conn RJ12
Losmandy Hurst Motor RJ12
1
1 1
2
3 Upper Winding 2 2 6
3 5
4 3 3
1
5 4 4

M
6 5 5 4
7 Lower Winding
6 6
8
2
8 Pins 6 Pins

Motor Cable Option 2, using the full windings

Losmandy SAIA Motor RJ12
Onstep Mating Connector RJ45 Losmandy Mating Conn RJ12
1
1 1
2
3 Upper Winding 2 2 3 5 6
4 3 3
1
5 4 4
6
7 Lower Winding
5
6
5
6
4
M
8 2
8 Pins 6 Pins
 MaxESP System Block Diagram

ST4
Guide camera
USB Not required; Guide
corrections are through
the network

Imaging
camera
USB ST4 RA
Driver RJ1
Driver RJ2
Driver RJ3
Limit switches wired in DEC
parallel Driver RJ4

MaxESP V3
Reticle Driver 1/8 TRS

Rotator

DE9
Position Encoder
Encoder

5.1x2.1mm ESP32
USB Focuser
USB HUB

Not required for

normal operation
12-24V

Home Switches

RA DEC
PHD2
APT
ON-Off or Off-On
Celestial Map
transition is
home position USB
(shown @home)