Replacing Vector Robot Brain Board

Worked for 46 sec
Thought for 25 sec — any "No Connect" pins as well. I should probably run the .
Editing "vector-head-board-connector-notes" project doc.
Thought for 12 sec
5/6 Run ERC/DRC checks

Inspect current schematic nets around J1, U1, U2, and headers

Rewire schematic as listen-only 4-wire Vector tap

Update component roles/notes for beginner-safe use

Re-place/re-route passive wiretap PCB

Run ERC/DRC checks

Summarize what changed and remaining risks

Thought for 13 sec
Completed 10 design checks — found 4 issues.
Getting a schematic overview.
Getting a layout overview.
T

tattooedlowlife

there are 2 wires (one red and one black) that go into the part thats attached to the board.. on each side.
Created a project doc

Passive Wiretap Board Status

View Document
This board has been redesigned as a safe listen-only wiretap for the Vector head/body 4-wire cable. It no longer includes the ESP32-C3 or ac...

flux

Done — I redesigned it as a passive listen-only wiretap.
What changed:
  • Removed ESP32-C3 and level-shifter from the signal path.
  • Kept only headers + protection resistors.
  • Mapped the confirmed Vector wires:
    • black GND
    • red VMAIN
    • white BODY_RX
    • green TX1.8
  • Routed the simplified PCB.
  • Ran ERC/DRC checks: no errors/warnings came back in the checked categories.
Saved status here:
Passive Wiretap Board Status
Open item:
  • This is still a hand-wired/probe board, not the final drop-in Vector connector board.
Document, BOM, export
Create wiring guide
Check BOM cost
Export files
Review manufacturability
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Files

Schematic

Layout

Preview

J2
R2
Resistance
10kΩ
R1
Resistance
10kΩ
R3
Resistance
100kΩ
J1
Passive Wiretap Board Status
What This Board Is Now
This board has been redesigned as a safe listen-only wiretap for the Vector head/body 4-wire cable.
It no longer includes the ESP32-C3 or active level translator in the signal path. That means this revision cannot accidentally transmit into Vector's head/body communication wires.
Confirmed Vector 4-Wire Cable Labels

Table

Vector wireLabel on Vector boardDebug board handling
BlackGNDCommon ground to J2 pin 3
RedVMAINSense-only through 100kΩ to J2 pin 2
WhiteBODY_RXListen tap through 10kΩ to J2 pin 4
GreenTX1.8Listen tap through 10kΩ to J2 pin 5
Debug Board Connectors
J1 — Vector-side temporary input
Use only the first four pins:
  1. GND / black wire
  2. VMAIN / red wire
  3. BODY_RX / white wire
  4. TX1.8 / green wire
All other J1 pins are intentionally unused.
J2 — Probe/debug output
  1. Unused
  2. VMAIN_SENSE_TAP through 100kΩ
  3. GND
  4. BODY_RX_LISTEN_TAP through 10kΩ
  5. TX1V8_LISTEN_TAP through 10kΩ
  6. Unused
Current Hardware Contents
The board now only has:
  • J1 Vector-side header
  • J2 probe/debug header
  • R1 10kΩ BODY_RX series protection resistor
  • R2 10kΩ TX1.8 series protection resistor
  • R3 100kΩ VMAIN sense protection resistor
Checks Run
ERC/DRC checks requested after the redesign returned no ERROR/WARNING results for the checked categories, including airwires, overlapping copper/traces, dangling traces, under-connected vias, ERC floating/power/single-pin/no-connect checks, and missing footprints.
Important Use Warning
This board is for listening only.
Do not inject power or data into Vector through this board. Do not connect a 3.3 V ESP32 pin directly to the green TX1.8 wire.
Remaining Limitation
J1 is still a temporary generic 2.54 mm header, not the exact physical Vector connector. This is okay for a hand-wired probe/wiretap, but it is not a drop-in mechanical replacement connector yet.

  • What This Board Is Now

  • Confirmed Vector 4-Wire Cable Labels

  • Debug Board Connectors

  • J1 — Vector-side temporary input

  • J2 — Probe/debug output

  • Current Hardware Contents

  • Checks Run

  • Important Use Warning

  • Remaining Limitation