Jaguar Gate Driver Source

[daltore]

I'm looking for a pin-compatible gate driver for the Jaguar (components U6 and U7) in the foolishly vain hope that I can fix one that was plugged in backwards :ahh: So far, I've managed to find out that the original chip was the FAN5109BMX by Fairchild Semiconductor, but that chip is discontinued, and the recommended replacement is the ON Semi ADP3110A/ADP3210A. However, the former can no longer be purchased at all, even through Digikey, and the latter can only be purchased in bulk (minimum quanitity I've found is 98). I only need 2, although I wouldn't be opposed to getting a few more (say, 10).

I know fixing a Jaguar probably wouldn't be technically legal in competition (or wise), but our team has plenty of other projects that can benefit from $.44 of integrated circuits and a few cents of solder over a $73 replacement Jaguar. Plus, it'll be a good experience, and more motivation for me to build the hot-air soldering iron I've been thinking about for a couple months.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Aaron,
If you connected the power supply to the Jaguar incorrectly, the gate drivers are not the only thing that is damaged. The five volt regulator is the first place I would look followed by just about everything else. I would also take a look under the large electrolytic cap in the center. Those guys hate reverse voltage. If there is any sign of a puddle, it is gone too.

[daltore]

You're right, i realize there is probably more damage, I just thought I'd try. It would not only make for a fun experiment, but also some practice with surface-mount. The gate drivers and the current-measuring resistor are the only things that show any damage. One of our mentors helped design the Jaguar, and he said the capacitors they used always bulged a little bit, so that combined with the lack of a puddle seem to show that the cap is fine. Probably the desoldering of the current measuring resistor cut the circuit fast enough that it didn't cause to much of a problem. I will check the regulator. Still, I think it would be fun to try to fix a Jaguar, and provide a valuable experience.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Aaron,
The desoldering of the resistor shows that there was a lot of current flowing through the Jaguar. It is a small value and so large currents would produce a lot of heat. I know that high current in normal operation is enough to desolder that resistor.