# 5th axis upgrade wiring

**URL:** https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/5th-axis-upgrade-wiring/2559
**Category:** General Chat
**Created:** [October 14, 2023, 8:07pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/5th-axis-upgrade-wiring/2559 "2023-10-14T20:07:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![greg.obj](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/greg.obj/32/2807_2.png) [@greg.obj](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/greg.obj)
#### Post date: [October 14, 2023, 8:07pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/5th-axis-upgrade-wiring/2559/1 "2023-10-14T20:07:11Z")

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It appears that the instructions for the avid 5th drive upgrade show a different power supply than I have in my system, and include the installation of a capacitor that was not included in my kit. Has anyone here with my same model of machine installed the 5th drive upgrade? I believe I have revision 21.1, released in 2021.

I can wait until Monday for avid support to get back to me, but I was hoping to get my 4th axis running this weekend.

Here is how the control box looks in avids instructions:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/avidcnc/original/2X/3/303c39d146610c21cb671ef9032e6dc394014275.jpeg)

Here is my control box, note the different power supplies:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/avidcnc/original/2X/e/e96f58000a0428545b56190e738e9c16dbcb00dd.jpeg)

I am not sure where to put these wires from the motor drive’s phoenix connector:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/avidcnc/original/2X/f/fbfb0090b892dbe5ada320842172226528d01ef3.jpeg)

I am also not sure if the capacitor is a missing part or if that has been changed in the newer machine version.

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![ThinkboxTech](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/thinkboxtech/32/2787_2.png) [@ThinkboxTech](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/ThinkboxTech)
#### Post date: [October 14, 2023, 8:34pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/5th-axis-upgrade-wiring/2559/2 "2023-10-14T20:34:20Z")

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The capacitor is unnecessary in newer versions. I believe those wires should go here with the others from your existing 4 drives:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/avidcnc/original/2X/a/a2accec45d7b8bb12bccdc955326b2c7a3757a45.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![greg.obj](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/greg.obj/32/2807_2.png) [@greg.obj](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/greg.obj)
#### Post date: [October 14, 2023, 8:58pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/5th-axis-upgrade-wiring/2559/3 "2023-10-14T20:58:17Z")

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Thanks, looks like you are correct.

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/avidcnc/original/2X/6/6e5b41856afd56c8357a9dbf0bdc3202d5db06eb.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![subnoize](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.avidcnc.com/subnoize/32/2197_2.png) [@subnoize](https://forum.avidcnc.com/u/subnoize)
#### Post date: [October 15, 2023, 8:13pm UTC](https://forum.avidcnc.com/t/5th-axis-upgrade-wiring/2559/5 "2023-10-15T20:13:27Z")

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Personally I like having large capacitors on my stepper systems. Especially if your power system is not 3 phase.

They are there to compensate for those times when the air conditioning turns on or somebody starts a vacuum and the lights dim in your house right when all of the axis sudden get commanded to rapid to the opposite end of the machine.

It’s not a guaranteed loss of steps but it’s always safer to have the capacity. My Sieg X3 has an absolute monster capacitor for the Z axis. Like the size of somebody’s head (ok, I am exaggerating but it is a comically large cap 😛 ). It was built back before Maxwell Tech had invented their supercapacitors.