ECUBAY.

COM BDM adapter

user manual
(released 2. December 2013, revision 1.1)

BEFORE ANY USAGE CHECK IF YOUR PROGRAMMER MAKES COMPATIBLE 12V

OUTPUT POWER TO PROPER PINS !!! SOME OF THE PROGRAMMERS HAVE REVERSED
ORDER PINS ON FLAT CABLE CONNECTOR.

KTAG PLUG ON MUX BOARD TOWARDS ADAPTER IS 1:1 (ONE TO ONE) BOSCH
CONNECTION – CLASSIC BDM CONNECTION PINOUT.
WE STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU CONNECT ALL DEVICE TOGETHER AND
WITHOUT PRESSING THE PROBE TO ECU – MEASURE MARKING ON BOSCH ADAPTER
– AND + AND IF YOU GET +12v THAN YOUR OUTPUT ON PROGRAMMER SHOULD BE
OK.
USER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES ON ECU.

Visit www.ecubay.com for latest release of this uses manual.

ECUBAY.COM BDM adapter user manual

Table of Contents
ECUBAY.COM BDM adapter................................................................................ 1
user manual.......................................................................................................... 1
Definitions............................................................................................................. 3
Introduction........................................................................................................... 4
Adapters............................................................................................................... 5
Multiplexer............................................................................................................ 8
Precautions........................................................................................................... 9
Usage................................................................................................................. 10

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Definitions
Here is a list of words that are used throughout the manual with corresponding explanation in order to
minimize misunderstandings when reading this users manual.

ADAPTER
is an electronic circuit board designed for a certain ECU (manufacturer), with pogo pins and a 10-pin
IDC connector for interfacing the multiplexer board.
BDM
is an acronym for Background Debug Mode, an interface designed by the Motorola company, widely
used in automotive industry, present on modern ECUs. Not all ECUs are capable of interfacing
through the BDM - see Appendix for the list of ECUs that support the BDM interface.
ECU
is an acronym for Engine Control Unit, a piece of hardware containing electronic circuit used to
control and monitor the vehicle engine operation.
ECU BDM CONNECTOR
is a set of pads found on the ECU, used to interconnect adapter with the ECU in non destructive
way - usually by the means of the pogo pins. Most of the ECU BDM connectors have their pads laid
out according to the standard Motorola BDM pin out. Some ECUs may have proprietary BDM pin
outs or BDM pads scattered all over the ECU PCB.
FRAME
is a mechanical contraption used to fix the adapter for the BDM operation. It usually allows sliding
the adapter up and down to get it into contact with the ECU BDM connector.
MULTIPLEXER
is an electronic circuit board for interfacing any adapter through the 10-pin IDC connector (MUX)
with one of the supported BDM tools through the designated 10-pin IDC connector (FGTECH,
XPROG, BDM100&KTAG).
TOOL
is a third party piece of equipment used for BDM operation – supported tools include
BDM100, FGTECH, KTAG and XPROG.

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ECUBAY.COM BDM adapter user manual

Introduction
ECUBAY.COM BDM adapter is an electronic circuit intended for BDM operation on supported ECU. The
adapter provides pogo pin based connectors for interfacing the ECU BDM connector. Interfacing the
supported tool is made by the use of intermediate circuit board (multiplexer) that connects to the adapter
over the MUX connector and to the tool over the desired tool connector (FGTECH, XPROG,
BDM100&KTAG).

All ECUBAY.COM BDM adapters support the following tools:

• BDM100
• KTAG
• XPROG
• FGTECH

Features:
• rugged 2.5 mm thick PCB with round edges to maximize robustness
• two white illumination LEDs to ease the positioning on the ECU BDM pins
• single interface connector (MUX) for tools
• support for four tools over the multiplexer board to maximize usability
• selectable ECU power source allows tool or external ECU power (for Bosch adapter only)
• +12V and ground headers for ECU power source (for Siemens, Marelli, Delphi adapters only)

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Adapters
Adapter must be interfaced with the multiplexer board. Do not connect the adapter directly to the tool
because the connector pin out on the adapter MUX connector does not match the tool pin out.
Several types of adapters are available, each supporting certain type of ECU. Also adapters come in two
different widths to fit the frames with the 6 cm or 4 cm saddle. Two white LEDs found on the bottom of each
adapter are used to illuminate the area where the pogo pins need to touch the ECU BDM connector.

Bosch adapter

Bosch adapter does NOT provide standard BDM pin out as defined by the Motorola, but uses proprietary
pin out. Pin 1 is located on the back and right side of the adapter.
Bosch adapter is a bit different from other adapters since it provides +12 V ECU power on the pogo pins –
pin 9 and pin 2. The ECU power can be either delivered by:
• the tool (BDM100, KTAG) or,
• by the external source of +12 V (same power as for adapter white LEDs)
The control over the ECU power is made possible by the three pin header found on the Bosch adapter.
When placing header jumper over the right and middle pin, the ECU power needs to be delivered by the
tool – use in combination with BDM100 and KTAG tools. On the other hand, when placing the header
jumper over the left and middle pin, the ECU power shall be delivered by the external +12 V source (see
multiplexer board) – use in combination with XPROG and FGTECH tools.

Delphi adapter
Delphi adapter provides standard BDM pin out – as defined by the Motorola. Pin 1 is located on the back
and right side of the adapter. To power the ECU one can use multiplexer board J3 connector that delivers
+12 V and J2 that delivers ground.

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Siemens adapter

Siemens adapter provides standard BDM pin out – as defined by the Motorola. Pin 1 is located on the back
and left side of the adapter. To power the ECU one can use multiplexer board J3 connector that delivers
+12 V and J2 that delivers ground.

Marelli adapter

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Marelli adapter provides standard BDM pin out – as defined by the Motorola. Pin 1 is located on the front
and right side of the adapter. To power the ECU one can use multiplexer board J3 connector that delivers
+12 V and J2 that delivers ground.

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Multiplexer
The multiplexer board interconnects and routes the appropriate BDM signals from the tool connected to the
desired 10-pin IDC tool connector (FGTECH, XPROG, BDM100&KTAG) to the 10-pin IDC adapter
connector (MUX).
Along with the BDM signals the multiplexer board also provides external power connector (J1) where +12 V
can be supplied. The external power from J1 connector is used for several purposes:
● powering the illumination LEDs found on the adapter,
● supplying the ECU power on pogo pin(s) – Bosch adapters only,
● supplying the +12 V power on J3 connector that can be used to power the ECU – non-Bosch
adapters
● supplying the ground on J2 connector that can be used to power the ECU – non-Bosch adapters

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Precautions
Disconnect any power sources or power off the power source to the adapter or the ECU before use.
Make sure that the tool is disconnected from the multiplexer board.
All adapters must be interfaced with the multiplexer board.
Do not connect the adapter directly to the tool, use the multiplexer board to interface the adapter to the tool.

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Usage
Steps outlined below describe a safe procedure when connecting and powering up the setup. Always be
sure to provide the ECU power (from either tool or external source) after the adapter has been secured in a
desired position - touching the ECU BDM pads. This will prevent you from short circuiting the setup.

1. Open the ECU

● at least one part of the casing (top or bottom) needs to be removed
● refer to other sources (Internet) to get information on which part needs removing on your
ECU

2. Locate the ECU BDM connector

● usually a set of 10 - 12 pads in two rows (depending on the ECU)
● pads may be 2.54 mm or 1.27 mm apart (depending on the ECU)
● rows may be 2.54 mm or 5.08 mm apart (depending on the ECU)
● if the ECU BDM connector can not be located, chances are that the BDM pads are scattered
all over the ECU PCB in which case you can not use the adapter directly - nevertheless it is
possible to manually route the adapter BDM signals to the ECU BDM pads (only for
advanced users)

3. Locate the ECU BDM pin 1 position

● pin 1 is usually not clearly marked on the ECU BDM pin out
● on an ECU with the standard Motorola BDM pin out pins 3 and 5 are connected to ground -
this can be checked either visually or using a multimeter tool
● refer to other sources (Internet) to get more information on the pin 1 position for your ECU

4. Place the desired adapter in the frame saddle

● make sure the pogo pins are facing out
● lift the saddle so that the ECU can be slided under the frame adapter saddle

5. Place the ECU on the frame

● inspect the adapter for pogo pin 1 location which is clearly marked
● rotate the ECU on the frame so that the adapter pogo pin 1 and ECU BDM pin 1 match
● make sure ECU is firmly sitting on the frame
● double check the ECU position

6. Connect the multiplexer board and adapter

● at this point multiplexer board should be connected to the adapter via MUX connector
● this will allow LEDs on the adapter to illuminate the area of interest (where the pogo pins
need to touch the ECU BDM pads)
● do not connect the tool yet

7. Connect the external power (+12 V) to the multiplexer

● multiplexer external power is used to power the LEDs on the adapter allowing easier
positioning of the adapter pogo pins on the ECU BDM pads
● red LED on multiplexer board will light up when external power (+12 V) is present
● at this point the white LEDs on the adapter should also light up
● do not connect the tool yet

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8. Fine tune the ECU position

● lower the frame adapter saddle to almost touch the ECU BDM pads
● each adapter pogo pin needs to sit on a separate ECU BDM pad
● if pogo pins do not sit on the pads you may be using the wrong adapter - do not use the
adapter in this case!

9. Lower the frame adapter saddle

● each adapter pogo pin should sit on one ECU BDM pad
● minimum down force should be applied when making the interconnection between the
adapter and ECU

10. Double check the adapter pogo pin and ECU BDM pad interconnection
● in order not to damage the ECU and/or tool make sure that the steps above have been
performed correctly

11. Connect the tool to the multiplexer board

● only connect one tool at any given moment to the multiplexer
● make sure to use the correct 10-pin IDC connector (FGTECH, XPROG, BDM100&KTAG)
for interfacing the tool used:
○ use provided 10-pin to 10-pin cable with FGTECH or BDM100 tools
○ use provided 10-pin to 16-pin cable with XPROG tool
○ use manufacturer 10-pin to 25-pin cable with KTAG tool
● do not connect the tool to the 10-pin IDC connector labeled MUX
● do not power up the tool yet

12. For Bosch adapter only

● Bosch ECUs need to have ECU power supplied on the pogo pins (2 and 9)
● some tools provide dedicated ECU power (BDM100, KTAG) while others do not
(XPROG, FGTECH)
● Bosch adapter can be used in both cases, providing that the jumper is properly placed on
the 3-pin header (found on the adapter)
● place the jumper on the adapter on the 3-pin header to the correct position:
○ place jumper over left and central pins when using XPROG and FGTECH tools - this will
use +12 V power delivered from the multiplexer board (external power) for powering the
ECU
○ place jumper over right and central pins when using BDM100 or KTAG tools - this will use
+12 V power delivered by the tool for powering the ECU

13. For Siemens, Delphi and Marelli adapters only

● Siemens, Delphi and Marelli do not provide ECU power on the pogo pins
● in order to power the ECU +12 V and ground signals needs to be connected to the ECU
separately (usually over the ECU interfacing connector)
● in this case ECU power can be taken from multiplexer board connectors J2 (+12 V) and J3
(ground), otherwise provide the +12 V ECU power from additional source
● refer to other sources (Internet) to get more information on the location of the +12 V and
ground pin location for your ECU

14. Connect the tool to the PC (or power up the tool)

● perform software installation as described by the tool manufacturer if not done already

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ECUBAY.COM BDM adapter user manual

● at this point the multiplexer, adapter and the ECU should be properly interconnected with
BDM signals and power lines
○ multiplexer red LED should be lit up
○ adapter white LEDs should be lit up
○ ECU power (+12 V) should be present
● connect the tool to the PC (usually done over USB or serial connection)

15. Perform BDM operation(s)

● start up the software package to operate the tool
● perform desired BDM operation(s)

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