Learning Center

Mount the DIG™ ECU and run the cables

Put the DIG ECU by the cab with its port down, connect power at the battery, run the CAN harness over the boom to the sensors and the GPS cable through the mount loop, then check every position and do the final welds.

  • DIG™ Kit

The DIG™ ECU is the module that reads the sensors and the receiver and sends the bucket position to the tablet over its own Wi-Fi. It sits by the cab on magnets.

The wiring is short: power from the battery, a CAN harness over the boom to the stick sensor, a CAN patch cable on to the bucket sensor, and the GPS cable to the receiver. Then you run the machine through every position, fix anything that catches, and do the final welds.

How the DIG cables run on the machine Side view of an excavator from the left. 1: the DIG ECU beside the cab, port facing down. 2: the cables run along the top of the boom, tied down. 3: at the boom pin they cross close to the end of the pin with a little slack. 4: the CAN harness goes down the stick into the stick sensor's top port. 5: the CAN patch cable runs from the stick sensor's bottom port to the bucket sensor on the dogbone. 6: the GPS cable runs from the receiver through the loop on the mount and joins the other cables, with slack for the pendulum. 1 2 3 4 5 6
How the cables run, seen from the operator's left.
  1. DIG ECU beside the cab, port facing down.
  2. Along the boom, tied down.
  3. Past the boom pin, close to the end of the pin, with a little slack.
  4. Into the stick sensor's top port (the CAN harness).
  5. CAN patch cable from the stick sensor's bottom port to the bucket sensor.
  6. GPS cable from the receiver through the loop on the mount, with slack for the swing.

Before you start

  • You've read the DIG safety rules.
  • The GPS mount and both sensor plates are tacked on, and the sensors are fitted (Mount the sensors).
  • The machine is locked out: level ground, implements lowered, engine off, key out, hydraulic pressure relieved.
  • Machine power is disconnected while you route cables and connect the power leads.

You need: the DIG ECU with its magnetic mounts and screw-on Wi-Fi antenna, the main module harness with power leads, the CAN harness, the CAN patch cable, the GPS cable, heavy-duty cable ties, and a certified welder with welding protection for the final welds.

How long it takes: no set time; routing and tying cables takes the longest.

Mount the ECU

  1. Pick a protected spot beside the cab

    Somewhere knocks can't reach it, with a clear view through to where the tablet sits in the cab. Nothing solid in between keeps the Wi-Fi steady.

    The DIG ECU mounted by the cab The DIG ECU held on the steel beside the cab by its magnets, with its connector port facing down and the harness leaving downward, and the Wi-Fi antenna screwed on. A green dashed line shows a clear view from the ECU to the tablet inside the cab. Tablet DIGECU Antenna Port facing down Magnets
    The ECU on the steel beside the cab: magnets on the back, port facing down, antenna up, and a clear view to the tablet.

  2. Turn the ECU so its connector port faces down

    Water then can't collect in the port.

  3. Set it on the steel

    The magnetic mounts hold it in place.

  4. Screw on the Wi-Fi antenna

    Turn it until it's firm.

  5. Plug the main module harness into the ECU's port

    The port on the bottom of the ECU.

Connect the power

What connects to what Wiring schematic. The main module harness plugs into the DIG ECU. From it, the power leads go to the plus and minus terminals of the 12 volt battery, the GPS cable goes to the GPS receiver, and the CAN harness goes to the stick sensor's top port. The CAN patch cable runs from the stick sensor's bottom port to the bucket sensor's connector end. A red note warns that on a 24 volt machine the same voltage also reaches the GPS receiver, so check the receiver can run on 24 volts. GPS receiver DIG ECU Main moduleharness GPS cable Powerleads +− 12 V battery CANharness Stick sensor topport bottomport CAN patchcable Bucket sensor 24 V machine? That same voltage also goesto the GPS receiver. Check your receivercan run on 24 V before you connect.
What connects to what. The main module harness plugs into the ECU; the power leads, the GPS cable and the CAN harness connect to it. The CAN patch cable links the two sensors. Schematic: lengths and plug shapes are not to scale.

  1. Run the power cable from the battery to the main module harness

    Lay it along the frame from the battery to the end of the main module harness, clear of moving parts, and plug it in.

  2. Connect the power leads to the battery

    Connect the positive lead to the battery's + terminal and the negative lead to its − terminal. The DIG manual specifies a 12 V hook-up on the machine's grounded 12 V battery; on a 24 V machine, read the caution above first.

    Not sure which lead is which? Stop and call Ditch Assist support before you connect anything.

    The machine's own battery stays disconnected until the movement check below.

Run the cables

  1. Run the CAN harness from the ECU along the boom

    Take it along the top of the boom, toward the stick.

  2. Cross each joint close to the end of the pin

    Where the cable passes a joint, run it as close as you can to the end of the pivot pin. It then needs the least slack and is least likely to be pinched or stretched.

    Run cables close to the pin ends A joint drawn bent and open, with a cable tied to each side. Top row: the cable crosses the joint right next to the pin, so it is the same length whether the joint is bent or open. Bottom row: the cable cuts across the corner far from the pin, so it hangs loose and can snag when the joint is bent, and is pulled tight when the joint opens. Joint bentJoint open Close to the pin Same length either way Far from the pin Loose: it snagsPulled tight
    Top: close to the pin, the cable is the same length whether the joint is bent or open. Bottom: far from the pin, it hangs loose when bent and is pulled tight when open.

  3. Plug the CAN harness into the stick sensor's top port

    If you haven't already (Fit the sensors).

    A real install: the GPS on its mount at the top of the stick, the cables crossing beside the boom pin and running down the stick to the stick sensor, tied with cable ties
    A real install: the cables cross beside the boom pin and run down the stick to the stick sensor, tied every so often.

  4. Connect the CAN patch cable to the bucket sensor

    From the stick sensor's bottom port to the bucket sensor. The bucket sensor always connects on the side facing the cab, capped end away.

  5. Run the GPS cable through the loop on the mount

    From the receiver, up through the loop on top of the counterbalance plate, then down to the main module harness. See the mount drawing on Fit the GPS pendulum mount (items 5 and 8).

  6. Plug the GPS cable into the main module harness

    Leave enough slack for the pendulum to swing fully, then tie up the rest.

  7. Tie every cable down

    Use heavy-duty ties. No loops that can catch, nothing pinched, nothing stretched.

Check every position, then final-weld

  1. Take the lock-out off and reconnect the machine's power

    Check everyone is clear of the boom, stick and bucket first. Then reconnect the battery and start the machine.

  2. Run the machine slowly through every position

    The operator moves the boom, stick, bucket and swing through their full range, slowly. You watch every cable, mount and sensor from a safe distance and call stop if anything catches or pulls tight.

  3. Fix anything that catches

    Re-route cables or move a bracket. Tack again and repeat the check after any change.

  4. Lock out the machine and disconnect the battery

    Lower the bucket to the ground, shut the engine off, take the key out, relieve the hydraulic pressure and fit the lock-out/tag-out device.

  5. Take off the sensors, the ECU and the receiver

    Then remove or isolate every harness within 1 m (3 ft) of each weld.

  6. Have the certified welder finish the welds

    Final welds on Tube #1, Tube #2 and both sensor plates.

  7. Refit everything and reconnect the battery

    Sensors, ECU and receiver back on, every cable plugged in. You should see a pulsing red light on each sensor once the power is on.

Common mistakes

  • Connecting to 24 V without checking the receiver can take it.
  • GPS cable pulled tight, so the pendulum can't swing.
  • Cables run across the middle of a joint instead of near the pin ends.
  • ECU mounted port-up, or behind steel with no view of the cab.

Next: Calibrate DIG. Problems later: Fix DIG problems.

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