<p>The pad in question appears to be a continuation of the Ground pad, which when connected to the pad immediately 'above' (per the images) puts the receiver into 'boot' mode.</p>
<p>See <a href="https://www.expresslrs.org/2.0/quick-start/receivers/hmep2400/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.expresslrs.org/2.0/quick-start/receivers/hmep2400/</a></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/qhb2y.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/qhb2y.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a>
<em>Image from above link</em></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-03T11:59:43.697Z
Thank you. You are very helpful.
Albert Lyubarsky
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-01-30T23:42:38.047Z
It should be noted that the `pad immediately 'above'` is the `SPI CLK` pad, that could be used not only for the 'boot' mode but also for the [VRx Backpack](https://www.expresslrs.org/hardware/backpack/backpack-vrx-setup/), for example.
Igor
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-03T08:47:58.810Z
2022-08-03T08:47:58.810Z
Kralc
<p>I have soldered wires to &quot;HappyModel EP2 2.4G ExpressLRS  Receiver&quot;.
There is one pad I don't know and can't find what it is for.
See the pic &quot;EP2 RX connection diagram&quot;.
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/aWQ7h.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/aWQ7h.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a>
The problem is it was my first time I soldered something real (let alone test boards for practice).</p>
<p>As you can see on the picture GND pad and &quot;unknown&quot; pad are really close.</p>
<p>Maybe my solder leaked from GND to &quot;unknown&quot;.
I cannot see with my eyes. But what I can do is to make a continuity test with my multimeter. I can hear a buzzer sound.
So two pads are connected. But I don't know if it is my bad soldering or it was designed.</p>
<p>Very interesting that a receiver model EP1 seems to have GND and &quot;unknown&quot; <strong>connected</strong> as you can see on the picture  &quot;EP1 RX connection diagram&quot;  .
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/pTxS1.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/pTxS1.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>BTW, I have seen an ELRS receiver from BetaFPV where is the pad very similar to &quot;unknown&quot;.</p>
<p>(BETAFPV ELRS Lite Receiver 2.4GHz)
However there is a documentation about this:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&quot;Firmware upgrade button (Use a metal object to short-circuit the GND
while powering on)&quot;</p>
</blockquote>
<p>When I soldered wires to the board ( connected the receiver ) , sometimes when I <strong>touch or move</strong> the receiver, the drone disconnects from the computer (USB connection) and even all lights stop blinking.
Looks like a shortage or some joints not soldered reliably by me.
Anyway I accurately stuck the receiver with mounting tape, closed the drone. And it flies. It was the first fly test - take off, hover a little bit, forward, turn and landing.
However, I am afraid that with more aggressive flight the receiver could disconnect.</p>
<p>Long story short, if somebody knows what the hell the &quot;unknown&quot; pad is and if it should be connected to GND by default.</p>
<p>P.S. Actually it is very easy to check with a new receiver, just make a continuity test.
I would do it by myself, but I am a beginner in soldering and really afraid of re-soldering everything.</p>

<receiver><soldering>
What is this pad on the HappyModel EP2 2.4G ExpressLRS Receiver?
Albert Lyubarsky
# What is this pad on the HappyModel EP2 2.4G ExpressLRS Receiver?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-08-02)

I have soldered wires to "HappyModel EP2 2.4G ExpressLRS Receiver".
There is one pad I don't know and can't find what it is for.
See the pic "EP2 RX connection diagram".
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/aWQ7h.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/aWQ7h.jpg)
The problem is it was my first time I soldered something real (let alone test boards for practice).

As you can see on the picture GND pad and "unknown" pad are really close.

Maybe my solder leaked from GND to "unknown".
I cannot see with my eyes. But what I can do is to make a continuity test with my multimeter. I can hear a buzzer sound.
So two pads are connected. But I don't know if it is my bad soldering or it was designed.

Very interesting that a receiver model EP1 seems to have GND and "unknown" **connected** as you can see on the picture "EP1 RX connection diagram" .
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/pTxS1.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/pTxS1.jpg)

BTW, I have seen an ELRS receiver from BetaFPV where is the pad very similar to "unknown".

(BETAFPV ELRS Lite Receiver 2.4GHz)
However there is a documentation about this:

> "Firmware upgrade button (Use a metal object to short-circuit the GND
> while powering on)"

When I soldered wires to the board ( connected the receiver ) , sometimes when I **touch or move** the receiver, the drone disconnects from the computer (USB connection) and even all lights stop blinking.
Looks like a shortage or some joints not soldered reliably by me.
Anyway I accurately stuck the receiver with mounting tape, closed the drone. And it flies. It was the first fly test - take off, hover a little bit, forward, turn and landing.
However, I am afraid that with more aggressive flight the receiver could disconnect.

Long story short, if somebody knows what the hell the "unknown" pad is and if it should be connected to GND by default.

P.S. Actually it is very easy to check with a new receiver, just make a continuity test.
I would do it by myself, but I am a beginner in soldering and really afraid of re-soldering everything.

**Tags:** receiver, soldering


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-08-03. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

The pad in question appears to be a continuation of the Ground pad, which when connected to the pad immediately 'above' (per the images) puts the receiver into 'boot' mode.

See <https://www.expresslrs.org/2.0/quick-start/receivers/hmep2400/>

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/qhb2y.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/qhb2y.png)
*Image from above link*

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you. You are very helpful.  
> **username_2**: It should be noted that the `pad immediately 'above'` is the `SPI CLK` pad, that could be used not only for the 'boot' mode but also for the [VRx Backpack](https://www.expresslrs.org/hardware/backpack/backpack-vrx-setup/), for example.  

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