<p>RAMPS 1.6 is very similar to RAMPS 1.4. Most, if not all, of the changes are hardware improvements, without making the core functionality different. Looking at the incremental changes between versions:</p>
<p>To quote from RepRapWiki: <a href="https://reprap.org/wiki/RAMPS_1.5" rel="nofollow noreferrer">RAMPS 1.5</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>The RAMPS 1.5 is a variation of the popular RAMPS boards that, like
all other RAMPS boards, is plugged into an Arduino Mega for operation.
The layout of the RAMPS 1.5 is virtually identical to that of the
RAMPS 1.4. The only real difference between the two are the MOSFETs
and the fuses.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>To quote from RepRapWiki: <a href="https://reprap.org/wiki/RAMPS_1.6" rel="nofollow noreferrer">RAMPS 1.6</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>The RAMPS 1.6 is the second RAMPS iteration released by
BIQU/BIGTREETECH. It replaces the original green power connector with
a pair of screw terminals, adds a larger heatsink over the MOSFETS,
and has a larger bed MOSFET. It maintains the surface-mounted fuses
and flush MOSFETS of the RAMPS 1.5.</p>
<p>Also, the positions of the D1 and D2 diodes have been swapped from the
positions in RAMPS 1.4, the D1 diode is now the diode closest to fuse
F2. The same is true for RAMPS 1.5, also manufactured by
BIQU/BIGTREETECH.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>So, in short, yes, the RAMPS 1.6 <em>should</em> be a direct plug in replacement for the RAMPS 1.4.</p>
<p>That said, you <em>may</em> be able to salvage your RAMPS 1.4, if you can locate the part that has given up the &quot;magic smoke&quot;. It could just be a blown capacitor, or diode. There have been <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/search?q=RAMPS">a number of questions</a> relating to that, so it might be worth searching for answers here, on SE.3DP<sup>1</sup>.</p>
<p>It is probably also worth reading <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/5623/ramps-1-4-1-5-or-1-6">RAMPS 1.4, 1.5 or 1.6?</a></p>
<hr />
<h3>Additional links</h3>
<p>An interesting video, where a variety of RAMPS 1.4 boards are compared, is the first of a series, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWdm_KwDvd4" rel="nofollow noreferrer">RAMPS series 1 of 5 - Intro and board comparisons</a> - although beware the loud music...</p>
<p>There is also a RAMPS 1.6 Plus, and a RAMPS 1.4.2 which might be worth considering. I wrote up about these, briefly, <em>(disclosure) in my personal blog</em>, a couple of years ago: <a href="https://gr33nonline.wordpress.com/2016/11/16/3d-printer-control-boards/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">3D Printer control boards</a>.</p>
<hr />
<h3>Footnote</h3>
<p><sup>1</sup> Such as <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/3417/how-drastic-is-reversing-the-polarity-of-the-power-supply-to-a-ramps-board">How drastic is reversing the polarity of the power supply to a RAMPS board?</a>, which might be relevant in your case.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-22T14:46:41.100Z
Great! Thanks for the answer, I did thought about  repairing the board, but decided to stick to a plug and play solution this time.
Andrés
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-26T09:04:50.697Z
You should also consider just buying a proper board instead of another outdated RAMPS. The price difference is almost negligible these days.
towe
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-22T13:48:17.210Z
2019-08-22T21:07:33.783Z
2020-06-18T08:29:41.667Z
Greenonline
<p>During the assembly of my printer, I accidentally shorted the RAMPS 1.4 board, looking for a replacement I found the RAMPS 1.6 which would eliminate the need for a MOSFET power module.</p>

<p>My question is, could I simply replace the RAMPS 1.4 for the 1.6 or should I make any other modification?</p>

<p>My printer is a Prusa i3 Graber Clone running Marlin</p>

<ramps-1.4><electronics><ramps><ramps-1.6>
Replacing RAMPS 1.4 for 1.6
Andrés
# Replacing RAMPS 1.4 for 1.6

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-08-21)

During the assembly of my printer, I accidentally shorted the RAMPS 1.4 board, looking for a replacement I found the RAMPS 1.6 which would eliminate the need for a MOSFET power module.

My question is, could I simply replace the RAMPS 1.4 for the 1.6 or should I make any other modification?

My printer is a Prusa i3 Graber Clone running Marlin

**Tags:** ramps-1.4, electronics, ramps, ramps-1.6


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-08-22. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

RAMPS 1.6 is very similar to RAMPS 1.4. Most, if not all, of the changes are hardware improvements, without making the core functionality different. Looking at the incremental changes between versions:

To quote from RepRapWiki: [RAMPS 1.5](https://reprap.org/wiki/RAMPS_1.5)

> The RAMPS 1.5 is a variation of the popular RAMPS boards that, like
> all other RAMPS boards, is plugged into an Arduino Mega for operation.
> The layout of the RAMPS 1.5 is virtually identical to that of the
> RAMPS 1.4. The only real difference between the two are the MOSFETs
> and the fuses.

To quote from RepRapWiki: [RAMPS 1.6](https://reprap.org/wiki/RAMPS_1.6)

> The RAMPS 1.6 is the second RAMPS iteration released by
> BIQU/BIGTREETECH. It replaces the original green power connector with
> a pair of screw terminals, adds a larger heatsink over the MOSFETS,
> and has a larger bed MOSFET. It maintains the surface-mounted fuses
> and flush MOSFETS of the RAMPS 1.5.
>
> Also, the positions of the D1 and D2 diodes have been swapped from the
> positions in RAMPS 1.4, the D1 diode is now the diode closest to fuse
> F2. The same is true for RAMPS 1.5, also manufactured by
> BIQU/BIGTREETECH.

So, in short, yes, the RAMPS 1.6 *should* be a direct plug in replacement for the RAMPS 1.4.

That said, you *may* be able to salvage your RAMPS 1.4, if you can locate the part that has given up the "magic smoke". It could just be a blown capacitor, or diode. There have been [a number of questions](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/search?q=RAMPS) relating to that, so it might be worth searching for answers here, on SE.3DP1.

It is probably also worth reading [RAMPS 1.4, 1.5 or 1.6?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/5623/ramps-1-4-1-5-or-1-6)

---

### Additional links

An interesting video, where a variety of RAMPS 1.4 boards are compared, is the first of a series, [RAMPS series 1 of 5 - Intro and board comparisons](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWdm_KwDvd4) - although beware the loud music...

There is also a RAMPS 1.6 Plus, and a RAMPS 1.4.2 which might be worth considering. I wrote up about these, briefly, *(disclosure) in my personal blog*, a couple of years ago: [3D Printer control boards](https://gr33nonline.wordpress.com/2016/11/16/3d-printer-control-boards/).

---

### Footnote

1 Such as [How drastic is reversing the polarity of the power supply to a RAMPS board?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/3417/how-drastic-is-reversing-the-polarity-of-the-power-supply-to-a-ramps-board), which might be relevant in your case.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Great! Thanks for the answer, I did thought about  repairing the board, but decided to stick to a plug and play solution this time.  
> **username_2**: You should also consider just buying a proper board instead of another outdated RAMPS. The price difference is almost negligible these days.  

---

