08-08-2026, 10:44 AM
(This post was last modified: 08-08-2026, 10:46 AM by NobbyC_B738.)
Hi Ian,
I can comfirm your findings regarding P2 connector and that was exactly the reason why I asked that question in my first reply in this thread:
"3) do you have some annunciators connected to the 7 additional outputs on the P2 connector of one or more mastercards (output 49 ... 55)?"
Nothing to do with new variables, that have never been used before in the scrip. I use lots of such variables without any problem. The only reason is the use of the P2 connector. I tried 3 different mastercards and I always have had knob mismatch problems when using P2 connector. Disconnecting P2 and connecting the outputs to J2 connector of another (fourth) mastercard solves the problems immediately. I told my findings to another user, who has DU mismatch problems and he also confirms that he has got rid of the problems after disconnection outputs on P2 and connecting to a free J2 output
As a matter of fact it is a hardware problem and no script problem. I have started to find the real reason for that. But this will take some time because I'm actually rebuilding my complete OVH.
My ideas: during lights test 38 Annunciators are getting +5V over individual wires of the 40 pol. ribbon IDC cable (each appr. 0,02 A). But they all have their common ground connection on only one of these 0.08 mm² wires. That gives the wire 38 x 0,02 A = 0,760 A, what is just about acceptable for such a small wire. But when you have connected 7 additional annunciators on P2 than your card has to manage 45 x 0,02 A = 0,9 A, what may be too much for a wire or conductive track on the circuit board. The wire or conductive track than works as a resistor and for a short time during start of lights test you can have 2 different potentials on the ground track of the mastercard what may end up in uncontrolled switching of inputs. I could see this on SIOC monitor: When doing lights test with 45 annunciators connected to a mastercard, I saw some short flickering on some of the inputs that may be responsible for the uncontrolles switching of some knobs.
Another problem may be the poor PSU delivered by OC. If the PSU is not stable enough, voltage can drop during start of lights test.
As I said I'm actually rebuilding my OVH. What I do is to put 1mm² ground cables in parallel to each ribbon GND wire, and additionally I will connect all cards to a powerful high end PC PSU.
When I have finished I will report if P2 connectors can be used with better voltage stability measures or if P2 still causes trouble.
I can comfirm your findings regarding P2 connector and that was exactly the reason why I asked that question in my first reply in this thread:
"3) do you have some annunciators connected to the 7 additional outputs on the P2 connector of one or more mastercards (output 49 ... 55)?"
Nothing to do with new variables, that have never been used before in the scrip. I use lots of such variables without any problem. The only reason is the use of the P2 connector. I tried 3 different mastercards and I always have had knob mismatch problems when using P2 connector. Disconnecting P2 and connecting the outputs to J2 connector of another (fourth) mastercard solves the problems immediately. I told my findings to another user, who has DU mismatch problems and he also confirms that he has got rid of the problems after disconnection outputs on P2 and connecting to a free J2 output
As a matter of fact it is a hardware problem and no script problem. I have started to find the real reason for that. But this will take some time because I'm actually rebuilding my complete OVH.
My ideas: during lights test 38 Annunciators are getting +5V over individual wires of the 40 pol. ribbon IDC cable (each appr. 0,02 A). But they all have their common ground connection on only one of these 0.08 mm² wires. That gives the wire 38 x 0,02 A = 0,760 A, what is just about acceptable for such a small wire. But when you have connected 7 additional annunciators on P2 than your card has to manage 45 x 0,02 A = 0,9 A, what may be too much for a wire or conductive track on the circuit board. The wire or conductive track than works as a resistor and for a short time during start of lights test you can have 2 different potentials on the ground track of the mastercard what may end up in uncontrolled switching of inputs. I could see this on SIOC monitor: When doing lights test with 45 annunciators connected to a mastercard, I saw some short flickering on some of the inputs that may be responsible for the uncontrolles switching of some knobs.
Another problem may be the poor PSU delivered by OC. If the PSU is not stable enough, voltage can drop during start of lights test.
As I said I'm actually rebuilding my OVH. What I do is to put 1mm² ground cables in parallel to each ribbon GND wire, and additionally I will connect all cards to a powerful high end PC PSU.
When I have finished I will report if P2 connectors can be used with better voltage stability measures or if P2 still causes trouble.
Norbert
(EDDH)
(EDDH)