Open Cockpits Input Groupings

[ETomlin]

Does anyone know if OC uses groups or 8+ground or 9+ground on their input design?

[Trevor Hale]

Eric,

Appears all switches can use the same Ground, but Open Cockpits splits them into groups of 10.

I would think all grounds could eb commoned.

Connector J3 provides 36 inputs from 000 to 035, in four
groups of 9 inputs each plus a tenth pin that is the
ground (gnd) for each group.

From #1 pin to #9 is the first group, with #10 pin for gnd.
From #11 pin to #19 is the second group, with the #20 pin for gnd. From #21 pin to #29 is the third group, with the #30 pin for gnd. From #31 pin to #39 is the fourth group, with the #40 pin for gnd.

Connector J4 provides 36 inputs from 036 to 071, in four groups of 9 inputs each one plus a tenth pin that is the ground (gnd) for each group.

Trev

[ETomlin]

Thanks Trev, much appreciated. I have quite the task ahead of me now. Scott was very kind to send me some of his old developmental LJ45 parts that he was using before switching to the 737 to save me some time on temp parts, and he wired it as should be for OC inputs. I use the FDS SYS boards which uses 8+1 so I will indeed be doing some re-soldering.

[fordgt40]

Trev

Have you actually done this successfully as I am not certain that you can group/common the input grounds. I will try to do some checks later on my cards.

Regards

David

[Trevor Hale]

No I have not done this, I don't own OC Hardware, but Each Master card has those groups of 10 pins labled with a Ground, Surely all the grounds would be common, if they are common to 9 inputs..  I would be willing to check it out.  you couldn't do any harm by trying.  But be aware.. the manual officially states, Group inputs in groups of 9+ground. 

[Trevor Hale]

I use the FDS SYS boards which uses 8+1 so I will indeed be doing some re-soldering.

Yeah, otherwise it might be a waste..  So if you are "Pre Configuring" before you receive the cards, I would wire them as I stated above..  That way you know you haven't wasted your time if grouping all the commons don't work.

Trev

[ETomlin]

No, I have all my input cards already. This issue came up yesterday as I was mapping out all the wiring Scott had already done (the whole unit) and realized there appeared to be more than 8 items grouped together and at the moment he and I were on the phone, he couldnt remember if it was 8+1 or 9+1 so I asked you guys here. Now that it's confirmed I can see I will be resoldering.

Anyhow, thanks guys. Happy New year too!

[Trevor Hale]

You are very welcome Eric.  A very Happy New Year to you and your family as well.

[fordgt40]

I think that I may have misunderstood an earlier post

The inputs are grouped in blocks of 9 inputs with their own common ground within that block. I thought it was being suggested that each "block" ground can be common to all the other blocks.

Regards

David

[Trevor Hale]

Well in a way it was.. so you didn't misunderstand.  I just meant that the manual states 9 + 1 GND.  but if I had the cards in my possession, I would try to see if all the grounds could be commoned just to see the result

[XOrionFE]

I have tried that Trevor and it doesnt work unfortunately.  That would have made things much easier for sure.    The part that Eric has is my old Flight Guidance Controller for the Learjet and there are about 15 switches on that thing in a small space.    It was a challenge wiring it for my Open Cockpits master card because of these groupings.    I gave the FGC to Eric when I changed my project to the 737 and now the poor guy has to unravel my birds nest.....

[Trevor Hale]

LOL.  Oh boy.. I know what that is like.  Understanding ones own wiring is one thing, but trying to understand someone elses, now thats a real challenge LOL

I appreciate this feedback.  I am glad to know its 9+1 or bust LOL.

[ETomlin]

I have tried that Trevor and it doesnt work unfortunately.  That would have made things much easier for sure.    The part that Eric has is my old Flight Guidance Controller for the Learjet and there are about 15 switches on that thing in a small space.    It was a challenge wiring it for my Open Cockpits master card because of these groupings.    I gave the FGC to Eric when I changed my project to the 737 and now the poor guy has to unravel my birds nest.....

Actually last night I did some testing to see how hard it would be to use it as Scott wired it but have determined I definately have to make some changes.

However, after lying down in bed I had an epiphany- I can keep pretty much all the input side the same by simply removing the grounds only and making up one ground harness for the first 8 then a 2nd one for the 2nd group of 8 and direct solder (like you did the red/power harness to all the LEDs) and just save myself the heartache of all the mini-jumpers like you did for the input side. It's brilliant, and saves me TONS of re work :-) I am super happy now I only have to desolder about 15 items and then resolder them as a ground harness.