I have connected my 32 point output module, and just reading through the docs for it, I'm a little unclear on a couple of things.I have used three 5 volt lights for my landing gear indicators. The docs say "If multiple power supplies are used(5/12/24) volt etc. etc.I guess my question is:I have the 12 volt power supply connected to my Output Module. How do I seperate out the power to connect my 5 volt lamps, and even my LED's. Connecting wires to the expansion board is easy enough, but dealing with powering my Lights and LED's is a little over my head, I don't want to burn out my Output Module. Can anyone with some experience with the Output Module give me a hint on connecting these items that have differing voltage. Do I just need to find all 12 volt Lights and LED's or what?Thanks for all your help and a great forum.Eric

I prefer to stay with a single voltage but using two is okay as long as you don't mix them up.On the Output Module are two voltage inputs. One is a female plug to power the Output Module itself; the other is a screw terminal to power the lights. The Output Module requires between 9 -12 vdc. To power your lights, simply connect the voltage (watch the polarity) your lights require (5vdc or 12vdc) to the screw terminals. You will also need to run either the plus voltage or the ground directly from the screw terminal to your lights, aside from the ribbon cable (check the documentation or ask again and I'll check). One last thing, there is a jumper on the output module that must be set according to the position of the Output Module. Until the jumper is set, your lights won't work.For leds, you'll need to compute the current (current = voltage /resistance). Your led documentation will tell you the max current allowed before burnout. For 12vdc, I use 1000 ohm or 1K resistors. At 5vdc, a 500 ohm resistor should be okay. To be safe, you can start with a 1k and then try a 500 ohm. The lower the resistor value in ohms, the more current, the brighter the led and the shorter it's lifetime (0 Ohms = 0 lifetime).Ask again anything that is not clear.

Take a look at this, it may help.

Thanks alot. This all really helps. I think I get it now. If I use 12vdc lamps and LED's I can use the 1 pin on the ribbon as the power side and hook the other side to the one of the rest of the ribbons leads right? Then no other power is needed correct?Thanks,EricP.S. I really appreciate all the help, it's made making my dream come true that much easier. Watch Your Six!

The EPIC documentation suggest you not use the positive voltage from the ribbon cable to power the lamps. The reason they say that is because if you connect too many lamps to the 32 outputs on that ribbon cable, you could draw too much current through that one wire. So they suggest you run a separate wire from the positive side of your power supply to your lights.

Got It. Thanks again.Eric

>The EPIC documentation suggest you not use the positive>voltage from the ribbon cable to power the lamps. The reason>they say that is because if you connect too many lamps to the>32 outputs on that ribbon cable, you could draw too much>current through that one wire. So they suggest you run a>separate wire from the positive side of your power supply to>your lights.>>I wonder why they even bother to output 12vdc on pin 1...

Been there, done that....:-)