(Topic ID: 100924)

KAHR.US Announces Pro daughterboard with monitoring functionality

By rkahr

9 years ago


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    #1 9 years ago

    Pinball Peers,

    Today I want to call your attention to an upgraded version of my daughterboard combining the functionality of my original daughterboard and new functionality that monitors the health of the Power Driver Board's 5 volt circuit. The new version (which I call the "Pro" daughterboard) has the additional capability of monitoring the original PDB 5 volt line for under-voltage conditions that "would have" triggered an MPU reset had the daughterboard not been installed. A green LED will illuminate at power-up and remain lit until an under-voltage is detected. Upon sensing an under-voltage the daughterboard switches off the green LED and illuminates a red LED. The daughterboard latches on the under-voltage detection meaning it will continue to light the red LED indefinitely until cleared by a three-second power off.

    When I released the original daughterboard in February, some concerns were raised about the reset being an early indicator for needed power supply maintenance and that by preventing resets the indication is lost. As I hinted in the CreditDotPinball article, I took that concern seriously. Now the Pro version reveals this “lost” data point.

    The Pro Daughterboard is only $10 more expensive than the Classic and of course the Classic Daughterboard will continue to be available for those not wanting the additional capability.

    I still like my daughterboard designs because:
    (1) It is a plug-and-play installation and the installation is completely reversible. No soldering and no wire or trace cutting is required to install the daughterboard so it can be removed from your machine as quickly as it can be installed.
    (2) The watchdog circuit remains fully functional monitoring the power on the MPU board where the most sensitive chips (processor, ASIC, game roms) are located. But off-MPU hiccups no longer cascade into the MPU to trigger watchdog resets.
    (3) The resultant redistribution of power loads is an improved balance across the available supplies compared to the factory design.

    You can find detailed technical descriptions of my daughterboard on my KAHR.US Circuits website at http://www.kahr.us . You can buy one through my website or through eBay.

    As always, my dautherboard solution is not intended to substitute for maintaining the power supply circuitry in WPC systems, but it does eliminate the need to fret over every hundredth of a volt.

    Thanks for taking the time to take a look.

    -Rob
    -visit http://www.kahr.us to get my daughterboard that helps fix WPC pinball resets

    #2 9 years ago

    The original product works like a charm, but this sounds even better. Thanks Rob for a great solution for a very common and frustrating problem!

    #3 9 years ago

    I'm marking this as a favorite thread. I still have occasional resets on my TZ, despite making numerous upgrades to the power driver board.

    #4 9 years ago

    Impressive Rob! Improving on an awesome product.

    #5 9 years ago

    This is excellent!

    #6 9 years ago

    Awesome to see! I will be purchasing a few to have for my games on location! I have one currently installed on my Addams and have never seen a reset since the location added another pizza oven that isn't even on the same breaker. Weird stuff

    #7 9 years ago

    Here's the Ebay link: ebay.com link: itm

    -Rob
    -visit http://www.kahr.us to get my daughterboard that helps fix WPC pinball resets

    #8 9 years ago

    I put the original version on my TAF & never had another reset. I like the "Look what you almost stepped in" feature of the new one though. If only it had a remote indicator...version 3 here we come!

    #9 9 years ago

    KMP, WTR, FPG, ??? (Ken), BOB,

    Thanks for the encouraging words!

    -Rob
    -visit http://www.kahr.us to get my daughterboard that helps fix WPC pinball resets

    #10 9 years ago

    Okay, you've finally sold me on these. I'm definitely interested in purchasing at least one or two now. Great work. I've never had any reset issues at my house, but I fear the day I do. =P STTNG has so much stuff in it it's a miracle it functions.... color DMD, GI OCD, LED OCD, etc...lol..

    1 week later
    #11 9 years ago

    Those who ordered during the Labor Day holiday, thanks for your patience... I'm back home now and everything is ready to ship in the morning. The beach was nice!

    -Rob
    -visit http://www.kahr.us to get my daughterboard that helps fix WPC pinball resets

    #12 9 years ago

    Hi Rob
    Will you be doing the 4 pack Pro Daughterboard for Australian and EU customers.

    #13 9 years ago
    Quoted from gum:

    Hi Rob
    Will you be doing the 4 pack Pro Daughterboard for Australian and EU customers.

    Yes.

    -Rob
    -visit http://www.kahr.us to get my daughterboard that helps fix WPC pinball resets

    #14 9 years ago
    Quoted from gum:

    Hi Rob
    Will you be doing the 4 pack Pro Daughterboard for Australian and EU customers.

    Gum,

    Apologize I was brief this morning - trying to get the teen-ager out the door for the first day of school and still get myself to work on time...

    Anyway, I just added the 4-pack of Pro's to my website.

    -Rob
    -visit http://www.kahr.us to get my daughterboard that helps fix WPC pinball resets

    #15 9 years ago

    Awesome product! I ordered 3 for my route for the "problem children". Works like a charm!

    #16 9 years ago

    This is a great product folks!

    2 years later
    #17 7 years ago

    Just ordered a PRO today!
    I'm planning for anything that may happen with my next WPC game that needs it.

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