diff --git a/src/ophyd_epics_devices/panda.py b/src/ophyd_epics_devices/panda.py
index 4f75bc0..21ba965 100644
--- a/src/ophyd_epics_devices/panda.py
+++ b/src/ophyd_epics_devices/panda.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
 import atexit
 import re
 from enum import Enum
@@ -92,11 +94,37 @@ class PVIEntry(TypedDict, total=False):
     x: str
 
 
-def block_name_number(block_name: str) -> Tuple[str, int]:
-    m = re.match("^([a-z]+)([0-9]*)$", block_name)
-    assert m, f"Expected '<block_name><block_num>', got '{block_name}'"
-    name, num = m.groups()
-    return name, int(num or 1)
+def block_name_number(block_name: str) -> Tuple[str, Optional[int]]:
+    """Maps a panda block name to a block and number.
+
+    There are exceptions to this rule; some blocks like pcap do not contain numbers.
+    Other blocks may contain numbers and letters, but no numbers at the end.
+
+    Such block names will only return the block name, and not a number.
+
+    If this function returns both a block name and number, it should be instantiated
+    into a device vector."""
+    m = re.match("^([0-9a-z_-]*)([0-9]+)$", block_name)
+    if m is not None:
+        name, num = m.groups()
+        return name, int(num or 1)  # just to pass type checks.
+
+    return block_name, None
+
+
+def _remove_inconsistent_blocks(pvi: Dict[str, PVIEntry]) -> None:
+    """Remove blocks from pvi information.
+
+    This is needed because some pandas have 'pcap' and 'pcap1' blocks, which are
+    inconsistent with the assumption that pandas should only have a 'pcap' block,
+    for example.
+
+    """
+    pvi_keys = set(pvi.keys())
+    for k in pvi_keys:
+        kn = re.sub(r"\d*$", "", k)
+        if kn and k != kn and kn in pvi_keys:
+            del pvi[k]
 
 
 async def pvi_get(pv: str, ctxt: Context, timeout: float = 5.0) -> Dict[str, PVIEntry]:
@@ -106,6 +134,7 @@ async def pvi_get(pv: str, ctxt: Context, timeout: float = 5.0) -> Dict[str, PVI
 
     for attr_name, attr_info in pv_info.items():
         result[attr_name] = PVIEntry(**attr_info)  # type: ignore
+    _remove_inconsistent_blocks(result)
     return result
 
 
@@ -116,8 +145,8 @@ class PandA(Device):
     seq: DeviceVector[SeqBlock]
     pcap: PcapBlock
 
-    def __init__(self, prefix: str, name: str = "") -> None:
-        self._init_prefix = prefix
+    def __init__(self, pv: str) -> None:
+        self._init_prefix = pv
         self.pvi_mapping: Dict[FrozenSet[str], Callable[..., Signal]] = {
             frozenset({"r", "w"}): lambda dtype, rpv, wpv: epics_signal_rw(
                 dtype, rpv, wpv
@@ -142,9 +171,9 @@ def _del_ctxt():
 
         return PandA._ctxt
 
-    def verify_block(self, name: str, num: int):
+    def verify_block(self, name: str, num: Optional[int]):
         """Given a block name and number, return information about a block."""
-        anno = get_type_hints(self).get(name)
+        anno = get_type_hints(self, globalns=globals()).get(name)
 
         block: Device = Device()
 
@@ -153,11 +182,13 @@ def verify_block(self, name: str, num: int):
             block = type_args[0]() if type_args else anno()
 
             if not type_args:
-                assert num == 1, f"Only expected one {name} block, got {num}"
+                assert num is None, f"Only expected one {name} block, got {num}"
 
         return block
 
-    async def _make_block(self, name: str, num: int, block_pv: str, sim: bool = False):
+    async def _make_block(
+        self, name: str, num: Optional[int], block_pv: str, sim: bool = False
+    ):
         """Makes a block given a block name containing relevant signals.
 
         Loops through the signals in the block (found using type hints), if not in
@@ -165,7 +196,7 @@ async def _make_block(self, name: str, num: int, block_pv: str, sim: bool = Fals
         """
         block = self.verify_block(name, num)
 
-        field_annos = get_type_hints(block)
+        field_annos = get_type_hints(block, globalns=globals())
         block_pvi = await pvi_get(block_pv, self.ctxt) if not sim else None
 
         # finds which fields this class actually has, e.g. delay, width...
@@ -230,11 +261,18 @@ def _make_signal(self, signal_pvi: PVIEntry, dtype: Optional[Type] = None):
 
         return signal_factory(dtype, "pva://" + read_pv, "pva://" + write_pv)
 
-    def set_attribute(self, name, num, block):
-        anno = get_type_hints(self).get(name)
+    # TODO redo to set_panda_block? confusing name
+    def set_attribute(self, name: str, num: Optional[int], block: Device):
+        """Set a block on the panda.
+
+        Need to be able to set device vectors on the panda as well, e.g. if num is not
+        None, need to be able to make a new device vector and start populating it...
+        """
+        anno = get_type_hints(self, globalns=globals()).get(name)
 
-        # get_origin to see if it's a device vector.
-        if (anno == DeviceVector[PulseBlock]) or (anno == DeviceVector[SeqBlock]):
+        # if it's an annotated device vector, or it isn't but we've got a number then
+        # make a DeviceVector on the class
+        if get_origin(anno) == DeviceVector or (not anno and num is not None):
             self.__dict__.setdefault(name, DeviceVector())[num] = block
         else:
             setattr(self, name, block)
@@ -251,7 +289,7 @@ async def connect(self, sim=False) -> None:
         pvi = await pvi_get(self._init_prefix + ":PVI", self.ctxt) if not sim else None
         hints = {
             attr_name: attr_type
-            for attr_name, attr_type in get_type_hints(self).items()
+            for attr_name, attr_type in get_type_hints(self, globalns=globals()).items()
             if not attr_name.startswith("_")
         }
 
@@ -283,8 +321,9 @@ async def connect(self, sim=False) -> None:
                     "d"
                 ], f"Expected PandA to only contain blocks, got {entry}"
             else:
-                block = await self._make_block(block_name, 1, "sim://", sim=sim)
-                self.set_attribute(block_name, 1, block)
+                num = 1 if get_origin(hints[block_name]) == DeviceVector else None
+                block = await self._make_block(block_name, num, "sim://", sim=sim)
+                self.set_attribute(block_name, num, block)
 
         self.set_name(self.name)
         await super().connect(sim)
diff --git a/tests/db/panda.db b/tests/db/panda.db
index 3589d4f..faf4444 100644
--- a/tests/db/panda.db
+++ b/tests/db/panda.db
@@ -452,11 +452,11 @@ $(EXCLUDE_PCAP=)        }
 $(EXCLUDE_PCAP=)    })
 $(EXCLUDE_PCAP=)}
 
-$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_SIGNAL=#)record(ao, "$(IOC_NAME=PANDAQSRV):PCAP:ARM2")
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_SIGNAL=#)record(ao, "$(IOC_NAME=PANDAQSRV):PCAP:NEWSIGNAL")
 $(INCLUDE_EXTRA_SIGNAL=#){
 $(INCLUDE_EXTRA_SIGNAL=#)    info(Q:group, {
 $(INCLUDE_EXTRA_SIGNAL=#)        "$(IOC_NAME=PANDAQSRV):PCAP:PVI": {
-$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_SIGNAL=#)            "pvi.arm2.x": {
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_SIGNAL=#)            "pvi.newsignal.x": {
 $(INCLUDE_EXTRA_SIGNAL=#)                "+channel": "NAME",
 $(INCLUDE_EXTRA_SIGNAL=#)                "+type": "plain"
 $(INCLUDE_EXTRA_SIGNAL=#)            }
@@ -480,10 +480,10 @@ $(EXCLUDE_PCAP=)    })
 $(EXCLUDE_PCAP=)}
 
 
-$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)record(ao, "$(IOC_NAME=PANDAQSRV):EXTRA:ARM")
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)record(ao, "$(IOC_NAME=PANDAQSRV):EXTRA1:ARM")
 $(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#){
 $(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)    info(Q:group, {
-$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)        "$(IOC_NAME=PANDAQSRV):EXTRA:PVI": {
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)        "$(IOC_NAME=PANDAQSRV):EXTRA1:PVI": {
 $(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)            "pvi.arm.x": {
 $(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)                "+channel": "NAME",
 $(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)                "+type": "plain"
@@ -493,12 +493,38 @@ $(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)    })
 $(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)}
 $(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)
 $(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)
-$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)record(stringin, "$(IOC_NAME=PANDAQSRV):EXTRA:_PVI")
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)record(stringin, "$(IOC_NAME=PANDAQSRV):EXTRA1:_PVI")
 $(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#){
-$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)    field(VAL,  "$(IOC_NAME=PANDAQSRV):EXTRA:PVI")
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)    field(VAL,  "$(IOC_NAME=PANDAQSRV):EXTRA1:PVI")
 $(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)    info(Q:group, {
 $(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)        "$(IOC_NAME=PANDAQSRV):PVI": {
-$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)            "pvi.extra.d": {
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)            "pvi.extra1.d": {
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)                "+channel": "VAL",
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)                "+type": "plain"
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)            }
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)        }
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)    })
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)}
+
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)record(ao, "$(IOC_NAME=PANDAQSRV):EXTRA2:ARM")
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#){
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)    info(Q:group, {
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)        "$(IOC_NAME=PANDAQSRV):EXTRA2:PVI": {
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)            "pvi.arm.x": {
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)                "+channel": "NAME",
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)                "+type": "plain"
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)            }
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)        }
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)    })
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)}
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)record(stringin, "$(IOC_NAME=PANDAQSRV):EXTRA2:_PVI")
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#){
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)    field(VAL,  "$(IOC_NAME=PANDAQSRV):EXTRA2:PVI")
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)    info(Q:group, {
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)        "$(IOC_NAME=PANDAQSRV):PVI": {
+$(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)            "pvi.extra2.d": {
 $(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)                "+channel": "VAL",
 $(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)                "+type": "plain"
 $(INCLUDE_EXTRA_BLOCK=#)            }
diff --git a/tests/test_panda.py b/tests/test_panda.py
index c4528e4..1ef91f9 100644
--- a/tests/test_panda.py
+++ b/tests/test_panda.py
@@ -1,9 +1,36 @@
 """Test file specifying how we want to eventually interact with the panda..."""
+import copy
+from typing import Dict
+
 import numpy as np
 import pytest
 from ophyd.v2.core import DeviceCollector
 
-from ophyd_epics_devices.panda import PandA, SeqTable, SeqTrigger
+from ophyd_epics_devices.panda import PandA, PVIEntry, SeqTable, SeqTrigger, pvi_get
+
+
+class DummyDict:
+    def __init__(self, dict) -> None:
+        self.dict = dict
+
+    def todict(self):
+        return self.dict
+
+
+class MockPvi:
+    def __init__(self, pvi: Dict[str, PVIEntry]) -> None:
+        self.pvi = pvi
+
+    def get(self, item: str):
+        return DummyDict(self.pvi)
+
+
+class MockCtxt:
+    def __init__(self, pvi: Dict[str, PVIEntry]) -> None:
+        self.pvi = copy.copy(pvi)
+
+    def get(self, pv: str, timeout: float = 0.0):
+        return MockPvi(self.pvi)
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
@@ -20,6 +47,21 @@ def test_panda_names_correct(sim_panda: PandA):
     assert sim_panda.pulse[1].name == "sim_panda-pulse-1"
 
 
+async def test_pvi_get_for_inconsistent_blocks():
+    dummy_pvi = {
+        "pcap": {},
+        "pcap1": {},
+        "pulse1": {},
+        "pulse2": {},
+        "sfp3_sync_out1": {},
+        "sfp3_sync_out": {},
+    }
+
+    resulting_pvi = await pvi_get("", MockCtxt(dummy_pvi))
+    assert "sfp3_sync_out1" not in resulting_pvi
+    assert "pcap1" not in resulting_pvi
+
+
 async def test_panda_children_connected(sim_panda: PandA):
     # try to set and retrieve from simulated values...
     table = SeqTable(
@@ -66,8 +108,10 @@ async def test_panda_with_extra_blocks_and_signals(pva):
     panda = PandA("PANDAQSRV")
     await panda.connect()
 
-    assert panda.extra, "extra device has not been instantiated"  # type: ignore
-    assert panda.pcap.arm2, "extra signal not instantiated"  # type: ignore
+    assert panda.extra  # type: ignore
+    assert panda.extra[1]  # type: ignore
+    assert panda.extra[2]  # type: ignore
+    assert panda.pcap.newsignal  # type: ignore
 
 
 async def test_panda_block_missing_signals(pva):