Cockpit Construction Continued (Part 18)

[JBaymore]

Starting On Electronics


In the first photo below I have the PFD display and the ND display now sitting side by side in the main instrument panel.

[legoalex2000]

wow, thats all i have to say, wow.

so, when can I come over? i seriously would had i not already have plans this summer

Ramos

[Adrian_W]

Hi John,

I've been giving some thought on the question you posed to Matthias on his "BAePanelProject" site about using some of his panel in your Simpit.

I believe he said the problem was that his xml.gauges use non standard variables (different from stnd FS ones) and that FSUIPC cannot access these variables, this is true but there may be a way around this.

On your main FS computer setup a pseudo panel for the aircraft on the main out of the window view, this will only need to be 1/2 inch in height and can be placed at the bottom of the screen at the level of the glareshield , fill this band with numerous click spots that activate or toggle the non stnd variables, you don't need any bitmaps as these are only a visual interface for us so that we know the state of the variable, i.e. Panel Lights On/Off etc....  Your interface is all around you !!!

Once you have your pseudo panel you can use "key2mouse" to assign keys to the clickspots then FSUIPC can access the variables by sending the appropriate keypresses.

Hope this is of some help.

Adrian W.

P.S. Do I get an invite when it's finished

[JBaymore]

[quote]On your main FS computer setup a pseudo panel for the aircraft on the main out of the window view, this will only need to be 1/2 inch in height and can be placed at the bottom of the screen at the level of the glareshield , fill this band with numerous click spots that activate or toggle the non stnd variables, you don't need any bitmaps as these are only a visual interface for us so that we know the state of the variable, i.e. Panel Lights On/Off etc....

[JBaymore]

A bit more done... but tough to photograph it.  Some blurry shots coming soon..... sorry..... camera is still an issue on close ups.

Tonight I "attacked" wiring up one more of the overhead panels .... did some very minor work on some others already.  

The one I selected tonight was the "Bleed Air / Packs" panel.  This panel will control a number of "real world" important functions in the pit.... such as all of the real air circulation blowers for my "creature comfort" while flying .  Unfortunately in the FS2004 basic sim, there is little FSUIPC data supported for the bleed air and the packs.  So I will have to "fake it" to a degree.  And I will add some "in sim" functions also as I go later.

The panel I made allows the APU and engine #2 and engine #3 to generate bleed air.  There is an isolation valve to separate the right air from the left air systems..... with the APU able to run either side.  For these bleed air switches to be "active" they will be "fed" from the panels that control the engine starts and the APU start.  No appropriate engine(s) or APU...... and the switches on this panel will do nothing.  (There are APU and Air and Packs annunciators located elsewhere.)

Once the bleed air is established and the switch lights up "green" , then the left and right packs can be selected and turn "green".  Once the packs are running, they will allow the two recirculation valves to be switched open (light "green") and warm/cold air to be directed to the flight deck, the structural anti-ice system, and the passenger cabin (non-existant).

What I am really controlling here is simply a supply of +12 VDC.  To get keypresses (eventually) into the sim itself.... I will use a couple of relays connected to the keyboard emulator or the Phidget inputs.  That will be addressed later.

If this 12V switching just involved a series of single switches.... it would be very easy wiring.  Feed the plus side of the 12V through one switch to the next switch...to the next switch... to the next switch.  Unless the whole "chain" of switches is "closed", no current flows in the circuit.  Simple... and that kind of thing will show up in a couple of places in the pit.

The "problem" with THIS panel comes when you want multiple possible switches carrying the 12V to be a "source" for something downstream.... and don't want ALL the indicator lights to light up no matter WHAT switch is thrown... and to not feed 12V power "backwards" down the interconnected wires.  That gets you results that are often "unexpected" as far as the "logic" goes  :o.

The "trick" to deal with this potential issue is to use a diode in the 12V + supply line.

A diode can act as a "one way valve" for electrons.  The flow of current goes from the anode side to the cathode side of the diode with a slight voltage drop across the diode (about 1 - 1.5 volts).  In the reverse direction....... until you get to a pretty high voltage (breakdown voltage)........ no current flows through it at all.  So putting these diodes in strategic locations... you can feed electricity down a "one way street".

I'll put up a picture and a schematic to explain this a little better later.

So the Bleed Air / Packs panel is now basically finished and all the lighted rocker and toggle switches function with the logic I desired.......... a bunch of hook-up wire amd solder and six 1N4001 silicon diodes later


best,

..................john


PS:  The diodes will handle 1 Amp forward current and the brekdown voltage is 50V... way above my 12V DC.   My blowers on a single circuit will not exceed 1 Amp draw each (there are two circuits to utilize).

[JBaymore]

As I mentioned above... here is a bit of an explanation of the "diode thing".

If you look at the first picture below it is a simple schematic that shows the switched sourcing of 12V DC from two possible places (Engine #1 and Engine #2) to be fed to the avionics buss.

[legoalex2000]

oh i can remember about 1/3 of those symbols!!!!

lol, keep up the good work. you should invite us over, and like chage us $5 an hour, lol.

btw, done any more flying lately since the maiden flight?

Ramos

[SilverFox441]

Looks like you are having fun John.

Very creative use of the monitor switch, I presume that it will be part of the actual visible controls in the finished 'pit.

I was also wondering, have you considered sandwiching a thin layer of polystyrene between you IP and the decorative facings? You can get stuff only 0.040" thick at many hobby stores. I've been thinking of doing it on my 'pit...just to give that finished look to the front of the instruments.

[JBaymore]

In the first photo you can see the rear of the "Bleed Air / Packs" panel with the wiring in place.

[JBaymore]

Very creative use of the monitor switch, I presume that it will be part of the actual visible controls in the finished 'pit.

I was also wondering, have you considered sandwiching a thin layer of polystyrene between you IP and the decorative facings? You can get stuff only 0.040" thick at many hobby stores. I've been thinking of doing it on my 'pit...just to give that finished look to the front of the instruments.

SilverFox,

Yes the monitor switch will be on a knob that shows on the front panel.  It'll get labeled something like "Captian's Right MFD" and will have "ND" and "EICAS" positions.

As to the laminate...... no ... not really.  Great idea.  I am using stuff called "ModPodge" to affix the paper panel facings to the MDF panels.  The paper gets painted on the front side too.  It gives a slight "sheen" to the surface ... it is a polymer resin.  The surfaces are pretty durable as they sit.

I saw an idea in "Computer Pilot" mag that mentioned using stock lamination film for the panel facings.... and thought that was a great idea too.

Eventually........ panel by panel over time once this pit is basically "done" and flying ......  I will change each panel to a back-lit variation.  That, of course, will take years now though  ;) .

best,

..................john

[JBaymore]

Quint_Player,

Thanks!  


best,

...............john

[JBaymore]

Now on to PART 19.