So, I unhooked the panel from the computer to tidy up a few things on the backside.
This "wiring spaghetti", an example of wiring gone wild, will never do! It invites trouble with wires getting caught on something and being pulled out of the connectors. The wires are as long as they are so they are long enough to be able to make changes to the connections to make it all work correctly.
Now, this is much better! The wiring is more controlled and I can actually see the connector markings now. If I were to make the USB button break out board again I think I would have had the connectors at the back turned 180 degrees like the middle connectors are. It would make connecting the switch/button wires much easier. :doh:
I have about 5 more button/switch connections left plus the four hat connections. The wiring going towards the right goes to the LDG Gear, Taxi/LDG Light and the other items there.
This is a broader view of the back of the panel. It is clamped to the 2x4 so it's level, which makes it easier to work on & prevents it from tipping over. I would not want to break the monitor screens. I dropped one on the floor while taking them apart earlier in the build..... the results were not good.... had to order a new one. I had to move the USB hub to the right side (partially hidden by the clamp) when I added the AHCP switch panel below the keypad (green PCB at the upper middle), there wasn't room for both the AHCP panel & the USB hub there. To the left you can see Leo's USB PCB on top of the Rudder DB15 breakout PCB. The USB cable connection is pointed towards you, the rudder DB15 connector is pointed to the left.
The white item attached to the left side of the left monitor is the ON/OFF/Dimmer for the LED flood lighting. I just reach around the right side of the panel (from the front) to access the control knob to adjust the LED brightness or turn them On or OFF. These are very bright 12v 5050 SMD LEDS. Each LED has three lighting chips in it, so you get three times the brightness in that configuration. I found another cool 5050 SMD LED item and I plan to use it to make a LED post light to put over the LDG Gear Panel to illuminate it. It will be added onto to the LED wiring already there and will be able to be dimmed with the others. I think I can make it work, we will see.
:pilotfly: