Do you unplug the controllers when you are done simming?

[blackbelter]

Do you guys unplug your joysticks, trackir and rudder pedals every time you are done playing? I have been doing so because, a long time ago, I read in a thread that someone got his Warthog Hotas cooked, because his was plugged into the USB ports when the OS is loading, during which time the electric signal generated is too strong for the integrated circuits in Warthog (which is supposed to be a premium product!) I got scared and unplug my controllers before shutting down the computer, and plug them in only after the OS is fully loaded. I find that exceedingly troublesome.

 

As for trackir, especially for the pro clip, I guess there is an additional reason to unplug it. The small bulbs generating IR signals have limited lifespan. When plugged in, the bulbs are lit up, and are wasting their life.

 

So what are your experiences and suggestions? Thanks.

[MTFDarkEagle]

I leave everything plugged in except for the trackir. I unplug that one if the PC is off.

[Flagrum]

"done simming"? Huh? :huh::music_whistling:

[cichlidfan]

My TIR Proclip gets unplugged, mostly so that it can be put out of harms way. Aside from that, I don't unplug anything. I do power off the touch screen and its USB connection but that is only because it is covered with a towel when not in use.

 

I also don't ever shut the machine down, aside from maintenance periods, unless I am going to be away for more than 24 hours. Even in those cases, everything is hooked up (but the TIR Proclip), before the machine gets turned on

Edited November 23, 2014 by cichlidfan

[xxJohnxx]

I have been doing so because, a long time ago, I read in a thread that someone got his Warthog Hotas cooked, because his was plugged into the USB ports when the OS is loading, during which time the electric signal generated is too strong for the integrated circuits in Warthog (which is supposed to be a premium product!)

 

That definitely shouldn't happen. Over voltages on the 5V line during boot or normal operation of the PC is definitely a sing for a very bad power supply.

If you got any quality brand power supply I would say that is nearly impossible. Sure, you can have a power supply malfunction, but that would destroy much more than just an external USB device.

If you have a bad PSU and you are worried about it might destroying your Warthog, you better go ahead and exchange the PSU instead of just unplugging your stick.

The PSU is probably the most underrated part when buying PC components. When it dies, it definitely will take some other components with it.

 

 

As for trackir, especially for the pro clip, I guess there is an additional reason to unplug it. The small bulbs generating IR signals have limited lifespan. When plugged in, the bulbs are lit up, and are wasting their life.

 

They should only be lit up when the PC is running. If you leave them plugged in (as probably most people do), your hard drive, monitor and generally anything in the PC will fail before your TrackIR leds will fail.

If we assume that the IR Leds have a minimum lifespan of 20000 hours (which is easily achievable today) and you operate your PC for 10 hours every day, the LEDs will last for at least 5 years. Given that the 20000 hours are easily exceeded, they probably will run 10 year at 10 hours per day operation before they fail. And especially with the ProClip, you will have broken that damn thing long before the LEDs will fail.

 

So no, I don't disconnect my joystick, throttle, rudder pedals, TrackIR camera and ProClip. Neither do I disconnect my mouse, keyboard, several Arduinos as well as the 3 monitors that also serve as USB hubs whenever I boot my PC.

[Art-J]

Bad PSU or not, early production batches of Warthog were "famous" for this kind of malfunction and if PSU was the only culprit, there would be Saiteks, Logis and CHs frying in the same way all over the world. That was not the case.

 

Whether the throttle design / TH software of the last batches was "fixed" or not, I prefer to be on the safe side and even though I bought a hefty XFX PSU some time ago, yes, I unplug my Warthog set once the flight ops are over for the day ;).

[Demon_]

I read in a thread that someone got his Warthog Hotas cooked, because his was plugged into the USB ports when the OS is loading, during which time the electric signal generated is too strong for the integrated circuits in Warthog.

 

Totally ridiculous! It's funny what we can read sometime in the net. Thank! For the joke. Is this a "save the planet" thing? :D

 

His Warthog Hotas cooked? It look like a device damage by static charge at the factory of manufacturing. :D

 

The only thing I unplug is the power unit of the force feedback joystick.

Plug in and unplug your stuff will degrade the usb connector contacts.

 

It's the apocalypse! :D

Edited November 23, 2014 by Demon_

[9.JG27 DavidRed]

nah i dont unplug anything and never had any trouble yet.i would be too lazy to crawl under my desk every time to plug in the controllers...

[Tone71]

My x52 Pro, rudder pedals and TM MFDs are all plugged into a USB hub, which I only plug in (to a front USB port) when I'm simming and unplug when I'm done; this isn't an eco thing, just don't want all those lights on whilst trying to use my computer!

TrackIR is always plugged in but I only run the software when simming, so unit is off when not in use.

[Devrim]

I unplug. I do it because I want these devices not to run for no reason.

 

I use a HUB. Connected all (X52 HOTAS, rudders, MFDs) into it, and it's easy to just disconnect HUB's cable... :P

 

Edit: Hi Tone71. :)

[skouras]

3-4 years now my warthog and tir5 stays on the machine and works like a charm...

However one thing that i don't forget to do when i leave my home for job is to close my system and cut the power of the psu...

[xaoslaad]

I leave everything plugged in. Even the TIR pro clip, with its long cable is run through the back of my desk into a draw where I can easily win

d it up and tuck it away without unplugging it. And I leave my USB receiver for my headset plugged into it as well.

[KLR Rico]

I have a dedicated sim pc so the only time anything gets unplugged is for swapping between controllers or for maintenance.

[Tone71]

I unplug. I do it because I want these devices not to run for no reason.

 

I use a HUB. Connected all (X52 HOTAS, rudders, MFDs) into it, and it's easy to just disconnect HUB's cable... :P

 

Edit: Hi Tone71. :)

 

Great idea :)

[blackbelter]

Hi guys. Thanks for all the ideas.

 

My proclip is lit up when it is plugged in even if the computer is not operating, probably because of some bios settings. I will change that, and I am prepared to leave my controllers plugged in from now on...

 

As for using USB hub for all controllers, I have one doubt... All the controllers communicate with the CPU via one single USB port to which the USB hub is connected: Will they interfere with each other? Will reponse time for each controller be stretched? Will performance be affected in any way?

 

Thanks again guys.

[cichlidfan]

As for using USB hub for all controllers, I have one doubt... All the controllers communicate with the CPU via one single USB port to which the USB hub is connected: Will they interfere with each other? Will reponse time for each controller be stretched? Will performance be affected in any way?

 

No. No. No.

 

:)

[blackbelter]

No. No. No.

 

:)

 

Good to know. Thanks.

[Cali]

I leave everything plugged in and have never had a problem in 14+ years of playing sims.

[Devrim]

No. No. No.

I've just started to using HUB, and I realized that throttle input has too much flicker. I think it wasn't that much when connected directly to an USB port. I need re-check to be sure though...

[Gladman]

I've left everything plugged in since Hornet 3.0. Never a problem.

 

Dale

[Random]

Plugged in. PC is close to a wall and weighs a lot so its a pig to move it to plug stuff back in...

[blackbelter]

I've just started to using HUB, and I realized that throttle input has too much flicker. I think it wasn't that much when connected directly to an USB port. I need re-check to be sure though...

 

So have you rechecked? What was the outcome? Thanks.

[zaelu]

All hooked in but the power cord of FFB stick.... just because sometimes produces a hissle sound while standing still... like it searches for the center that it sits in...

 

But I do have a UPS and a surge protected power cord...

[Togg]

All plugged in with UEFI option usb charging disabled. The Erp option is on so the track ir leds are off when the computer is off (which is not the case when this option is off)

Edited December 20, 2014 by Togg

[Devrim]

So have you rechecked? What was the outcome? Thanks.

Yes, checked.

 

When connected directly to USB port on PC I see (in control panel) barely flicker. Red indicator of throttle, slider, X or Y axis may hesitate one pixel or not. It's great performance for me, but when connected via USB HUB (and if there're other devices connected), all HOTAS data has too much flicker. You can't believe it. Especially mini mouse stick data seems so funny! If only HOTAS connected to the HUB, there's no problem like direct connect.

 

Maybe it's my HUB's quality or it needs external power or something...