Thrustmaster TWCS internals information

[DanTDBV]

I was considering to use the TM TWCS for both Dual Throttle and Collective, but have decided to get another joystick for the Collective.

 

I do not consider the TM TWCS a good choice for a Lefty conversion. Buttons, Hats, Flapper pot and Slew joy are all mounted on the PCB’s. That makes it difficult to move them around.

 

Another drawback is that the pots, as far as I have been able to determine, is not your standard 10K fare. This is the main reason for me not using it for the Collective. I have no idea of where to find extra pots.

 

If anyone can find them, then please post about it and I will add that information to this post.

 

 

Here is a video where the TM TWCS is disassembled:

 

TM TWCS review on SimHQ:

http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/4303876/twcs-review

 

 

PCB’s

Long thin one is base pcb with throttle pot

Short thin one is thumb hats and switch

 

Handle PCB's The slim one is for thumb hats and switch

 

Handle PCB's The slim one is for thumb hats and switch. The other side

 

Thumb wheel

 

Thumb Hat knobs

 

Throttle pot Link to a version with more use cycles provided by Sokol1

http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/panasonic-electronic-components/EVW-AE4001B14/P12426TR-ND/637161

https://industrial.panasonic.com/cdbs/www-data/pdf/ARE0000/ARE0000CE3.pdf

 

 

Slew joy pot’s

50 06 B 203

50° 6% Linear? 20K (What I loosely have determined the code means)

 

Thumb wheel pot

B 104 240 FR

Linear? 100K 240° ? (What I loosely have determined the code means)

 

Flapper pot

B 104 40 FR

Linear? 100K 40° ? (What I loosely have determined the code means)

 

 

I hope that this is helpful.

 

Happy simming and joystick modding

[045]

I can confirm that the throttle potentiometer in the digikey link DOES work. I have just replaced that part in my TWCS. The digikey pot has a 243 degree range so you will need to adjust the x saturation and deadzone for throttle axes within DCS itself. Thanks for posting this. It has saved me close to $100 so far.

[shotwn]

Mini-joystick is probably 252A203A50NB or 252A203A50TB. I don't know if it has TAP or not.
Also could be 252B203A50NB or 252B203A50TB depending on the arm length.

 

Desperately out of stock in most of the world, also discontinued by the manufacturer.

Edited January 24, 2021 by shotwn

[Viper1970]

A little late , but you can even use 100K standard pots. Just tested it, cause I want to use TWCS electronics for a standalone Cougar throttle mod. Soldered an old one from my pots-box to the pcb, connected the TWCS to my laptop, startet the TWCS application in the system manager and viola the throttle axis is working totally normal, no errors, no spiking and you have the full range of the kind of potentiometer you use (60° or 270°).

 

I think the electronic of the TWCS will work with every kind of pot, doesn't matter if you use 5K, 10K or 100K. It will detect the resitance of the pot by itself if you connect it to the pc.

 

 

Edited April 15, 2021 by Viper1970

[FewerHades15199]

On 4/15/2021 at 8:21 AM, Viper1970 said:

A little late , but you can even use 100K standard pots. Just tested it, cause I want to use TWCS electronics for a standalone Cougar throttle mod. Soldered an old one from my pots-box to the pcb, connected the TWCS to my laptop, startet the TWCS application in the system manager and viola the throttle axis is working totally normal, no errors, no spiking and you have the full range of the kind of potentiometer you use (60° or 270°).

 

I think the electronic of the TWCS will work with every kind of pot, doesn't matter if you use 5K, 10K or 100K. It will detect the resitance of the pot by itself if you connect it to the pc.

 

 

 

Could you please share the model of the potentiometer you used and how you go about finding one that works? I'm looking to replace my potentiometer in TWCS throttle.

[Viper1970]

You could use any pot you like (I think in the range of 5K to 100K or even a little bit more). If you only want to replace it, it should fit of course, to be able to put the bodyshell together again.

 

As far as I remember the original one is a 10K. I have testet it with a standard 100K joystick pot, cause I want to use the electronics of the TWCS for my Cougar throttle to make it a standalone unit, but still be able to use the TARGET software.

 

It was only a test if it's possible, cause the Cougar uses 100K potentiometers.

Edited July 2, 2021 by Viper1970