How To: Build a A-10 flight panel controller

[PanelBuilder]

The calculation (and the many calculators) give you the minimum value, say 150 r or so.

 

Of course a lot of us just use 470 out of habit or convention or something. Every Microchip development board I have ever seen uses 470 for the 5 V red LEDs.

 

But try this. Hook up the LED with 470, then 330, then 220. Just to see if there's any difference in the brightness.

 

Cheers,

Colin

[fael097]

ok, this sucks. I just tried to hook up 8 green leds to a 5v usb supply, and they won't even turn on. I connected one resistor to each led, I don't remember how many ohms, cuz I bought like a week ago, but the vendor said It should be fine for 5v. meh...

If i turn on one led with that resistor, it lights up very bright. if i turn on two leds with one resistor each, they are very dim. 3 or more leds wont even light up.

 

anyways, I want to be sure before I buy the next set of resistors. any tips on how many ohms i should buy for 8 green leds on 5v? thanks

[m0jo]

If i turn on one led with that resistor, it lights up very bright. if i turn on two leds with one resistor each, they are very dim. 3 or more leds wont even light up.

It seem you have wired each pair of led/resistor in series. You need to put them in parallel

 

[fael097]

lol yep... that did the trick it seems!

however, now I'm gonna need 8 times more wires :( lol

nothing to worry about, as long as it works!

 

thanks mojo

[Mr_Burns]

Dont want to start a new thread but is seems to fit here. On the Gear Panel next to the ACHP there is a dial showing the status of the flaps. Im not really looking for the level of immersion to have this dial working but was wondering if i put a rotary switch there with 4 points, could you have this set to position 0,10 degrees, 20 and 30 degrees so you could switch it and then would see the position of the switch know the position of the flaps?

 

Thoughts?

[TigersharkBAS]

I don't see why not Burnsy. Only problem with the GGG is that is supports rotarys with multiple of 3 positions. I haven't connected one myself so unsure how it works. But your idea seems sound. Quite clever really.

[Mr_Burns]

I bought a rotary after posting and tried it out.

 

It did what i was thinking, instead of using the GGG rotary input I used 3 of the switch ports and wired them to 3 of the rotary switch outside position so in 3 position i pushed GGG button 1,2 and 3.

 

The problem I am seeing is there are no keystrokes in A-10 for flaps.

 

SO if position 1 button 1 was flaps 0 degrees, button 2 was flaps 10 degrees etc it would work but I think there is only up and down (or in and out)?

 

Suppose I could just use the two positions with a similar effect.

[TigersharkBAS]

Burnsy,

The A-10 Warthog (which I own) has a 3 position switch left of the throttle for controlling flaps in 3 position. Up, medium, full. As it is will be using some kind of DirectX input I am positive that A-10 will have the ability to change the flap degress based on button presses.

[PanelBuilder]

Dont want to start a new thread but is seems to fit here. On the Gear Panel next to the ACHP there is a dial showing the status of the flaps. Im not really looking for the level of immersion to have this dial working but was wondering if i put a rotary switch there with 4 points, could you have this set to position 0,10 degrees, 20 and 30 degrees so you could switch it and then would see the position of the switch know the position of the flaps?

 

Thoughts?

Funny thing is in the picture of the Left Front Dash in the manual, there is actually a switch handle coming out of the gauge.

[CubPilot]

Funny thing is in the picture of the Left Front Dash in the manual, there is actually a switch handle coming out of the gauge.

 

I'm pretty sure that what you are calling a "switch handle" is actually a "post light" to illuminate the Flap Indicator. You will see another post light above the LDG/Taxi Light switch next to the aircraft ser number. This is a common way to illuminate instruments in older aircraft.

 

Mr B.... where did you look for flap keystrokes? Seems like it would be somewhere in the Warthog throttle lua file.

 

 

:pilotfly:

Edited July 5, 2011 by CubPilot

[98abaile]

IIRC, DCS sees the flaps control on the warthog throttle as two buttons (up and down if you will), I know that this is how the actual switch works on the thrustmaster throttle (checked in the game controller settings). So you could doo this with a simple three position switch and just not wire up the middle position.

[Mr_Burns]

I feel a bit daft saying this but I havnt got A-10 installed at the moment, my computer died and the backup grafics card isnt good enough to run it so I am spending the time building the panels until the wife releases funds.

 

Next step will be to read up on the .lua stuff but thanks for the heads up.

[ncimike3]

Pretty cool. I'm also beginning to build some panels as well. I've attached a drawing to show what it should look like when I'm done. I went with the hagstrom electornics keyboard emulator http://www.hagstromelectronics.com/products/ke_usb108.html . You can even program macros with each button. The question I have is, how did you do the engraving/labeling on the plastic? I have a cnc mill that I am trying to use to engrave 1/8" aluminum but it isn't as crisp as your lettering. I'll update my progress as I put this cockpit together.

[Mr_Burns]

Pretty cool. I'm also beginning to build some panels as well. I've attached a drawing to show what it should look like when I'm done. I went with the hagstrom electornics keyboard emulator http://www.hagstromelectronics.com/products/ke_usb108.html . You can even program macros with each button. The question I have is, how did you do the engraving/labeling on the plastic? I have a cnc mill that I am trying to use to engrave 1/8" aluminum but it isn't as crisp as your lettering. I'll update my progress as I put this cockpit together.

 

Get yourself a thread started, loads of help around here from some very talented folk!

[Afterburn]

The problem I am seeing is there are no keystrokes in A-10 for flaps.

 

SO if position 1 button 1 was flaps 0 degrees, button 2 was flaps 10 degrees etc it would work but I think there is only up and down (or in and out)?

 

Suppose I could just use the two positions with a similar effect.

 

Not sure if you're familiar, but you can use the scripting of the lua file. We'll consider switch position 1 being flaps up, pos 2 being flaps at maneuver, and pos 3 at landing. Since position 2 on the 3-way switch would be off, you would set your lua file to flaps up on pos 1 "down", flaps down on pos 1 "up", flaps down on pos 3 "down", and flaps up on pos 3 "up".

 

Hopefully that's clear - essentially, you're setting a flap movement direction per button press, then another direction for release, knowing there's a 1-to-1 relation for each state change. I am getting the GGG in the mail soon, and will test this as soon as I get it...

 

Oh, and THANKS so much for this wonderful tutorial with videos to match. It's pushed me to finally making the pit I've been mulling over for years...:pilotfly:

[74th_Lunatic]

I bought a rotary after posting and tried it out.

 

It did what i was thinking, instead of using the GGG rotary input I used 3 of the switch ports and wired them to 3 of the rotary switch outside position so in 3 position i pushed GGG button 1,2 and 3.

 

The problem I am seeing is there are no keystrokes in A-10 for flaps.

 

SO if position 1 button 1 was flaps 0 degrees, button 2 was flaps 10 degrees etc it would work but I think there is only up and down (or in and out)?

 

Suppose I could just use the two positions with a similar effect.

Why don't you try an on/on/on 3 position toggle switch, each switch would override the previous as its all flaps.

 

DPDT On-On-On 3-position Miniature Toggle.

Useful for guitar pickup switching circuits.

5A 125Vac / 2A 250Vac contact rating.

SW074

 

http://www.bitsbox.co.uk/switches.html

[98abaile]

Why don't you try an on/on/on 3 position toggle switch, each switch would override the previous as its all flaps.

IIRC there are only two keys for flaps, just "up" and "down".

[Ragtop]

How to assign toggle switches to DCS A-10 using Helios.

 

Hi guys, just put this together, hopefully it'll explain this process a little better for you who don't want to play around with the Lua files, making the job a lot easier.

Edited October 6, 2011 by Ragtop

[TigersharkBAS]

Nice addition Ragtop. Thanks for contibuting!

[avlolga]

How to assign toggle switches to DCS A-10 using Helios.

 

Hi guys, just put this together, hopefully it'll explain this process a little better for you who don't want to play around with the Lua files, making the job a lot easier.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

great job , this is cool

[74th_Lunatic]

Any one have any idea how to map the IFCC switch?

 

So from Off->Test->On and to On->Test->Off

 

I've used an On/On/On toggle and have it so that it's basically an On/On/Off switch. But can't get the Lua to follow suit :-(

 

Edit:

 

It's just clicked, use an on/off/on and program the test to off which is possible and use the IFCC off as an on state. That sounds like gobldy gook, but it will work, trust me I'm a doctor....

 

and another idea,

 

Just use the On/on/On function as all are mapped in sim....doh!

Edited October 13, 2011 by 74th_Lunatic

[Ragtop]

The video I posted explains setting 3 way switches.

[74th_Lunatic]

I'm not using helios and don't want to, but got it sorted thank you for the suggestion.

[Ragtop]

Ah, understood!

 

As long as youre using only switches which do not have an off state, you can map them directly with no lua midifications.

[avlolga]

TigersharkBAS,

 

regarding to GP-Wiz40 - do you know if its supporting win7 64 bit?

i got 2 GP-Wiz40, it is not working on my 64 bit but works fine on my win7 32.

it is possible my windows need drivers update, but can someone tell if its works on his windows 7 64 bit?

 

Thanks