Dual Rotary Encoders/PMDG

[ian@737ng.co.uk]

gentlemen good day ........
following pete dowson's new FSUIPC mousetrapping the PMDG gauges, it's blown it all wide open for us. so i have applied this techqnique to the SPD REF control and it works a treat using a 2 bit gray rotary encoder/push switch thru the bu0836X board. problem is, i could use a dual rotary encoder at a realistic price (you know something the good lady isn't going to raise an eyebrow at when i lie how much i paid for it).
can anybody suggest a good (cheap) dual rotary encoder for this job.
right now i am using the encoder to select thru the various v speeds/weight and using the push switch to increase the value (by repeating while held in FSUIPC). but with a dual rotary, i can exactly emulate the control.
any ideas welcome....thanks lads.....have a good one.
ian.

[DaveC3]

Ian

I bought a few of these http://www.onlinecomponents.com/product/3575914/

ALPS Part Number: EC11EBB24C03 dual encoder with switch. They work great

Take care

Dave

[ian@737ng.co.uk]

dave thanks for this, i've been online and ordered some. what knobs did you use with these?
thanks and regards from the welsh borders...... ian

[SSO]

Hi,

A question about these rotary encoders single/dual.

How do they actually work, and how are they connected to the software?
The concept of switches, and rotary knobs with a finite number of steps is obvious. But im curious about the details of these?

Further - Can they be connected through the FDS-SYS boards?

[ian@737ng.co.uk]

Hello Stephen.......
in simple terms, a rotary encoder is a device which instructs a controller where it is and which way it is being turned. the most simple devices contain two sets of contacts (let's call them A&B) and a 'Common' Terminal.
The relationship between each contact and the common is either Open (0) or Closed (1).
so the contact regime would run (AB)
00 -01 -11 -10 -00 - 01 - 11 etc.
So for example, if you look at position 3, both A & B are in contact with the common. Now turn the encoder one click either way and the contact state changes. If you turned it anti clockwise then only B is in contact with the common and if you turned it clockwise only A is in contact with the common. So a switch change state has taken place. Your control card will see this switch change state and know which way you have turned the encoder. It can then act accordingly.
It is your controller which reads the direction and no.of pulses and then translates that into an input which your software can deal with.
see this doc where i have gone into a little more detail:
http://www.737ng.co.uk/EFIS_BU0836_HOWTO.pdf
as far as the FDS-SYS board is concerned, i can't help you because i don't use it. ask PC in the FDS forum.
hope that helped you out and have a great week......
ian

[DaveC3]

Ia

I use dual concentric knobs I bought from MPJA http://www.mpja.com/products.asp?dept=154. It appears they no longer have them in stock.

SSO

I would suggest you do a search on "encoders" on the web. There are various types of encoders, optical, mechanical incremental, absolute with various types of outputs.

There are many means to connect these encoders to your flight Sim. I build my own USB interfaces, but if you do a search on this forum you can find various manufactures that make interfaces that work very well. I am not familiar with FDS-SYS boards. Maybe someone else can help you there.

Dave

[acolvard]

I have these encoders. The only knobs have have found are from goflight. Mouser has Re-an knobs which might work. Anybody have a source for dual encoder knobs?

[fweinrebe]

Did you try these guys? Their catalog is also full of interesting sketches about knobs.

http://www.ehcknobs.com/

Please let us know if you find something. I also have to buy some one of these days.

[ian@737ng.co.uk]

hi guys.......
if you cant find knobs for these locally, try jorge at www.simparts.de . in the misc/knobs section of his website he offers small and large dual concentric knobs specifically made for what we have in mind.
or maybe nihad at simknobs will start to offer them soon
cheers ... ian

[Oter3]

Are these encoders "gray code".
(For Opencockpits master card)

Nils

[Oter3]

I do mean this encoder:
ALPS Part Number: EC11EBB24C03 dual encoder with switch. They work great

nils

[acolvard]

2-bit grey code quad I believe. That setting works perfectly for me.

[Oter3]

Tnx very much.
Regards
Nils in Souhern Norway.

[SSO]

Super description about the encoders.

Much appreciated.

S.