What do i do now?

[Jordan Farmer]

Hey there guys, i need to ask you a question. I bought an altimeter from ebay ( I real one) and im just thinking of how i can interface it with FS, what electronics could i use etc? This is the item
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330353641307&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Hope you guys can help with the interfacing part :P

Jordan

[tomenglish2000]

It will most likely be a mechanical gauge so you cant directly interface it with electronics. Best bet would be to get a stepper motor and connect that to the needle mechanism.

For details on how to do this I recommend you buy Mikes guide to building instruments which will tell you how to get it sorted. Then you need an interface card that can talk to FS and to your method for driving the gauge.

http://www.mikesflightdeck.com/

I also hope you can get the second needle repaired, otherwise you will only get 100ft indications and not 1000s.

Tom.

[Jordan Farmer]

Thanks very much, i will definately be repairing the needle, im going to be flying higher than 900 feet :P And im getting Mikes other book, the newest one, will that have this in it?

[Mike.Powell]

Building Recreational Flight Simulators includes a project on building a single-pointer stepping motor based gauge. You might use this a starting point if you choose to modify the altimeter.

The new book also includes an overview of how one might develop an interface to use an unmodified altimeter in a simulator. It's a big project, but doable if you have the skills with electronics. The book has pointers to additional information.

Building Simulated Aircraft Instrumentation includes a DIY three-pointer altimeter project.