Backlighting the Opencockpits MCP

[Kennair]

Finally got around to backlighting my OC MCP with outstanding results (I think). Just thought I'd post a quick pic of the before and after. I know many sim builders own this unit due to its price but the lack of backlighting has always been a drawback however after much searching and trialling I have managed it. A tutorial on my method is HERE (http://www.kennair.com.au/downloads/Tutorials/Backlighting%20the%20Opencockpits%20MCP.pdf)if anyone's interested.

Ken.

[twisted8]

edit:
Looks great!
I would really like to know what method you used! A tutorial would be great.
thanks in advanced!

[Kennair]

Yeah I tried to upload two photos but kept getting a disc quoto exceeded message. Each image is only 40 kb so I don't know what's going on. Anyway I managed to upload one photo of the backlighting in operation.

Ken.

[Steve A]

Cant wait for the tutorial... I always thought the mcp looks strange next to the nicely backlit efis in my set up.

[Kennair]

Ok you can find the tutorial in our download section here : http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=385

Good luck.

Ken.

[Steve A]

Cannot download this... It says i dont have permissions etc etc :(

[Goldmember]

Same here. I'm very curious!

[Kennair]

Yeah I'm getting the same error message. Possibly hasn't been authorised by an administrator however until then you can get it direct from my website HERE (http://www.kennair.com.au/downloads/Tutorials/Backlighting%20the%20Opencockpits%20MCP.zip).

Ken.

[fordgt40]

Ken

You have got us all excited, but no satisfaction!

Just tried your web link and the file downloads but tells me that it is corrupt "unexpected end of archive" error message

Regards

David

[Kennair]

Wow this is unexpetadly difficult. Not sure what's going on David, I can download OK and I'm on my work computer. Try going directly to my website and download it from the sidebar of the main page. Thats where the above link points to.

Ken.

[fordgt40]

Ken

I already tried that and although it can be downloaded, it will not open. Tried on a different computer - same result except it says that file is invalid. Anyone else managed to get it?

Regards

David

[Kennair]

Ah, OK David I have discovered this error occurs using MS Internet Explorer but not Firefox. Don't know why as I use Firefox mostly and it works fine on several computers here at work however IE fails. Try using Firefox if you have it.

Ken.

[Steve A]

Got it from your site with firefox..... no problem, Thankyou Ken

[fordgt40]

Ken

Yep, Firefox did the trick! Your solution is very interesting - I did not realise that you can get 3m leds with that brightness. Do you have any references that I could follow to purchase them?

Thanks for sharing this

Regards

David

[Kennair]

You can get them on ebay from China - http://cgi.ebay.com.au/LED3W-100-pcs-3mm-White-LED-15000mcd-Free-Resistors_W0QQitemZ280411180072QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Toys_Hobbies_Model_Railways?hash=item4149cf0c28. Cheap as chips.

Ken.

[Kennair]

As an adjunct to this backlighting topic, for those not keen on soldering heaps of wires onto LED's you can get them pre-wired on ebay HERE (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/20-x-White-LED-Lamp-Light-Set-20cm-Pre-Wired-3mm-12V-DC_W0QQitemZ280411196067QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Toys_Hobbies_Model_Railways?hash=item4149cf4aa3)complete with appropriate resistor ready for a 12v power supply. They are 12000mcd so plenty of brightness for backlighting. Glue them on and plug them in!

Ken.

[fordgt40]

Following on from the good work done by Kennair, I have used the principle of strip leds and would like to share how I backlit the Opencockpits MCP.

Ian Sissons kindly hosts some history on my build and the link below is to how I backlit the MCP.

Hope it is useful to someone

http://www.737ng.co.uk/opencockpitsmcpbacklighting.pdf

David

[Kennair]

Excellent work David, I also quickly discovered the benefits of LED trip lighting after I purchased a 5m roll off ebay. It's definitely better than soldering umpteen million LED's onto cables! There is also much less cable clutter to deal with. I believe a tutorial update is in order :)

Ken.

[ian@737ng.co.uk]

greetings chaps,
well, this is a great solution ! David sent me the doc over the Christmas holiday and I sent it on to a colleague.
result is, MCP is arriving at the weekend to get the mod done.
thanks David, a job well done and documented......

ian

[fordgt40]

Ian

Thanks for the comments - sorry if this has added to your workload :)

David