Help on small Phidgets job...U/C and low volts.

[CocnutAir]

Don't need the valves:

rt _gear_switch -> lt_gear_switch -> U_ light -> P_ light

[gokhotit]

didnt know there were actualup switch offsets...learn something new everyday

[CocnutAir]

There isn't such an offset, but one can use the existing gear offsets to make an FS Variable that is a switch. Stay tuned. I will show you how to do that in a follow-up response.

[Tony Hill]

Hi guys, back form the business trip.

I had a bit of a look today....I can't find an offset for "gear up", left or right...just one for "state" that varies from 16383 or so to 0. I will awit tomorrow's instalment from Alan.
I think I understand what you are getting at to make them co-dependant now though.

Another question...some offsets (2400, RPM for instance) read, say, 0-3600 in my gauge software but in FS2PHIDGET the value will wildly fuctuate between MANY millions positive and negative. AMPs is the same. Am I missing something...the RPM particularly should be straight forward and 1-35 amps seems simple enough?

Anyway, tomorrow will have to be split between the office, the remake of the trim panel and the lights


thanks again, closer every second to understanding this.



Darryl

[CocnutAir]

Here is how to set up FsVariables and circuit I described:
From the menu bar select Tools -> Manage FsVariables.
If the incorrect FS File is not displayed, Open correct file from the menu bar.
From the FS Variable drop down, select LANDING_GEAR_LEFT.

On the menu toolbar selet FSVariable -> New.
Enter GEAR_LEFT_UP_SW as the variable name when prompted.
Click OK button to close the text box.
You now have a new fSVariable that is a copy of LANDING_GEAR_LEFT.
In the FsVariable property box change the:
ValueFunction from Proportional to Digital.
Set HighValue to 0.
Set LoValue to 1.

From the FS Variable drop down, select LANDING_GEAR_RIGHT.
On the menu toolbar selet FSVariable -> New.
Enter GEAR_RIGHT_UP_SW as the variable name when prompted.
Click OK button to close the text box.
You now have a new fSVariable that is a copy of LANDING_GEAR_RIGHT.
In the FsVariable property box change the:
ValueFunction from Proportional to Digital.
Set HighValue to 0.
Set LoValue to 1.

From the menu bar File -> Save.

Create a new circuit.
Add an FS Output component.
Assign the component to FsVariable GEAR_LEFT_UP_SW.
Add another FSOutput in series.
Assign the component to FsVariable GEAR_RIGHT_UP_SW.
Add Digital Outputs in series.
Label the one output U, and the other P.

You don't have to assign the digital outputs to Phidget outputs
until you have tested the circuit.

[CocnutAir]

I have most probably set up the RPM and Amps FsVariables incorrectly.
Let me have the offsets you using for those again.

[CocnutAir]

Just looked in FS Files. I don't have offset 2400 in those.
Did you create a custom FsVariable for offset 2400?

[Tony Hill]

Just looked in FS Files. I don't have offset 2400 in those.
Did you create a custom FsVariable for offset 2400?

Alan,

OK, now I can see part of why I have been having SO much trouble.....I don't have any usable offsets (for the Spitfire) in any file...the only ones that are "in" your software here are a few autopilot offsets and other "airliner" type ones in a file called 737_MCP.xml or similar (sorry, I'm away from that machine and at work today). That is the only file that is available in any of the drop down boxes and the only one I can see in the directories under Explorer. Therefore I am using my gauge software to plough through the entire list of raw variables from FS2000 and before to FSX, testing the output in that programme and then creating new variables in your software.

So things like "gear left" are straight forward but obviously others aren't.

I've been wondering why so much was apparently left to the user and it was assumed that he had access to offsets...but I am also somewhat aware of the problems you have had with people and therefore assumed that you had created very powerful software, were tired of dealing with silly questions from ungrateful and abusive morons and expected people who used it to at least have basic programming abilities (as, it appears to me that SOIC, EPIC and other things that seem esoteric to me expect ).

I wish now that I had at least asked "is there an easier way to get at the offsets?" that may have revealed the problem earlier but again, I thought a "soldier on" attitude best.

Now lest I am being a COMPLETE moron (entirely possible) and I'm missing something basic....where do I find all these variables? I would have expected a file called 737_basic variables.xml, another called 737_sundry controls.xml etc to go with 737_MCP.xml (main control panel??) If so, I am missing them.

So, my apologies for wasting some time and asking what now seem to have been some very silly questions!!! Please do not take anything I've said as criticism...as I said, I am aware of some of the "history" and perhaps was a little too ready to write any difficulties off as being (in the words of my dear departed grandmother) "T'ICK"

best


Darryl

[gokhotit]

A lot of time payware manufaturers create there own offsets that wont show up in the standard FSUIPC offset log (which is what allan uses). He is building a 737 sim (hence the 737 offset section) and I believe (correct me if i am wrong) it is geared toward the PMDG 737. IF you download the FSUIPC toolkit, there is a utility call FS interregate ( or something like that). YOu can use that program for a complete list of offsets. OR you can contact the company that made the Spitfire model you are using, tell them what you are doing, and see if they will give you a list of the offsets they use. It is HIGHLY unlikely they will do that, but it is worht a try.

Once you either get the offset from the company or use FSINTERRIGATE, you can then create the custom offsets that you require for your sim within FS2P5.

Hope that helps.

[Tony Hill]

Thank, yes that makes it a WHOLE lot easier!!! I have this afternoon got the whole lot working except that I still need to separate the U/C lights from the generator switch as they actually had their own power switch in the Spitfire and you could (and it was compulsory to) activate them for checking on entry to the cockpit by means of a separate switch connected to the accumulator.

Thanks to all the advice, the gear lights now come on TOGETHER and ONLY when the both wheels are down or up.

I used the SDK to dig out exactly how the RPM worked and although I can't make the Low Volts work on "power" I can make that light come on and off at the correct time with RPM.

Real progress once I realised that there were many more tools that I needed!!

cheers both!


Darryl