DC-9 New Guy going to next level

[pcpilotmd80]

Hello from STL,

I know most of the sim-pit community uses the wonderful 737 platform, but..I'm the weird odd guy that LOVES the old DC-9/80s, the scream and roar of Jt8D engines.  Ive been siming over 20 years, and I've just took the plunge from desktop to simpit over the past 2 years.  I recently posted a few pics (see DC-9/MD-80) of my project.  I know it looks a little primitive and simple compared to many of the wonderful 73's here, but one has to start somewhere.  My request is any advice on interfacing gauges to FSX.  I have NO computer code/writing skills and I've tried doing lots of research and watched many hours of youtube, but to no avail, I've found no simple basic understanding on how to do it.  Can some one please show me a good starting point??   I'm beyond the Bodnar boards, (I have 2 installed on my sim) and I want to go to the next level...for dummies (haha).  I think I can use some of the 737 simpit hardware which are very similar to McDonnell Douglas.  I've already researched some of the DC-9 MD-80 forums on other sites, they helped somewhat to get me where I'm at, but I want gauges.  Any advice is much appreciated for this rookie!

Thanks in advance!
Mike

[Trevor Hale]

Hi Mike, I wanted to do this same thing, and actually was affraid..  But I jumped into this over the past 2 months, and Its Amazing.  I use an Arduino Uno card and a 12-bit 16 channel PWM Card combined with Jim's LINK2FS Software.

I have opened up my real gauges and removed the guts.  I put a RC Servo behind the faceplate and re attach the needle.  With a little code (I am no programmer) I have made the gauges work.

I have 2 Fuel Gauges a Flap Gauge, a VSI and a Trim Gauge, and outside air temperature.

Pretty easy and the look of them is amazing.  There is a thread here in the "ARDUINO SECTION" of the forum where I have placed my sample code.

Best regards,

Trev

[pcpilotmd80]

Trev,

Thanks so much! I will start there...next question..which gauges out there are most compatible with the Arduino? Or do I have to make my own with servos?

Thanks!
Mike

[Trevor Hale]

Its really simple, Standard Hobby servo's.  you just have to fix them to your needle of you gauge.  For me, Crazy clue, and Hot melt Glue gun and a shaft made of even coat hanger will do the trick to extend the servo shaft.

What I do is start with a standard servo horn, and get the numbers right in the program for gauge position.  Keep in mind most servos have only 180 degrees of travel. If you need more than that you will have to buy the servos that go 360 degrees. but if your learning and experimenting just do a couple 180 degree gauges first like a vsi, until you figure the rest out.

once I have the gauge close then I insert it into the actual housing, and attach the needle and fine tune after that.

for less then 50 Bucks plus the cost of servos you can have 16 Gauges.

Arduino Uno - Controller
9685 Card - PWM Card

It is possible to just use the Uno for a couple PWM gauges, and there is a youtube video showing link2fs and the arduino uno doing just that, but you may as well get the 12-bit 16 channel PWM card right from the start.

Trev

[pcpilotmd80]

AWESOME!

This is more help than I've gotten from other sites, thanks to your help I think I can take a good swing at this.  I will keep you posted with updates.  Thanks for patience, I'm sure you get asked same questions over and over by every newbie. ?

Mike

[KyleH]

Hi Mike,

Here is another resource for making gauges:
http://www.mikesflightdeck.com/mfdb/bsai/bsai.html

Not as much information as I'd like on the talking to FS part, but it is a good reference.
If you learn how to do the Ardunio, you should be able to figure out how to interface to the projects in this book.

[KyleH]

Well crap. I didn't realize that the book was out of print now. Sorry.

[Trevor Hale]

Your welcome Mike.

I will post my arduino code this weekend in this thread (Maybe even tonight) You can just dump that code in your arduino, and it will just work.  You would have to likely play with the numbers a bit to get the calibration down, but from looking at the code you should be able to see what I have done.

providing you buy theUno and the 9685 Card.

Its so easy, I should have done it WAAAAY Sooner.

Download the software HERE

Trev