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Main => General Discussion Board. => Topic started by: Reco on April 12, 2020, 01:18:32 PM

Title: Setting up potentiometers
Post by: Reco on April 12, 2020, 01:18:32 PM
Hi All

I have hooked up all my potentiometers for my Helicopter cockpit
I am using vishay 357 pots hooked up to Leo Bodners control board

Can anyone tell me what the collective assignment should be?

Pedals are working and I have wired them to the z axis
The cylic I'm having trouble with


I have hooked them up to the z and y axis but there not behaving like they should I assigned the y axis but the stick on the screen would'nt move forward and back in a smooth movement it seem to move forward then to the side not forward and back like it should

Should I move my helicopter cyclic to the forward or back postion then adjust the pot to the same postion rather than trying to find the centre

Look forward to any tips

Cheers

Rhys
Title: Re: Setting up potentiometers
Post by: Joe Lavery on April 12, 2020, 05:58:17 PM
This maybe an obvious comment but have you calibrated each axis?
Did you use the windows calibration, or the FSUIPC one?

Joe.
Title: Re: Setting up potentiometers
Post by: Reco on April 12, 2020, 06:56:10 PM
Hi
I used the windows calibration tool

I removed fsuipc and that seems to have fixed the issue
I set up the y axis but when I moved the pot it seemed to move both y and x axis
Maybe  in fsuipc i have messed the axis assignment up
Need to read up on how to calibrate using fsuipc

The vishay357 pots seem tricky to set up they have a centre point and if you rotate to far the axis goes to the top of bottom
Title: Re: Setting up potentiometers
Post by: sagrada737 on April 13, 2020, 10:14:52 AM
Using an ohm meter, check to see if the potentiometer is linear and reading correct values.

Also, check that your Bodnar firmware is up to date.  It is not unusual for the Bodnar device to seem to not work correctly.  Updating the firmware usually corrects this problem.

Running a Windows check on Pot movement should show whether it is working correctly.  If this is correct, you may not need to perform a "calibration".

Also, depending on the function for the Pot, you may need to physically establish the Pot position in your device.  In the case of the helicopter Collective, you may need to install the Pot at its "center" position.   Then, in FSUIPC you will be able to set the range correctly.   Depending on its orientation (CW or CCW), you may need to check the "Reverse" box in FSUIPC.

Mike
Title: Re: Setting up potentiometers
Post by: Reco on April 13, 2020, 08:13:37 PM
Hi
Thanks for the reply I have all the controls working

The issue is setting up the pots correctly so they go through the range of motion


Are you using vishay357 pots or something else?

Cheers

Rhys

Title: Re: Setting up potentiometers
Post by: sagrada737 on April 14, 2020, 12:21:05 PM
Hi Rhys,

The potentiometers that I am using are all 1 Watt, 10K values.  I use a Borns PTE Series Slider pot; aCITEC Wirewound Pot; and an ETI Systems Pot.

As a side note...  I have had some trouble with the CITEC pots.  The ETI Systems Pots are nice and smooth, with 360 degree continuous movement.  In this regard, everyone has their preference.  Just purchase a quality potentiometer and you will be fine.  I would stay away from used pots as you don't always know their history.

Mike