It's always something - Wiring Pots to BU0836X

[usafgadget]

Got leo's board rather quickly (4 days UK-US).  Wired some switches - no problem.

Tried to wire up a 10k pot.  Left and right stubs to 5v and ground.  Middle stub to input.  No luck.  Tried all the axis (X-RZ)...nothing.  Wired it up to the hat switch connections and the pot rotated the view so I know the pot works.

Any suggestions?  Am I doing something wrong?

I emailed Leo but I doubt I will get a response.

[Boeing Skunk Works]

Did you use the software to tell the board you had hooked up a pot? IIRC you have to configure the inputs you are using for a pot.

I haven't had to do this in a long while so i could be mistaken.

[usafgadget]

Thanks for the quick reply,

Isn't that for rotary encoders?  The BU0836X board has 8 analog inputs (3 connections for each; axis, 5v and ground) so that's where I hooked up the pot.

http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836X/

[Boeing Skunk Works]

Yep, you're right. My memory isn't what it used to be.

[NeoMorph]

Well according to the diagram on Leo's site you only have to connect up the pots to the three connectors.



I know that is for another board but it's the same chip and the pots on his site are 10k ohms as well...

I'm hoping my board is on its way to me before Xmas so I will try the same at my end...

[usafgadget]

Yep that's what I did (see earlier posts).  Still no luck.  I've given up on Leo and his boards.  He doesn't support his customers (at least not me and a few others that I can tell from other forums) after the sale.  Emails aren't answered unless they're from PayPal and include money.

I'm now looking into FDS boards.


Chris

[NeoMorph]

I wish I had found this site before I ordered from Leo... Darn it! 

Hmmm... Just found out that Leo posted mine this morning with next day delivery... with this weather though I will probably get it next week or the new year. I'm still waiting for a parcel that my sister sent me the beginning of last week... I HATE SNOW!

[Maurice]

Yep that's what I did (see earlier posts).  Still no luck.  I've given up on Leo and his boards.  He doesn't support his customers (at least not me and a few others that I can tell from other forums) after the sale.  Emails aren't answered unless they're from PayPal and include money.

I'm now looking into FDS boards.


Chris

Just a quick thought. Did you try plugging the USB cable into a powered USB hub instead of directly to a USB port on your PC? Long shot but could be that it needs more juice to operate properly.

Maurice

[shaneb]

Just another suggestion . . when I received my board I found that the connected switches would work but not the pots.  I went into FS and disabled the bodnar board under controller settings and it began working.  I later enabled the controller in FS and it still worked.  Maybe it will work for you.

[usafgadget]

Maurice and Shane,

Thanks for the suggestions.  I know for a fact that the board is plugged into a powered USB hub and I pretty sure I tried disabling it in FS, but I will go back and try again. 

Chris

[shaneb]

Hey Chris,

Sometimes it is the smallest things . . it will drive you crazy.   I like how your post starts out  " it's always something"   very similiar to my favorite saying " nothings ever easy"   of course I am usually saying this in a loud voice as something else goes wrong  . . I have learned not to throw anything after saying "nothings ever easy"  as I have found this to be counter-productive . . taking more time to fix whatever broke as the thrown object impacted something that actually worked prior to throwing the object in hand at a high velocity.     

[Maurice]

Hey Chris,

Sometimes it is the smallest things . . it will drive you crazy.   I like how your post starts out  " it's always something"   very similiar to my favorite saying " nothings ever easy"   

I would like to add something re. the 'smallest things'. I have found on many occasions that the smallest things can cause the biggest problems. What you think would be very easy turns out to be a real nighmare and what you dreaded doing often turns out to be  easier than you thought. Building a simulator ranks high into the hierarchy of things that can drive you crazy.

Maurice

[jackpilot]

Oh Yes

Rule:

Never associate a timeframe and a task, period.

[iwik]

Hi Chris,
Have been into windows and selected the Bodnar card, then calibated it. I vaguely remember having my one not showing. After calibration all was fine. The card works well, have two working fine.
Hope this helps.
Les

[ETomlin]

Oh Yes

Rule:

Never associate a timeframe and a task, period.

Very good Jack. Very good. I can relate to this very well.

[Bob Reed]

Hey Chris,

Sometimes it is the smallest things . . it will drive you crazy.   I like how your post starts out  " it's always something"   very similiar to my favorite saying " nothings ever easy"   

I would like to add something re. the 'smallest things'. I have found on many occasions that the smallest things can cause the biggest problems. What you think would be very easy turns out to be a real nighmare and what you dreaded doing often turns out to be  easier than you thought. Building a simulator ranks high into the hierarchy of things that can drive you crazy.

Maurice

Sorry Maurice.. Afraid I have to disagree with you a bit on tis one.... It's not "Things that "CAN" drive you crazy", it is "Things that "WILL" drive you crazy"!! LOL 

[Maurice]

.
.

Sorry Maurice.. Afraid I have to disagree with you a bit on tis one.... It's not "Things that "CAN" drive you crazy", it is "Things that "WILL" drive you crazy"!! LOL 

I stand corrected 

Maurice

[NeoMorph]

My board just arrived... Yay for Royal Mail heh.

Will try and run some tests later today if I have time... if not it will be Boxing Day.

[NeoMorph]

Well I just hooked up my board to Windows 7 and guess what... in the game config and test page there are no axis showing. The buttons and the HAT switch are showing but no pots. Not looking good atm...

[NeoMorph]

OK, I managed to find an old pot and hooked it up to the X axis on the interface. I then plugged the interface into the PC and VOILA... on the game controller page the X axis has now appeared and it available for calibration.

Seems that you need to connect the pot up and then connect the interface via the USB for the axis to appear.

[iwik]

NeoMorph,
Yes that is correct,a pot must be conected before it is seen. Designed this way by Leo.
Les

[NeoMorph]

At least it works. 

I wonder if usafgadget has managed to get his working now? Maybe if he has the wires wrong it's not showing up as a pot?

[Joe Lavery]

I don't know if it's any help but this is from Leo's website. I found it in my documents.

------------------------

Construction tips
•What to do with unused inputs?
?Unconnected buttons will appear as not pressed - just ignore them
?Unused analog inputs are automatically disabled. They will reappear as soon pots are connected and BU0836A is powered up. In other words, if they are not connected - you will not see them
•Which pots are the best?
?Any value from 1kOhm to 100kOhm will work fine. If you don't know where to start, get 10kOhm ones
?Use linear pots (taper B.) Avoid non-linear, log pots with tapers A, D or Y used in audio level controls
?Any pot will work but the best ones are industrial quality from Spectrol (Vishay) and Bourns. They have life expectancy of few million shaft revolutions. I keep a small stock - please email me for information.
?Good wiring helps! For ultimately clean signal don't share +5V and GND signals between pots. Connect each pot with its own set of three wires.
?If you can vary your mechanical construction try to use as much of pot travel range as possible.

--------------------------------------

A Merry Christmas and happy New Year to everyone BTW 

Regards
Joe.

[NeoMorph]

I've dug into my old junk electronics box and tried a variety of pots now... 13 in all and all but one worked fine and the one that didn't was because I think the track was dirty and wouldn't calibrate... but all registered as soon as the BU0836X was plugged in. I've also tried it on both Windows 7 and Windows XP (both up to date with patches).

My only thought is that usagadget is actually right and he has a defective BU0836X...

[usafgadget]

Sorry I haven't replied earlier.  I've been busy configuring my TQ thru FSUIPC and I guess I'm more of a visual guy.  The manual can be tough to digest sometimes.

I have on my short list of things to get done to try and get this pot issue resolved with the board.  I will follow the steps you guys have outlined again, perhaps in my frustration I overlooked something.

Chris