Real gauges interfacing

[archen]

Hi guys!

I've been building for about 18 month now and my MIP is soon finished (for sale actually, gonna switch over to FDS) and I'm currently working on the overhead right now.

I bought a real fuel temp gauge from eBay and now I'm about to interface it and if I succeed I will try to buy all other gauges as well.. Really love the real parts so I'm trying to combine my simulator parts with real parts as much as possible.

After some experiments I came to the conclusion that the needle moves when applying current to 2 pins on the cannon plug connector..applying more current will move the needle longer and less shorter. I have no specs of how much I should apply though.

Am I on the right track or can someone please point me in the right direction? Is there any good interfacecards for these gauges? I guess I need analog outputcard?

How many volts for backlight? 28? 5?

Thank you all in advance!

Best regards,
Anders from Sweden
www.helinare.nu

[jackpilot]

Hi Anders

Backlighting is 5V

My 2¢ on the subject:
Two kinds of gauges on the overhead
1) Those which go from zero to their normal value when powered ex: oxy pressure , air temp, fuel temp, APU EGT, duct pressure...basically eye candy (well actually they all are lol) as their abnormal variations are not modeled anyway.
2) Those which show variations according to airplane situation or config , ex :cabin alt

Category 1) real gauges can be activated with a simple capacitor circuit fed with 5V which makes the pointer slowly creep up or wind down for a nice effect when 5V is applied /shut off.

Category 2) need interfacing which means get their guts out  replace with a servo and use an interface card, not the easiest!

Has been debated on this forum already. Search "capacitor"
here is one post
http://www.cockpitbuilders.com/community/index.php?topic=864.msg6754#msg6754

[Jowl]

Hi Anders.

We are looking into interfacing a APU EGT and Crew oxygen gauge. The Crew oxygen seems pretty straightforward and we will probably use similar methods as in our Viggen sim, connecting it to a OC servo card and feed it. Only problem is finding the pins since it has two needles and no pin markings..

The APU gauge is trickier, we had similar problems with our accelrometer (g-meeter) in the Viggen that needed from +15 to -15 v dc, here one of our members fixed a card to controll it. When we have figured out how to controll the APU egt we can share it.

As Jack pointed out, we converted many OH gauges to servo, kind of tricky to get a air source in there

Jonas
Swesim www.swesim.se

[archen]

Thanks alot guys! Does anyone know which pins goes to backlight on the fuel temp guage? Don't wanna risk burning it.


Best regards,
Anders

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[Nat Crea]

Backlighting on all real indicators is 5v.

Just use a 5v power supply and attach two pins at a time. Might take a few minutes
to find the right two pins and you WONT hurt your gauge...trust me
I found the correct pins on all my indicators this way. No harm done.

Nat

[XOrionFE]

I believe Phidgets has a board now that controls voltage and works up to 20amps.  USB controlled.   

Scott

[archen]

Thank you so much guys! Did as you said and found out that backlight is on pin 6 & 7 on the fuel temp gauge.

Is it the phidgets 1002, analog output card you are referring to?

Best regards,
Anders