Control input degradation

[fsaviator]

Gents, as I move closer to my unveiling of my new build (should have been this weekend) I am down to my controls...  they are jacked up.

My ace yokes are all over the place.  I'm sending direct to  a registered verison of FSUIPC, I've clicked on spike control, I've disabled all controllers and assignments in FSX and it's still not helping.

My Elevator input has degraded to the point where I run the full range of deflection with about two inches of movement.  I've played with the Delta in FSUIPC to no avail.

My Aileron input while still giving a large range is constantly banking to the left.  Even when I purposely calibrate it to bank to the right.

The yokes have a Bodnar card and I'm also running my tiller through the same card.  It seems to be working OK.

I'm thinking of replacing the pots but I'm searching for a pot that is less susceptible to dirt and rugged enough to not have to worry about it for a while.

Thoughts?

[sagrada737]

Hi Warren,  Sorry to hear about the declining condition of your Yoke system.  Here are a few things you might do:

- Check and monitor the resistance value coming out of each potentiometer as you move the yoke.  It should be a linear change as you move the yoke.  It may well be that you have a defective/or marginal potentiometer. 

- You also might consider changing to a different style potemtiometer, such as a wirewound version or a conductive plastic hybrid version.  The wirewound types offer better linearity for rheostat type of applications. 

-You might also change to a different resistance value, eg. 50K ohm or 100K ohm, etc. - then re-calibrate your yoke system.

Don't get discouraged when you are on the last stretch of your project.  These kind of minor issues always come into the picture during the last 10% of a big project.  Guaranteed that you will get this one sorted out.

Mike

[fsaviator]

I hear you Mike.  Just frustrated as out of the issues that have cropped up in this build, I'm being hit from a part that normally had no issues.

Do you have any recommendations for pots I could order?  At the end of the day if I have to pull my deck up to get to the pots, I might as well change them out with something bulletproof.

Warren

[sagrada737]

Hi Warren,

There are lots of suppliers.  I'm sure you can find a good one in Germany.  Here is a link that shows various kinds of potentiometers and suppliers.

http://catalogs.indiamart.com/products/wire-wound-potentiometer.html

I don't envy you having to take up the floor panels on your sim.  This speaks to the issue of ongoing maintenance for our sim projects - especially areas that are difficult to physically get to.  Setting things up for easy removal/inspection/installation can make life easier when such maintenance is needed.

Anyway, best wishes in getting this issue resolved.

Mike

[jackpilot]

Before undoing try to contact Ali
I have Ace yoke and no prob.
His pots are very high resolution.

JP

[saabpilot]

Hi Warren,

Just a thought.
I see that you use two ACE yokes at the same time.
Maybe they are, now, interfering with each other?
Have you tried to disable one of them and see what happens with the remaining one.

Best,
Bjorn

[sagrada737]

Hi Warren,

The previous posts are good advice.  Also, here is a link to Farnell, a German supplier of rheostats that might suit your needs if you have to replace a potentiometer.

http://de.farnell.com/rheostate

Mike

[jackpilot]

Bjorn
I think Warren has the linked version so probably only one set of pots.

[fsaviator]

They are linked Ace yokes.  One set of pots.

I'm going to try the utilily Leo has for his cards...  more to follow on that

[iwik]

Warren,
Have you tried deleting the FSUIPC .ini and let it generate a new one. Also remove Fsuipc DLL and try calibrating in FSX.
Ive had funnies with FSUIPC, had all values looking normal in FSUIPC but something corrupt
in the ini file.
les

[fsaviator]

Well, even though the card is a Bodnar, the utility doesn't recognize it.  I imagine it has to do with branding.

In a whim, I went into Windows and reset all the controllers to default then back into FSUIPC to calibrate.  A little better on the elevator.  It is useable at least.  The left bank is annoying and I'm starting to think that is why my A/P won't come on.  I've calibrated it into a right turn to the point that the counter input isn't as bad.  Not going to work though as I can't take my eyes off of flying without banking off course.

I'll try your suggestions, Les.

Warren

[carlos hermida]

Hi Warren,

   My Ace yoke (Capt side) started to have the same issue as yours, so looks like I have the same elevator pot with problem...

    Did you changed yours? If so what's the specs that you used and where you ordered it?

   Thanks in advance !

Carlos

[fsaviator]

Carlos,
I still haven't changed them out.  I seem to have fixed the issues.
Try deleting ALL control references out of FSUIPC, then rebooting and recalibrating.  That is what seemed to help for me.  Also, as usual, make sure you have removed ALL axis inputs from FSX.

Warren

[carlos hermida]

Carlos,
I still haven't changed them out.  I seem to have fixed the issues.
Try deleting ALL control references out of FSUIPC, then rebooting and recalibrating.  That is what seemed to help for me.  Also, as usual, make sure you have removed ALL axis inputs from FSX.

Warren

Hi Warren,

  After spend my saturday afternoon looking for my elevator problem I have discovered after opening it that the allen screw was titted in the wrong position of the pot shaft and also I discovered that this pots turns infinity so that was my problem, it goes to "zero" when I move elevator to half curse. After a new adjust of it using a multimeter all looks perfect now !

  In a while I have ordered those pots that you suggested just to have some spare here if necessary...

Thank you again !

[fsaviator]

I too found that I had to use a multimeter to get the pot lines up right, but I thought that was my pot failing....  that is why I originally ordered the hall effect sensors!  I guess that is normal for that pot.