Strategies on lighting and dimming in the cockpit

[fsaviator]

Hey everyone.  Time for a new thread.

I would like to open a discussion on lighting and dimming strategies.  Before we get to deep I want to focus on cockpit building, as opposed to cockpit assembly and rule out buying ready-made products with an integrated backlight/dimming solution.  It is understood that if one were to buy a ready made product with integrated lighting and dimming it would take care of the problem.

The way I see it, and correct me if I am wrong, but there are three items that require dimming.  The first and most obvious, are the panels themselves, to include 7-segment displays.  The second item would probably be the actual MIP Display Units,  and the third would be the focus, spot, and glarewing lighting.  There is a fourth item, individual annunciators, but we'll save that for future discussion.

What are some of the methods everyone is using for lighting?  I currently use LED strips for my glare and backlighting, run off of 12V through those chinese dimmers.

Are there any solutions out there that utilize 5V, and allow for software dimming?  For instance, 5V backlighting is connected to the interface of choice, and a pot or encoder is also connected to interface of choice, allowing for dimming through the software (FSUIPC, Sim-A, Prosim)

How are some of you tackling the issue of dimming the 7-segment displays along with the backlighting?

Has anyone played with dimming the LCD monitors that house the DU's either through software or hardware?  I am contemplating if I can replace the current control PCB on my monitors with one that incorporates a pot instead of the pushbuttons.

I hope we can get a good thread started here that will capture how we all tackle this issue.

[fsaviator]

Apparently Prosim has built in support for the dimming of the Inboard, Outboard, Upper, and Lower DUs.

It is directly mappable, and allows you to connect a pot via your preferred interface, and map it through the Analog tab to dim the actual Prosim Display window.

As I am using a Sismo Ethernet board for my MIP, it just happens to have five analog inputs which will account for five of the six DEU/Dus.  I will forgo the lower DU as I only use it for take-off/landing

[markfire]

Yup Prosim has built in support as has others. I currently use FDS  dimmers (built in fuse) for my 12v overhead and MIP backlighting.  I also connect the backlighting up to relay card and assign that to the master battery function in prosim.


Open cockpits cards give you the option to control 5v I believe.


As for dimming individual LEDs , prosim supports the two state directly from their software in conjunction with the phidgets 64 adv card.  Open cockpits outs card gives the same function but much more work and scripting involved.

[fsaviator]

Thanks Mark.

I hadn't thought about the relay.  I have a Sismo Dimmer card that includes a relay.  Maybe I'll stick to 12V and throw that card in to the mix.

I'm using SIOC and OC to run my overhead, including the dim/bright annunciators and a 12v with a dimmer for the panels.

[markfire]

I was using OC for my overhead and MIP but have gone over to cpflight as it's well supported in prosim and just works!


I'm now rewiring up the overheads to use the phidgets 64 adv cards as again they are supported in prosim and the dimming is easy to setup too.


I'm keeping the OC cards for the inputs as they work quite well and not sure of an alternative at present.


The relay option seems to work really well for the backlighting.


I have used the chinese ebay dimmers but found the shafts not long enough to get the knobs fixed properly, hence the FDS dimmers.


12v warm white LEDs are nice for backlighting and I've managed to get a nice orange colour using some theatre gel sheet. Take off the panels and cover the cut outs with it, still let's plenty of light through and looks great.

[Sean]

Mark, where did you get the gel sheet from. I'll try it on my MIP panels. My Engravity overhead has a lovely orange backlight, but their MIP panels are cool white. Not sure why they supply two different colours.

Same with flight illusion. Why do they supply cool white backlighting when every picture I've seen, the real thing is warm white.

Details, details!

Sean

[markfire]

Sean


I got it off ebay. Let me dig about and I'll let you know.


You can get different colours so if it's too orange you can tone it down.

[markfire]

Sean


Search:  21" X 48" 104 DEEP AMBER Lighting Filter Colour Effects Gel Theatre DJ TV Lights

Cable delight ltd.

Mark[size=0px][/size]

[Sean]

Got it thanks. I'll try that out.

[markfire]

Sean

I believe this is the one I used. You can get it in smaller sizes too



Par 64 / Parcan 64 Gel - Stage Lighting Filter 105 Orange


MGP electronics.




Mark[/size]

[Flying_Fox]

I also use those Chinese eBay dimmers for 12 v backlighting made off LED stripes. For monitor dimming I use ProSim.
Not sure what gel filters are, but I guess you can buy orange transparencies at any art store - that's what I use. You can play with color using one or two layers.

Nick

[phil744]

Arduino and a couple of N channel MOSFETS, gives you both manual and software dimming if you so wish.

Ohh, and gaffer tape

count yourself lucky your not building a 757

Cockpit Chronicles: 32 Dimmers on the Boeing 757

regards Capt Bodge 

[Nat Crea]

Such a gorgeous flight deck 

Nat

[markfire]

Nick


Gel filters are used on the front of stage lights. As you rightly say you can mix and match to get exactly the colour you require.


Mark

[andthiel]

Dear Mark

I have used the chinese ebay dimmers but found the shafts not long enough to get the knobs fixed properly, hence the FDS dimmers.

In case you are looking for 'better' dimmers (with a longer shaft), the Aviation Megastore could help. They offer 2 different types:

http://www.aviationmegastore.com/led-dimmer-type-1-34-01-01-dm-leds-buy-34-01-01-dm-b737ng-cockpit/product/?shopid=LM52ba960eacf7e64b323c011152&action=prodinfo&parent_id=278&art=105112

http://www.aviationmegastore.com/led-dimmer-type-2-33-01-02-dm-leds-buy-33-01-02-dm-b737ng-cockpit/product/?shopid=LM52ba960eacf7e64b323c011152&action=prodinfo&parent_id=278&art=103195

Hope this helps!

Best regards,

Andreas

Sent from my iPad via Tapatalk HD

[fordgt40]

Mark

Just change the "chinese" pots to "standard" ones. If I recall they are 10K ohms. You can then site the actual dimmer unit elsewhere and have longer shafts

David

[Maurice]

Such a gorgeous flight deck 

Nat

So, when are you starting in your new 757 project?

Maurice

[fsaviator]

No way...

Once I'm done and happy with the 737, my next pit will be Pilatus PC12.

[Nat Crea]

Unfortunately never Mau...
I still have a lot of unfinished business in the 737 to do

Nat

[markfire]

Andreas

Thanks for the links.


Mark