Pots

[N606DL]

Hey guys can anyone tell me which pots would be best for setting flaps? I am integrating my flaps lever but am unclear what to get and where to get it. I tried the pots in an old go flight rudder pedal but for some reason they don't register when I try and assign in FSUIPC.

D

[Trevor Hale]

Hi something may be wrong with your controller. Generally use at least 10K pots. And verify under Windows game controllers that they work before you try fsuipc.

[N606DL]

Thanks will try that out Trevor.

D

[Joe Lavery]

Perhaps a daft question Daniel but you are using a controller card of some sort? if so which one is it?

You might also check the resistance values with a meter to see if they change when you rotate the pot. Also check you've attached your wires to the correct tags on the pot.
All this might be seem obvious, but it's not clear from your post how far you've come in this build. 

Cheers
Joe.

[757Simulator]

Just my 2 cents.....

In the past I used a 100k linear pot for my flaps. Occasionally experienced problems with drift. Not sure why as no other analog experienced this. One reason may have been that I programmed the flaps through FSUIPC and the rest through EPIC. Not sure.

Any ways, when I recently re-built my throttle quadrant, I installed momentary limit switches and everything has worked beautifully every since.

Hope this helps.

[KyleH]

Mike is correct, switches are the best way to go if it is practical for your design.

[jackpilot]

Hi Guys
(Sorry to disagree, Kyle    )
The pot system is extremely simple to set up vs a switch array (and connections) and mine has been working impeccably for years now.
Calibration of any axix is a breeze with FSUIPC and can be safeguarded in the FSUIPC.ini file.
I posted a tutorial for that. Print it and try  with a decent pot (see below) and you will never go back to switches.
http://www.cockpitbuilders.com/community/index.php?topic=686.msg5238#msg5238

My 2 cents about pots

Linear 100K set up as (roughly) illustrated (no gear /no problem using the full zone) 

[KyleH]

Yes, pots are much easier to setup, but they will wear out quicker than switches and can be subject to noise spikes due to their analog input to the control boards microcontrollers.
If decent quality pots and control interfaces are chosen, it may be a non issue, but I have seen many, many worn out pots causing issues.

EDIT:
I should add; I'm not saying don't use a pot, but just be aware that it may have to be replaced at some point. The added mechanical complexity to using switches for a flaps lever may make that trade-off worth while.
My flaps handle uses switches because that's what it came with. If I was building it myself, I probably would have used a high quality pot just to simplify the mechanical. If I was building commercial unit, I would tell the mechanical designer to use switches.

[N606DL]

Many thanks for reply guys. I am replacing the flaps transistor with a pot,easy enough, after a few mods to original design I am able to set up my own pot. I am using Leo Bodnars BU0836A 12-Bit Joystick Controller. works great I allready have my ailerons, elevator,rudder, thrusters 1& 2 as well as the reverse thruster & tiller allready hooked up to this controller with no problem. I think there is a problem with a few wires loose because i tried 3 pots and got same result. So I 'll be at it today proofing the wiring. Once I can get this done then I just need to assign the flaps for leveld 767.

D

[N606DL]

Just a follow up it helps to buy really good pots. I have it taken care of and now I finally have Flaps in my flightdeck.

D