Panel for Aircraft

[DaveK]

Hey Guys
I have settled on a dash8-Q400 and have found a really good freeware model.
One thing it doesnt have is any systems.
I am not so much interested in a full system setup like PMDG aircraft but would like some stuff to work.
My question is, what controls the actual systems of an aircraft? the panel file, model or air files?

I am wondering if I could incorporate gauges from various aircraft into a separately but panel to give me what I want.
I have added things like a radar screen and pushback gauge.

I know there is a payware 400 coming out soon, and I dont mind paying for good software but wonder if it will be too much, I like to flick a few switches and then get in the air.

Any ideas?
thanks Dave

[Trevor Hale]

Hi Dave.

The .MDL Model file is (The aircraft looks/shape)
The .AIR Air file is (How the aircraft flies/Performence)
The .PNL Panel file is (Just a graphic and locations of all the instruments)

The .GAU Gauge Files is where the magic happens.  Programmers can make a stand alone gauge (Ie Airspeed) that just takes information from Flightsim and displays it.

Complex programmers create gauges that interract with other gauges they create that makes a complete system and behavior with integrated logic.

Therefore, you can in some cases take instruments from other aircraft and try them in your panel but they may or may not work.  But for some real logic, your better off with finding something like PMDG or Project Magenta/Flightdeck software etc..  to create what you want.

My personal suggestion to you, is that you ask Dean (When acting as a wave) what software they use for their setup, and perhaps you can make that work with your dash 8.

Trev

[jackpilot]

There is another way and the possibilities are basically unlimited
Assuming you like to flip switches on a procedural basis, lets say to start from cold and dark and have different systems come alive one after the other.
1) you can in a first stage build the overhead with all switches, lights and gauges in the right place.

Then you can flip your switches as required and make airplane noises....which is not good enough I agree.

2) wire the whole thing  with a 5V power supply, so that things happen in a logical sequence, annunciators light up when the should and gauges move accordingly.
Check
http://www.737ng.co.uk/overhead.htm
Ian was my inspiration at that and IT WORKS.
You will need, a good plan, some wire, diodes, toggles and a lot of ingenuity.
Jack

[CeeGee]

I agree with Trevor and Jack. In our case we needed an anologue DME display, a spoiler deployed light and a speed 250 kts warning. So I built it for the comet [lower left of the screen shot]. Now the idea is to get these back onto the panel of which 2 are done and 2 remain. It is really not that hard but depends on your MIP display [we are steam gauges - which is harder]. You also need to get it to work through FSUIPC or another control board. This is the one we use on the comet till they all become steam gauges/lights on the panel:

[DaveK]

Thanks for the reply guys.
Trevor thanks that helps with a bit more of an understanding of the various files
Jack, I had pretty much the same idea you suggest. The ECIS is fairly average and there is no APU so will have a play around with some gauges on a separate panel and see what I can come up with.
cheers Dave

[jackpilot]

The basic idea is that you can only start the engines when the other systems are running (electrical, and pneumatics, hydraulics,gas pumps) so your circuits have to be hooked to one another in a sequence and finally feed 5v to the starter switches which, through a simple keyboard encoder, activate the FS starters.
Annunciators do'nt even have to be wired to a card, they light up when 5v go trough the corresponding closed circuit. You can even insert a mini timer ( capacitor circuit) to have a delay before the annunciator lights up or insert a blinking diode for "blinking" applications, etc etc...fun and safe!!

edit: as for gauges , most can be activated to climb slowly to a preset value when powered.

[DaveK]

thanks Jack... I was thinking along those lines and seems the way to go.

In the circuit for the gauge you included the 2000mF is a capacitor? and wires in as shown between the feed + and -?
I presume that that is for 5v?
The pot provides more power to the gauge as you rotate it or is it set and you activate with a switch

For the delay/slow timer that would go inline on the +ve side?

I can wire 12 cars etc but mucking around with resistors/capacitors etc is very foreign.

[mikeh]

Dave - dont suppose i could persuade you to jump to atr72
There is a fantastic (and relativley cheap payware (flight1) aircraft with most systems working - only thing I've found is the small number of people building a cockpit & therefore able to share knowledge but there is a site ATR 72-500 SIM project by roberto who did this machine in past with a few other intrepid builders

[jackpilot]

thanks Jack... I was thinking along those lines and seems the way to go.

In the circuit for the gauge you included the 2000mF is a capacitor? and wires in as shown between the feed + and -?
I presume that that is for 5v?
The pot provides more power to the gauge as you rotate it or is it set and you activate with a switch

For the delay/slow timer that would go inline on the +ve side?

I can wire 12 cars etc but mucking around with resistors/capacitors etc is very foreign.

the values can be adapted to each gauge.
This is based on 5V
The pot is just (as all pots) a variable resistor which means once you find the correct position (ohm value) you can replace it with a fixed resistor of the same  value.
The value of the capacitor regulates the speed at which the pointer moves
The resitor value regulates the point on the gauge scale where the pointer stops moving

Much easier to do than it sounds.
Ex: for brake pressure, a microswitch on the brake pedal closes the circuit (applies 5V) and the gauge moves up , releasing the breake pedal opens the circuit and the gauges moves back to zero.

[Joe Lavery]

Jack, can you use the same circuit for a servo driven gauge?

[jackpilot]

Nope.

This applies only to real gauges driven by current/voltage.
It is fine for "dummy" gauges which are zero or full deflection. It just makes them climb slowly.
Not linked to any proportional logic.

[Joe Lavery]

Thanks Jack,

Guess I'll have to invest in a few surplus real gauges, the trouble is the UK breakers want an arm and a leg for them. 

Oh Well on my next trip to the US... perhaps!

Joe.

[727737Nut]

Phidgets has just released a 0-5vdc or 0-10vdc output card!! You can use it to drive some real gauges to follow the sim outputs instead of just a simple reading.

[jackpilot]

Will check that...very good news.
JP

[DaveK]

thanks for the info Jack... will have to troll ebay now and find a gauge to play with

[jackpilot]

http://stores.ebay.com/Aircraft-Stock/_i.html?_nkw=pressure&_sid=179182886

JP