MCP on a budget

[Flight_Master]

Finally, after few years of collecting various parts I was able to put together something that reminds of Collins MCP. At this moment it is about 50% complete. This is a project on a budget that utilize most of the I/O cards that I bought for MIP. Also I would like to note that MCP is driven by Prosim software.

Here are more details.

Panel
The MCP panel was bought from Simworld. It comes with metal backplate, which I had to modify to accomodate switches from L1011 (I will explain later). The panel also comes with frames for 7 segment displays and switches. It also comes with engraved legends. Unfortunately these legends don't fit L1011 switches so I had to make my own by printing on a transparency sheet.






Switches
Knowing that buying switches from vendors, would cost me a fortune I had to find another solution. Luckly enough I was able to find PFCS panel from L1011 for very cheap. The PFCS panel consists of 18 Jay-El switches which will give you heavy tactile feel and many years of enjoyment. These switches fit perfectly inside the Simworld frames. The "head" of the switch is removable so you can replace burnt bulbs. Also you can take apart the "head" to change the legend.

PFCS Panel

http://l1011project.blogspot.com/2009/11/original-flight-hardware-primary-flight.html

Bulbs
Each switch has four bulbs. Two for upper backlighting, two for lower. Four bulbs times fourteen switches, that's total of 56 bulbs. That was not acceptable as it would draw too much current from I/O board. My solution was to remove glass part of the bulb from the socket and replace it with and LED. I soldered positive lead of the LED to  the bottom of the socket and negative lead to the side. It was lots of work but at the end very rewarding. On the picture below: right -original bulb; left - LED in a bulb socket.







Backlighting
Somehow I'm very disgusted with panels being backlit by LED. It just doesn't give that cockpit warmth. My solution was to use real aircraft bulbs (you can get them for around $0.60 a piece. I know, who is talking cockpit on a budget) and super thin copper board. You can see part of the circuit in front of MCP on one of the pictures. Most importat thing here is to find correct location for the bulb so it doesn't give you hot spots but nice and uniform color. Then drill holes in the panel and place copper board with bulbs between panel and a backplate.

Rest of the Hardware

7-segment displays are driven by Opencockpits Display Cards.
Switches are driven by Opencockpits Master Card.
Encoders are also driven by Opencockpits Master Card.
Switch backlighting and other LEDs are driven by FDS SYS card since I have many open slots in my MIP Card, but it can also be driven by Opencockpits Master Card.
Knobs are from Simparts.de. Quality 6/10

I also made my own PCB which integrates switches, LEDs and 7 segment displays together and sends them to various cards.





The whole logic of MCP is driven by Prosim and it does it very well.

As I said this is a work in progress and I'll be giving updates once in a while.

Any input, comments appreciated.

Piotr Niedzwiedz

[fsaviator]

Very nice job.  I have that same Simworld MIP I bought on a whim.  Plan to work that at some point in the future.

[jackpilot]

Congrats: my first reaction was..why go through that when you can get one for a few -000?

Wrong , this is a not a matter of $$ but an achievement in itself
Nothing beats aero parts and your switches have the right look and probably feel.
Inserting LEDs in bulbs sockets says it all!!

Bravo, well done.
Jack

[DaveC]

Congrats.  Great job and well done.

Dave C.

[Trevor Hale]

Looks like a great setup.  Just don;t show Maurice...  He will give you heck for using all those Molex connectors

[Maurice]

Looks like a great setup.  Just don;t show Maurice...  He will give you heck for using all those Molex connectors

Don't worry...he is safe and a smart fellow. I did not see any Molex connectors

Maurice

[Flight_Master]

I just finished backlighting. It took 47 aircraft bulb. That's around 2.8 Amps 



Any reason why not to use molex connectors? I got few hundred from China 

Piotr

[Maurice]

Any reason why not to use molex connectors? I got few hundred from China 

Piotr

You are free to do as you please of course but here are my reasons:

http://www.cockpitbuilders.com/community/index.php?topic=3042.msg23563#msg23563

Good luck to you if you use them

Maurice