How To: Build a A-10 flight panel controller

Hi fael,

This is also covered in one of the videos or a post, not sure which one.

When you have a 2 position switch in the game, such as the APU Start switch, you simply need a ON/OFF single throw switch to model it. This is because you can specify in the Lua file what command gets triggered when the button is "on" and what command gets triggered when the button is "off". Check the video on setting up DCS A-10 for your panel for more info.

For a 3 position switch (such as the inverter on the Elec Power panel) you need a double throw switch which is 3 position ON/OFF/ON. Here you specify the command for each "on" for the switch (each on will go to separate button on the GGG) and you specify the same command for each "off" state of the button.

I'm not at home so I can't post the Lua code but I believe I explain this in the video also.

great tigershark, thanks.

didn't know dcs was capable of doing so! gonna check the lua vid.

cheers

Rafael

One obvious thing we should perhaps mention is that you can use a double throw ON/OFF switch (SPDT) for a 2 position switch in the sim and just wire one side.

Sometimes you can only get the actuator you want in SPDT, or you want all the switches in a row to look the same, or the SPDT is cheaper than the SPST, or you just want to buy in bulk.

Something to keep in mind, anyway,

Colin

hey Colin, that's what I was wondering, a DT switch for a 2 position toggle switch would work just fine, but for a 3 position toggle, you would need like a triple throw right? i'm not sure if there is such thing, but i didnt find anywhere.

For a 3-position switch in the sim you just need a SPDT center off, On-Off-On like TS said.

Both the SPDT On-On and the SPDT On-Off-On have three terminals; the centre one goes to ground.

The SPST Off-On just has two terminals; either one goes to ground.

You can also get Off-(On), (On)-Off-(On), and On-Off-(On)

Same as Off-Mom, Mom-Off-Mom, and On-Off-Mom

Momentary is spring return.

hey Colin, that's what I was wondering, a DT switch for a 2 position toggle switch would work just fine, but for a 3 position toggle, you would need like a triple throw right? i'm not sure if there is such thing, but i didnt find anywhere.

There is indeed a 3-position toggle, for example here. These are what I used on my AHCP.

For a 3-position switch in the sim you just need a SPDT center off, On-Off-On like TS said.

 

Both the SPDT On-On and the SPDT On-Off-On have three terminals; the centre one goes to ground.

 

The SPST Off-On just has two terminals; either one goes to ground.

 

You can also get Off-(On), (On)-Off-(On), and On-Off-(On)

Same as Off-Mom, Mom-Off-Mom, and On-Off-Mom

Momentary is spring return.

Quick question about this switch:

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?lang=en&site=US&KeyWords=100SP1T8B13M1QEH&x=24&y=15

The center position is listed as "none." Does that mean it still "clicks" two times from one position to another even though nothing happens on the middle "click"? Or does it just go from one end to the other?

The center position is listed as "none." Does that mean it still "clicks" two times from one position to another even though nothing happens on the middle "click"? Or does it just go from one end to the other?

See slide 5 in the link in this topic:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=73855

For a 3-position switch in the sim you just need a SPDT center off, On-Off-On like TS said.

 

Both the SPDT On-On and the SPDT On-Off-On have three terminals; the centre one goes to ground.

 

The SPST Off-On just has two terminals; either one goes to ground.

 

You can also get Off-(On), (On)-Off-(On), and On-Off-(On)

Same as Off-Mom, Mom-Off-Mom, and On-Off-Mom

Momentary is spring return.

yeah, I know that you don't really need a triple throw, just like you don't really need a double throw for 2 way switches (since you can edit the lua to do something when it goes off) but was wondering, if there is such thing as triple throw, wich could be useful for those who play other sims that dont have such thing as the lua config, nor have xpadder or a software to configure button options when turned off.

in that case, you mentioned the use for double throw for 2 way toggles, so I wondered about triple throw for 3 way toggles :pilotfly:

@greg: thanks, and yeah I know about the switch, I just don't know if there is a triple throw

yeah, I know that you don't really need a triple throw, just like you don't really need a double throw for 2 way switches (since you can edit the lua to do something when it goes off) but was wondering, if there is such thing as triple throw, wich could be useful for those who play other sims that dont have such thing as the lua config, nor have xpadder or a software to configure button options when turned off.

 

@greg: thanks, and yeah I know about the switch, I just don't know if there is a triple throw

See slide 7 in the link in this topic:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=73855

I was watching that right now, very informative! thanks Colin.

My only doubt now is about rotary switches. they have fixed positions? (what characterizes switches) or they are potentiometers?

in many places, the concept of rotary and potentiometers are given the same.

See slide 5 in the link in this topic:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=73855

Cool, thanks:thumbup:

A rotary switch is not a potentiometer. Pots work by varying the resistance of the current flowing through them (think of it like a slider in a computer program providing a variable value from 0 to 100).

Rotary switches are indeed still on/off like any other switch. But they do have some peculiarities which I am not sure as to why we can't just rig then up to a GGG board. Perhaps someone else can shed some light on this.

A rotary switch is not a potentiometer. Pots work by varying the resistance of the current flowing through them (think of it like a slider in a computer program providing a variable value from 0 to 100).

TS, there's somthing funny about this statement, don't ya think?

Colin

I must be having a sense of humour failure. I don't see it :-(

A rotary switch is not a potentiometer. Pots work by varying the resistance of the current flowing through them (think of it like a slider in a computer program providing a variable value from 0 to 100).

 

Rotary switches are indeed still on/off like any other switch. But they do have some peculiarities which I am not sure as to why we can't just rig then up to a GGG board. Perhaps someone else can shed some light on this.

TS, there's somthing funny about this statement, don't ya think?

Colin

I must be having a sense of humour failure. I don't see it :-(

Varying the resistance of the current,

current is affected by resistance, it does not have an resistance by itself.

A potentiometer vary's the resistance to allow a smaller or bigger current. OR

A potentiometer works by varying the current that flows trough them.

For as far as you can talk about "flow" that is.

I must be having a sense of humour failure. I don't see it :-(

Sorry, all I meant was: which is the analogue of which?

To me,a slider in a computer program works kind of like a pot in the real world :-)

Colin

I was watching that right now, very informative! thanks Colin.

 

My only doubt now is about rotary switches. they have fixed positions? (what characterizes switches) or they are potentiometers?

in many places, the concept of rotary and potentiometers are given the same.

Here is a rotary switch:

Here is a pot:

The other thing that's very confusing is some people say rotary switch when they mean encoder.

Then there's the two completley different meaning of the term "rotary engine". Just kidding; that's a little bit off topic :-)

Cheers,

Colin

thanks guys, helpful indeed.

btw, i asked a question on my thread, about potentiometers, led lights intensity, and using it in game, but I guess it fits better in here, since we're on this subject, so if you want to take a look:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=1206478&postcount=65

thanks,

Rafael

Raf,

You sound like a nice enough guy but the more I see your questions the more I think you are simply not digging deep enough into these forums. The pot question is addressed in a thread I created in this forum and hooking LEDs up is also covered in one of my videos.

TS.

thanks guys, helpful indeed.

 

btw, i asked a question on my thread, about potentiometers, led lights intensity, and using it in game, but I guess it fits better in here, since we're on this subject, so if you want to take a look:

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=1206478&postcount=65

 

thanks,

Rafael

Switches are just electro-mechanical devices, but when you start asking about LEDs and resistors you are entering the realm of basic electronics, starting with Ohm's law and moving on from there. This is probably not the place to go for that education.

Cheers,

Colin

Raf,

You sound like a nice enough guy but the more I see your questions the more I think you are simply not digging deep enough into these forums. The pot question is addressed in a thread I created in this forum and hooking LEDs up is also covered in one of my videos.

 

TS.

I apologize.

I just asked about the leds, because I just have a little knowledge about electrical stuff, and none for electronics, so I wasn't sure if all usb boards were the same, if 5v is correct for leds without resistors, or anything.

but I'll look for your thread, should have done it before

thanks TS

You will still need a resistor for 5V to a LED. Google Ohms Law to determine what value resistor you will need for a LED and 5v.

http://led.linear1.org/why-do-i-need-a-resistor-with-an-led/

didn't know ohm law is that simple, thanks folks.

btw, I found this calc, for the cheaters:

http://ledcalc.com/

cheers