Low Cost Hallsensor mod for Cougar

Items needed:

Instant(Super) glue :1 qty (can be used metal & plastic)

A1302 chip x 2 ( you can buy it from http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836/ scroll down)

Rare Earth 6.5 mm cubic magnet x 2 (I got it from ebay)

I did it my pots are totally jumpy, you should try this but your own risk. There is datasheet about A1302 and connection diagram etc at leobodnar.com too.

The gap between A1302 & magnet is about 1 mm, if less than 1 mm, values saturate too fast before reaching gimbal limit. you have to adjust gap, and magnet orientation.

http://seveng-f18.com

Nice! :thumbup:

I already don't understand why many people consider that only >100U$ HALL sensor work...

In DwTweak2 (or Diview) what minimal and maximum values you get?

Sokol1_Br

Nice! :thumbup:

 

I already don't understand why many people consider that only >100U$ HALL sensor work...

 

In DwTweak2 (or Diview) what minimal and maximum values you get?

 

Sokol1_Br

Depend on how you manipulate the objects(magnet & sensor), you'll get values 0-65535 if you put those correctly. I did it this order,

0. check which surface of magnet is reacting to sensor(when you moving left and right), so you have to solder first(A1302 to cougar pots wire). I recommend pull usb cable out from computer while soldering. Also important double checking correct wiring.

and mark on magnet.

1. Put magnet with glue. Plug it in.

2. while gluing sensor, you have only 5 to 10 second before it harden, watching values of cougar viewer, what you have to do now is centering values of sensor readout.

3. Adjust gab, it bends well.

4. manual calibration

It's been 3 days it works perfectly, I have hotas warthog but using only throttle, the stick have static friction rather bigger than cougar. I tested it have 20000 different values means near 15 bit precision.

Excellent.

I had actually order these sensors a couple days ago. I like your mounting method a lot better then what I was considering.

Did you have to shim the roll direction to eliminate play from the mechanism?

i built one of these sensors into my cougar throttle two days ago. took me 5h to bring the sensor and magnet in the right position, to use the whole axis. but now it's working like a charme. :joystick:

best 3EUR hack ever. :thumbup:

Someone requested this...

Hi sebbomann! I seen your mod on the throttle and gave it a try. It was going well until I realized the magnet I had was too big to fit in that small space. I'm wondering if it matters much how strong the magnet is?

Menessis

Does a magnet size matter here? I have a bunch of neodymium 5mm cubes.

Throttle Problems

I put a hall sensor in my throttle. Cant get it to work. Meanwhile I put one on the Y axis on my stick. Works fine. So I ordered a couple more sensors. I gave it another try. But no go. I tried it on the Y axis and it works, move it over to the throttle and no go! It's not the magnets because I checked that.

One thing I have found is that the voltage at the throttle is only 3.9 volts. The sensors require 4.5 volts! And it seems that brown is negative and orange is positive ! On the x and y axis brown is positive.

I don't get it????

Menessis

In Germany I can find only 6 mm or 7 mm Neodym magnets, for me there is no way to find 6,5 mm Neodyms. So what size should work best, 6 mm or 7mm? I guess that I also should consider a different space between the sensor and the magnets as the 6 mm is weaker and the 7 mm is stronger than the 6,5 mm magnet.

I'm wondering if it matters much how strong the magnet is?

That's exactly what it is about. (And some adjustments of the magnet to apply its field in a good spot on the sensor.)

Does a magnet size matter here?

Nope, size does not matter, its all about the strength of the magnet.

So what size should work best, 6 mm or 7mm? I guess that I also should consider a different space between the sensor and the magnets as the 6 mm is weaker and the 7 mm is stronger than the 6,5 mm magnet.

I would go with the 6mm magnet. Leaves you enough space to adjust the position of the sensor right. When I was doing this hack, it took me like half an hour to put the parts in and ssome couple of hours to adjust the sensor, that i use exactly the part of the magnetic field, that gives me the best values and the widest possible range on my axis.

One thing I have found is that the voltage at the throttle is only 3.9 volts. The sensors require 4.5 volts! And it seems that brown is negative and orange is positive ! On the x and y axis brown is positive.

The Voltage should not be the problem. there is a voltage margin in which electronic parts work. a little bit less voltage should normally not be a problem. it would be bad, if it was much more voltage.

Did you also use the A1302?

This sounds really interesting. Since I can't seem to get a hold of the guy from CubPilot to order a Hal Sensor this option may be the thing.

Did a little searching on ebay and would this magnet work?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-N42-Neodymium-Magnet-Cube-rare-earth-BRUTALLY-SUPER-STRONG-/261090383399?_trksid=p2047675.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D555003%26algo%3DPW.CAT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D142%26meid%3D5033390144153094257%26pid%3D100010%26prg%3D1076%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D280882440939%26

Also, I take it there is some soldering involved here?

When you guys say it takes time to get it in the right spot, do you have the throttle hooked up to the computer while testing it or do you use other instruments to judge?

I'd like to try this for my Cougar Throttle. I already have HAL sensors on my stick, they work great.

This sounds really interesting. Since I can't seem to get a hold of the guy from CubPilot to order a Hal Sensor this option may be the thing.

 

Did a little searching on ebay and would this magnet work?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-N42-Neodymium-Magnet-Cube-rare-earth-BRUTALLY-SUPER-STRONG-/261090383399?_trksid=p2047675.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D555003%26algo%3DPW.CAT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D142%26meid%3D5033390144153094257%26pid%3D100010%26prg%3D1076%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D280882440939%26

 

Also, I take it there is some soldering involved here?

 

When you guys say it takes time to get it in the right spot, do you have the throttle hooked up to the computer while testing it or do you use other instruments to judge?

 

I'd like to try this for my Cougar Throttle. I already have HAL sensors on my stick, they work great.

this magnet qould be really to big. something around 6mm would be fine.

yes there is soldering involved. you need to solder out the potentiometer and solder in the hal sensor.

for testing i had the throttle connected to my computer, easiest and cheapest solution.

ok, so that's about a 1/4 inch then, so these should work?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/27-1-4-CUBE-MAGNETS-N42-Neodymium-rare-earth-very-strong-Great-Gift-/261131697695?_trksid=p2047675.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D555003%26algo%3DPW.CAT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D142%26meid%3D5033916286880420084%26pid%3D100010%26prg%3D1076%26rk%3D4%26sd%3D261090383399%26

ok, so that's about a 1/4 inch then, so these should work?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/27-1-4-CUBE-MAGNETS-N42-Neodymium-rare-earth-very-strong-Great-Gift-/261131697695?_trksid=p2047675.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D555003%26algo%3DPW.CAT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D142%26meid%3D5033916286880420084%26pid%3D100010%26prg%3D1076%26rk%3D4%26sd%3D261090383399%26

should be exactly what you want.

ok, thanks. I just ordered both the sensor and the magnets.

 

I would go with the 6mm magnet. Leaves you enough space to adjust the position of the sensor right. When I was doing this hack, it took me like half an hour to put the parts in and ssome couple of hours to adjust the sensor, that i use exactly the part of the magnetic field, that gives me the best values and the widest possible range on my axis.

 

 

Thanks a lot for your answer sebbomann. I will go for the 6 mm magnet and the A1302. I hope I will have the endurance and skill to get it to work :book:.

Thanks a lot for your answer sobbomann. I will go for the 6 mm magnet and the A1302. I hope I will have the endurance and skill to get it to work :book:.

No problem. Ask here or PM me, if you need any help. :)

Well here is what is happening in my case. Solder up the hall sensor. I used a HoneyWell 480-3591-nd. Same one I used on the stick.

I used two 1/4" magnets placed on each side of sensor. I don't get any response. I unplug the sensor from the throttle and plug it in the "x" axis on my stick, pass a magnet by it and it works. So it works in the stick but not the throttle. Then I put the pot back on the throttle and it works, so the throttle is not burned out. The sensor works, but not in the throttle. What's left? I check the voltage to see what was there and found 3.9 volts. Then I check the specs on that sensor it says 4.5 minimum. The Alegro 1302 is about the same spec.

I don't think there is enough voltage. But don't know what to try next.

Menessis

What's left? I check the voltage to see what was there and found 3.9 volts. Then I check the specs on that sensor it says 4.5 minimum. The Alegro 1302 is about the same spec.

The specs are not really the same. Your Honeywell-sensor operates from 4.5V to 10.5V. And the specs on the A1302 are a little different (4.5V - 6V). This does not say much, but this difference could be the cause, why your sensor is not responding. I asked a colleague about that, who is very good in electronics, and he said, that if your part works at your given voltage level, even if it is not in the range specified in the datasheet, you're fine.

So there are two things which remain to you:

• 
  raise your supply voltage whith an external power supply (not cool, higher supply voltage means higher output voltage and you might kill your throttle)
  

• 
  use the a1302
  

hope that helps...

Menesis,

Maybe this help. In this case the autor (NN_Apache in ChckSix) use a 220 OHMS resistor (limit to 5v???) to supply voltage for HALL (SS495A1) in a separate - from throttle PCB - circuit.

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/908/220rcircuit86kc4.jpg

http://www.checksix-forums.com/showthread.php?t=132677&highlight=apache&page=2

Sokol1

Thanks Guys. When I ordered from DigiKey, they didn't have the 1302's in stock. But now I see they do. I have to order some other things too. So I will try one and see what happens.

Menessis

good luck. ;)

OK, so I've just ordered the magnets and hal;l sensors. All for under £10. Fingers crossed I can get this to work :-)

Anyone got any pics of this mod on the X or Y stick Axis? Just for reference so I can have a go at it