Any wiring ideas for a matrix!

Hi Everyone!

As my sim is rapidly progressing now, i am running out of inputs on my Leo Bodnar BU0836 interface card, at the moment i am using 12 switches in 'simple mode' and using 3 axis (Throttle, Prop, Mix), but i now need a few more inputs as i have a few more "add-ons" and need to free up a few more inputs.

I know that i can add upto 32+4 buttons/switches to the card using a 'matrix', but i really dont know how to put leo's diagram of the matrix into action as i wouldnt know where to start.

Is there any info on how to create a matrix board or any wiring diagrams, as i know you need to use diodes aswell.

Have you wired up a matrix and how have you done it, whats the easiest way to wire it?

Surely you guys have done this many times before, so i could really do with your help!

Cheers

Alex

hello alex.........
take a look at this doc http://www.737ng.co.uk/EFIS_BU0836_HOWTO.pdf
bottom of page 3 is exactly what you want to know. even got a photograph.
have a good one chap.... ian

Tip......always post a new thread in the section that Ian has his 'post' in coz you get the cream of the crop answering your questions!

Ian saves the day.........yet again!

Cheers Ian,

Will try and get my head round your drawings soon pal!

I chose the "easy way" out of the Matrix dilemma.

Now I do admitt that i'm probably a bit on the lazy side, but after hours of eching PCB's and soldering I simply got a hold of these:
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/3839/ffbpedals006.jpg

.. and if you look closely you'll see that they are "two stories" high. So by soldering the diodes into rows of 6 (just like Leo's scetch), I now have a matrix that is real simple to connect my inputs to..

The connectors I actually found inside a one of those old electrical cabinets that was thrown away on the local garbage dump site..!

Hi Alex:

I did this a while ago for a friend. It is the Bu0836 matrix.
Maybe it will help. The terminal blocks need to accomodate 6 wires each.
Some blocks can be tripled. Many types are available on Ebay.

My apology for the poor quality. I can re-do it in Autocad if any interest.

Regards Ken K