Rotary Encoder

Hi, im new to the forum and planning on building a gauges panel similar to this:
C172 Slim - Painel simulador de voo - Macbare Cockpits

I plan on using Leo Bodnars BU0836X 12-Bit Joystick Board and his rotary encoders for the OBS, heading bug knob etc.

I am looking for advice if this is a good option for the job? and are there any better alternatives?

Thanks Dan

Dan,

Leo's card is a good basic unit. Using it for moving compass cards is not ideal. It does not have an easy way to accelerate the inputs so that you can turn fast to get faster response.

One detent in your encoder =1 degree change in your indicator. Most encoders are less than 20 detents per revolution. It takes a lot of turning to do a major heading change.

This can be overcome with some programming skills, but it isn't as plug and play as it seems.

Reid

Hi thanks for getting back to me, that was a worry of mine when looking at these, is there an alternative solution for this type of thing? Thanks, dan.

I have heard that the opencockpits cards and encoders can be right for the job but most of the technical info goes over my head

There is no ready made solution that is great that I know of. Opencockpits require programming in sioc. I am not a sioc user, so I can't help, although there seems to be a great deal of support on their site.

Arduino is another option and a search of the forum here has a pretty extensive thread on rotaries. Not sure which is best for you.

Reid

Just in case you ever consider OC's card, check this out.

Var 1 Link IOCARD_ENCODER Input 40 Aceleration 2 Type 2


Input 40 is the first logical input, the second input is assumed to be input 41. With aceleration you can specify if you want to increase with higher delta's if you turn faster.

I found it here How to program in SIOC, many basic examples

Thanks very much for that, I am going to consider it, and do some reading, now I know it can be done, next is how ;) I appreciate the help, thanks dan

Hello Dan,

I would advice to start using Open Cockpits hardware and SIOC.
The script is really not that hard to understand and there are indeed a lot of examples on the internet, where much becomes clear.

It has some higher startup costs ofcourse, compared with Leo Bodnars hardware, but your future possibilities are much wider and much more flexible.

I am not an expert on SIOC, but if you would ever start with it, I can help you start with it if you like.

There is a limit to my programming knowledge, but I am sure there are more people that would be willing to help you with it.

By the way, my GA-instrument consists of an old LCD monitor with a piece of plexiglass as a mask before it.
Attachment 7284On the backside of the plexiglass are 0,5 cm deep rings of pvc pipe, around every gauge. Al is painted black, exept ofcourse where the gauges are visible. This way you get a nice depth effect that makes the gauges look rather real.

Recently - this week actually - I added a rotary encoder leftdown at the NAV1/compass gauge rim, in the hope I can get the encoder to turn my Horizontal Situation Indicator. This however I am now trying to 'programm', indeed in SIOC.

Wish you a joyfull thinking process !
Bram


Greetings,
Bram Stikkel