Switches for Lights.

[Cooleo]

Hello.

I'm just starting off building my cockpit. I would like to wire these switches up for the lights. How do I get these to work with USB? Is there an interface board? They are really nice to feel, and will be really cool to come into land and actually have hardware to turn on and off!

Thanks

[autocadplease]

One of the best and easiest interface boards to use is the BU0386X from Leo Bodnar www.leobodnar.com. It makes the switches you wire to it, buttons that can be assigned functions. You can use FSX to assign the switches/buttons but Peter Dowson's FSUIPC will make the options almost endless.

There are other interface boards (Flight Deck Solutions, Opencockpits,etc.) which have output capabilites among other things. The "sky is the limit" in this hobby. It depends how far you want to get into it.

[Cooleo]

Is the BU0836X the only one you can use or is it possible to use the BU0836A? Just because its cheaper.

[autocadplease]

EDIT: THE BU0386A DOES HAVE 32 INPUTS! SORRY!!!

Absolutely, it just has 12 inputs instead of 32 like the BU0386X.

If you are one a budget and are "handy", buy the cheap game controller and wire your switch to it's buttons.

[Cooleo]

Sorry, Which game controller do you mean? or do you mean a generic one?

and thanks for the info, I might buy one of them unless this option is cheaper.

[NigelD]

The "ski is the limit" in this hobby. It depends how far you want to get into it.

Yes, the ski certainly is the limit if you are going skiing!!!

I'll keep my plane in the sky. Funny typo my man!

Nigel.

[autocadplease]

Yes, any USB game controller or HID (human interface device) with buttons will work. I bought a game controllers here in Canada at Wal-Mart for $5. Just like this one on Ebay http://cgi.ebay.ca/USB-Dual-Shock-Co...d=p3286.c0.m14. Just trace the button's circuit back to the controller card and solder your wires there or if you can just solder directly on the PCB (printed circuit board) where the button sits.

[Jackpilot]

You can also open the guts of a cheap joystick, get the two wires attached to any button, hook them to your switch and assign the "landing light " function to that switch with FSUIPC.

[Cooleo]

Ah, That sounds a little over my head, I have a tendency of breaking PCB's when soldering. . Is there wiring diagrams for the BU0386A? I've bought some switches which have the following terminals on the bottom:
| |
| |
| |

Which would I connect to where?

Thanks

[autocadplease]

Looks like they are DPDT (Double Pole, Double Throw). This means you can attach two separate circuits (double pole) to the switch, which will turn on/off two different functions (double throw). The switch would probably be ON/OFF/ON. Meaning, the middle position is OFF. The up position is ON for one function and the down position is ON for a separate function. You can always solder pins together or not solder them all together.

The BU0386A does not have the quick connects like the BU0386X. You may want to buy connectors for it or you will have to solder to each pin. The wiring diagram is on the website.