BU0836X and LEDS

[NCW]

Hi Guys,
I want to build a 737 type brake lever, using the above board and incorporating a micro switch and an led. Is it possible to get enough power through the board to run the led. I presume that I will have to use at least a 330ohm resistor in the led circuit.
Thanks,

Neil

[vcimmino]

The BU0836X is an input board only. This means that you can't drive outputs like leds from logic inside the simulator. If you instead simply want to light a led in a momentary switch when it's pressed you'll need to make a small circuit with an optocoupler or an HEX inverter and an external 3-5V supply. When the button is pressed the status of the optocoupler will change closing the led circuit and lighting it. IF you have many leds to do the same thing in the same panel then an HEX coupler or inverter is better because it can drive many at once. 74HC04 is a good choice and can drive up to 6 leds. Depending on the led type and colour a different resistor will be needed. Usually for high luminosity white leds and 5V it is 100Ohm. For green and red normal leds 330Ohm.

[chubben]

Take a look at leo's forum he explains it here, i belive you can get up to 14 LED's on the board i am just starting to make a breake leaver for my sim aswell so far it will only be a switch button ON-OFF (DPST switch) so nothing fancy but still fun to start learning to build a pit.

http://www.leobodnar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4

[Leo Bodnar]

Hi Guys,
I want to build a 737 type brake lever, using the above board and incorporating a micro switch and an led. Is it possible to get enough power through the board to run the led. I presume that I will have to use at least a 330ohm resistor in the led circuit.
Thanks,
Neil

Hi Neil,
Yes, as others suggested you can use +5V from the board to power some LEDs. Here is a simple ON only indication: http://www.leobodnar.com/forum/download/file.php?id=13
For anything more complex, just use DPDT switches - one side to commutate BU0836X inputs and the other to connect the LEDs.
Considering one LED consumes about 10mA of current you can safely connect about 6-7 before you reach the limit announced by the card to the OS. But in practice, you can cheat and get more if you plug it directly into PC or powered hub USB port. In such case you can get up to 500mA. That's plenty of LEDs!
Cheers
Leo

[NCW]

Hi again,
Apologies for not replying earlier to all your answers, regarding my question. Have been very busy at work. Thanks to Leo for my card which I picked up yesterday.

Cheers,

Neil

[Bartlomiej]

Hi there.
I have a similar board but from descktop aviator.
Anyway I was wondering if there is a way to use is for baclight to my throtle.
I mean connect some LED's to the board, and when i press turn on the lights in FS I want the LED's connected to the board to be on.
Is that posible or do i have to find another solusion.
I want to connect like 8 LED's only

[Basje]

Sorry to bump this thread, but I'd like to use DPDT switches to activate an LED and some functions in FS. Before I burn my switches, LED or BU0836X card, I'd like to ask if anyone can tell me how to concretely wire that circuit without me damaging anything. Thanks!