Noob with Phidget LED-64 Advanced question

[CocnutAir]

Bruce,

I have tweaked software to make your life a little easier.
Will post update a little later today.
Will also post steps on how to setup software for your specific project.
Kinda get you jumpstarted.

Regards,
Alan.

[binto100]

Alan -

I will be thrill to receive your tweaks and steps.

I understand why people hold you in high esteem.

Thanks.

Bruce

[CocnutAir]

Bruce,

As soon as FS2Phidget5018 is available in Download section, install that.
You do not need to uninstall any existing versions.

Quick Start:
Create a blank circuit.
Add a digital input.
Add an analog input component (represents your pot).
Set analog input's MinValue property to 0.
Set analog input's MaxValue property to 100 (led-64 brightness values are in range 0 -100)
Set analog input's UsesRatio property to false.
Add a connector component.
Add another 3 connector components, all in parallel.
To each connector add 8 digital outputs (these will represent your leds).
Set the the brightness property of each led to true.

Play with slider and all 32 leds should dim and bright accordingly.
When you plug in your Phidget cards you can assign Phidget components to above virtual compnents.

However, I have included test.xml in the latest zip.
That goes into your FS2Phidgets5 Projects folder.
If you open this project from fs2phidget5018 there is a Dimmer circuit for you to play with.

Regards,
Alan

[binto100]

Hi Alan.

When I go to the actual download page the latest version (I think on 3/7/10) is Fs2Phidget5017.

When I go to Fs2Phidget5018 shown as the latest file on the rh side of the web page it takes me to the Fs2Phidget5018 download page but I get this message when I click on the Download button:

binto100, you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:

1.Your user account may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
2.If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.

Does it take a while for the new file to be available?

Thanks.

Bruce

[CocnutAir]

Bruce,

The admins approve downloads before the become available.
I added dowload in middle of night.
I would let admins get good sleep before trying again.

Regards,
Alan.

[binto100]

Bruce,

Quick Start:
Create a blank circuit.
Add a digital input.
Add an analog input component (represents your pot).
Set analog input's MinValue property to 0.
Set analog input's MaxValue property to 100 (led-64 brightness values are in range 0 -100)
Set analog input's UsesRatio property to false.
Add a connector component.
Add another 3 connector components, all in parallel.
To each connector add 8 digital outputs (these will represent your leds).
Set the the brightness property of each led to true.

Alan -

I both built the circuit and compared it to test; what fun! I'm excited to get the phidgets hooked up, learn how to assign and then watch the lights.

Q - why do the circuits start with a digital in? It seems like the start point would be the analog in (pot).

Thanks so much.

Bruce

[CocnutAir]

Bruce,

That digital input would never be assigned to a real device.
I do it out of habit to help debug circuits.
I will also sometimes add a text component as a circuit indicator (kinda like a ammeter or voltmeter), with no intention of assigning to TextLCD.
Of course, one day you may want to assign digital input to some variable to simulate a failure or to
a master switch, is really easy to add and subtract components.

Regards,
Alan

[CocnutAir]

Bruce,

Forgot to mention details of tweak.
When working with led-64, one ends up setting the Brightness property for lots of leds.
I found this got tedious after a while.
Fs2Phidget5 will now detect when you have changed the Brightess property of more than 3 components in a circuit and prompt if you want ALL leds set up the same way.
The Brightness property on Digital Output components is what makes component treat circuit value as an led-64 brightness setting.
This also comes is handy if you have an led that has two brightness states, like the engine anti-ice test and fuel low pressure indicators on B737 overhead.

Regards,
Alan

[binto100]

Alan -

I've been so busy with my platform project I have not gotten to the phidgets yet though I did receive the 8/8/8 and LED64 and will start tinkering one of these nights.

This weekend I closed in on making my working model a reality and hopefully I will have movement by next Saturday. Then I can start design and work on the actual high-powered simulator platform.

I want to say thanks for all your help; it will be invaluable once I start putting the pieces in place.

Regards,

Bruce

BTW - what is your day job if I might ask?

[CocnutAir]

Looks like you have a really cool project.
I am going to be on vacation starting later this week for a while.
Get to spend some time at home working on my sim.
I will be checking emails most evenings.
I work for a large aerospace corporation. IT.