Results 1 to 5 of 5
  1. #1
    150+ Forum Groupie verticallimit's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Denmark, Sinding
    Posts
    212
    Contribute If you enjoy reading the
    content here, click the below
    image to support MyCockpit site.
    Click Here To Contribute To Our Site

    Lightbulb Digtal to Analogue Gauges

    I've thought about how to get the analogue instruments to operate.

    These "vu Meters" are easy to find and do not cost so much. We will use digital outputs to control the needle up and down.

    3 outputs corresponding to 8 steps.

    4 outputs corresponding to 16 steps.

    5 outputs corresponding to 32 steps.

    6 outputs corresponding to 64 steps.

    7 outputs corresponding to 128 steps.



    I'm used three outputs for these test.





    How is it done?
    1: Find out how much resistance there has to be in series with your analog gauges for it to show 100% of full voltage.

    2: Let us assume that resistance must be 20 Kohm.
    Then the total resistance of all six resistors together must be 20,000 ohms. All six resistors is the same size, therefore one can calculate the resistance for each resistor, because we know that the amp / flow through R1+2+3+4 is one time, through R5+6, two times and through R7 is 3 times, and overall, the amps is 6 times (1 +2 +3). Ohm law: volt = amp x resistance

    3: Where we have only one resistor we know that we have only 50% of the total amp power. Therefore, the resistance must only be the double of the resistance. Therefore, 20000 x 2 = 40,000 ohms, so each resistors are 40 kohm. Or 6 x 20Kohm / 3 = 40 Kohm

    Diagram

    You can of cause select R1+2+3+4 as one resistor (4 x 40Kohm) 160 KOhm

    (If you want to use the four outputs, you must count the total amp power 1 +2 +3 +4 = 10
    The last resistance must then pull a current of 4 out of 10 10 x 20000 / 4 = 50000 Ohm)


    The script for 3 output kontrol:

    Var 1100, Link IOCP, Offset 2750 // Get APU RPM 0 - 80% IOCPServer beta offfset

    {
    IF V1100 < 2 // meter 0%
    {
    V1101 = 0 // Output 1
    V1102 = 0 // Output 2
    V1103 = 0 // Output 3
    }
    IF V1100 > 4 // First needle movment 17 %
    {
    IF V1100 < 10
    {
    V1101 = 1 // set 1
    V1102 = 0
    V1103 = 0
    }
    }
    IF V1100 > 9 // Set 33 %
    {
    IF V1100 < 24
    {
    V1101 = 0
    V1102 = 1 // set 2
    V1103 = 0
    V1104 = 0
    }
    }
    IF V1100 > 25 // Set 17% + 33%
    {
    IF V1100 < 40
    {
    V1101 = 1 // set 1 +
    V1102 = 1 // set 3
    V1103 = 0
    }
    }
    IF V1100 > 39
    {
    IF V1100 < 53
    {
    V1101 = 0
    V1102 = 0
    V1103 = 1
    V1104 = 0
    }
    }
    IF V1100 > 52
    {
    IF V1100 < 77
    {
    V1101 = 1
    V1102 = 0
    V1103 = 1
    }
    }
    IF V1100 > 66
    {
    IF V1100 < 90
    {
    V1101 = 1
    V1102 = 1
    V1103 = 1
    }
    }
    }
    Var 1101, Link IOCARD_OUT, Output 11 // 17 %
    Var 1102, Link IOCARD_OUT, Output 12 // 33 %
    Var 1103, Link IOCARD_OUT, Output 13 // 50 %

    __________________________________________________________
    http://www.md80project.dk
    Sincerely,

    Claus


  2. Thanks skino thanked for this post
  3. #2
    500+ This must be a daytime job



    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    NEW ZEALAND
    Posts
    908
    Contribute If you enjoy reading the
    content here, click the below
    image to support MyCockpit site.
    Click Here To Contribute To Our Site

    Re: Digtal to Analogue Gauges

    Hi Claus,
    Nice to se a different approach.Im using a a PWM to 5vdc converter for my Analogue gauges.This is run from a Servo card.
    Thanks for opening my eyes to a simple method not thought of.
    Les

  4. #3
    500+ This must be a daytime job 737NUT's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN
    Posts
    761
    Contribute If you enjoy reading the
    content here, click the below
    image to support MyCockpit site.
    Click Here To Contribute To Our Site

    Re: Digtal to Analogue Gauges

    You could also use a simple potentiometer, and servo, and usb servo card. 0-5V output for less than 10.00!

  5. #4
    150+ Forum Groupie verticallimit's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Denmark, Sinding
    Posts
    212
    Contribute If you enjoy reading the
    content here, click the below
    image to support MyCockpit site.
    Click Here To Contribute To Our Site

    Re: Digtal to Analogue Gauges

    Quote Originally Posted by 737NUT View Post
    You could also use a simple potentiometer, and servo, and usb servo card. 0-5V output for less than 10.00!
    It is true, But I dont own a servo card yet, but have enough digital outputs, so this is a temporary solution. With a little electronics knowledge, I believe that you can mount a capacitor in the circuit, and do each step with smooth transition
    Sincerely,

    Claus


  6. #5
    150+ Forum Groupie skino's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    germany
    Posts
    299
    Contribute If you enjoy reading the
    content here, click the below
    image to support MyCockpit site.
    Click Here To Contribute To Our Site

    Re: Digtal to Analogue Gauges

    This is a good idea. I already thought of it.

    But a different (crazzy) variant found:
    On a old small monitor, many white squares arranged on a small Fsuipc-controlled Program and controlled so that the square is brighter, the larger the value is passing the wanted. Possible 256 steps. For the engine temperature. could mean, value 0 = black square.
    Value = 128 square gray and Value 256 = white. I think the principle is clear. To get these values to now the rebuilt Hardwaregauges on the screen is a mask attached and exactly where the squares are a photo resistor is appropriate, the value directly decouple (via a variable resistor for the oaks and a diode to) on the meter exist.
    It is important to use a very stable voltage source, because otherwise arise measurement error. I work with 6 ads in test mode, all of which are powered by a Nokia Mobilphone Charger. Since almost no power is drawn the charger works very stable and remains cool. If however hold out for long is debatable. But that's what finished laboratory supplies or something.

    The photo resistors are used by me for the recording of all 256 brightness values do not enough sensitivity. I can read about 120-150 steps and I have therefore limited to 100 steps.
    Here's a picture of the still very experimental control software. Next to each
    'Control square' is a slider with which the value by about 10% above and below can be corrected.


Similar Threads

  1. Levers: Analogue Vs Digital
    By tomcat78 in forum I/O Interfacing and Hardware
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 11-07-2010, 01:13 PM
  2. Matrox TH2go Analogue being sold
    By richard hutchinson in forum Cockpit Outside Visualization
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 09-19-2010, 05:16 AM
  3. analogue software gauges, anyone?
    By stabell in forum General Builder Questions All Aircraft Types
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 10-23-2008, 07:22 PM
  4. DH2GO/THH2GO Analogue or Digital?
    By Drewsta in forum Cockpit Outside Visualization
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 06-28-2008, 07:32 AM
  5. Analogue output?
    By MalcolmH in forum FS2Phidget Users
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 12-02-2004, 03:57 AM

Tags for this Thread