BUO836X how do i connect slide pots e.t.a? [Archive]

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dimimiras

10-07-2008, 03:11 PM

jmig

10-07-2008, 08:21 PM

hello everybody.

I am an cockpit build amateur and i want some help in the following :
I want to purchase this BUO836X encoder and i want to ask if i can connect 3 slide pots (throttles) ,rotary pots (avionics controls 6 ) and toggle switches 20 .
and how do i connect each type .

Thank you
Dimimiras

Welcome dimimiras! Your answers are Yes, yes, and almost yes. Here from his website:

Features

Push-in terminals for all connectionsNo more soldering or screwdriving. Push in to connect. Press tab and pull out to disconnect.
32 truly independent digital inputs for buttons and switchesNo matrix, no diodes, no daisy-chaining. And yes, each input has its own two terminals (GND can be shared between inputs if necessary.)
Support for up to 16 rotary encodersA pair of digital inputs can be connected to rotary encoder. All main types supported (1, 2 and 4 pulses per detent)
8 analog inputs with true 12-bit resolution and independent wiring4096 steps of resolution. Even 1/4 of this range is still 1024 steps!
To support true 12-bit performance each analog inputs has independent set of +5v and GND terminals, oversampling and sophisticated signal filtering
8-direction POV hat switch
Compact outline of 123x52mm (4.85"x2.05")With 93 wire terminals onboard it is only 50% bigger than a credit card
Natively supported by Windows Vista/XP/2000/Me/98, Mac OS X and LinuxTrue Plug-and-play at its best.

The slide pots and rotary are both pots. Three and six equal nine. Thus the almost. You are limited to eight pots. However, you could use two BUO836Xs and get 16 analog inputs. Or, you maybe could try using an encoder for one or more of the axes. Say trims?

You can have up to 32 buttons and switches. They are connected in one of two ways. A negative and a positive from each switch or button are connected to the card. Or, you can connect one or more grounds (negatives) together and have only the positives going to individual connections.

Pots have three connections. Two sides and a ground. Encoders normally are two connections.

I hope this helps. Leo has diagrams on the connections on other parts of his site. We can help you with individual connections.

dimimiras

10-08-2008, 02:39 AM

jmig

10-08-2008, 07:36 AM

Jmig

Thank you for your reply and your help.
One more question, do i connect toggle switches the same like momentary switches ?
i am not good with diodes operation ,so i like to keep it simple.
i see that toggle switches have three poles when momentary switches have two how can i connect the toggle switches ?

Thank you very much for your help

Dimimiras

Both toggle and momentary switches have two contacts. What you are referring to is a Single Pole Double Throw (SPDT) switch. It is really two switches sharing a common ground, in the middle. If you flip it up, you activate one switch and another switch is activated when flipped downwards. So, the center pole goes to the ground and the top and bottom would go to two differing positive connections. A SPDT can be made into a single (on/off) switch by leaving one side disconnected.

I do not have a BUO836X. It is on order. However, I have a BUO836 and I use diodes for the matrix. According to Leo the BUO836X does not need diodes. Maybe they are built in to the board? However, soldering diodes is easy. We can help you with that. There are diagrams on the net showing the correct positioning. The BUO836X has labels on it to show connections.

One thing about cockpit building. Get ready to have your comfort zone stretched. You will find yourself attempting AND accomplishing things you never thought possible. A simple cards like the BUO836X and a few switches is a good way to get your feet wet.

One other thing. If you don’t already own a registered copy of Peter Dowson’s FSUIPC, get one. It will allow you to easily program those switches and pots to do flight sim functions.

Best to you,

brynjames

10-08-2008, 08:26 AM

I notice from the forums on Leo's website that he has apparently not been giving support or replying to messages on his forums since June.

Please correct me if this is wrong as I was considering buying one of these cards until I saw those reports.

--
Bryn

dimimiras

10-08-2008, 08:39 AM

dear John

Thank you very much for your help .I do hope i will get it done .I just ordered the encoder and when i get it if i have any probelms i will contact you again.
Best wishes
Dimimiras

dimimiras

10-17-2008, 06:19 AM

XOrionFE

10-17-2008, 08:01 AM

Michael Carter

10-17-2008, 09:36 AM

dear JMIG

Today i received finally the controler BUO836X from leo and it looks great .I am geting to work now.One question is the controler capable of changing the repeat signal of a switch in to one keystroke per movement ? i have this switch which is for gear up - down .

I think this is my only concern for the time being .

Regards
1128

I'm not sure I fully understand the question. You shouldn't need a repeating keystroke for the 'g' key for the gear up/down command. Using the same switch, a SPDT, you will want to make sure it is a 'break-before-make' type switch. In other words, when you throw (or when the gear lever throws) the switch, the first contact is opened before the second contact is closed.

Mine uses separate snap action type lever switches contacted by a cam with an interval between movements so I don't have the BBM concerns.

jmig

10-17-2008, 11:22 PM

dear JMIG

Today i received finally the controler BUO836X from leo and it looks great .I am geting to work now.One question is the controler capable of changing the repeat signal of a switch in to one keystroke per movement ? i have this switch which is for gear up - down .

I think this is my only concern for the time being .

Regards
1128

If you use the paid version of FSUIPC, it has the ability to repeat key strokes. For instance a trim button. It will continue to trim so long as the button is held down.

If you want to tune a radio with this card, you could a rotary switch with several contacts. Then each contact will be a separate switch doing the same thing. Or, you could use an encoder as mentioned in several threads.

Hope this helps,

dimimiras

10-18-2008, 03:38 AM

iwik

10-18-2008, 04:28 AM

Hi,
Goto Leos website and select Bu836 and he has a pic showing how to
connect a pot.
There is a utility under his BU836X controller which configures the switch inputs to be rotaries or switches.
By default they are set to switches.
Hope this helps
Les

jmig

10-18-2008, 10:12 AM

I plugged in all my different switches and pots and i have the following:

push button work fine

toggle switches (on -off switches like this gear switch) i have to go on the switch down to gear down then i have to go up the switch and again down to get the gear up.

rotary pots i connect them but i get the massage from the program that the controller is connected correctly when i try to move the switch either left or right .
slide pots 2of the do not work at all and one is working but in reverse axis .
I think that i connected wrongly because for a moment some of the pots where hot and a little smoke came out (i think i a way i Bern them?)
the only thing i do not know how to recognize in the pots which is the input, grd, and 5+v
touch.
please help with detailed instruction how to connect all the above.

Dimimiras

Dimimiras, I don't know what you have done but, I have never heard of a potentiometer being burnt out from 5vdc. I would caution you to be careful. I have myself burnt out an Opencockpits usb pot card by accidentally shorting the 5vdc to the ground. Pot are tough, chips aren't.

Pots or Potentiometers have three connection points. On a rotary pot the ground will be the center post. You can test a pot by connecting an Ohm meter to the ground and one of the other points.

When turning the pot you should see the meter reading go up or down, depending on which leg (post/point) you are connected to. The reading will move the opposite directing when you switch to the other side. Always keep the center post connected to the ground side of your meter.

I prefer an analog meter (one with a needle that moves) to the digital ones. This is only because I find it easier to judge the movement with a needle. With a digital meter look for the reading to increase or decrease.

A slide pot will be the same. The posts should be numbered. Number two (2) is usually ground. You test it the same way as a rotary pot. Ground goes to ground terminal and then connect to one of the other points.

If you connect the pot so the controls are backwards you can either reverse the two leads (keeping ground in the same place) or most software applets allow you to reverse the inputs. I know FS9/FSX allows this in the controls applet and FSUIPC does, also. I don't know about Leo's program. I have never used it. I prefer to use FSUIPC for these types of controllers.

I hope this helps!

skywatch

10-19-2008, 07:54 AM

I am really interested on how the rotaries on this work so please give feedback. I have tried the DA 2090 board with FSX without success. Basically the rotaries do not keep up with me when I turn too fast. From what I can tell this is the same as leos board design and uses the same applet to control pulse width, etc. The DA2090 is basically not useable for me and I am now contemplating buying Hagestrom Rotary 5 boards becuase I have a Hage 108 and the rotaries on it work fantastic. Other option would be GoFlight remote mount RP48 kit which only has 4 rotaries.

So Leos would be the best and cheapest route asside from 2090 but if it cant keep up with turns of rotary like the DA2090 it is not a good choice.

Please let me know your results.

Thank you,
Scott

I do not have any encoders to try at the moment, but I can tell you that as a default it sends 48ms pulses for each detente. So only just over 20 steps per second. This timing is however adjustable within the software down to 8ms, so this might be the problem of people not setting it up correctly. I hope to get encoders within the next week or two and will let you know then.

skywatch

iwik

10-20-2008, 12:54 AM

Hi all,
Regarding the connection of pots.Please note that an incorrect connection will ideed cause a pot to burn out.
You must connect the two ends of the pot to +5v and ground.
If you connect the wiper of the pot to say 5v and turn the pot towards
Gnd end then as you get closer the resistence gets lower and the current
goes up and if the pot is a carbon one then it will start to burn as the power dissapated in the resistance is greater than it can withstand
and it will SMOKE.
In most cases the centre pin is the wiper.the exception to this when a multiturn pot is used.Here the wiper is the end one.In a case like this the caseing usually has a drawing on it showing which is the wiper.
Hope this helps those that have a limited electronic knowledge.
I have tested a few rotaries with Leos BU836.
It is very good but if a VERY fast rotation is done, say for example moving the Heading bug 180 degrees the yes it will not keep up.
For radios ect i find it fine.
Some I/f have an acceleration mode which kicks in when the rotary is turned very fast.This is maybe why other i/F work better.
One would have to Talk to Leo about this but he seems to be unavailable
at present.
Hope this helps others.
Rgds
Les

dimimiras

10-20-2008, 03:31 AM

Thanks good the pots are not burned .They are working now with only problem that there is a difference from one pot to the other when configured with dawson's fsulib .
my rotary pots are not working i do not know why.
also the utility for leo has values from 1 - 4, does any one know what to they stand for ?
i do not see any values of changing from rotary to switches e.t.a.
last when i configure my slide pots with fsulib if i do not tick the reverse and filter box i cannot configure the pot ,is there reason for that ?
Also i have some switches that have 3 prongs and is a 2 way switch for increase and decrease altitude .

Dimimiras

jmig

10-20-2008, 07:33 AM

The 1, 2, 3, & 4 drop downs for each individual encoder are the pulses per turn. Leo says to try each one until you get the encoder doing what you want.

The drop down box on the bottom is for the delay in time between pluses in milliseconds. You would use this if the encoder was keeping up with your turns or running ahead.

Pots are not connected in the same area of the board as the encoders and switches. The pots go where you see the X, Y, Z...and are labeled. There is no difference in operation between a rotary and slide pots as far as FS9/FSX or FSUIPC is concerned.

A three prong two way switch is hooked up just like an encoder. One leg goes to the hot, ground and the other leg hot. The second ground is used. Encoders and switches share ports to the card.

dimimiras

10-26-2008, 09:17 AM

now i have all working except hte the rotary pots.
i conect the rotary pot, i see that the axe recognized but when i turn it any way i have a reset of the leos configuration program plus a massage from windows that ''the game controler is not conected corectly ,please make sure that is coneccted to the computer''.
i tried to find the utility at leo's for changing pots to switches i canot find it.
all the conections are working prefectly (slide pots, button and switches) with minor instability of the uslib 3.71.
Any ideas ?(please note that the pots are old from a jeppesen fs 200 console ).
thanks

iwik

10-26-2008, 06:32 PM

Hi,
To get the encoder config program go here
http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836X/

and half way down the page is a DOWNLOAD link for the utility.
Try this and let us know.On my BU836 nothing happens when i try to
use an encoder when it is configured for switches.
Cant be sure on the BU836x.Get the utility and configure your board first.

Good Luck
Les

dimimiras

10-27-2008, 04:53 AM

i have got this utility but it only configures the switches it has values from off to 4.This only configures the switches (32 switches) how ever in the BU836 type encoder there is a utility that configures switches and pots but this does not work with BU836X version.
I think i am doing something wrong but i do not know what.My electronics knowlege is very very limited!!!!!
there is something i would like to add.When i turn the rotary pot i get the filing that it is a multiple contact rotary, i can feel the the change from one to the other contact it is not smooth like ordinary pots.
Any help please?

iwik

10-27-2008, 05:52 AM

Hi,
Can you tell me the type number of rotary you are trying to connect to the BU0836x.
This will help us determine eaxctly what you are trying to connect.
To be accurate these boards have the ability to handle,
1.8 potentiometers(variable resistors).

2. 32 switches or ROTARY ENCODERS.

A rotary encoder will have this feeling of multiple contacts.Just like a
multiturn switch.However a rotary encoder outputs a code which needs to be decoded by Leos Utility.
Leos utility has settings of 1:1, 1:2, 1:4 and off.
Off sets it for switch inputs.The others are for different rotary encoders.
You will have to try all three options to see which one works the best
with your type of encoder.
I think the utility should work for Bothe Buo836 and x version.
The link i gave you is on the BUO836x option and i am using this for the
BUO836 board.
Hope this helps.
Les

dimimiras

10-27-2008, 06:44 AM

Thank you for your prompt reply .
I am at the office now when i get home i will post the part number but as per your reply you mean that i should connect the pots to the connections of the switches ,because till now i was connecting them to the joy stick axes part.
as i understand Leo's utility configures the switches part of the board and not the joystick axes part .Maybe that is the reason why i does not work .
Please confirm that i should connect the rotary pots(rotary encoders or pots is there a difference?) to the switches part (32 switches) .

dimimiras

10-27-2008, 07:01 AM

this a pic of one of my rotary encoders for your information .

iwik

10-27-2008, 01:45 PM

Hi,
You have rotary encoder and this must be connected to a B terminal.
Not to the axis input(x,y,z ect)
Here is what you must do.
Take the middle terminal a connect it to say B1 GND terminal.
Then connect one other terminal to B1.
Connect the last terminal to B2.
Run Leos utility and enable the first box (1-2 your first 2 switches) to 1:4.
Exit the program and go to Control panel( in XP) and select game controller and here you select BUO836x and there should be all
the 32 buttons showing.Turning your rotary should cause one switch
to flash and another to flash when you turn in the opposite direction.

There is a difference between pots and encoders.
Pots are short for POTENTIOMETERS and are a variable RESISTOR.
Rotary Encoder is a special SWITCH.

This is the reason you are not getting it to work.
There should be a number on the Encoder and if you still cannot
get it to work please give us the number on the side of the encoder.

God Luck
Les

dimimiras

10-27-2008, 07:01 PM

i followed your advise Les and i made one encoder to work though it only works on one number (1) and sometime it works no 2 but this is the only one working the other 3 all though they are conected the same way like the one working they are not working .One small detail the one working is on 1:1 value and not 1:4 as you recomended .
Regards

iwik

10-28-2008, 12:43 AM

Hi,
We are getting somewhere.The 1:4 i mentioned was only one possibility and you usually have to try them all to find out which one works best.
Are all the encoders the same type?.What is the number on the side of the encoder.
If i remember from your earlier post you said that the controller
would loose its usb connection when you turned the encoder while you had it conected to the axis input.
You may have damaged the encoder.When you had it connected before
it sounds like you where shorting out the 5volt supply to the pcb when you turned the encoder.This would have caused the usb connection to be lost.Did you try all 3 encoders originally connected to the axis input?.
There is the possibility that not all encoders will work with this board.
Ive tried 4 different types and they work well.
Please give me the type number of the Bournes encoders you are using.
Also please set the PULSE WIDTH to 88ms,sorry i forgot about this.
This is at the bottom of Leos utility.Its quite important.
Let me know how it goes.
Les

dimimiras

10-28-2008, 09:32 AM

unfortunetly i have burned the enconders they do not work except one which is only works on one side.
Any way i am going to change them all ,any recomandations on which rotary encoders to purchase (compatible with leo's controler) and from where in the internet ?
Any way i would like to thnak you all for your help which without it i would never have come that far with my parts .

Regards and thank you all .

iwik

10-28-2008, 01:43 PM

Hi,
Try these,a few guys have used them.They seem to work ok and the supplier is reliable.They are cheap and good way to test out everything.
Any mistakes wont be costly.

http://cgi.ebay.com/12mm-Rotary-Encoder-Switch-With-Keyswitch-10pcs_W0QQitemZ230303667889QQihZ013QQcategoryZ67003QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262

Just remember to play with different values for Pulse width and ratios.
Another encoder is the CTS288 also available from Leo and Opencockpits.
Cockpitsonic has Alps EC11 dual rorarys that work fine also.
I suggest you go with the above link as they are cheap,have knobs supplied and not much to lose if you damage them.
Have a look at this thread and look on his website,Ian is a great supporter of Leos product.

http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/showthread.php?t=11888

Hope all of this helps,just remember you will succeed and just keep going.
Rgds
Les

dimimiras

10-29-2008, 07:30 AM

thanks a lot Les .

iwik

10-30-2008, 04:03 AM

dont be araid to ask,we all had to start somewhere.
take care
les

dimimiras

11-05-2008, 05:40 PM

no i have this problems:

from the 6 encoders only one is working and only from one side i have asignes the button 31 and 32 with common ground and when i put value 1:1 it only works onle side and not both sides.
the rest of the encoders all though when i mesure them with the polymeter i get this sound when i turn it both sides they do not work with my controller .
2) i have a an on off on button which all though i mesure it with my polimeter and i get the sound beep when i press it that way it does not work with my controller either .
i have unother identical button that works fine . what going wrong ?
what value should i get from the encoder when i turn it and i have it conected to my polymeter ?
any help ?

dimimiras

11-05-2008, 05:48 PM

ECW1J-B24-BC0024
MEXICO 9906X

This is the part number on the rotary encoder

iwik

11-06-2008, 05:38 AM

Hi,
Good to see you havnt given up.
I dont have the BUO836X but this encoder works fine with the BUO836.
I have it set to 1:1 and Pulse width 80ms.
So make sure you have your board set to these values.
Can you give us a picture of your board connected to your encoder?.
If you set switch 31 and 32 to switch inputs and connect a wire to ground and touch it on 31 and 32 does it flash the correct switch each time.
Im trying to find out if your board i operating correctly.
You may have a faulty board,but i doubt it as these are supposed to be indestructible.
Are these encoders new and not the ones you may have damaged.?Please try to answer all the questions.
A pic would be very helpful.
Rgds
Les

dimimiras

11-06-2008, 09:02 AM

no this are the old ones but i checked them and they all have contact (polimeter check with the beeb sound ) so i supose unless they can produce a contact but still not to work they are working , what do you think ?
the board is working fine becouse i checked other buttons and they all work fine .

iwik

11-06-2008, 05:54 PM

Hi,
Ive just checked my encoder and you should not be able to get a beep reliably out of it with the multimeter.This is not like an ordinary switch.
The best i can get is a high resistance greater than 6meg ohm when i turn it.If you get a beep then the resistance is less than 100 ohms.
If it is the encoder you stated above then it is faulty.
Suggest you get someone to test your encoders or buy a new one.
Hope this helps
Les

dimimiras

11-07-2008, 04:56 AM

jmig

11-07-2008, 09:49 AM

today i ordered this cheap chinese encoders that you proposed so end of the story,what about the double throw switch which use to work fine and now no more ,I check it with the polimeter and i have contact corectly,but it does not work.The cotroler is working fine i check it with other switches.
Thanks les

<link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJ%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJ%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJ%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><style>  </style> Dimimiras, Is your double throw switch a Single Pole Double Throw (SPDT) or a Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT)? The single pole will have three connectors in the real. The middle is ground and the top and bottom are for each of the two ON positions.
A DPDT will have six connectors and is really two switches side by side or parallel. Be careful you are connecting the switch so either the two left poles and ground are connected or the right poles and ground. Connect them: 31-GND-32. They should work that way.
<o></o>
Also, you had some questions on connecting potentiometers. You might want to visit this site. It has a lot of information on potentiometers. It deals with audio pots which you don't want. However, the operation of audio and linear pots is the same, as far as connections.

<o>http://sound.westhost.com/pots.htm</o>

dimimiras

11-07-2008, 01:17 PM

jmig

11-07-2008, 02:16 PM

hi john

its a sgl pole (tthree poles) and i had it conected B1 grd B2 and it use to work fine but now it does not work .for a moment i suposed that the controler is not working but then i conected other switches and it worked fine . iteted the switch and i have contact when i press the button what did i do wrong ?

Maybe nothing. I have found that the X version can be tricky to get good connections. Make sure the wire didn't slip behind the spring loader. If the wire is connected correctly the little tab should be down and pulling gently on the wire should not remove it from the slot. I have found that solid wire works better than stranded wire. I have actually soldered a small piece of solid wire on the end of stranded to get better contact.

Also, try putting the switch on different contact points.

dimimiras

11-21-2008, 06:46 AM

Dear Friends

Thnaks to your infomration and suport to my little project i have finaly come to a conclusion.
I converted suxxefuly an old Jeppesen console to a fully working console for FS9 witrh les than 80 euro upart form the console purchase from ebay which costed me 80 euros..
with the help of a fantastic controler from leo bodnar and your help in purchasing this cheap rotary encoders yesterday i flew a flight without using my mouse or keyboard apart from starting the fs9 and geting the flight information.
And all this thanks to your help !!!!!
Please see the pics and if you need any help with a similar project please contact me .i am now expereinced in conversions of the jeppesen console.

Thanks friends .

mpl330

11-21-2008, 06:49 AM

Looks good to me!

Congratulations on getting it completed :D

Cheers
Mike

dimimiras

11-24-2008, 09:36 AM

deaqr friend

I have a little problem .when i turn the rotary encoders i loose hts and in 5 turns i get 1 -2 when i turn fast ,but some times also when i turn slowly ,is there any trck ?
also please advsie where in fsulib i can find the taxi light on off ?also some planes the air speed dial is the same encoder for both functions (air speed - mach) when in other planes you have to use diferent encoders .
thank you