Results 1 to 9 of 9
  1. #1
    1000+ Poster - Fantastic Contributor
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Europe
    Posts
    1,934
    Contribute If you enjoy reading the
    content here, click the below
    image to support MyCockpit site.
    Click Here To Contribute To Our Site

    Can someone tell me the REAL deal with an interface card.

    Hi,

    Buying Leo Bodnars BU0836 soon, but just making my panel first, decided to use simple square black and red push switches, my switches has the same 'press' action as what you would get in a door bell,

    BUT......

    What if i wanted to use simple SPST toggle switches, the type you 'flick' up for on and down for off......

    Thinking of using these toggle switches for a genuine look, but i want to know.....do i use diodes with each toggle switch?

    Am i right to say i dont need diodes for simple push switches, but do for toggle switches?

    Let me know.

    Thanks people!

  2. #2
    500+ This must be a daytime job ian@737ng.co.uk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oswestry, Shropshire
    Posts
    609
    Contribute If you enjoy reading the
    content here, click the below
    image to support MyCockpit site.
    Click Here To Contribute To Our Site

    hi alex

    depends on which board you buy.
    fact: with the BU0836X board, you do NOT need diodes at all for any type of switch. each input is independant so that means they are seperate and DO NOT 'loopback' thru each other. so no issues with cross or erroneous switching.
    i have now exchanged all my standard boards for the X version, so much easier.

    now let's talk about the standard BU0836 board. on simple connections, i.e. where you just add upto 12 either toggle or push switches by connecting any Row or Column to a GND. again you DO NOT need to use diodes.

    it is only a requirement to use diodes when you want to connect up the whole 32 buttons by using the Row/Column connection regime. from experience, i used to insert a diode on ALL inputs onto my matrix irrespective of the type of switch (push, toggle, encoder etc).

    worked a dream. these are the diodes i use for everything (switching and signal)
    http://www.rapidonline.com/Electroni...3890/kw/1n4001
    cheap and effective !

    so there you go captain......

    have a great day .... ian
    Mr. Ian. P. Sissons is hereby recognised as an Honorary Flight Sim Captain following his passing in February 2016. This is in recognition for his commitment to Flight Simulation.

    www.mycockpit.org Featured Builder August 2008 www.737ng.co.uk
    FS9/PROSIM737/CPFLIGHT/Lots of BU0836X's and a Beer Fridge

  3. Thanks No Longer Active thanked for this post
  4. #3
    1000+ Poster - Fantastic Contributor
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Europe
    Posts
    1,934
    Contribute If you enjoy reading the
    content here, click the below
    image to support MyCockpit site.
    Click Here To Contribute To Our Site

    Ian Saves The Day

    Ian you save the day yet again..........cheers for the help.

    AP08

  5. #4
    1000+ Poster - Fantastic Contributor
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Europe
    Posts
    1,934
    Contribute If you enjoy reading the
    content here, click the below
    image to support MyCockpit site.
    Click Here To Contribute To Our Site

    Toggle switches......

    I remember reading something about toggle switches, i thought u needed an additional component on a toggle switch, so that when the toggle switch is toggled either up or down then activity on the flight sim doesnt go crazy, ive heard people say that if you dont have this additional component then the sim reads your activity as , on, on, on, on, on, on, on etc or off. off, off, off, off, off, off etc instread of ON or OFF, the last thing i need is my switch panel going crazy on me, just that i've looked at the back of one of DESKTOP AVIATOR'S switch pannels (this is what im making) and i remember seeing quite a few electrical components additionally added to each toggle switch, so what makes my case different to DA's if i want to achieve exactly the same thing but without the LED's.......

    Wheres Ian when you need him (lol)

  6. #5
    500+ This must be a daytime job ian@737ng.co.uk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oswestry, Shropshire
    Posts
    609
    Contribute If you enjoy reading the
    content here, click the below
    image to support MyCockpit site.
    Click Here To Contribute To Our Site

    now you can do this the easy way or ........

    using leo's board, you DO NOT need any additional component at all. it's simply a matter of wiring a switch (whichever type you wish to use) thru a diode, if you need one, to the board. then when the switch is on (or pushed), windows, FS, your aircraft or your interface software will see the button as pressed. when you turn it off, the afore mentioned software will see the button as released. easy peasy..... no need for additional components.
    the BU0836 (and the X board) are very stable cards.
    remember also, if you assign the button in FSUIPC, you can get one action when the button is pressed and another when it is released. so with one switch, you have two actions. an example is the parking brake. by manipulating the offset (and the parameter) you can get a distinct ON or OFF state instead of a 'toggle'.
    the ony reason i can see for a repeated action is if the button is assigned to repeat while held (great for things like elevator trim).
    then using different types of switches, you can start to do tricks. but let's get you going first.
    to the rescue twice in one day, phew i'm good......
    cheers ... ian
    Mr. Ian. P. Sissons is hereby recognised as an Honorary Flight Sim Captain following his passing in February 2016. This is in recognition for his commitment to Flight Simulation.

    www.mycockpit.org Featured Builder August 2008 www.737ng.co.uk
    FS9/PROSIM737/CPFLIGHT/Lots of BU0836X's and a Beer Fridge

  7. #6
    1000+ Poster - Fantastic Contributor
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Europe
    Posts
    1,934
    Contribute If you enjoy reading the
    content here, click the below
    image to support MyCockpit site.
    Click Here To Contribute To Our Site

    Cheers Ian

    Cheers Ian,

    I recon i will be a professor in switches sooner or later after all the help you gave me!

    Renaming you.....SuperIan (LOL)

    God help us all when i start the 737 one day (and my poor girlfriend too!)

    Cheers mate!

  8. #7
    New Member
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    4
    Contribute If you enjoy reading the
    content here, click the below
    image to support MyCockpit site.
    Click Here To Contribute To Our Site

    Quote Originally Posted by alexpilot2008 View Post
    I remember reading something about toggle switches, i thought u needed an additional component on a toggle switch, so that when the toggle switch is toggled either up or down then activity on the flight sim doesnt go crazy, ive heard people say that if you dont have this additional component then the sim reads your activity as , on, on, on, on, on, on, on etc or off. off, off, off, off, off, off etc instread of ON or OFF, the last thing i need is my switch panel going crazy on me, just that i've looked at the back of one of DESKTOP AVIATOR'S switch pannels (this is what im making) and i remember seeing quite a few electrical components additionally added to each toggle switch, so what makes my case different to DA's if i want to achieve exactly the same thing but without the LED's.......

    Wheres Ian when you need him (lol)
    All switches can suffer from "switch bounce" - internally the sprung contacts will bounce for a few milliseconds in an on/off/on/off way until the mechanics settle down. It translates to a slightly noisy signal the first few milliseconds after the switching.

    Good I/O boards will have a slight delay of a few milliseconds in the software to allow for the switch bounce to finish, before sending the 1 or 0 signal.

    Sometimes resistors and capacitors are added to filter out the switch noise but it can all be done in the I/O software.

    cheers
    -Paul

  9. #8
    2000+ Poster - Never Leaves the Sim Michael Carter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Southern Illinois, USA
    Posts
    2,887
    Contribute If you enjoy reading the
    content here, click the below
    image to support MyCockpit site.
    Click Here To Contribute To Our Site

    Quality break-before-make switches shouldn't have this problem.

    Spend a few pences or pound extra and avoid the possible headaches later.
    Boeing Skunk Works
    Remember...140, 250, and REALLY FAST!

    We don't need no stinkin' ETOPS!



    Powered by FS9 & BOEING

  10. #9
    500+ This must be a daytime job kiek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Netherlands
    Posts
    698
    Contribute If you enjoy reading the
    content here, click the below
    image to support MyCockpit site.
    Click Here To Contribute To Our Site

    Quote Originally Posted by alexpilot2008 View Post
    Am i right to say i dont need diodes for simple push switches, but do for toggle switches?
    Hi,
    FYI.
    If you buy Opencockpits IOcards you do not need any diodes at all.
    Nico

Similar Threads

  1. Killer deal for an easy to interface part
    By 737NUT in forum Off Site Articles For Sale
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 01-05-2010, 03:16 PM
  2. Wiring from pots to interface card
    By Crescent in forum Computer Hardware Setup
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 02-26-2009, 12:54 PM
  3. Interface Card Driver on CD-ROM,Do they Exist?
    By Spoceto1003 in forum General Builder Questions All Aircraft Types
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 01-21-2009, 01:25 PM
  4. Real Deal
    By warvet in forum Cockpit Parts and Motion Platforms
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 10-29-2008, 01:05 PM
  5. FDS-G2 Glare Interface Card
    By QF6228 in forum General Builder Questions All Aircraft Types
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 06-15-2008, 06:32 PM