[simpits-tech] Interesting stuff...

[Joseph Fagner]

Where'd you get the DB-15 bulkhead plates?  This was exactly how I wanted to
do my wiring, having everything centrally located to facilitate trouble
shooting and upgrades.  I'd be very interested in seeing your progress on
your web site.  

It turns out that over at viperpit.org, I was lucky enough to have Mike
Powell help me out with some electronics projects.  I'm trying to collect as
many real parts as possible and then fabricate the others.  A bunch of the
indicator lights are all 28 volts, but most signaling voltages are 5 volts.
He designed a circuit for me so that I can use the 5 volt signals to light
the 28 volt lamps.  Those which I have to build myself will probably use a
lower voltage LED or whatnot.  In any case, I can use the 5 volt signal for
any voltage.  He designed it using Darlington transistor arrays to sink the
current to the indicator lamps.  He also showed me how to use hex inverters
where needed to flip the logic signal depending on its output state.  Very
cool stuff, I learned a lot.  This has me thinking about going the EPIC
route for my pit to try and keep the number of interfaces to a minimum.
There's also a chap over there whose got a buddy writing up software to use
phidgets.  That is my biggest hurdle is writing the software as I don't know
a damn thing as to how to code software.  I'm hoping to start hull
fabrication this year.  Looks like we got ourselves access to some accurate
dimensions and I learned how to work with metal some this past winter by
signing up for a welding class.

Hope to start a web site soon.

Jay

-----Original Message-----
From: simpits-tech-bounces at simpits.org
[mailto:simpits-tech-bounces at simpits.org] On Behalf Of Gene Buckle
Sent: Friday, July 02, 2004 5:42 PM
To: Simulator Cockpit tech list
Subject: RE: [simpits-tech] Interesting stuff...

> What happened that has you rewiring everything.  Did I miss that?
>

I wasn't wiring it correctly.  It would _work_, but it wouldn't be
_right_.  I'm early enough in the initial wiring that I decided that in
the long run I would be better off if I tore it all out and started over.

I'll be able to re-use a lot of it so it won't be wasted though.

One of the big corrections that will be made is how I run wire from the
side consoles.  Instead of passing wire through the old connector holes,
I'm going to build a left and right harness that will connect to a series
of DE25 connectors on a bulkhead plate.  It's the "proper" way to pass a
large number of wires through a major bulkhead.  So far, the left side has
10 DE25 connectors, which is 250 wires.  I'm 80% done with the schematics
for that side and I expect the end count will be 15 connectors.

I'm using the DE25 connectors instead of the bigger cannon plugs since I
can get crimp-pin for about $1 each, where the high pin count cannon plugs
run about $80 without any pins.

When the schematics are done, I'll draw the harness out in full scale on
kraft paper.  That'll get taped to a jig board and I'll lay all the wire
out along the drawings.  I'll use nylon wire-ties at some points to hold
the bundles in place when I'm not working on it and right before I start
installing connectors on it, I'll get it all laced up.

g.


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