Has anyone, seen, heard and/or read anything about someone controlling actual cockpit lights from a FlightSim.

   I'm in the initial steps of designing a generic cockpit and had the idea of flipping on the panel lights (within the sim) and actual lights in the cockpit turning on.

   Fantasy or reality?

Thanks,

Joe

Skittles,

Billerator is on the right track there with his answer.

If you use a double pole switch for the simpit control, you connect one pole to the input to the computer (thru something like a Hagstrom or Epic card) and connect the other pole to supply something like 12VDC to run a light or motor or something like that.

Be VERY careful about getting supply level voltages like 12 VDC or (horrors) 110V AC onto the computer control circuit side of the wiring!  One instantaneous connection to that high level voltage would likely fry the input card or the computer or both.

I am using completely different color coded wiring for computer control level signal lines and 12 V DC lines and 110 VAC lines.  Makes it easier to avoid disasters.

Also watch routing 110 VAC wires parallel and right next to computer control lines.  They can induce noise and crosstalk into the computer wiring.  Best to have them spaced well apart and at 90 degree angles to each other.

Hope this helps.

best,

...................john