Well....... continuing work on this part of the project after I got done trimming some freshly thrown bowls out in the studio til about 8 PM last night.....resulted in a 2AM bedtime!    Amazing how time flys when you get involved in something.


So now below here you can see I am starting to strip the Cat 5 cables that were previously installed in the glareshield panel for this purpose.  Each cable can run 7 inputs or outputs with a common ground connection.





Making the point here again about the importance of labeling all of the wiring in the pit.  Eventually you WILL have to fix stuff.... and it helps to find out what is what when you don't remember wiring it in the first place.  





Here below you can see the rear of the completed wiring on the glareshield annunciator and master caution and warning panel.  I changed one thing on the wiring from the first few pictures (if you look closely you should spot it   ):  The common ground for the LEDs in the caution and warning switches have been moved to the second Cat 5 cable so that they are separate from the other LED's common grounds.  This keeps the caution and warning system on one cable.






As I am working on the wiring I am jotting down notes about what wire from what cable I have hooked up to what interface, and what it's function is going to be, as you can see below.  This helps keep track of the actual wiring in the pit.  Later it gets formalized as part of the "Aircraft Maintenence Manual".





Here is the "business end" of the Phidgets TextLCD panel.  The digital display on the front shows the level status (in %) of all of the fuel tanks.  This unit comes with 8 sensor (analog) inputs, 8 digital inputs (switches), and 8 digital outputs (LEDs).  That is what I am wiring up to here onm the back.  The outputs share a common ground, and the inputs share a common ground.  All inputs and outputs connect to simple screw terminals, while the sensors connect to three conductor Molex connectors.  Here you can see the Cat 5 Glare 1 cable getting connected to the outputs at the bottom row of connectors.  At the top are some input connections from the fuel management panel located directly below this display.






And below is what the panel looks like when it is tucked back in place.  Just a simple digital display.  Hides all the OTHER stuff it is doing for the pit nicely, doesen't it?





Below is a quick shot of some of the annunciators lit up using the "test" function in the FS2Phidget software.





And last but not least, all of the wiring documentation is cleaned up and put into the "Aircraft Maintenence Manual" for any needed later reference.  Each sheet is dated so that I know if it is current.  It is saved in a file in my computer, and in a black threee ring binder.  As I add functions / wiring, I update the sheets





Now I am working on programming the logic in the FS2Phidget software.  Soon all those annuncitaors and switches will work as intended.



So....... more as it develops.

best,

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

New Power Supply

Today's work on the "pit" was actually work on my main FS machine.

I went from an Antec 400 W single rail power supply to a Rosewill 600W dual rail power supply....... in anticipation of a new honking video card (and more fans).

All is completed.

best,

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

Thanks!   

Akula. wrote on Jul 15^th, 2007 at 3:22pm:


My guess is that there is at least another year's work left before I get to a "tentative done" point.  Still lots to do yet.  Mainly, I am not made of money....and this is NOT a cheap hobby.  Spread out over time.... it is doable... but not all at once. 

Likely there will always be refinements going on as computer techniology progresses and I get new ideas.


Akula. wrote on Jul 15^th, 2007 at 3:22pm:


Fly, my friend........

FLY!

 

best,

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

Looking great, John!  You are absolutely right about labeling wiring.  That will save many headaches later on if you need to repair something.

Fate