.......... that can be installed in my aircraft's panel to add an important function that is not available to me at the moment.  If any of you XML gauge gurus out there have a some spare time to kill and are willing to tackle it....... I imagine that THIS project would be effective at killing some of it.     I know I certainly would appreciate the efforts.

Unfortunately I know "diddly" about XML gauge programming.....and have all my time and my hands tied up with learning all the hardware interfacing that comes with simpit building, and in managing to help other people a bit with that kind of stuff (See the Homebuild Cockpits Forum Section down below.)

The aircraft I fly (mainly) is a four engine jet....a BAe 146-200.  This aircraft also has an APU that powers all the systems before engine start.  That is the problematic "fifth engine" that MS FS2004 does not directly support.    (Wouldn't you think that situation was common enough that THEY would have thought of it?   )

Courtesy of the very generous Martyn Becker (THANK YOU!!!!  ) I now have an XML gauge setup that adds the visual exhaust plume from the APU and the APU spool up, run, and spool down sounds.  I also created the APU fuel pump , starter, and generator run switches, logic, and annunciators for the overhead panel in a "hardware solution".  So now, when I flip the "APU Start" switch on the overhead after configuring the electrical power and fuel supplies correctly, I hear the APU start and if I go to the exterior view, I see the exhaust.  NICE!  

At the moment in the "physical pit" (not reflected in the sim itself), I have SOME of the electrical functions of SOME of the APU generator running emulated in the physical simpit wiring.  But that is a bogus and half-done solution to the whole problem.

The missing thing that I REALLY need now is the ability to have an invisible gauge (no actual panel visual presence needed) that adds the actual EFFECT of the APU generator being turned on into the FS2004 sim.  It needs to cause the batteries to recharge as if a main engine generator was running and to supply the appropriate amperage and voltage levels to the simulated FS2004 electrical buss.

At the moment, I am having to use the "battery always available" dodge in order to sit at the gate and do a realistic pre-flight...... since setting up the simpit is just about as complicated as setting up a real aircraft.  Takes a while.

This "APU Electrical Supply" gauge needs to be activated by an assignable keypress, not by a mouse click on a simulated screen gauge on a LCD or CRT screen.  There ARE no simulated gauges on screens to click on; all is physical 3-D "real fake" stuff.

One other piece of information that might be helpful is that I run a registered payware version of FSUIPC.  So the use of sending "keypress to offsets" is possible, if necessary.

BTW...... I have the specs on the generator in the real APU......but I'll take ANY possibility of making this work even if it is not "realistic" in the amps/ volts.  

I'd appreciate if anyone is willing to tackle this thorny problem.  And there are many simpit builders who I am SURE would be equally appreciative.  I am not even sure if it is "doable" at all.

best,

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


Here's a shot of the simpit in action: