Just upgraded my Sim Avionics license from a SSTD+ (Captain only) to a full DSTD+ (Captain / FO) license. Now I have the full FO side PFD/ND/CDU and can finally use the FO’s EFIS to control things independently.

Today I trial and errored through SIOC to get my OpenCockpit EGT, Cabin Climb and Duct Pressure gauges working! Fellow SimA and Builder Markus was kind enough to send me his scripts.

The thing about SIOC is that no two builders scripts will be a like. Its a programming language, one that I don’t understand much. I pretty much changed things one at a time until everything worked. :) Here’s a video showing the three gauges in action!

With the fourth panel wired up I ran a quick test to make sure some of the pmsystems logic is working properly. (This video will attempt to play in HTML5. If your browser, iPhone/iPad supports it. If not, it will default to a Flash player)

Here is a quick video test of the first panel, and some photos below.

The backside of the overhead showing the FDS SYS1, and the DB connectors that allow quick disconnect of the panels from the SYS1 without having to disturb the SYS1 at all.

And here are some forward shots of the first panel.

Those Blue LEDs in the bright state are BRIGHT! But, not this bright. The camera just picks up all the light. Sorry.

Found out about Liquid Tape. It is liquid “electrical tape” basically. Great for times you forget to shrink tube your wires, want to seal something up or insulate a hard to reach place!

Wired up my first Dual State Blue LED today and tested on the FDS SYS1 card. Many thanks to Vidar again for his wisdom and confirmation on the wiring diagram! Here is a movie showing the Dual State in action, and below the movie is a picture of the LED wired up in the video as well as the diagram found on the Flight Deck Solutions website.

The 9 blue annunciators that have a dual state are:
2 ENG VALVE CLOSED
2 SPAR VALVE CLOSED
1 VALVE OPEN (Cross Feed)
1 L VALVE OPEN (Wing anti-ice)
1 R VALVE OPEN (Wing anti-ice)
2 COWL VALVE OPEN

(Note, the above is necessary only if you do not buy the FDS overhead panels, as they supply you pre built circuit boards for wiring dual state LED’s)

The SYS1 interface card from FDS has arrived. This is what will connect to the overhead panels to interface them to pmsystems. As you can tell, I have a LOT of wiring to do! This bad buy can handle 128 switches and 256 LEDs. The SYS3 card is what is wired to the MIP in my simulator.

My hat is off to Flight Deck Solutions…. This is AMAZING! Let me explain.

7 years ago I spent $1,000 on all the Epic cards. I had a ton of wires to cards connected to Epic. Programming the Epic, forget it! Absolutely forget it! I even asked my brother, who I really consider a programming genius but I don’t think he realizes his true potential (He started at the age of 14), to talk to Ralph on the phone. Ralph started talking eletrical engineering babble that even he couldn’t understand, and kept talking about having to watch TV with his wife. Long story short, it was a NIGHTMARE and that sim never flew! (By the way, I still have those cards if anyone wants to buy them for their already wired epic setup)

Cut to today. I buy a $250 dollar card from Flight Deck Solutions, the Sys3. Ok, so I wired my LEDs as you can see in early posts. But lets talk switches and programming.

I put “Locate Input” mode on, and start turning my auto brake switch. It has 6 inputs for the switch. Immediately “Switch 1″ lights up in the InterfaceIT software. Alright, that was simple… I flip it again, “Switch 2″ lights up. Neat! I press my Fuel Flow reset toggle upwards, “Switch 7″ lights up.  So locating a switch is cake!

How bout making the switch do something? I go into the menu, say download updates. A minute later, I have a TON of preprogrammed xml files. I click on the switch, import the xml file I need for that switchs input and bam! Its DONE! It already had the method set. (FSUIPC), it has the offset information, the bit information, everything! Its done, it takes me 5-10 minutes to wire up an input. It took me 20 seconds to to have the switch programmed! They are now fully functional and ready to operate! 20 seconds!!! Import, Done. WOW!

AMAZING!!

Big virtual high 5 to Peter and the people who have contributed to it!!!

Lots of Wiring and nothing other then the backlighting works yet.

Everytime I make a splice I’m, if possible, testing the line. Either via low voltage or continuity on my volt meter. This will ensure less problems later on.

I used an old panel I bought in 2002 for the never completed 747 sim, in order to create a mounting screw hole template. Then using 4 spacers off an old motherboard, I mounted the sys3 card on the monitor tray. Time to start wiring.

Have finished the casings, legends, installed, sodered and mounted all annunciators.