Interesting and novel electronics / hardware thread. - Components, parts, prebuilt , anything useful

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jph
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Interesting and novel electronics / hardware thread. - Components, parts, prebuilt , anything useful

#1 Post by jph »

Hi all,
I wanted to start this thread just to include some interesting, novel, new or generally interesting hardware components, modules, processor boards - anything really - that could be used in your cockpit build or hardware project. Remember, AM can also be used in your home Arduino project that has nothing at all to do with flight simulation.

NOTE ! The 'electronics' modules etc wont all work directly with Air Manager. Some will, some wont. But all can be added via the message port utility in AM.
You can check out Tony's videos here if needed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLPaDlX ... nnovations

Some parts may be ACTUAL hardware, physical hardware, bearings, shafts to make yoke, pedals, levers etc etc.. please include anything you think is good or has potential or is simply just really interesting :).

Just make it a collection of interesting stuff that may come in handy for our hobby.

Cheers,
Joe
Last edited by jph on Wed Feb 24, 2021 12:05 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Joe. CISSP, MSc.

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Re: Interesting and novel electronics / hardware thread. - Components parts, not prebuilt !

#2 Post by jph »

I recently posted a link to a nice high contrast LCD red on black module - https://siminnovations.com/forums/viewt ... =24&t=4272
The 'looks' really promising. I will report back when it arrives and I have tested it.
Joe. CISSP, MSc.

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Re: Interesting and novel electronics / hardware thread. - Components parts, not prebuilt !

#3 Post by jph »

Really neat Arduino Mega with lovely connectors and project area. You can use standard RC servo 3 pin connector leads for hook ups to virtually anything. :D - works the same as a standard Mega in AM. Servo leads are really cheap on AliExpress. YES, it is a standard MEGA, but with superb connectors.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3288755 ... 204cxh4TkU
image.png
Also available in this format are the R3 UNO, the Leonardo etc. beautiful kit. Fully open source compatible with the Arduino standard - remember, the arduino 'mega' designation etc is simply a trade mark of a specific brand of the fully open source hardware. If you purchase a trade marked arduino mega from the arduino shop - imho, you are simply wasting money. none of these products are 'clones' or copies etc. They are 'compatible' which simply means they are built to conform to the arduino FULLY open source hardware standard, but not using the way overpriced 'trade mark' of the units available from the 'store'

you could use these R/C servo connectors with it - note all connectors have 5v Gnd and logic/data on the 3 pins so you can hook up virtually anything really neatly. Use any or all of the 3 pin connector pins.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000864 ... hweb201603_

These are available in any length up to 1000mm.

image.png
Joe.
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Re: Interesting and novel electronics / hardware thread. - Components, parts, prebuilt , anything useful

#4 Post by jph »

Nice housing for 1602 LC displays - really neat, and cheap. Includes 4 push buttons. I have been awaiting something like this for more than 20 years. :shock: .. does the job. ;)
image.png
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1709948 ... 3e83idnNbI

Also, same page, another red on black display, this time 1602, and cheap as chips. Ordered a few to experiment with.
image.png
The housings are for projects, but could of course be used with your cockpit / sim... the display, yet another red on black.. need to see one first in 'real life' but seems good, will report back when they arrive and tested. Could also be superb for sim radios / nav / ap etc. 2 in a row would be neat and allow a button in the gap between them for swap over if needed.

Joe.
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lonespace
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Re: Interesting and novel electronics / hardware thread. - Components, parts, prebuilt , anything useful

#5 Post by lonespace »

One thing I had a hard time tracking down for my cockpit were full-size toggle switches that weren’t several bucks apiece. Not those tiny little guys that you find on Amazon.

Eventually stumbled on Newark. Full size toggle switches in any variety you need, $0.85 each. Single or double pole, single or double throw, On/Off/Momentary in any combo you need.

https://www.newark.com/multicomp/mcr13- ... dp/94T9284

The catch is shipping is minimum 10 bucks, so if you only need a handful then it may not me worth it unless you get everything you need in one order

Mike Horsten
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Re: Interesting and novel electronics / hardware thread. - Components, parts, prebuilt , anything useful

#6 Post by Mike Horsten »

lonespace wrote: Fri Feb 26, 2021 12:04 am One thing I had a hard time tracking down for my cockpit were full-size toggle switches that weren’t several bucks apiece. Not those tiny little guys that you find on Amazon.

Eventually stumbled on Newark. Full size toggle switches in any variety you need, $0.85 each. Single or double pole, single or double throw, On/Off/Momentary in any combo you need.

https://www.newark.com/multicomp/mcr13- ... dp/94T9284
Its https://nl.farnell.com/ in the Netherlands and big parts of Europe.
Building a home Cessna 172SP Steam. X-plane/MFS2020
(ex Name on Airmanager forum Polarair)

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Re: Interesting and novel electronics / hardware thread. - Components, parts, prebuilt , anything useful

#7 Post by jph »

Great links guys, also, excellent prices. Farnell are great. If I remember correctly they have a delivery charge of around 12 euro ? but I may be wrong as it is a while since I ordered from them. I didn't realise their switches were so cheap though. Excellent :). -- edit - Ouch !. I actually just looked at their other switches and they were actually rather expensive - very - in fact.. unless I am looking in the wrong place ?

Anyways,

I have, in the past, had great success with AlExpress for some of these items also - They actually sell some small body / large toggle units which are also great. I have been able to order all types, on off, on off mom, mom off mom etc etc.
For example - these and similar -
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000381 ... 4c4dGRZo5s
A point of interest, I would always recommend using Aliexpress standard tracked shipping on anything as it is rapid and tracked and fully warranted.
image.png


Here's a neat little trick with switches to get the 'cockpit' style extended handle .. ;)
Such as this, note that for this example only, the white cap is not fixed on properly, just placed there, but you get the idea.....
image.png
This is really easy to do with a neat little trick. :)

A normal switch, then add the white end to the toggle lever.
The white 'end caps' are a hidden secret lol.. something I played with a while back.
They are actually silicon dust covers for hifi 'phono' sockets :D
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3280129 ... 4c4dATuqyq
image.png

To make them really neat and to extend the length to what you may need, you can use a short aluminium tube 8mm external x 6mm internal as the cap internal diameter is 8mm and the switch toggle is usually 6mm or 6.25mm. It is easy to open out the tube centre with a bit of emery paper of a Dremel tool. That way you can have any length you need. Otherwise you can just glue them on with epoxy or hot glue. I have seen this trick used with custom made 3d printed ends, but never with the dust covers which I stumbled across whilst digging through my - 'will come in handy one day' boxes..
Example suitable aluminium tubing . The 8mm x 6mm are the ones.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000315 ... 4c4dJ3ToXD
image.png
Joe,
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Re: Interesting and novel electronics / hardware thread. - Components, parts, prebuilt , anything useful

#8 Post by jph »

Another nice find !
Lovely square push buttons with LED indicator.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3240106 ... 4c4dGFzPAL
PHISCALE-10pcs-non-locking-push-button-switch-with-light-KD2-22-reset-button-switch-illuminated-black.jpg
These are very similar to the type used on MCP and overhead panels, but of course, can be used anywhere. They are non latching, which offers far more flexibility as the 'latching' if needed can be done in AM.
They have a neat LED built in. In this case, a red one.
More often a green led is used but I have not found this type of switch with a green led.
However, that appears to not be an issue at all.
The LED in use seems to be a standard 2mm x 5mm 'head' unit which are common,
If used with these -
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000496 ... 4c4dGFzPAL
10pcs-Rectangular-LEDs-255-Diod-RGB-LED-Diffused-Cathode-Anode-Square-2-5-5mm-Red-Green.jpg_Q90.jpg
Then you have complete control as they are full RGB. ! :D ;)
That is really neat as you can have any colour you like and even indicate a flashing warning etc - a red solid colour, a green solid colour, or whatever you need.
To replace the LED, you would need to disassemble the switch and replace the LED, that doesn't seem to be an issue if you look at the body. The switch is also DPDT so plenty of pins at the base. It will be easy to 'rob' a few for the 4 pins of the LED (RED GREEN BLUE and either CC or CA). CC is probably the best option as it is then really easy to use PWM to control the brightness levels and colour mixing.

Very nice. :D

Hopefully they should be here in the next 4 or 5 weeks so I can take them apart and post images.

Like most things here, they can be used directly within AM.

Joe.
Last edited by jph on Thu Mar 18, 2021 1:13 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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JackZ
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Re: Interesting and novel electronics / hardware thread. - Components, parts, prebuilt , anything useful

#9 Post by JackZ »

Nice finds, Joe!
My YouTube Chanel on the A320 (Real SOPs by an Airline Pilot IRL):
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 0Q6SBASRqJ

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Re: Interesting and novel electronics / hardware thread. - Components, parts, prebuilt , anything useful

#10 Post by jph »

JackZ wrote: Wed Mar 17, 2021 4:31 pmNice finds, Joe!
@JackZ
Thanks Jacques,
Have some interesting parts on order for making hall effect units, basically linear sensors and various bar magnets. The type of magnet, shape, size and polarity axis makes a tremendous difference so will be interesting. Looking at making some 16 bit hall sensors with an external 16 bit I2C ADC, arduino and the appropriate magnet(s) and hall sensor. All the parts are cheap. I have ordered quite a range of magnets for testing as some will be in close proximity, for example, when used in my Cessna 300 quadrant, that there needs to be no adjacent interference from the other magnets. (the quadrant would only be 10 bit as higher res is not needed for this.)
Joe.
Joe. CISSP, MSc.

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