Joe,jph wrote: ↑Sun Jun 05, 2022 4:15 pm Hi Karl,
Not a good idea unfortunately as you need an 'absolute' reference for flaps and this is an 'incremental' reference.
The saitek has no idea 'where' it is, it only tells the sim if it is trimming one way or the other.
It is, in effect, offering a very similar output as you would get from an encoder, which incidentally is the best way to implement trim wheels if you are using a motorised trim / autopilot driven trim.
The flaps need to know exactly where they are at any time so a potentiometer is perfect. Small microswitches will work but I would always use a potentiometer for flaps. Nice and simple.
Joe
There you go stomping on my dreams again....
But it does make sense.
Are you saying that infrared sensors cant be designed into a board to determine an absolute position?
I used momentary micro switches on my fuel selector that turned out very well. So I thought about that idea for a while but the geometry of the flap handle and bracket better lends itself to potentiometers and mechanical linkages.
Edit; Infrared sensors can detect an on or off state... correct? Similar to the door protection in my garage door opener... Either the light gets though to the receiver or it doesnt...
After looking at those typical IR proximity sensors It seems possible to use four of them, each of which would turn on when the flaps are changed to each of the four positions. A part of the flap lever or an add-on component could activate the proximity mode when if rotates into the field of the sensor....I am just spit ballin' here.
Kirk