Buttons, Switches and Knobs for Flight Sim Cockpit Builders - VR Friendly DCS / MSFS

PARTS DEMONSTRATED IN THE VIDEO:
Bourns High Detent Rotary Encoder:
www.mouser.com...
Leo Bodnar Joystick and Button Box Boards:
www.leobodnar.c...
main_page=index&cPath=94&zenid=adee22fb123f6aa88fbee80b7f6174f6
Leo Bodnar Dual Rotary Encoder:
www.leobodnar.c...
PropWash Dual Rotary Encoder:
www.propwashsi...
(ON)/OFF/(ON) Momentary Toggle Switches:
smile.amazon.c...
ON/OFF Toggle Switches:
smile.amazon.c...
ON/OFF/ON Toggle Switches:
smile.amazon.c...
Long Bat Toggle Switch:
smile.amazon.c...
Rocker Toggle Switch:
smile.amazon.c...
Etsy 3D Printed Toggle Switch Accessories (DeathDonkyPrints):
www.etsy.com/l...
Potentiometers (Wired):
smile.amazon.c...
Round Momentary Push Buttons:
smile.amazon.c...
Jettison Looking Push Button:
smile.amazon.c...
Rectangular Momentary Buttons (w/ LED):
smile.amazon.c...
Rectangular Latching Buttons (w/ LED):
smile.amazon.c...
Leo Bodnar Hat Switch:
www.leobodnar.c...
Tactile Switches:
smile.amazon.c...
Tiny 5 Way Tactile Switches:
smile.amazon.c...

[@ParkerBoyes]

Thank you for the great video! About your issues with the potentiometers, I wanted to say that I had the same problem in one of my projects. Potentiometers are SUPER easy to overheat when soldering. It's pretty common to burn them out by accident, so going with pre-wired can be a great way to go. Especially if you're not comfortable soldering. Bourne is a very reputable brand in this space, so quality shouldn't be an issue. That wiggling you mentioned at 7:28 is a key marker that you've over-soldered them (in my experience). You can always test your pots by putting those tabs into a breadboard before you solder anything. You could also use female dupont cables to connect to the pot, which makes them removable in the future. Hope this helps! Happy building!

[@jay-rus4437]

Great info. Huge help to a newbie gathering info for a cockpit build

[@zfghobbies]

Thank you for video and all the links. A huge help!

[@cammy9r]

Switch operation can be a minefield and a lot of suppliers (amazon/ebay) don't understand what they have. (on)-off-(on) toggle is a momentary off momentary. It springs back to centre. on-off-on toggle is a latched off latched. It stays in position on-off-(on) toggle is latched off momentary. etc. Just be wary of conflicting descriptions on supplier websites like amazon and ebay. companies like farnell, RS, mouser and the one I like switch electronics tend to know what they are describing. Just a heads up for anyone staring out as it gets annoying sending back incorrectly described switches, you end up just keeping them 😁.

[@cuttheloop]

For the pots, be sure to ground to their steel case also.

[@NaeMuckle]

You could try fitting those little buttons to perf board.

[@thorluis226]

Very helpful

[@helicopterovirtual-msfs6254]

Excelente.

[@Reeser17]

Great video I'm upgrading to the Leo Bodnar board. How do you wire the 5 pin rotary encoder to the Leo Bodnar board?

[@rovpilot1]

I have a question about connecting a matrix unit, like a keypad for instance. Can this board handle that and generate DirectX commands from that?

[@shamrock1ization]

How can I use the Button-Box Interface BBI-64 with win 10 . Unfortunately, there are only 32 buttons displayed in the game controller, which I can also use .. What can I do so that I can use all 64 buttons ? .

[@Reeser17]

Hello, So I want to make a button box for racing sims. using switches with led lights. I have seen other videos that say because the led is 12v and the boards are typically 5v, you need a relay module board. would you know how the relay boards interact with the leo bodner board and if they can be used together?

[@skatemaster33]

Leonardo Arduino style boards work like this as well and are WAY cheaper

[@cammy9r]

Yes they can but the programming can intimidate most. Took me a while to figure out code and still often I get stuck. But having buttons, rotaries and pots all on one board for the price is great but the plug and play of the Bodnar stuff is worth it I feel.

[@shamrock1ization]

When I turn my encoders, both LEDs light up briefly at the same time on the game controller. I think that should not be the case and only one LED for the respective direction should light up.

[@Mr_Fix_It_]

@@shamrock1ization With the Leo Boarnar boards you have to use their config software to specify which slots have rotaries so they register their clicks correctly

[@robertsecondi4025]

Have you used any 3 way toggel switches, and would they work with that board? I would really love to build a replica of the cessna 414 chancellor side switch panel. Switch would be up=manual down=auto and mid=off

[@Mr_Fix_It_]

You can use three way toggles or any other switch with more than two positions. Each position of the switch would take up a button spot on the board and those switches would show the button as a constant ON instead of a temporary ON. Look for an ON-OFF-ON type switch or an ON-ON-ON switch.

[@joshuareimer7109]

@@Mr_Fix_It_ Hi, I am having issues getting my three position switches to work properly. I have it wired to two button slots on the board, but it's sending the same button number no matter which direction I flip the switch. The other number is pressed when the switch is in the center position and should be off and not connecting any circuit for the board to see. For example, say I have it wired to slots 1 and 2. Flipping the switch up activates button 1. Flipping the switch down also activates button 1 when it should be activating button 2. Button 2 is activated when the switch is in the middle position for some reason. I've done this same wiring on cheap amazon boards and it worked fine so I have no idea why it's not working on my bodnar board. If you have any ideas they would be greatly appreciated.

[@thunderace4588]

@@joshuareimer7109 Have you tried running the configuration software for your Leo Bodnar device or updating the firmware? You should talk to Leo Bodnar support, I found them to be very helpful.

[@rovpilot1]

Hello?

[@wiltonbustamante4761]

Where did u get the dual rotary encoders?

[@Mr_Fix_It_]

Best ones come from LeoBodner. www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_75&products_id=196&zenid=85c8619d904334f149f657279ded55c2

[@starmations8332]

Hey, you said you wanted to make a standard controller that you can map the controllers to at will. How do you map the Potentiometers? When I content the Leo Bodnar board (the one with the analog inputs) it automatically maps to the default X and Y inputs and I cant get it to change. Is this a firmware issue or something?

[@Mr_Fix_It_]

I didn't have an issue with the Leo Bodnar board that includes the analog inputs. I just wired them up to the potentiometers I wanted and they were recognized in windows that way. I think I may have needed to calibrate them.