Connect a Rotary Switch to a Flight Sim | MobiFlight Crash Course Episode 7

[@CraigyBabyJ]

Mobiflight is great it just gets better and better with every update.

[@CaptainBobSim]

Absolutely! I'm so glad they keep developing it!

[@yummy9731]

Nice vid and series Trevor! very useful to those starting to get started with mobiflight and flight siming

[@CaptainBobSim]

Thank you! I am glad you like them!

[@Daniel2x3m]

It would be nice with an instruction/youtube post

[@kingboyh]

Thank you for your Videos Captain Bob 👍👍👋

[@CaptainBobSim]

Glad you like them!

[@lovelyapple7167]

thank you captain for your informative videos. my generous friend. can you teach how can make a 3 position ,90 degree fuel selector with that rotary switch please.

[@CaptainBobSim]

Heyo! You'd need a 3 position switch with a 90 degree

[@keldsor]

Do you have any idea why this doesn't work any more ! I have MB version 9.3.2 and here the OFF have to be 'activated' 2 times for it to go to OFF and stay there. Every time START has been involved in a sequence then OFF has to be 'activated' 2 times - if START is NOT in the sequence, you can go OFF, RIGHT, LEFT, BOTH and back to OFF again with just turning the switch ... the key on the screen is going to OFF with JUST the turning the rotary switch to OFF 1 time. What did change from YOUR version of MB til the 9.3.2 version ?

[@CaptainBobSim]

That's a really weird issue. It might honestly be your wiring (I haven't had any issues with this) Check out my switch panel configuration video if you are using FS2020 or my rotary switch if using FSUIPC. You might also consider asking on the MobiFlight forum, where you can provide configuration screenshots

[@keldsor]

@@CaptainBobSim There I was adviced NOT to use FSUIPC and my wiring is OK ... others see the problem too ! I just wondered how you did it - but it's another version of MobiFlight thans mine I think

[@CaptainBobSim]

@@keldsor That is really strange! I think this happened in a recent sim update or something. I'll have to investigate further

[@irvintib]

I had the same problem. Because the key position within the sim is automatically returned to the "Both" position while your physical switch is still in the "Start" position, it throws the key position index sync out of wack between your physical rotary switch and the sim key switch. The way that I solved it? Within the "Start" button parameters, set BOTH "On Push" and "On Release" events to "MAGNETO_START". That way when your physical switch returns to the "Both" position, the sim will flip the key once more to the start position and once again automatically return to the "Both" position, and by now, your physical switch is already in the "Both" position, which "re-syncs" your physical switch to the sim switch. One caveat to this is that you must hold your physical rotary in the "Start" position until the aircraft starts. Which gives the sim enough time to auto return the sim key to the "Both" position before the "On release" initiates the second "Start" key turn. In other words, turn your rotary slowly and kind of linger in the "Start" position for an extra few miliseconds before releasing the switch to the "Both" position. I scratched my head on this one for a while as well.

[@geriatricginger]

A 2P12T rotary switch.. if I use 1p and tie it to T1-6, and tie 2p to 7-12, and set rotary to pos.1, does that close circuit 1p/1t and 2p/7t at same time? so if you have 5vdc on input 1, and ground on input 2, with switch in pos1.. would you get 5v on T1 and ground on T7?

[@CaptainBobSim]

A 2P12T switch would have two isolated 6 position circuits (T1,1-12 and T2,1-12 would match). If you want half of the 12 position travel to be 5V and half to be GND I think you would need a 2P12T and connect each pin like you're showing. Note that these are not standard. Why are you putting ground on pin? GND is usually common (center) in this application. I'm not 100% sure if I'm answering your question but you can always try it out with a multimeter and a 9V battery!

[@ZX7ROB]

Well this vid landed at the perfect time! Mission tonight was to get rotary working! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@CaptainBobSim]

Perfect!! I hope you have great success with your simulator!

[@ZX7ROB]

@@CaptainBobSim With the help of benevolent youtubers, I’m feeling confident 😎 (A vid on Shift registers….maybe?)

[@CaptainBobSim]

:) I forgot those were compatible! I'll add them to the list - but first I gotta see how they work myself!

[@ZX7ROB]

@@CaptainBobSim These lists get larger and larger!

[@CaptainBobSim]

​@@ZX7ROB Absolutely! My is now at 200+ video ideas 😂I don't know if I'll live to see it less than 50

[@snozcocram]

What is the model number of the 12 position rotary switch? The link is bad.

[@CaptainBobSim]

It's an RS26 1 Pole 12 Position (SP12T) rotary.

[@Squeezy01]

Is there a way to configure this for a racing sim? Like to change TC settings or engine map on the wheel.

[@CaptainBobSim]

You can use the vJoy setting or to a keyboard simulator

[@Squeezy01]

@@CaptainBobSim I guess I didn't phrase it well, my bad 😅. I wanted to ask if the input (position change) is continuous or does it give out 1 signal that lasts X ms and then dies until the next position change?

[@CaptainBobSim]

I believe the VJoy stays "Pressed" until you release the button, then the button state is changed to "off" (If you configure VJoy to turn it off) You can configure it a number of ways if you get in depth with the logic.

[@aerohogpete5794]

Thank you for very informative video. Some comment which may be irrelevant though. In C-172 mag switch START position switches Right mag OFF and only LEFT mag is on during start.

[@CaptainBobSim]

I don't think I understand what you are saying - is only one mag used during start in the real plane? Setting the start event to start should be sufficient for the simulator.

[@aerohogpete5794]

@@CaptainBobSim In the left mag there is an impulse coupling which is used to retard ignition timing for start. Right mag does not have one and if right mag is on during start it will produce spark with fixed advance (24 degrees if I remember correct) and it will kick backwsrds and destroy starter. Therefore only left mag is ”ON” during start. Once you release the key from start the right mag is back in business.

[@CaptainBobSim]

That is really cool! Thanks for explaining that!

[@daccstudio2921]

Hi, I have recently started a 737 cockpit and I would like to connect output lights for the Afds panel, master caution and some more. The problem is that these functions don't exist in mobiflight so I have to create one... but I struggle to do that... (*I'm on x-plane 11)

[@CaptainBobSim]

You have to custom code these: www.mobiflight.com/en/tutorials/x-plane-quick-start-guide.html I would check to see if you can assign a keyboard shortcut to it however, then use an input type: keyboard shortcut (MobiFlight will "type out" the keyboard shortcut)

[@daccstudio2921]

@@CaptainBobSim thanks for your answer, I will tell you if it works !

[@daccstudio2921]

I tried modifying the script with the correct format but X-plane doesn't recognize my outputs ...

[@CaptainBobSim]

That is odd - it does take a bit of getting used to. Personally I like to take it slow, read the huge chunk of text at the top and only work on one thing at a time. There's a steep learning curve, but I find it is great to have done in the end.

[@coolbloknaba806]

You are a smart guy, thanks m8 👍👍

[@CaptainBobSim]

Glad to help!

[@FullFledged2010]

You could also use these with resistors so it will only use up one analog input on your Arduino 😉

[@CaptainBobSim]

True True! I can't remember if this was possible at the time of filming, but now it's a great way to save pins!