Start, Mesh & FSUIPC

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Tom347
Airman
Posts: 24
Joined: 19 Nov 2017, 06:20

Start, Mesh & FSUIPC

Post by Tom347 »

I'm trying to build a panel for magnetos, start, mesh and prime switches. I can't seem to control just the start switches. All FSUIPC offsets or controls actuate both start and mesh simultaneously.

Anyone have any idea?

I've tried controls for MAGNETO START, MAGNETO1 START, TOGGLE STARTER1, TOGGLE ALL STARTERS, MAGNETO1 INCR (and DECR).

I've also tried writing to the equivalent offsets. I've something similar with the A2A C-172 and it works fine. Just something with the B-17 won't work.

Tomas Linnet
Senior Master Sergeant
Posts: 2286
Joined: 05 Nov 2013, 10:48
Location: Oksboel, Denmark

Re: Start, Mesh & FSUIPC

Post by Tomas Linnet »

Magnetos are standard FSX variables
This is from the LINDA actions I use for the B17.

L:PrimerSel = X

X = value for each engine
Engine 1=1
Engine 2=2
Engine 3=4
Engine 4=8

L:PrimerOn

For Start, Mesh and Neutral position of the switches
Engine 1 Start
L:Starter12Start=0


Engine 2 Start
L:Starter12Start=2

Engine 3 Start
L:Starter34Start=2

Engine 4 Start
L:Starter34Start=0

Engine 1 Mesh
L:Starter12Mesh=0

Engine 2 Mesh
L:Starter12Mesh=2

Engine 3 Mesh
L:Starter34Mesh=2

Engine 4 Mesh
L:Starter34Mesh=0

Engine 1+2 Start Neutral
L:Starter12Start=1

Engine 3+4 Start Neutral
L:Starter34Start=1

Engine 1+2 Mesh Neutral
L:Starter12Mesh=1

Engine 3+4 Mesh Neutral
L:Starter34Mesh=1

I hope this helps :D
Kind Regards
Tomas

Sim: FSX SE
Accu-Sim aircraft in my hangar:
C172, C182, P51 Civ, P51 Mil, B17, Spitfire, P47, B377 COTS,
J3 Cub, T6, Connie, P-40, V35B
A2A Accu-Sim Avro Lancaster Loading:............0.000003% complete, please wait.

Tom347
Airman
Posts: 24
Joined: 19 Nov 2017, 06:20

Re: Start, Mesh & FSUIPC

Post by Tom347 »

Tomas,

Thanks for your reply. I'm not familiar with Linda, so I don't understand the details.

I can already control the magnetos via a rotary switch and writing to offsets and controls. I can control start & mesh, just not independently.

Are you saying the only way to do that is to use Linda?

Gypsy Baron
A2A Master Mechanic
Posts: 3396
Joined: 02 Aug 2008, 17:04
Location: San Francisco

Re: Start, Mesh & FSUIPC

Post by Gypsy Baron »

You need to create a MCRO file for FSUIPC to define the proper L:Variables and then create the code
in the FSUIPC4.ini file to do what you want to do. The MCRO file will be assigned a number by
FSUIPC. My 'B-17G.MCRO' file is number 6 in the code that follows.

I have a Saitek Dual Throttle Quadrant setup with 6 double throw switches (12 in all) for each
quadrant. Identified as Controllers D and A, and switches from left to right as:

top row D 14 - 16 - 18 -- A 0 - 2 - 4
lower row D 15 - 17 - 19 -- A 1 - 3 - 5

I can simply manipulate those switches to to start all 4 engines plus set the primer and fire
extinguisher for the selected engine with a single switch activation..

In my setup I use one of the user-defined offsets (x66C0) as a 'qualifier to enable me to have
multiple assignments of the quadrant switches. Think of this a setting a 'mode'.
One pair of switches (4 and 5) is assigned to change the 'mode' up or down....change the value
stored in offset x66C0 up or down..

My INI file uses the value in that offset to determine which functions are assigned to the other
10 switches. Here is a line from my INI file for the B-17G:

20=B66C0=1 PD,14,CM6:5,0 ;//STARTER ENG 1 -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:Starter12Start set}-

B66C0=1 indicates that when that offset contains a value of '1', this line is active.
PD,14, equates to 'Press Controller D Switch 14'
CM6:5,0 Indicates MCRO file 6. line 5 of that file indicate the L:Var and action, a value of '0' is sent

When x66C0 contains '0' this line is active for Switch 14:

0=B66C0=0 PD,14,CM6:39,0 ;//TOGGLE ENG1 FUEL VALVE -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:Eng1FuelCutOffSwitch tgl}-

Now Switch 14 uses the L:Var from line 39 of the MCRO file 6 with a parameter of '0'.

This type of qualified button/switch assignment allows me to have as many different assignments
as I need for each of the 10 switches, simply by pressing switch 4 or 5 to increment or decrement the value in x66C0. For the B-17G I have 9 assignments for each switch, x66C0 = 0 to 8.
A total of 90 functions.

Here are MY MCRO file entries that apply to the Start/Mesh/Prime/Extinguisher functions. the
notation SET indicates that a value, parameter, is needed and passed and is defined in the INI

MCRO file #6 entries

5=L:Starter12Start=SET ;// Parameter 0,1,2 1 = OFF
6=L:Starter34Start=SET ;// Parameter 0,1,2 1 = OFF

7=L:Starter12Mesh=SET ;// Parameter 0,1,2 1 = OFF
8=L:Starter34Mesh=SET ;// Parameter 0,1,2 1 = OFF

30=L:PrimerSel=SET ;// Parameter 0.1,2,3,4 0 = OFF
31=L:PrimerOn=TOGGLE

37=L:FireEngineSelected=SET ;// Parameter 0,1,2,3,4 0 = OFF

Now, here are the lines in my INI file that relate to 'Mode 1' to perform engine start:
(Sorry each line is so long as they contain my comments ;// and the recently added FSUIPC4 function that generates automatic 'comments'

20=B66C0=1 PD,14,CM6:5,0 ;//STARTER ENG 1 -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:Starter12Start set}-

21=B66C0=1 PD,16,CM6:5,2 ;//STARTER ENG 2 -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:Starter12Start set}-

22=B66C0=1 PD,18,CM6:6,2 ;//STARTER ENG 3 -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:Starter34Start set}-

23=B66C0=1 PA,0,CM6:6,0 ;//STARTER ENG 4 -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:Starter34Start set}-

24=B66C0=1 PD,15,CM6:7,0 ;//MESH ENG 1 -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:Starter12Mesh set}-
25=B66C0=1 PD,17,CM6:7,2 ;//MESH ENG 2 -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:Starter12Mesh set}-
26=B66C0=1 PD,19,CM6:8,2 ;//MESH ENG 3 -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:Starter34Mesh set}-
27=B66C0=1 PA,1,CM6:8,0 ;//MESH ENG 4 -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:Starter34Mesh set}-

28=B66C0=1 PA,2,CM6:5,1 ;//CLEAR STARTER 1/2 -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:Starter12Start set}-
29=B66C0=1 PA,2,CM6:6,1 ;//CLEAR STARTER 3/4 -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:Starter34Start set}-

30=B66C0=1 PA,2,CM6:7,1 ;//CLEAR MESH 1/2 -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:Starter12Mesh set}-
31=B66C0=1 PA,2,CM6:8,1 ;//CLEAR MESH 3/4 -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:Starter34Mesh set}-

32=B66C0=1 PA,2,CM6:30,0 ;//SET PRIMER SELCT TO OFF -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:PrimerSel set}-
33=B66C0=1 PA,3,CM6:31,1 ;//ACTIVATE PRIMER -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:PrimerOn tgl}-

34=B66C0=1 PD,14,CM6:30,1 ;//SET PRIMER SELCT TO ENG 1 -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:PrimerSel set}-
35=B66C0=1 PD,16,CM6:30,2 ;//SET PRIMER SELCT TO ENG 2 -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:PrimerSel set}-
36=B66C0=1 PD,18,CM6:30,3 ;//SET PRIMER SELCT TO ENG 3 -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:PrimerSel set}-
37=B66C0=1 PA,0,CM6:30,4 ;//SET PRIMER SELCT TO ENG 4 -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:PrimerSel set}-

38=B66C0=1 PD,14,CM6:37,1 ;//SET FIRE EXT. SWITCH TO ENG 1 -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:FireEngineSelected set}-

39=B66C0=1 PD,16,CM6:37,2 ;//SET FIRE EXT. SWITCH TO ENG 2 -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:FireEngineSelected set}-

40=B66C0=1 PD,18,CM6:37,3 ;//SET FIRE EXT. SWITCH TO ENG 3 -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:FireEngineSelected set}-

41=B66C0=1 PA,0,CM6:37,4 ;//SET FIRE EXT. SWITCH TO ENG 4 -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:FireEngineSelected set}-

42=B66C0=1 PA,2,CM6:37,0 ;//SET FIRE EXT. SWITCH TO OFF -{Macro A2A_B17G: L:FireEngineSelected set}-
====================================================
Note the multiple assignments for a particular switch that allows a single 'press' to create
multiple actions. For instance, when I press switch 14 I select Engine 1 Start as well as set the Primer Select to Engine 1 and the Fire Extinguisher select to Engine 1

All of the above INI file entries need to be added 'by hand'. Once you are familiar with the proces
the coding goes pretty fast...lots of copy & paste then edit operations.

My INI file which covers all the aircraft I fly has evolved over time and now contains 8,245 lines of code and comments. :)

Paul

Image

Tomas Linnet
Senior Master Sergeant
Posts: 2286
Joined: 05 Nov 2013, 10:48
Location: Oksboel, Denmark

Re: Start, Mesh & FSUIPC

Post by Tomas Linnet »

Tom

LINDA is freeware: https://www.avsim.com/forums/forum/424-linda/ , but it requires a registered version of FSUIPC
there is an already made module for the A2A B-17G in the download section.
I've made a small button box for the start and mesh switches, but I used the before mentioned module for my saitek switch panel, before I build my own panel. it is possible to have different actions for "on press" and "on release".
I had rotary switch it setup this way:
Magnetos, R, L, BOTH standard FSX, but when selecting START, the selected engine start switch was activated, and when going back to BOTH, the selected engine would MESH. Engine selection was via A2A B17 Input Configurator. LINDA will also prime the selected engine. simply select the engine, press the button and the primer will turn to the correct position before squirting fuel into the engine.

I know Gypsy is a master of FSUIPC, but I believe it takes a while to get to his level, so that's why I decided to go with LINDA.

here's a pic of my start box, behind it sits a Leo Bodnar BBI-32
Image
Kind Regards
Tomas

Sim: FSX SE
Accu-Sim aircraft in my hangar:
C172, C182, P51 Civ, P51 Mil, B17, Spitfire, P47, B377 COTS,
J3 Cub, T6, Connie, P-40, V35B
A2A Accu-Sim Avro Lancaster Loading:............0.000003% complete, please wait.

Tom347
Airman
Posts: 24
Joined: 19 Nov 2017, 06:20

Re: Start, Mesh & FSUIPC

Post by Tom347 »

Thanks folks, this is really helpful. You both took a lot of time to help me, its appreciated. I now have my start and mesh switches working!

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