---------------------------------------------------------- AeroElectric-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Mon 01/11/10: 9 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 05:46 AM - Re: Electronic Dead Reckoning Distance Calculator (nuckollsr) 2. 05:50 AM - Re: Creative led position lights (Eric M. Jones) 3. 07:49 AM - Re: Electronic Dead Reckoning Distance Calculator (user9253) 4. 08:44 AM - Re: Re: Creative led position lights (ROGER & JEAN CURTIS) 5. 08:44 AM - Re: Re: Electronic Dead Reckoning Distance Calculator (Ken) 6. 08:45 AM - planning (Jesse Jenks) 7. 09:35 AM - SD-8 Z-13/Z-25 practical setup (cccbuntin) 8. 06:25 PM - PIC Microchip was Re: Re: Electronic Dead Reckoning Distance Calculator (Ed Anderson) 9. 07:25 PM - Re: Re: Electronic Dead Reckoning Distance Calculator (Robert L. Nuckolls, III) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 05:46:31 AM PST US Subject: AeroElectric-List: Re: Electronic Dead Reckoning Distance Calculator From: "nuckollsr" Joe, Pretty slick. Your project reminds me of some other instances many moons ago where cheap calculators where pressed into service as event counters. Again, repeated actuation of the equals-key produced an increment to the display. When counting this was an integer of 1, for your application, the increment is a calculated variable based on present conditions. A thought for further enhancement of your recipe for success. A PIC microcontroler could replace both IC's and the crystal. The jellybean processors have built in timers that are probably accurate enough to serve in this short term prediction mode. Further, many of them have trimming features for the internal oscillator that permits an improvement on accuracy at the time the device is assembled. Your total parts count could be reduced to battery (Lion button cell?), controller, opto-coupler, resistor and perhaps one Vdd to Gnd bypass capacitor. Obviously, the same device could be used on terrestrial journeys as well . . . especially in vehicles on cruise control. This would be a good project for budding electro-wienies offering a mix of electronics, small scale fabrication, adaptation of existing products to new applications, perhaps a bit of software and an example of how one can convert the 8th grade algebra class story problem into a recipe for success. Thanks for sharing. Bob . . . Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=281013#281013 ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 05:50:32 AM PST US Subject: AeroElectric-List: Re: Creative led position lights From: "Eric M. Jones" My advice....(and I am trying to be nice)...don't use them. There are a ton of better LED solutions to the problem that were not available when Bill introduced these. If you want to design your own: periheliondesign.com/downloads/redandgreenledpositionlights.pdf I am not selling any. -------- Eric M. Jones www.PerihelionDesign.com 113 Brentwood Drive Southbridge, MA 01550 (508) 764-2072 emjones@charter.net Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=281015#281015 ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 07:49:04 AM PST US Subject: AeroElectric-List: Re: Electronic Dead Reckoning Distance Calculator From: "user9253" Bob, Thanks for your comments. I am really proud of this project, but did not expect many replies because GPS has made dead reckoning obsolete. You and another friend suggested using a PIC micro-controller. Unfortunately I know very little about them. I understand that a programmer is required. It was fun learning how to program the CD74HC4059 counter-divider. Learning how to program a PIC micro-controller should be fun too. There are programmers listed on eBay from $15 to over $200. Does anyone have a suggestion on which one to buy? I want to build a capacitance to voltage converter for a fuel gauge like this:http://www.rstengineering.com/kitplanes/KP0007/KPsch.jpg Can a PIC micro-controller replace much of that circuit? Thanks, Joe -------- Joe Gores Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=281029#281029 ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 08:44:50 AM PST US From: "ROGER & JEAN CURTIS" Subject: RE: AeroElectric-List: Re: Creative led position lights If you want to design your own: periheliondesign.com/downloads/redandgreenledpositionlights.pdf I am not selling any. -------- Eric M. Jones www.PerihelionDesign.com Eric, I noticed that this document has a Dec 04 Rev date. Do you know if there have been any significant position light regulation changes since then? Roger ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 08:44:50 AM PST US From: Ken Subject: Re: AeroElectric-List: Re: Electronic Dead Reckoning Distance Calculator Joe Take a look at the AVR BUTTERLY for $20. from digi-key.com Amazing amount of hardware on the tiny development board. No programmer required just an RS232 (serial port) on your computer. Software STUDIO4 is free. Ken user9253 wrote: > > > Bob, Thanks for your comments. I am really proud of this project, > but did not expect many replies because GPS has made dead reckoning > obsolete. You and another friend suggested using a PIC > micro-controller. Unfortunately I know very little about them. I > understand that a programmer is required. It was fun learning how to > program the CD74HC4059 counter-divider. Learning how to program a > PIC micro-controller should be fun too. There are programmers listed > on eBay from $15 to over $200. Does anyone have a suggestion on > which one to buy? I want to build a capacitance to voltage converter > for a fuel gauge like > this:http://www.rstengineering.com/kitplanes/KP0007/KPsch.jpg Can a > PIC micro-controller replace much of that circuit? Thanks, Joe > > -------- Joe Gores > ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 08:45:16 AM PST US From: Jesse Jenks Subject: AeroElectric-List: planning Bob wrote: We're getting several issues tangled together here. First=2C unless the builder is going to use a robust starter pushbutton designed for abuse by two-stage contactor/solenoids then some sort of "buffering" is worth considering. Assuming you still wish to control the Skytec contactor directly=2C then adding a relay per Z-22 is the way to go about it. Assuming you already have or wish to use the single stage starter contactor=2C then you don't want to "jumper" the Skytec solenoid coil to the main terminal. This gives rise to the "run on" phenomenon described. In this case=2C you take the "I" terminal from the external single stage contactor over to the Skytec's coil Thanks Bob. I am really struggling to absorb as much as I can from this dis cussion while also readying everything else I can find from your website an d other sources=2C while also trying to learn Aeroelectric 101... My B-lead is about to smoke. So=2C I guess the jumper is what causes the run-on=2C and whatever I do I don't want it in there. I don't already have a separate contactor=2C so the way I understand it my options are=3B 1) use Z-22 with a relay=2C 2) just use a push button rated for 30 amps and no relay. Can you explain why run-on is a problem if it only lasts a couple seconds? Jesse _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 09:35:57 AM PST US Subject: AeroElectric-List: SD-8 Z-13/Z-25 practical setup From: "cccbuntin" I have set-up the SD-8 as per drawing Z-13 and have just recently run across the Z-25 diagram. I can do this, but I'll have to order parts and do some time consuming changes (which is okay if worth it). I have read many of the posts, and noticed Bob stated (back in 2006 from a post) that "The only thing that the Z-25 mod gets you is a cold startup sans battery." I am trying to figure out if that is a typo or not? I am trying to figure out if it's worthwhile for me to do this upgrade/mod? Seems like several people have had issues with this Z-25 setup. If it is just for a cold startup, I'm not too worried about having that update. Chances are the battery will have (noticed I said chances) enough juice to excite the sd-8 without it having to be self exciting, especially in the way I plan to have it wired. Right now, I have a three position switch setup that is labeled off -- stby alt (for the SD-8 ) -- ess pwr. If I go to ess pwr, the SD-8 is also on. As of now, I plan on flying around with the switch in stby pwr, and moving it to ess pwr in the event my main alt fails (to run what's on the ess pwr and have the stby pwr). >From my understanding of this (of flying around with switch in stby pwr with Z-13 diagram), it will be "energized" and ready if the 60 amp alt fails. It will be ready because the 60 amp alt is producing more volts than the sd-8, so the sd-8 is just sitting there, excited, ready to help when the 60 amp alt drops off line. I will know the 60 amp alt fails from the "main volts warn" light from the LR-3, in which case I will reach down and move the switch to ess bus, allowing only the ess bus to be powered and allowing the sd-8 to charge the system (battery/essential bus). Do I have this correct? Any thoughts or criticism on this setup would be great. Thank you very much. Dave [Question] [Question] -------- Building RV-8 Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=281052#281052 ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 06:25:51 PM PST US From: "Ed Anderson" Subject: PIC Microchip was RE: AeroElectric-List: Re: Electronic Dead Reckoning Distance Calculator Hi Joe, I started programming PIC microcontrollers at the age of 65 - yes, it hurt the head a lot to begin with, but the payoff was worth it (at least to me it was). It is not easy (well, it wasn't for me), but there is plenty of help out there. I had done a small amount of work with analog components but finally realized that the flexibility and future of the digital chip was worth the agony of learning it {:>) There are a number of PIC (microchip)forums and hundreds of products and more chips types than you can count. Just about every one comes with all sorts of peripheral modules imbedded in the chip (such as an Analog - Digital converter, Pulse detectors, Rs232, USB comm. Modules, etc,) along with up to around 128K of memory running at up to 40 MHz. Well there are simply too mean features and capabilities to enumerate. While the PIC is a tremendously capable series of chips and it is well supported with high level languages (primarily C, but some Basic and Pascal), there are also other equally capable chips - basic stamp, ... well dozens which might be simpler to start with - particularly if you needs are minimal. The PIC is know as a "bit banging" chips because it has a number of special registers of 8 bits (larger ones in later chips) in which each bit of the 8 bit byte must be set correctly or it simply will not work properly. If you find this kind of detail tedious - a different chip might be a better choice. The internet is the place to start. Good luck Ed Anderson Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered Matthews, NC eanderson@carolina.rr.com http://www.andersonee.com http://www.dmack.net/mazda/index.html http://www.flyrotary.com/ http://members.cox.net/rogersda/rotary/configs.htm#N494BW http://www.rotaryaviation.com/Rotorhead%20Truth.htm -----Original Message----- From: owner-aeroelectric-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-aeroelectric-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of user9253 Sent: Monday, January 11, 2010 10:47 AM Subject: AeroElectric-List: Re: Electronic Dead Reckoning Distance Calculator Bob, Thanks for your comments. I am really proud of this project, but did not expect many replies because GPS has made dead reckoning obsolete. You and another friend suggested using a PIC micro-controller. Unfortunately I know very little about them. I understand that a programmer is required. It was fun learning how to program the CD74HC4059 counter-divider. Learning how to program a PIC micro-controller should be fun too. There are programmers listed on eBay from $15 to over $200. Does anyone have a suggestion on which one to buy? I want to build a capacitance to voltage converter for a fuel gauge like this:http://www.rstengineering.com/kitplanes/KP0007/KPsch.jpg Can a PIC micro-controller replace much of that circuit? Thanks, Joe -------- Joe Gores Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=281029#281029 __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 3267 (20080714) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 3267 (20080714) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 07:25:50 PM PST US From: "Robert L. Nuckolls, III" Subject: Re: AeroElectric-List: Re: Electronic Dead Reckoning Distance Calculator At 09:47 AM 1/11/2010, you wrote: Bob, Thanks for your comments. I am really proud of this project, but did not expect many replies because GPS has made dead reckoning obsolete. You and another friend suggested using a PIC micro-controller. Unfortunately I know very little about them. I understand that a programmer is required. It was fun learning how to program the CD74HC4059 counter-divider. Learning how to program a PIC micro-controller should be fun too. There's a ton of pic development systems out there for under $100, dozens for under $50. You might think about subscribing to Nuts and Volts magazine http://www.nutsvolts.com/ Their advertisers include a number of hobbyist PIC systems to get started with. The one we use here is only $29 and comes with an exceedingly capable editor, assembler package. I think it's the PicKit II. You can go the assembler route (I think there's only 35 instructions to learn how to use) or the Tiny Basic round offered in the Basic Stamp series systems . . . and others. http://www.parallax.com/ http://www.parallax.com/Resources/GettingStarted/tabid/270/Default.aspx There are programmers listed on eBay from $15 to over $200. Does anyone have a suggestion on which one to buy? This one is $100 but probably your best bet to get up and running quickly in Tiny Basic or Assembler http://tinyurl.com/yfxgka4 See also: http://www.mstracey.btinternet.co.uk/pictutorial/picmain.htm http://tutor.al-williams.com/pic-intro.html http://www.hobbyprojects.com/microcontroller_tutorials.html I want to build a capacitance to voltage converter for a fuel gauge like this:http://www.rstengineering.com/kitplanes/KP0007/KPsch.jpg Can a PIC micro-controller replace much of that circuit? Oh my, yes. I've been halted on a program to do just that. The program manager ran out of money. It might come back in the spring . . . The philosophy I'm using alternately charges the tank capacitance through a large value resistor and discharges it with a transistor. The time it takes to charge the capacitor from zero to some reference value is measured by the uP. Every other charge/discharge cycle, a 100 pf reference capacitor is switched across the tank line and the time to charge total capacitances is measured. By having a reference capacitor, calculation of tank + wiring capacitance is a simple ratio that wipes out errors in charging current or comparator trip voltages. System accuracy is dependent only on stability of the reference capacitor and timing accuracy of the uP (crystal controlled). I can't offer you anything more than that right now but I can assure you it's well within the capability of the PICs to do the timing, operating the capacitor switch and calculating a PWM output value that represents % of tank contents. What's more, the total parts count is VERY low. Bob . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message aeroelectric-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/AeroElectric-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/aeroelectric-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/aeroelectric-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.