Appendix 2: Technical Information Pro Version 

We recommend the hardware from, simparts which is optimally matched to our software.This makes it particularly easy to build the home cockpit. Of course, the connection to the hardware can also be established in other ways, namely directly via standard USB joystick controllers such as the BU0836. This solution is particularly inexpensive and is ideal for hobbyists who really want to tinker everything themselves. The necessary basic knowledge is imparted in the following.

Connection of buttons and switches

Unless the CAN bus solution from simparts is used, the EC 135 Pro offers the option of connecting all important buttons and switches via standard USB joystick controllers such as the BU0836. To do this, the software generates special custom commands that can be assigned to the individual ports of the controller. In order to influence the performance as little as possible, we differentiate between different types of switches. These are optimized in such a way that as few contacts as possible are closed in normal flight conditions.

• Push Button. As usual, the contact is closed as long as the button is pressed.
• ON switch. As usual, the contact is closed when the switch is in the on state.
• OFF switch: The contact is closed when the switch is in the OFF state.
• 3 pole switch (e.g. ENG switch). The corresponding switches usually have two each one closed contact in the extreme positions. Accordingly, you need two ports of the joystick controller. The software provides two custom commands for each of these switches. In centered position there is no command. This position is recognized by leaving one of the of the other positions. 

When wiring the panels, it is important to know which switches are of which type so that they are installed in the correct orientation.

All circuit breakers implemented in the model are currently only accessible via the writable dataref array rotorsim/ec135/circuit_breaker_array. The table below shows the assignment of the c/b and the index in the array. The value 1 indicates that the c/b is switched on, the value 0 stands for a switched off c/b.

Instruments

The instruments are displayed via the 2D cockpit. The corresponding view shows all displays in a small space arranged side by side and one below the other. On the hardware side, a separate screen is required for each display. As a rule, it will be necessary to install several graphics cards in the PC in order to have a sufficient number of display connections. 

In an ideal cockpit, the analog instruments and the warning lights are represented by real instruments ans lights, but it is also possible to display them directly from the 2D cockpit on a separate screen.

More information will be coming soon.