Hi all,

I have just received Leo Bodnar's BU0836 USB controller and have some questions about wiring it up.

My ultimate goal is to take some suncom gear and build my own flight controls - I know very little about electronics so I am starting slow!

So... I have this usb controller which uses a button matrix. Let's say I have two buttons and each has one red wire and one black wire. Since this controller uses a matrix I believe I can join the black wires together and run them to the same input on the controller and have the two red wires on separate inputs.

The controller has a set of rows and columns (see button matrix here - http://www.lbodnar.dsl.pipex.com/joystick/index.html). Would I put one red wire on Row 1 and the other red on Row 2 and then have both black wires on Column 1?

That sound right or how far off am I?

Are either of these methods in the image right?




Thanks!

Dave

Dave,

Based on the docs on Bodnar's site, either of your hookups should work.

Although the site indicates that the diodes are optional, I suggest you add them. You can only get away without them if you only use momentary action buttons AND you never push more than one at a time.

Thanks Mike! Had not planned to add diodes but that way you put that makes me think it would be better if I did.

Dave

PHX,

Mike has some words of wisdom there.
Its no great hassle to add the diodes now and they are cheap.

If you wanted to go back later and add them I reckon it would be a hassle.

I wired up my BU0836's as per your second sketch but with the diodes in there. Just make sure you have them all in the same
orientation as per Leos sketch as they only let the current
flow in one direction.

But again, Mike is right, either of your setups should work like a champ.


You might already know this but the easiest way (IMHO) to hook up to leo's board is to grab an old Floppy Cable and hack one end off it. The connector fits over the pins on Leos board nicely. You will however have some spare wires as the floppy
connector has 2 or 4 (cant remember) more sockets than there are pins on the board.

Here is a Leo's sketch modified a little. (I added a status LED)

As well as how I put the diodes on the switches in my setup.

Have fun. Its very cool when you get it going.

Paddy,

Thanks, that helps alot being able to see that! Not being that familiar with what I need exactly, can you tell me what type of diodes you used?

Dave

PHX

Signal Diodes such as 1N914 or 1N4148 (pretty sure mine are these) should do the trick

Cheers

Great! I appreciate the help!

Dave