Controlling PMDG Overhead With Hardware
(3rd May 2008) Everything has changed! Pete Dowson has just released his FSUIPC v3.81 which includes a function on Mouse Macro's.  Pete uses a routine called 'Mousetrapping' which reads your action with the mouse and allows you to record that action as a code and not as a mouseclick.
It then follows that that action can be applied to any switch or gauge WITHOUT IT BEING IN VIEW :o)    So, you do not have to open the PMDG OVERHEAD PANEL to action the switches (nor the Radio Panel or MIP either).
Included in the Downloaded .zip is a file called 737 OHD.mcro.  What Pete has done is map all the switch actions on the PMDG Overhead and create macro's for them.   When you copy the .dll file to your FS/Modules folder, you take this .mcro file as well and when FS/PMDG is started all the 737 OHD macro's are available to you in the Button Press and Keystroke Dropdown Menu's - BRILLIANT !
   
PMDG OVERHEAD - Types of Switches.
Ok, there are several types of switches on the PMDG Overhead Panel. Some are just plain 'Toggle' (e.g. Fuel Pumps), some are distinct 'On or OFF' (e.g. Engine & APU Gens) and some are 'Incremental/Decremental' (e.g. Flight Altitude and LandAltitude).     This is where you have to sit down and PLAN YOUR APPROACH to controlling the actions you want.

+++ SYMULATORY WEALTH & HEALTH WARNING +++ 

When I did my research, as well as finding all the 'Major Players' in the Cockpit Parts field, I also came across this company who's name kept being mentioned by builders especially in Eastern Europe.  The big point was everybody was really complimentary about the quality and the price when compared to the Big Suppliers.
Although it is a POLISH Website, I had no problem in communicating with them and after too many e-mails and questions I was eventually convinced that this was the kit I should buy.

So I ordered the MIP and the Overhead complete with all hardware (Rotary & Toggle Switches, LED's etc).  Each piece is made to order and from placing the order to taking delivery was about 5 weeks.
The whole 'Shooting Works', that's the complete full cabin MIP (including the Cabinet) and the Overhead Panel complete with all the switches, LED's etc  including shipping cost just over 2000 euro's. To me that's great value for money.   And the quality - well I am amazed.   It's absolutely superb.
---------------------------------------------
Well it took me 3 days of my spare time to glue all the backing plates and the front indicator plates, but the overhead panel is really taking shape.  But I keep having nightmares about wiring it all.  I will have to paint some of the switch guards black, but that's not a priority.
---------------------------------------------
So how did it go together......
Well first of all we had to check the parts and the dimensions and then make a game plan as to how we were going to fit it up and wire it.   About 10 pieces of paper later a 'Final Plan' was made.  The Panel was supplied semi-assembled, all I had to do was join it together down the centre and then mount it on a frame, before fitting all the holders for the LED's and Indicator Panels.

The Quality and realism is stunning, just click on the picture on the right, it's a big image so I can show you the quality.
Now it's mounted to the frame, I need to place switches and the LED holders before starting to wire up the panel.
---------------------------------------

Looks Much Better with some switches fitted.
---------------------------------------------
Well it took me 3 weeks solid to work out and wire up the overhead, but it was all worthwhile. Here's some shots of the Panel before it goes in the 'pit'.

Ok it's June 17th 2006. I have made a temporary frame to hold the Overhead 'roughly' in place so i can work on it. Wiring is a nightmare, but the BUS idea works well and cuts the wiring down by 40%.   The Idea of using Key2Mouse is superb. Everything works exactly how i intended it to. Now i can do a complete flight from cold and dark to engine shutdown without touching a KB or Mouse. Yesterday, Balazs Kozma at LHCC was gracious enough to let me test live on-line with some other VATSIM pilots.  Perfect Operation-HAPPINESS.
VERY IMPORTANT TIP......The Overhead Frame has been designed in such a way that the rear is hinged so i can swing it down for maintenance.

IDEA. There are so many Switches and LED's on this panel that a solution had to be found that cut the wiring to the absolute minimum.  The solution I came up with was really quite simple. I just had to go away on holiday to realise it :o).  All BOEING aircraft feed power to the systems by using a series of 'BUS' Bars.  So what I did was to sort of copy that idea with some brass picture wire.  Because LED's are pole sensitive, I decided to distribute the 5v negative supply around the overhead on the outside of the frame and the 5v positive down both sides of the centre frame segment.  My standard is to always 'switch' the positive side, so all the negative poles of the LED's are wired direct to the negative supply and all the switches are wired direct to the positive.
---------------------------------------------
IDEA. Use 5v LED's with built in resistance, cuts time and effort and also saves money in the long run. Also use LED holders. They are amazing.  Saves time soldering and also no LED's with heat damage or mistakingly soldered the wrong way round.  I love them. i got them from RAPID ELECTRONICS.

---------------------------------------------
FACT. There are 3 Power Systems on the 737....
1. The AC Power System 110v 400hz 3 phase
2. The DC Power System  24vdc
3. Standby Power System
---------------------------------------------
FACT. These are the sources of Electrical Power
1. Ground Power
2. APU Driven Generator
3. Engine Driven Generators
4. Battery
---------------------------------------------

+++ SYMULATORY WEALTH & HEALTH WARNING +++
Sadly since i did business with this company (and remember I had a great experience), things have proceeded from GOOD to BAD to WORSE.  In the last year alone, i have had seven (yes 7) colleagues get in touch after doing business with Symulatory.  It seems now that once Poldragonet have your money, they don't want to know.   Backup is non-existent & mails go unanswered once a delivery is made. Finally they have taken the 'piss' once too often and I now find myself with a close colleague sitting on a pile of parts that is incomplete and frankly speaking 'substandard'.  So this has made me angry and somebody has to make a point to ensure that this practise does not continue.
Here's a list of common complaints from friends and colleagues.

1.  THEY MAKE INCORRECT & INCOMPLETE DELIVERIES.
2. THEY DO NOT SUPPLY ANY DOCUMENTATION.
3. THEY IGNORE E-MAILS FROM CUSTOMERS.
4. THEY MAKE PROMISES TO GET THE ORDER (I have been made promises myself) AND THE PAYMENT & THEN RENEGE & SEND YOU ANYTHING THEY CHOOSE.
5. AVOID THE ELECTRONICS, BECAUSE IF IT ARRIVES NOT WORKING, IT NEVER WILL, THEY CANNOT BACK IT UP. AND REMEMBER ONCE YOU HAVE IT, IT's YOUR PROBLEM.

I am in the process of collecting all the documentation I have to support these statements and would be really interested to hear from other people who have also received a bad deal or experience with Poldragonet or Symulatory.

Kevin Egan - Trevor Culley - Rob Groeneschij
Eugenio Remus - Carlos Rodriguez - Ralph Watson
Kjeld Neilsen - Me
Who's next  - You ? For Example Click HERE

Controlling the Overhead Switches was the easy part. Now i have to get all the right lights coming on at all the right times.
I have started 'reworking' the Overhead Systems and Wiring Document to reflect improvements and a step by step instruction guide. Sorry for the delay. But here are the first 3 drawings to get you thinking.

DRAWING 1   which shows the basic connection of the Power to the Overhead Frame and how i got the + & - distributed and turning on and off.

DRAWING 2     This is the PROVISIONAL Circuit Diagram of how i will wire up and connect all the power sources. 

DRAWING 3    This is the PROVISIONAL Final Circuit Diagram.  There are two known limitations which i will go into detail about in the 'GUIDE' Document. They are basically correct in operation, but i need to do some more work on the circuit to perfect them.

Click Here For The 'HOW TO WIRE UP YOUR OVERHEAD' .pdf file

With the introduction of the new FSUIPC switching and having now finished the SimMotion Overhead Panel, I am re-writing the Overhead Page.

Coming Soon