I have this problem: my 8 segment LED brightness does not stay at 1 jumps to way higher value. It starts at value 1 (dim how I like it) but once i start turning encoders brightness jumps to way higher value. How can I fix this problem?
#8 segment LED brightness does not stay at 1 jumps to way higher value
fresh osprey
tranquil shell
Try activating and setting the brightness reference output config.
Create an output config and call it something meaningful like "7 Segment Brt"
Just set a fixed value of 1 by adding a Transform modifier and just specify "1" in the transform.
Now open the 7 segment display output config
Go to display tab
Set the brightness reference to the "7 Segment Brt" output.
That's it
You can later set the brightness reference value by changing the value in 7 Segment Brt output.
fresh osprey
is it like in the screen shots? when I do that leds just blink very dim and nothing is displayed
tranquil shell
In the 7 segment brt output the transform is "1" not "$1"
flickering is typically caused by two output configs trying to write a value to the same display or led
so, make sure only one output is actually writing the value to the display
I cannot tell from the first screenshot which output config is that, I need to see the top bar. I assumed it is the "7 segment brt" config. In the second screenshot I can see it says heading.
fresh osprey
I will give it a try again when I get home. Thanks
fresh osprey
that worked great, thanks!
I have another question, do 7 segment displays suppose to start showing data as soon as the game starts and ready to fly or just after i turn rotaty encoder. For methey start working only after the first turn of the encoder
tranquil shell
Like any other output, Mobiflight will receive a value from the simulator about 10 times each second in real time.
You should be able to see this value in the Raw value column.
Post screenshot of what you are trying to display.
fresh osprey
so when the game starts nothing is shown on the displays. I can turn any of the 5 encoders and nothing will display, until i turn the HDG encoder. Only then displays will start showing data
tranquil shell
I see a 0 value being received, isn't that value displayed?
always always specify which simulator and which aircraft. They do not all work the same.
also post the output config "8 digit HDG CRS" sim var, modify and display tabs
how many displays do you have?
fresh osprey
this is MSFS2024, it happens to any aircraft. I will post configs once I get home. In total I have 4 displays. 8 digit, 5 digit, 5 digit and 5 digit. They are all connected in together to share control lines
tranquil shell
Are your 4 displays powered from an external power supply? You can power only up to two displays from the Arduino.
fresh osprey
they are powered from arduino. There is more that enough current for all of them even at ful lbrightness (I verified wil the mili amp meter) . Current is not a problem.
tranquil shell
I don't know about that. Each Max7219 can draw up to 160mA with all segments on. So 4 x 160mA = 640mA max
Arduino can typically only handle up to 500mA
You still need some current for leds and other stuff.
fresh osprey
I am okay with the current. Any ideas why they don't start showing data till I turn one particular encode?
tranquil shell
I have never had that issue, so no
fresh osprey
i attached the screenshots of the display configurations. I hop that it helps
tranquil shell
How are the max modules wired?
You show four led display device configs in the board list
You said earlier you had four displays. So, presumably all are directly connected to arduino pins. Yes?
Not daisy chained?
fresh osprey
DIN and CS pins are shared between 4 dispalys, Each display has its own CLK pin
tranquil shell
Where did you get that scheme from?
Each chain should have all three pins independent. You can theoretically daisy chain up to 8 modules, and up to 6 chains.
And each chain is configured as one device.
fresh osprey
I had them connected like this from my previous setup with SimVimX. Diagram in your link shows that all of the displays can be daisy chained. However with my particula model displays I found out that they work better when each has its own ("data or CLK" sorry forgot which one on the actual module) independant. Anyways, not sure what happened but last 3 times I started MSFS displays started working right away. Magic ..... so they do work as it should (for now lol)
Thanks a lot for your help @tranquil shell !!!
tranquil shell
DIN and CS pins are shared between 4 dispalys, Each display has its own CLK pin
ok, please confirm that you have the DIN and CS pins shared but each displays gets its CLK pin. How is that even configured in the hardware config?
I would expect your DIN and CS pins are not available from the pin dropdown menu once they are used.
fresh osprey
Confirmed. Please take a look at the screenshots above. You are correct unfortunately they are not available from drop down 🙁 you have to open config file with thext editor and update the values yourself. Incovenience, but it does the job that the GUI does not do.