The Throttle Quadrant

Supplier = www.Symulatory.com

Symulatory Part Numbers

• 737NG_TQ

Related Pages

• EFIS
• MCP
• Glareshield

Comments

This is the heart of the flightdeck and is a very complex piece of kit. It is a 1:1 replica of the real thing. I have to say the quality is as expected, although when it arrived the Thrust levers were bent but I soon straightened them out.

I spent a lot of time writing the SIOC code to get this working and ended up burning out one of the servo motors by connecting it the wrong way around on the Opencockpits USBServos Card. Lesson learned I ordered a new one from a model shop in the UK. However, in order to replace this servo I had to strip the TQ down to almost single components. So while I was waiting for the new servo to arrive I replaced all the cheap pots and switches with better quality ones from Rapid electronics. While I was in there I made and installed a bank of 3 relays to control the power to the servos. As you probably already know, when the servos are powered up you cannot move them manually without damaging the servo motor. so what I did was to buy 3 x 5v -5v spdt relays and added them in line on the servo GND wiring circuit so that I could control servo power from SIOC using the Opencockpits USBOutputs card I alkready have to drive the LEDs etc in the MIP. THis works a treat with the servos because now I have SIOC monitoring the state of AT(AutoThrust) so when it is engaged the servos are moving the thrust levers and when I disconnect the AT I can manually operate the levers without damaging the servo motors. Of course you can do this with the Opencockpits USBServos card, but why spend Euro 44 on a card when you can spend less than Euro 10 to make a quick relay circuit.

As the TQ does not have facilities for backlighting, I took this opportunity to install my own backlighting where I could.

Here are some pictures of the strip down refurb of the TQ.

Out of the box note bent levers	The TQ does not come with backlighting so I had to make my own. Basically I used plastic sheet heated and shaped in boiling water then drilled with 5mm holes to fix in LEDs. Note , you have to scratch off the grey paint from the under panel so that light can get through.
Backlighting plate fitted to flaps panel and wired to a single source (+5v)	Wired and tested before fitting.
A shakey picture (thats my nerves shattered by this project) of the backlit TQ
TQ Rewired and 2 x DSUB 25pin female sockets installed to make disconnection easy. Here is the DSUB Wiring Diagram (Link) Here is the DSUB Cable Wiring Diagram (Link) Also installed USBServos card with connection to Relays card (home made for about a fiver)	Again a close up of the Relays set on a small piece of breadboard and wired in line. Wiring Diag here (Link)
TQ Overhaul complete now with 2 x DSUB 25pin Sockets and USB cable for quick connections.	Completed TQ.
I will add the SIOC code for all operations and Servos etc soon. I just need to complete the testing.