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wiki:opconfig:tabs:lightsio [2019/02/21 03:51]
opadmin [General Purpose Input/Output Ports A & B] |
wiki:opconfig:tabs:lightsio [2023/06/04 16:39] (current)
opadmin [Aux Output] |
| If checked, the High-Intensity Flash output (FLASH on the TCB) will automatically be triggered when the **Cannon Fire** function is called. If unchecked, you can still trigger the flash unit by itself by using the **High Intensity Flash** function. | If checked, the High-Intensity Flash output (FLASH on the TCB) will automatically be triggered when the **Cannon Fire** function is called. If unchecked, you can still trigger the flash unit by itself by using the **High Intensity Flash** function. |
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| | ===== Light Effects ===== |
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| | == Flicker Headlights during Engine Start == |
| | {{ wiki:lighteffects.jpg?nolink|Light Effects settings}} |
| | This option attempts to create the illusion of intermittent/inadequate voltage on certain lights during the time when the engine is being started. This is something that might have been seen on WWII-era tanks, the same as it might have been seen on WWII-era cars. This effect is applied to the Aux Output and the Brake Lights output. This may seem strange, why isn't it applied to the Headlights output (Light 1)? The reason is because the Light 1 output on the TCB unfortunately does not have the ability to be set to any brightness level, it can only be turned full on or full off. A realistic flickering effect can not be created under those conditions. Therefore, if you wish to use this effect, know that you will need to connect your headlight LEDs to the Aux Output port instead of the Headlights port, and you will need to add the appropriate function triggers to turn off/on the Aux Output from your transmitter. |
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| | Here is how to use this effect: |
| | * Check the option to "Flicker lights during engine start" |
| | * Specify a "Transmission Engage Delay" time on the "Driving" tab of OP Config. You should set this delay to be equal to the length of time of your engine startup sound. When the engine is started, the engine start sound is played, this delay begins, and during the delay the transmission will not be engaged (the model can not be moved), and the LEDs connected to the Aux output as well as the Brake output will flicker. |
| | * Of course, the lights will only flicker if they were turned on before the engine start began. For the Aux output that means you have turned it on using a Function Trigger. For the brake or running lights, that means you have checked either the "Brake Lights On when Stopped" option or the "Running Lights Always On" option. |
| | * When the "Transmission Engage Delay" has expired, your engine start sound should have also completed. At this time the transmission will automatically be engaged (allowing you to begin driving), and the Aux Output and Brake Lights will cease to flicker and return to full brightness. |
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| | More things to note: the Aux Output can be used for many different purposes, not all of which are compatible with this effect. If you set the Smoker Type to "Separate Heat and Fan," or if you set the Aux Output to "Auto Flash with Cannon," this flickering effect will be disabled. In the first case the Aux Output is reserved to drive the smoker fan, in the second case the Aux Output is being used with a barrel flash LED. There may be other combinations that do not make sense but which are possible for the user to create, so use common sense. |
| ===== Aux Output ===== | ===== Aux Output ===== |
| {{ wiki:auxoutput.png?nolink|Aux Output Settings}} | {{ wiki:auxoutput.png?nolink|Aux Output Settings}} |
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| == Auto Flash with Cannon == | == Auto Flash with Cannon == |
| If this box is checked, the Aux Output will automatically be flashed (output brought high) whenever the cannon is fired, no function trigger needs to be created. If your muzzle flash is a simple LED, connect it to the Aux Output and check this option. But if you are using a Taigen High Intensity Flash unit, connect it to the [[wiki:tcb:tcbinstall:hiflash|dedicated Flash port]] on the TCB instead, in which case this Aux output can be used for other purposes. | If this box is checked, the Aux Output will automatically be flashed (output brought high) whenever the cannon is fired, no function trigger needs to be created. If your muzzle flash is a simple LED, connect it to the Aux Output and check this option. But if you are using a Taigen High Intensity Flash unit, connect it to the [[wiki:tcb:tcbinstall:hiflash|dedicated Flash port]] on the TCB instead, in which case this Aux output can be used for other purposes. **Note:** if you check this option, the "Flicker Lights during Engine Start" option is disabled (because it would create a conflict with the use of the Aux output). |
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| == Blink - On and Off Time == | == Blink - On and Off Time == |
| - External Output A/B - Blink\\ | - External Output A/B - Blink\\ |
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| You can then assign a trigger to these functions and in so doing control the output of these ports. The first three functions are self-explanatory, the fourth function, "Pulse," will briefly set the output pin to the state opposite its default. For example, if you had set Port A to Output with Default High, the pin will be kept high (+5 volts) normally and the Pulse command would cause it to briefly be held Low (to Ground). This feature can be used to emulate a button press to some external device. | You can then assign a trigger to these functions and in so doing control the output of these ports. The first three functions are self-explanatory, the fourth function, "Pulse," will briefly set the output pin to the state opposite its default. For example, if you had set Port A to Output with Default High, the pin will be kept high (+5 volts) normally and the Pulse command would cause it to briefly be held low (to ground). If you set the output to Default Low, the pin will be kept low (at ground) normally and the Pulse command would cause it to be temporarily brought high (+5 volts). The pulse duration can be set by the "Pulse - On Time" value (the pulse time is shared by both outputs). |
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| The fifth function will cause the output to blink and blinking will continue until you call the "Turn On" or "Turn Off" function. The blink rate can be set by using the "Blink - On Time" and "Off Time" values (the blink rate is shared by both outputs). | The fifth function will cause the output to blink and blinking will continue until you call the "Turn On" or "Turn Off" function. The blink rate can be set by using the "Blink - On Time" and "Off Time" values (the blink rate is shared by both outputs). |
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| What you do with these outputs is up to you, but remember these are logic-level outputs! That means they can not source enough current to actually power something, not even most LEDs! Instead consider the outputs like signals, and the signals can tell some other more powerful circuit to do something, or they could be used as direct inputs into another microcontroller (such as another Arduino). (If you know what you are doing, and you are certain your LEDs do not draw more than 20mA, you can connect them directly to the port). | What you do with these outputs is up to you, but remember these are logic-level outputs! The maximum current draw of each output signal pin is 40mA. This may be enough to power one or two standard LEDs, but not much of anything else. Instead consider the outputs like signals, and the signals can tell some other more powerful circuit to do something, or they could be used as direct inputs into another microcontroller (such as another Arduino). |
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| If you want to use these outputs to turn on a lamp, or a relay, or some other object that draws more than 20mA of current, you will need to use a driver circuit. You can find a schematic for a MOSFET driver adapter on the [[wiki:tcb:tcbinstall:io_ports_ab|I/O Ports]] page. Alternatively you may want to use the Aux Output (see above) which //is// capable of driving a load directly. | If you want to use these outputs to turn on a lamp, or a relay, or some other object that draws more than 40mA of current, you will need to use a driver circuit. You can find a schematic for a MOSFET driver adapter on the [[wiki:tcb:tcbinstall:io_ports_ab|I/O Ports]] page. Alternatively you may want to use the Aux Output (see above) which //is// capable of driving a load directly. |
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