This blog documents a project to build a functional Lockheed L-1011 cockpit replica
using real flight hardware, NI labVIEW and the x-Plane software platform.
Today Jim Blasco and myself worked on doing ARINC 429 label integration tests with the Altimeter. The Altimeter uses Label 204 and due to the fact that it uses a slightly different variant of a ARINC 429 compatible protocol it has to run on it's own bus. The 204 Label for the Altimeter uses a 32bit word that does not have a SSM field or Parity Bit.
The short demo video bellows shows data being sent to the ADI, HSI, VSI and ALT. The next steps will be to send actual simulator from X-Plane to the instruments.
Besides the tests with the Altimeter we also installed the first of two audio side panels. The L-1011 Cockpit Procedure Trainer did not come with these side panels and we got them from an actual (British Airways) L-1011. The audio side panels provide the hookups for the headset (boom and headset) as well as a connector for the hand microphone. The side panel also has room to store the headset in.
L1011 Trainer - ARINC 429 Mixed Label and Bus Speed Test
Now that the 429 cabling is complete I have stated with mixed data rate testing for the ADI, the HSI and the VSI. Between the three instruments I am sending a total of 24 different labels on both 100Kbps (HS) and 12.5Kbps (LS). The bus setup for the instruments shown in the video below is as follows:
CAPTHS1 (Captain's ARINC 429 High Speed Bus 1)
CAPTLS1 (Captain's ARINC 429 Low Speed Bus 1)
CAPTLS2 (Captain's ARINC 429 Low Speed Bus 2)
and
FOHS1 (F/O ARINC 429 High Speed Bus 1 as instrument alternate source)
FOLS1 (F/O ARINC 429 Low Speed Bus 1 as instrument alternate source)
We have reached another millstone with the L-1011 project. All of the cabling is complete for the ARINC 429 compatible devices. To test the correct installation of the cables and to make sure that there are no problems with the type of cable that we are using in the simulator we ran some tests by sending test data to the left hand side (captain's) ADI and HSI. Here is a short video showing ARINC 429 high speed and low speed data being transmitted to both instruments cabled to the same high speed and low speed bus.
Cable Type Used: AWG 24 2 Conductor Shielded
Over the next two weeks we will start sending all ARINC 429 labels needed for the simulator over a total of 16 TX and 16 RX lines. The instruments used in the L-1011 simulator that are ARINC 429 compatible are:
Attitude Direction Indicator (ADI)
Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI)
Altimeter (ALT)
Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI)
Traffic and Collision Alert System (TCAS)
VHF Communication Radio Controller
ATC Transponder Controller
Ultimately we would like to replace the current RDMIs with ARINC 429 compatible ones.
Honeywell VSI/TRA Display from TCAS-2000 System on the L-1011
Many of the L-1011's got upgraded with TCAS during their service time. The most commonly installed TCAS system on the L-1011 is the Honeywell TCAS-2000. I recently got my hands on a pair of Honeywell 4067644 VSI/TRA displays. The displays are vintage 1990s and will make the L-1011 simulator a lot more authentic, and, they are a lot of fun to work with. They take ARINC 429 input for both the VSI data as well as the TACAS data. The image above shows the VSI/TRA without any data sent to it, therefore, it indicates both TCAS and VSI as FAIL.
Here is a short demo of the VSI/TRA receiving Vertical Speed data from the ARINC 429 Primary bus
From: Honeywell TCAS-2000 Installation Manual
The VSI/TRA display runs off 115V 400Hz power and can take both ARINC 429 data as well as ARINC 575 ADC data. The 575 stuff is purely analog so not so interesting for working with the flight simulator, but the ARINC 429 stuff comes in very handy. Also, the VSI/TRA comes in a 41pin as well as a 55pin version. The ones that I have are the 41 pin version; and, here is the pinout for the 41pin VSI/TRA:
J1-1
VS +DC REF
ARINC 575
J1-2
VS DC RATE
ARINC 575
J1-3
VS -DC REF
ARINC 575
J1-4
Primary VS (HI)
ARINC 565
J1-6
Primary VS (LO)
ARINC 565
J1-5
VS 26 VAC Ref (Hi)
ARINC 565
J1-7
Not Used
J1-21
Not Used
J1-8
VSI Valid Flag
ARINC 575/565
J1-9
5V Lamp Dimming (LO)
J1-10
5V Lamp Dimming (HI)
J1-11
TCAS TA/RA (B)
ARINC 429
J1-26
TCAS TA/RA (A)
ARINC 429
J1-12
VS No 1 (B)
ARINC 429
J1-27
VS No 1 (A)
ARINC 429
J1-13
Not Used
J1-14
VS No 2 (B)
ARINC 429
K1-30
VS No 2 (A)
ARINC 429
J1-15
Config Common
J1-16
VS 26 VAC Ref (C)
J1-17
CS3
Configuration Bit
J1-18
PTM Common
J1-19
PTM PWR Out -15VDC
J1-20
PTM PWR Out +15VDC
J1-22
Chassis Ground
J1-23
115VAC 400Hz (C)
J1-24
Remote Light Sensor (LO)
J1-25
Remote Light Sensor (HI)
J1-28
Not Used
J1-29
RA Valid Out
J1-31
Source Select In
J1-32
CS0
Configuration Bit
J1-33
CS1
Configuration Bit
J1-34
CS2
Configuration Bit
J1-35
CS4
Configuration Bit
J1-36
CS5
Configuration Bit
J1-37
CS6
Configuration Bit
J1-38
CS7
Configuration Bit
J1-39
DC Ground
J1-40
115VAC 400Hz (H)
J1-41
CS8
Configuration Bit
The Vertical Speed input label for the VS 1 and VS 2 sources is Label 212.
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