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What would case some instruments to go blank during a flight?


jparnold

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Hello

Today I decided to fly a long distance flight using the FSX standard B737-800 in a multiplayer session I use in FSOPEN.

 

I used a loaded flight plan I had previously created with many waypoints and I have an installed an FMC/CDU gauge.

 

During the flight I checked a few times for quite some time and then left it for about 2 hours. When I then checked the aircraft was still flying at the set altitude and speed but some of the gauges were BLANK eg the PFD, MFD and EICAS gauges.

The aircraft was still flying correctly. What would cause these gauge to go blank?

 

Thanks

John

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Maybe

I have realism set to EASY.

I just checked that even set to 'easy' the generator switch defaults to 'battery' position.

I will have to be more careful and check all settings on long distance flights.

First time with a long distance flight and thought I could just set nothing.

Thanks

John

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Just a follow up on my initial question and the reply from bbrz (turn on generators).

 

Since then I have searched the internet to find a checklist to be done prior to take off eg start APU (if not already started and engines not already started etc, start engines (and how) if not already started, etc etc)

The ONLY ones I could find did NOT include 'turn on generators'

 

Can someone leave a url for a suitable checklist for the STANDARD FSX B737-800

 

Thanks

John

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Thanks for the knowledge but surely when the engines (and apu) are off and you want power they would be set to 'battery' as is the default?

Doesn't matter I guess if I want power always be connected to the generators I should set the aircraft up that way and then save it as my 'default flight' and that way power will always be switched to generators when I start up especially as it currently starts up with the engines running.

John

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Perhaps it would help if you added this line to aircraft cfg (electrical) section:

'' electric_always_available=1 '' (without the quotes).

Chuck B

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Thanks Chuck

 

I have learnt something new although it is a bit of a cheat as the switch remains set to battery.

John

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I want to add much more. Explaining the electrical systm and such. But it may be a few hours ntill I get around to typing it. ( an checking it, some of it i'm not sure on some of the info myself at the moment yet.) Have an appointment as well that will take a few hours.

 

untill then, a question, you said:

Maybe

I have realism set to EASY.

I just checked that even set to 'easy' the generator switch defaults to 'battery' position.

...

Thanks

 

You have a switch in the default fsx 737-800 that says GEN/BATT ???

I can't remember that switch.

Is that a default switch, on a default panel?

If so which panel?

Or if not, did you add the switch (or the whole panel) yourself perhaps?

 

At times like these I wish I hadn't switched to decaf three months ago. Darn, it's past midday and I'm still half asleep!!

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With the engines and apu off you need ground power. There's no way to power the 737 with only the battery.

 

Remember we are talking FSX here, not RL! I have never used APUs at the gate while getting my various clearances and during pushback and engine start with appropriate lights on. I also don't believe in electric_always _available=1. I delete that line in any aircraft that comes with it.

Still thinking about a new flightsim only computer!  ✈️

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Just a follow up on my initial question and the reply from bbrz (turn on generators).

 

Since then I have searched the internet to find a checklist to be done prior to take off eg start APU (if not already started and engines not already started etc, start engines (and how) if not already started, etc etc)

The ONLY ones I could find did NOT include 'turn on generators'

 

Can someone leave a url for a suitable checklist for the STANDARD FSX B737-800

 

Thanks

 

Here you go, generators are item 9 in the Startup Checklist:

 

http://www.shoogys.com/vpacars/FSX%20Boeing%20737-800.pdf

Tim Wright "The older I get, the better I was..."

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Ok. No 'electric always available=1' for Zip. How about eternal battery? Would that work?

 

Here is what Opa had to say (2010): 'You can have the battery always working via a setting in the registered version of FSUIPC. It is called "extend battery life" and it can be set as "indefinitely".'

 

Me? I just fly daylight, and never in the fog, so it don't matter either way (hehe).

Chuck B

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Thanks everyone.

 

Can't remember everything what everyone stated/suggested but to one question

The power source selector knob is in the overhead panel on the stock B737 800 and can be set to 'battery' (the default), 'Gen 1', 'APU' or 'Gen 2'.

It seems that if it is left at 'battery' the battery will eventually become 'flat' ie no power as happened to myself because I had forgotten to switch it to 'Gen 1' (or 'Gen 2) when the engines were running.

I guess when the aircraft is empty and no pacs required only lighting and power to start the APU then it should be at 'Battery' then APU once it is started and then Gen 1 or Gen 2 once the engines have been started. Of course external power can come into it when available.

I am no pilot but this is what I think would happen.

Anyway the reason for the post was because I once flew a long flight and the main instruments went blank well into the flight and I wondered why. It seems from the first reply it was because the 'source power' hadn't been switched from 'battery' to 'Gen 1' or 'Gen 2',

I have seen the checklist and tutorials for payware aircraft but could find nothing on the internet for the FSX stock B737 but now someone has sent a url for one so thanks for that.

It would ne nice though to read something which describes each user controllable switch and knob and it's function which would make understanding everything easier.

Obviously though, the nob should be changed from Gen 1 to Battery once the engines are stopped.

 

overhead_panel.jpg

John

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I read what you say but why did I 'run out of' electrical power during a long flight with the selector set to 'Battery'. The first reply came in suggesting that I had not selected generators. Is there another switch somewhere to connect the generators to the electrical power system and if so please advise where it is.

Thanks

John

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Ok thanks I see them

BUT they are switched to ON by default (well in my version of FSX they are) so I imagine they were in the ON position when I lost electrical power on a long flight. My initial question was what would cause the instruments to go blank during a long ('unattended') flight and you suggested that I probably didn't have the generators on

 

So if they were in the ON position what else could cause the instruments to go blank? I think, repeat think' that when it happened the battery voltage displayed as 0.

I don't have FSX set up for any failures.

John

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There is a difference between the battery(s) being 'dead' (discharged) and 'failed' (not able to be charged) for 'xyz' reason(s). Once the Gen's are on the battery(s) will be charged and when charged the Gen(s) will provide current when/where needed. The battery(s) will not be overcharged. If the battery(s) 'failed' then the Gen's will provide the needed electricity to keep vital gauges, etc working. So the OP did not switch to Gen. That's all that happened!

Chuck B

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What should I check for if the gauges go blank in the future (so that I have a reason for it apart from a software issue)?

John

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Ok thanks

 

I guess if it happens again and the gen switches are on I can try stitching them off and back on and any other switches which could be associated.

John

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hpwells1

 

NO I didn't find out or work out what causes it. Initially someone suggested that the generators might not have been switched on and therefore all electrical power required ran down the batteries but the B737 has them switched on by default unless of course I accidentally switched them off.

It has only happened once during a flight lasting many hours and I haven't tried that again yet.

John

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I still don't have much time to help. But enough for a few short words.

 

As far as I know the switches you are interested in on the 737 overhead do work.

Batt (on/off)

APU (on/off)

Gen 1 (on/off)

Gen 2 (on/off)

and

Switch for choice as source for electrics:

Batt/Gen1/Gen2/APU

 

But, a few buttons are simply not available on the panel, and they are important.

APU/Generator (toggle)

(without tha turning on the APU does nothing. I have assigned that to a key, (Contr+[)

(and APU (on) to

And APU (off) to

 

When switching off the APU, and going back to normal operation,

don't forget to switch APU/Generator (toggle) Back to generator.

 

------------------------

then there is:

Master Battery/Alternator (On/Off)

using that keyboard shortcut can really mess things up, and leave you without power. (don't ask me why).

(But as it's a keyboard shortcut only, it's tricky to fix if it's pressed by accident)

 

There is also:

Generator/Alternator (on/off)

Again one that can mess things up completely.

 

Another one that may be affecting your displays is: Avionics (on/off).

Without avionics, no navigation info like VOR distance and such, and no ATC on the radio.

Nothing displayed on the GPS, Radio panels show no numbers.

(Though the PFD, and Navigation screen itself should stay lit.)

 

 

I think that's all of them. Have a look through the keyboard shortcut list, there may be one more.

----------------------------

 

Problem is, for most of the ones mentioned in that second section have no buttons. Not in the 737-800, but also not in other planes. So simply installing them on the 2D panels of the 737-800 is not an option.

 

A while ago I decided to create a few of the missing gauges. To add either to the 2D overhead, or maybe to their own little "engine/electrics control" panel.

Still haven't got round to it. For making a gauge I really need a free day, with a rainy afternoon/ evening attached. Not a single one of those yet this year!! If I do ever get around to making these I'll post them to the gauges forum, and post a little note in this thread as well.

 

----

Oh, one more bit of advice. When doing a flight, start by selecting the right plane in the opening screen. Select location, weather, time, and press Fly now.

Do not change to another plane after.

It can easily happen that your first loaded plane has things missing that the second chosen plane needs.

SO if you want to fl the 737, start with that, and stay in it until landing.

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Wow

So much information and so many things to consider.

Once again I was 'flying' with all the switches, knobs at their default positions and 2 or 3 hours into a flight when the gauges went blank.

I will try to recreate the situation to see if it happens again and if so 'poke around' the instrument panel and take screen shots to try and determine the cause.

John

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Wow, il,

Your "few short words" are more many, and longer, than MINE!

I thought I got verbose. I bow to a master :D ;) :rolleyes:

 

Heheeh

Pat☺

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That's what I was thinking but as I'm not an expert I "let it ride"

John

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These shortcuts of course have effect. Try this: park your aircraft, switch on the APU (with the keyboard shortcut, in case the panel switch doesn't work) (at the same time check if the shortcut moves the switch. If it does, the cpu on/off switch is fine.)

 

with apu running, switch off the engines. Then leave the pc and in watch a South Park episode.

 

With engines off, generators in them produce no power. So the battery no longer gets charged.

 

You might think, the cpu now charges the battery, right? Wrong.

Once South Park has finished, you check fsx, and you will find the battery has drained.

 

Good thing you already started the APU. (no way to start that with a drained battery.)

 

now press: "APU/GENERATOR (Toggle)"

 

you will see that will bring your screens back to life! Meaning now the plane finally draws it's power from the APU, instead of from the stopped (engine-connected) GENERATORS.

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Pat, that's because your vocabulary is so extensive. You can use one elegant "word of the day", where I need to type 5 sentences to explain the exact same thing.

It doesn't make me jealous, but it does make me wish I could do that more. I don't read much any more and I'm gonna try picking up an English book more often. Reading is the best way to improve vocabulary.

 

(Btw, had to think for 15 minutes to remember 'vocabulary' and 'extensive' here.;):)

 

have a great one Pat!;):) Greetz for missghost too.:)

il.

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I may have misread something for a while. But need to test beter to be sure.

 

The keyboard event (Contr + [ for me) is called "APU/GENERATOR (toggle)"

 

When used in the 2D of the 737 that flicks the switch that is labeled: "APU Generator On/Off"

 

I think what actually happens is: "APU/GENERATOR (toggle)"

and that the description on the panel is misleading.

I would have to look into the code of that gauge to find out. No time for that.

 

(I can't imagine the function is described/named wrong in the keboard assignment list.)

 

Many planes, even some defaults, do not have such a switch labeled apu generator on/off on their panels/vc

They only have a switch for APU start/off.

And then that alone usually does not power the plane. Swithc off the batteries in those after switching on the apu, and you will have a drained battery. (And you can get out of that by using APU/Generator (Toggle) shortcut key at that point.)

The 747 I think, for one.

The Lear has an APU start/off switch that does both. It switches on the APU, and toggles from generator to APU.

 

My approach to the APU, etc is, know your shortcuts. Trusting the switches is not always a good idea.

One more example, the switches in the 737 VC throttle quadrant for "Fuel Cutoff", do not just close the fuel valves.

They also close the mixture. I think they switch "Master Alternator" off as well.

 

If you were to choose a different plane when parked, and use the fuel valve switches in that (747 for example) then you wouldn't get the plane started. You would have no idea those two other functions were set as well.

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