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Doug Dawson's fuel dump gauge

BaiterOne

BaiterOne

Messages
261
Country
ireland
Hi,

I asked a question concerning the operation of this gauge in another thread.

Unfortunately (for me!!) Lane Street is not experiencing the problem that I am experiencing while using this gauge.

I wished to use the gauge to fill the tanks in my FS2004 B737 to a certain level, depending on the flight distance, without having to use the FS2004 tool bar.

I devised a gauge which simulates a virtual handler filling the tanks as instructed.

The tanks would have some residual fuel left in them from before (as set up when the flight was created e.g, less than 1000 lbs in the wing tanks and only a very small amount in the centre).

I would calculate the fuel required to complete the trip and then instruct the gauge (handler!) which way I required the tanks to be filled.

The gauge would then use whatever fuel was required to bring the left, centre and right tanks up to the levels I had specified.

I hoped to use Doug Dawson's fuel dump gauge to fill the tanks.

Unfortunately whether I set the flow rate to a positive or a negative figure the result always appears the same - the tank empties rather than fills.

I didn't want to complicate matters by showing the full set of code I had devised to fulfill the task, so I shortened it to simply fill (hopefully) the left tank and empty the right one.

On pressing the 'FILL' switches on the gauge, left and right, both tanks empty.

I attach a pic of the much simplified gauge in action, both tanks started with 6000 lbs of fuel.

I also attach the much simplified code used.

Perhaps someone can see my error.

By the way, using the original gauge only slightly modified, and setting the tanks at the beginning to a high number of lbs of fuel, the gauge successfully stops emptying the tanks when the required amount is reached. It simply proved my gauge did what it had to do and that Doug's gauge was present and worked in some fashion. My only problem seems to be to fill the tank rather than to empty it!

Thanks

Walter

fuelfiller.jpg


Code: 
<Gauge Name="Fuel Tanks Filler" Version="1.0">
   <Update Frequency="16"/>
   <Image Name="FPBACKGROUND.bmp" />

<Element>

  <Element>
    <Position X="88" Y="50"/>
    <Text X="100" Y="38" Bright="Yes" Length="5" Font="Arial" FontWeight="550" Color="#FF9966" BackgroundColor="Black"
    Adjust="Left" VerticalAdjust="Center">
    <String>%((A:FUEL LEFT QUANTITY, gallons) 6.7 * )%!05d!</String>
    </Text>
  </Element>


  <Element>
    <Position X="307" Y="50"/>
    <Text X="100" Y="38" Bright="Yes" Length="5" Font="Arial" FontWeight="550" Color="#FF9966" BackgroundColor="Black"
    Adjust="Left" VerticalAdjust="Center">
    <String>%((A:FUEL RIGHT QUANTITY, gallons) 6.7 * )%!05d!</String>
    </Text>
  </Element>


</Element>

   <Mouse>

		<Area Left="101" Top="144" Right="148" Bottom="172">
			<Cursor Type="Hand"/>
        	<Click>
			   -1550 (&gt;L:RATE_TANK_MAIN_LEFT, number)
        	</Click>
      	        </Area>


		<Area Left="322" Top="144" Right="368" Bottom="172">
			<Cursor Type="Hand"/>
        	<Click>
			   1550 (&gt;L:RATE_TANK_MAIN_RIGHT, number)
        	</Click>
      	        </Area>

   </Mouse>
</Gauge>
 
I tried out your code and it works as expected.

The L tank is filling and the R tank is dumping.

Are you testing with the engines running?

You should test with them off.

Do you have the latest version of Doug's fuel dump gauge?

There is a link in my thread.

Are you testing on the default B737, with the default panel?

As an aside, I think your rates are too low. I am trying to simulate a gravity feed through something like a 1/4 " line and you're simulating a pressurized feed through something like a fire hose?

You must have something else affecting this gauge as your code works for me.

cheers,
Lane
 
Doug's Fueldump is a very powerful gauge to manipulate the fueltanks.
You can load, unload, dump and transfer fuel.
I used it for a B727 and DC8 panel.

So you are aware:

You are specifying a value in pounds per hour.
Click to expand...

This is from the description file dsd_fsx_fuel_dump.txt.

So 1550 pounds/hr is a little bit less!

Edi
 
Last edited:
Rob Barentregt, a master of XML programming, wrote an fuel loader
for the F28 project in 2007.
Open the CAb file, there is a description.
Rob used an older version of the dump.gau.
So the xml-files have to be adapted.

Edi
 

Attachments

Hi

it is working..... though what changed to make it work I am not 100% sure!!

I downloaded the version of the fuel gauge again from Doug's website.

The one I had already downloaded some time ago was not quite the same - FSX was not included in the instructions for instance and there was not a separate .gau for it either. Other than that it looked quite the same.

I did nothing spectacular with the gauge to make it work.

I am now using 20000 as the rate, though I may increase that as it is quite sloooooow to fill. It gives me a chance to get my checks carried out while loading fuel.

The gauge works with engines both off and on.

I use the 50N B737 with my own panel. I still prefer FS2004 but I have everything I can brought across to FSX except the scenery, mesh etc. that is FS2004 only.

I want to thank everyone for their input into making this thing work.

pic1bh.jpg


ffpics.jpg


The big image shows the gauge when first loaded up, just showing the current situation.

No 1 on the other image shows the required amounts set against each of the tanks.

No 2 shows that the gauge is actually filling the tanks (thanks to you!) - the red light flashes to stop you smoking in the vicinity!

No 3 shows that the centre tank has completed and the others are on the way..

No 4 shows what asking a question on this forum achieves - success. A green light and a verbal message telling me that all is well.

Off we go...

Thanks

Walter
 
Hey Baiter,

I'm interested in your gauge and was wondering if its works in FSXA? I'm looking for a fuel dump gauge for overland/simmer sky airbus and boeing planes; and I'll give you a primer on what I'm looking for.

A fuel dump gauge for Overland/Simmer Sky 777s that will dump fuel from any/all the three tanks to bring the plane to its MLW (which can be specified some where). During the dump process, it'll keep the craft balances and dump fuel proportionately from the 3 tanks so there is no wing drop?
Also, this gauge would be a separate window (exaclty like yours) which can be called using a switch in the VC,

Can this be build? Also, I have no XML experience and dont even know how to code in XML, but really eager to learn.

So, how should I proceed now?
 
Hi Anchit,

I am firmly stuck in FS2004 and have never experimented with FSX at all.

My gauge just fills the three tanks at a standard rate, certainly doesn't do anything to maintain a balance.

I know Doug's Gauge can function as a dumping process as well though I have not used it in that way at all - I don't believe that the B737-300/400/500 can dump fuel anyway.

(edit: I do use it to simulate fuel being used when the APU is running.)

My panel was built from scratch so I know every inch of it - I have never seen what the overland/ simmer sky panels are like.

I also use the 2D cockpit only and have never tried anything with the VC.

Certainly your gauge seems feasible though a fair amount of XML knowledge and experience would be required.

I have no problem giving you whatever code I have - it probably is not the best written code in the world and takes some understanding, in fact a LOT of understanding!

Walter
 
Last edited:
Thank for your response. I'm thinking of making this a long term project, and I'll start of with planning the functions of the gauge before getting too involved/scared with xml programming. I've been doing some research on B777 fuel management systems and I think that is what it'll ultimately be for the Overland packages.

I'll get the plan and bmps ready for the gauge and then seek help from the forums on how to integrate ddawson's fuel dump gauge and all the switch functions. But for now, I think making photoshop drawings of different components of the gauge is the best I can do, and hopefully provide a detailed plan of the gauge to those who can provide coding help.

Thanks for your feedback.
 
Just for comparison here is Rob Barandregt's gauge in action on the underwing fuel centre of the VC10.
The yellow pointers are set to the required amount in each tank and the gauge "bowser" stops uplifting when the white needle reaches the yellow.
The gauge also allows for different uplift rates and different measurements i.e. kilos / lbs etc.

extfuel.jpg
 
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