MobiFlight Community Support

Hello Doc,

Will you introduce any 3 or 4 digit LED Display support in a near future like TM1637 or something different ?

Hi.... Question is adressed to Sebastian..... So he must awnser himself !

For basic problem.....
I said this in so many topics here..... The Max7219 is NOT fixed to 8 Displays.... You can wire every Display from 1 Diggit until 8 diggits to a Max7219 Controller.
Simply by the Diggit you need and wire it to a MaxChip or to a MaxTube where you remove tho original 2x4 Diggits youreself

I Understand your problem that Max7219 ""premade" Tubes are always with 8 diggits und you like to simply buy for example a 3 Diggit Display that can connect "plug&play" to your Arduino..... BUT. Again.... I think we not need a software rebuild only to protect users for 10Minutes of Solder/wire work.

If we think about new Display Controller Support we should talk about 14/16 Segment Displays..... So we can use it for Text (IRS Display ) or for Things like a "+" Sign in VS Displays.

Lets wait for Sebastians Comment.

Hi.... Question is adressed to Sebastian..... So he must awnser himself !

For basic problem.....
I said this in so many topics here..... The Max7219 is NOT fixed to 8 Displays.... You can wire every Display from 1 Diggit until 8 diggits to a Max7219 Controller.
Simply by the Diggit you need and wire it to a MaxChip or to a MaxTube where you remove tho original 2x4 Diggits youreself

I Understand your problem that Max7219 ""premade" Tubes are always with 8 diggits und you like to simply buy for example a 3 Diggit Display that can connect "plug&play" to your Arduino..... BUT. Again.... I think we not need a software rebuild only to protect users for 10Minutes of Solder/wire work.

If we think about new Display Controller Support we should talk about 14/16 Segment Displays..... So we can use it for Text (IRS Display ) or for Things like a "+" Sign in VS Displays.

Lets wait for Sebastians Comment.

Hi Pizman,

I know i can use 7219 module with even 1 digit, but for the size of my project, those 8 digit LED modules are kind of big, 3 or 4 digit modules will be much more appropriate to fit them all in the box i prepare.

Hi,

as pizman said: you can separate the digits from the board and cable separately.

Build the board where you have space. Then you can install each digit individually in the front panel. The control remains the same

Now i see

But for each different value (HDG, NAV, IAS etc) , i need a new 7219 module to create a new so called "module" , is that correct ? Each Max7219 chip only supports 8 digits.

Yes and No....

I personaly recommend this, cause it´s much easyer to build.... a Max7219 is cheap and we can use 32 Modules on only one Arduino with 12 Pins ( Or 8 Modules with only 3 Pins in use)

Summary....
Your Max7219 support 8 Diggits.... If You need for example a 3 Diggit Display (HDG) and a 5 Diggit Display (ALT) then you can Use ONE Max7219 Module....
Simply wire the 3 Diggit and the 5 Diggit Displays to the "empty" Max Module ( Where you pull off the original 2x4 Diggits) 5+3=8 .... So its ok !

But Again.... Myself i not do that.... I Simply buy another Max7219 for 1,75$ and set both Displays to one Max7219 Tube single..... For me thats more tidy and logical.
Whatever i let then 8 possible Diggit Slots empty..... I dont care about that !

IMPORTANT: the Only you can NOT Do...... You can NOT make a Config that use for example 2 Diggits of MaxModule-A And 2 Diggits of MaxModule-B .
That not working..... If you for example Set 2x3 Diggit Diplays to one Max7219 THEN you have 2 Diggits Left.... You can set a 2Diggit Display now.... But you NOT Can use this 2 Diggits in combination witho other diggits of another Max7219 Module.

Hope you understand !

Yes and No....

I personaly recommend this, cause it´s much easyer to build.... a Max7219 is cheap and we can use 32 Modules on only one Arduino with 12 Pins ( Or 8 Modules with only 3 Pins in use)

Summary....
Your Max7219 support 8 Diggits.... If You need for example a 3 Diggit Display (HDG) and a 5 Diggit Display (ALT) then you can Use ONE Max7219 Module....
Simply wire the 3 Diggit and the 5 Diggit Displays to the "empty" Max Module ( Where you pull off the original 2x4 Diggits) 5+3=8 .... So its ok !

But Again.... Myself i not do that.... I Simply buy another Max7219 for 1,75$ and set both Displays to one Max7219 Tube single..... For me thats more tidy and logical.
Whatever i let then 8 possible Diggit Slots empty..... I dont care about that !

IMPORTANT: the Only you can NOT Do...... You can NOT make a Config that use for example 2 Diggits of MaxModule-A And 2 Diggits of MaxModule-B .
That not working..... If you for example Set 2x3 Diggit Diplays to one Max7219 THEN you have 2 Diggits Left.... You can set a 2Diggit Display now.... But you NOT Can use this 2 Diggits in combination witho other diggits of another Max7219 Module.

Hope you understand !

Yes Pizman, i get the idea, thank you

According to your saying, i can buy 4 of this, and connect them in parallel and make them show separate values by only using 3 pins from Arduino, is that correct ?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-Shipping-1pcs-3-three-static-digital-display-module-max7219-chip-SPI-serial-decimal/1325991229.html

This module is excellent for NAV1, NAV2, Heading and IAS. I hope it's usable with MobiFlight.

One last question is, how does the MobiFlight understand which module will be showing the which value ?

I think i've found my answer here

http://flyingforfun.weebly.com/cessna-172-cockpit.html/#Ignition

Hi Again....

Please Note.... in cockpitbuilding there is no Right and Wrong.... Everybody build like he want it.

I only can tell you MY PERSONAL Technics.... You have to decide if you like it or if you use another one....
***************

The Displays you linked are to expensive for me and they are mounted on the Max7219 directly.... I don´t like this. I Work with individual Displays and wire it myself to Max7219 Tubes that are located somewhere in the backside of my panels.

For example a Display..... http://www.mouser.de/ProductDetail/Lumex/LDP-N564RI/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMvkC18yXH9iIodCS3EcCJg%2fb%252bHee9HJYqc%3d
As Max i use this.... https://www.amazon.de/8-Digit-Display-MAX7219-Digital-Control/dp/B00P9277BE

There you can PULL OFF the Original 2x4 Diggits...... in the empty Slots you can solder wires ( For example 40cm length) and solder the other side to the Display.....
Result.... In The Panle Hole is ONLY The Little Display you need..... There is one FlatWire from the Display to a free place in the panel ( I mostly use the Backside 20Cm behind the Panel... behind all switches encoders and so on) .... And there i place the Empty Max7219 Tube and fix the Flat Cable to it..... If you need more Max7219 you can place same all together there and wire it together..... Finaly only a 5 Cable Block go from the "Max Place" to ONE Arduino !


The second link you poste is verry famous.... this guy is here in Forum too..... i Like his cockpit but i already say..... its not needed and to much difficult to CUT Displays.... You simply can buy Displays as you need and can wire them EXTERNAL of the MaxModules.... Thats more CHEAP, EASY and TIDY finaly !

****
But again.... Do it like you want it !

Hi Again....

Please Note.... in cockpitbuilding there is no Right and Wrong.... Everybody build like he want it.

I only can tell you MY PERSONAL Technics.... You have to decide if you like it or if you use another one....
***************

The Displays you linked are to expensive for me and they are mounted on the Max7219 directly.... I don´t like this. I Work with individual Displays and wire it myself to Max7219 Tubes that are located somewhere in the backside of my panels.

For example a Display..... http://www.mouser.de/ProductDetail/Lumex/LDP-N564RI/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMvkC18yXH9iIodCS3EcCJg%2fb%252bHee9HJYqc%3d
As Max i use this.... https://www.amazon.de/8-Digit-Display-MAX7219-Digital-Control/dp/B00P9277BE

There you can PULL OFF the Original 2x4 Diggits...... in the empty Slots you can solder wires ( For example 40cm length) and solder the other side to the Display.....
Result.... In The Panle Hole is ONLY The Little Display you need..... There is one FlatWire from the Display to a free place in the panel ( I mostly use the Backside 20Cm behind the Panel... behind all switches encoders and so on) .... And there i place the Empty Max7219 Tube and fix the Flat Cable to it..... If you need more Max7219 you can place same all together there and wire it together..... Finaly only a 5 Cable Block go from the "Max Place" to ONE Arduino !


The second link you poste is verry famous.... this guy is here in Forum too..... i Like his cockpit but i already say..... its not needed and to much difficult to CUT Displays.... You simply can buy Displays as you need and can wire them EXTERNAL of the MaxModules.... Thats more CHEAP, EASY and TIDY finaly !

****
But again.... Do it like you want it !

Hi Pizman,

I've recently seen the 8 Digit Module you mention about, it's digits are removable, i didn't know that such a product does exist Unfortunately, the ones i've found in Aliexpress have fixed digits, and the one you linked are a little expensive than them. And in Turkey, i can't find neither of them

Yours is the best solution seemingly.

Thanks!

Yeah.... Thats a fact ! ..... I always think about buy this stuff in germany..... Forgott you guys are round the world !

if Possible get in contact with " bennnozgurum". this is a user of Mobiflight located in Turkye ... Maby he can give you good adresses of shops with cheap and good hardware availible in your country.... I talk to him some months ago.... A real nice Guy !
I not want to puplish his Email Adress... Please wait until he respond to this topic !

Yeah.... Thats a fact ! ..... I always think about buy this stuff in germany..... Forgott you guys are round the world !

if Possible get in contact with " bennnozgurum". this is a user of Mobiflight located in Turkye ... Maby he can give you good adresses of shops with cheap and good hardware availible in your country.... I talk to him some months ago.... A real nice Guy !
I not want to puplish his Email Adress... Please wait until he respond to this topic !

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