Reverse Thrust cuts off engine completely

[Dwight Steven-Boniecki]

Hello everyone,

I have recently restarted my P3D v4 setup and was re-programming FSUIPC for use on a VirtualCol Embraer 175. All controls are functioning perfectly with one exception: Revesrse Thrust.

I am using 2 Saitek Quadrants and have setup the Yoke quadrant for the two engines of the Embraer. I have selected the Buttons + Switches menu and set Throttle Decr for both throttle 1 & 2 respectively. The control sent when button released function was Throttle cut, but when applying reverse thrust on landing, the engines would be turned off. I have bypassed this for now by having that function changes to Engine Autostart.

While this works, it isnt what it is supposed to do. I have Spadnext running, but there are no functions associated with the quadrant in that app, and I have disabled control via P3D.

Am I missing something in the setup?

Regards, Dwight

 

Edited April 29, 2020 by Dwight Steven-Boniecki
fact correction

[Pete Dowson]

9 minutes ago, Dwight Steven-Boniecki said:

I have selected the Buttons + Switches menu and set Throttle Decr for both throttle 1 & 2 respectively. The control sent when button released function was Throttle cut, but when applying reverse thrust on landing, the engines would be turned off.

Sorry, you'll need to ask VirtualCol support about that.  FSUIPC can do no more than what you ask it to do -- send Throttle Decr and Throttle Cut in this case. This is the same as pressing F2 for decrease and F1 for cut, using default keyboard assignments. (except those operate all engines not specific ones).

Maybe the programmers of that aircraft have used throttle cut to also cut fuel? That's normally done for jets by Mixture Lean (keyboard Shift+Ctrl+F1).

You can of course check what happens with default assignments to eliminate FSUIPC.

But check also that you haven't got double assignments -- maybe you've not disable controllers in P3D?

Pete

 

 

[Dwight Steven-Boniecki]

Thanks for the prompt reply Pete. I will contact the Virtualcol, as I was beginning to suspect it was something their end rather than FSUIPC.

I also double-checked. Enablke Controllers is deactivcated in P3D

Regards

Dwight

[Dwight Steven-Boniecki]

Hi Pete, I have been unable to contact VirtualCol as they are changing servers and are currently off-line. However, I did notice that a flight made with the stock standard Carenado aircraft in P3D resulted in the props also shutting down completely during reverse thrust. "Enable Controllers" is most definitely deactivated in P3D. The only other plugin I have is SpadNext and that shows no settings assigned to the Quadrant.

Is there a specific place to look for conflicts? This is doing my head in.

Regards

Dwight

[Pete Dowson]

36 minutes ago, Dwight Steven-Boniecki said:

Is there a specific place to look for conflicts?

No, but use the Logging facilities in FSUIPC to see what is being sent. Just before you try engaging reverse, enable both Axis logging and Event logging in FSUIPC's logging tab. Reproduce the problem, and look in the log to see what was sent.

If you set the sim to run in Windowed mode and enable the log console facility, you can see what is sent in real time.

Pete

 

[Dwight Steven-Boniecki]

Thank you. I will check that out when I get home. I will report back if I manage to solve the problem.

[Dwight Steven-Boniecki]

Hi Pete,

 

The logs show Throttle DECR and Throttle Cut, with the addition of "Mixture commands"

I went into FSUIPC and turned off assignments for Mixture, but 1 still has readings other than "0"

If I use the levers independently from each other the engines do as the are supposed, but if I go reverse thrust for both at the same time Engine 1 cuts off.

 

UPDATE: I change the button settings so that both levers now control only Throttle DCR and Throttle Cut. Lever 2 in reverse thrust will cut off engine 1.

 

UPDATE 2: For some reason lever 2 was activating the readings on Mixture 1. I fiddled around until it read "0" and set the Mixture 1 so all read "0". When I am standing still the reverse thrust works as planned. When I do a landing with spoilers etc, the engine cuts again when i apply reverse thrust. On top of that suddenly all my exis settings were gone.

 

I re-assigned them (?!) but now after I throttle up then apply reverse thrust, engine 1 cuts out and its that pesky lever 2 again.

 

[Pete Dowson]

You still don't provide enough information. And axis settings in FSUIPC are never lost! You are making a mistake.

I suggest you show us your settings file (FSUIPC5 or FSUIPC6 INI amd any log showing the problem.

Pete

 

[Dwight Steven-Boniecki]

Hi Pete,

an update to wthe whole reverse thrust issue. It turns out the Saitek Flight Yoke Quadrant was faulty and as such, was sending out extraneous commands. This resulted in a conflict which caused all the issues mentioned above. I assigned all controls to my second USB Quadrant. The problems were sorted.

Thank you for the recommendation of logging the commands. It was tricky as it was an intermittent fault, but I did manage to get to the bottom of it.

Regards,

Dwight

 

[Pete Dowson]

1 hour ago, Dwight Steven-Boniecki said:

The problems were sorted.

Good. Glad you got it sorted. Now ... good flying! 😉

Pete