FDS 737 Overhead/MIP Owners - Quick Questions!

[quid246]

Well I am going to take the plunge and get an FDS Overhead and MIP this summer... a little out of my budget, but I am limiting the "damage" by sourcing my own hardware to interface with since it can be had a little cheaper from the suppliers like DigiKey, etc.

Just wondering if you can help me with the following:

1. What is the width of the holes in the OVH/MIP for the momentary push buttons (ie. No Smoking, Gnd Call)?

2. What is the length of the potentiometers used for in the MIP?

Any info is appreciated!

Thanks!

[jackpilot]

Not sure you will save much.
Toggles in particular have to be industrial quality.
No real fun to have to redo your connections everytime a regular toggle fails, and they do!
Besides you may have clearance problems with panels and frames with wrong size toggles, buttons, rotaries.
And also I think that new gen FDS hardware have special connectors which make  "interfacing" a breeze. Check that with them.

You may skip expensive items like the special landing lights toggles and engine start switches but I would stick to the rest of the hardware kits.

Push buttons on the OVH/ MIP are no issue as they are not used much. On my sim I incorporated real full size aero push buttons, found on EBay.
Mounting holes are usually standard.
Shafts of the rotaries have to be cut to proper lengh anyway

[quid246]

Thanks for the info.

I've bought Carling switches for everything I've been able to figure out thus far... they aren't Honeywell, but they are the same as FDS supplies.  The FDS switches are probably of the quick connect (0.25" lug) or screw variants.

I'll have to wait until I get the MIP/OVH to make sure I can get the right size for the push buttons... you can go on Digikey and there has to be about 20 different sizes!  I suspect the back opening is about 7mm, but even with that rough estimate there is no 7mm switch and half a dozen variants larger or smaller.