Fuel tank priority

[Steve Hess 1]

Is there a way of prioritizing the order of what fuel tanks get used 1st. ie; drop tanks, then wing tanks, then aft, then forwardthanks

[tgibson 11]

You could probably write a fancy XML gauge to do it, but there is no way short of that, AFAIK.

[Steve Hess 1]

I would if I could, Thanks

[spokes2112 176]

Steve, Post just the (FUEL) section of the aircraft.cfg for the aircraft that you want to make this for. I have some old code that may port over nicely. Do you have a manual fuel selector already, or just fuel valves? Do you want to make this fully automatic?Roman

[spokes2112 176]

Steve,Here is a logic gauge that I slapped together with the morning coffee as a brain waker-upper LOL!! Without the aircraft.cfg (Fuel) section I cannot test it as it is unknown what exact tanks you are using in the aircraft along w/ unusable values etc... The way it is written it can be easily modified for your application.RomanEDIT - I threw this assumed fuel config into the test aircraft and tested / fixed bugs. It works well but still need your (Fuel) section to adjust accordingly.In modes 3 & 6 (Mixing/Balance) it will keep tank difference to no greater than 1%.It will empty all tanks, in order, to 0%It will cooperate with autostart.. ( was a big bug there )

<Gauge Name="AUTO TANK SWITCHER" Version="1.0"><Macro Name="L_Drop">(A:FUEL TANK EXTERNAL1 LEVEL, percent)</Macro><Macro Name="R_Drop">(A:FUEL TANK EXTERNAL2 LEVEL, percent)</Macro><Macro Name="L_Wing">(A:FUEL TANK LEFT MAIN LEVEL, percent)</Macro><Macro Name="R_Wing">(A:FUEL TANK RIGHT MAIN LEVEL, percent)</Macro><Macro Name="Aft">(A:FUEL TANK CENTER2 LEVEL, percent)</Macro><Macro Name="Fwd">(A:FUEL TANK CENTER3 LEVEL, percent)</Macro><Macro Name="Has">0.025 ></Macro><Macro Name="Set">(>K:FUEL_SELECTOR_SET)</Macro><Macro Name="Selected">(A:FUEL TANK SELECTOR 1, enum)</Macro><Update Frequency="4"><!-- FIND WHAT TANKS HAVE FUEL IN THEM, THEN SELECT THE PROPER MODE FOR LOGIC - REFERENCE BELOW,0 = No Fuel, 1 = Left drop only, 2 = Right drop only, 3 = Mix drop tanks evenly, 4 = Left wing only, 5 = Right wing only, 6 = Mix wing tanks evenly, 7 = Aft tank, 8 = Fwd tankTHE ORDER BELOW HAS SIGNIFICANT VALUE!-->@Fwd @Has if{ 8 s1 }@Aft @Has if{ 7 s1 }@R_Wing @Has if{ 5 s1 }@L_Wing @Has if{ 4 s1 }@L_Wing @Has @R_Wing @Has and if{ 6 s1 }@R_Drop @Has if{ 2 s1 }@L_Drop @Has if{ 1 s1 }@L_Drop @Has @R_Drop @Has and if{ 3 s1 }<!-- APPLY MODE LOGIC TO FUEL TANK SELECTOR - REFERENCE BELOW,OFF = 0, ALL = 1, LEFT = 2, RIGHT = 3, L_AUX = 4, R_AUX = 5, CTR = 6, CTR2 = 7, CTR3 = 8, EXT1 = 9, EXT2 = 10, R_TIP = 11, L_TIP = 12, XFEED = 13, XL2R = 14, XR2L = 15, BOTH = 16, ALL_EXT = 17, ISOLATE = 18	  --><!-- BASIC NON-MIXING LOGIC -->l1 0 == @Selected 0 != and if{ 0 @Set }l1 1 == @Selected 9 != and if{ 9 @Set }l1 2 == @Selected 10 != and if{ 10 @Set }l1 4 == @Selected 2 != and if{ 2 @Set }l1 5 == @Selected 3 != and if{ 3 @Set }l1 7 == @Selected 7 != and if{ 7 @Set }l1 8 == @Selected 8 != and if{ 8 @Set }<!-- ADVANCED MULTI TANK BALANCING/MIXING -->l1 3 == if{ @L_Drop @R_Drop - -0.5 < @L_Drop @R_Drop == || if{ @Selected 10 != if{ 10 @Set } } els{ @L_Drop @R_Drop - 0.5 > if{ @Selected 9 != if{ 9 @Set } } } }l1 6 == if{ @L_Wing @R_Wing - -0.5 < @L_Wing @R_Wing == || if{ @Selected 3 != if{ 3 @Set } } els{ @L_Wing @R_Wing - 0.5 > if{ @Selected 2 != if{ 2 @Set } } } }</Update></Gauge>

[Steve Hess 1]

Here is the fuel section of the cfg fileThank youfuel_type = 2number_of_tank_selectors = 1electric_pump = 1fuel_dump_rate = 0.0167Center1 = 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 2700.000, 0.000Center2 = 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 1350.000, 0.000LeftMain = 0.000, -8.000, 0.000, 400.000, 1.500RightMain = 0.000, 8.000, 0.000, 400.000, 1.500LeftAux = 0.000, -6.000, 0.000, 600.000, 1.500RightAux = 0.000, 6.000, 0.000, 600.000, 1.500

[Steve Hess 1]

It looks like we're on the right path here. The wing tanks feed at the same time (good) , but the external tanks feed one then the other (bad). They do feed in the correct order Ext then Wing (good). After the Ext and Wing tanks are empty, the Aft and Fwd tanks DO NOT feed at all and the engines shut off (very bad). If the Fwd and Aft tanks could also feed at the same time to help maintain CG that would be nice.Thank you for your HelpSteve

[spokes2112 176]

Steve, Working on it, should be ready in an hour.. Need one clarification - Which tank is FWD Center? Center 1 or Center 2? right now they are both located at the same physical place on the aircraft.Roman

[Steve Hess 1]

Center 1 = ForwardCenter 2 = AftI will adjust tank location after the gauge is installedThank you for your helpSteve

[spokes2112 176]

Steve,Whoah! Some big problems occurred if Autostart was ever used.. Not on the gauge side but MSs Programming of the Autostart routine. In a nutshell.Assuming a 2 engine aircraft with only 1 fuel selector in the aircraft.cfg.1. During autostart a 2nd "virtual" selector is created.2. This "virtual" selector is COMPLETELY locked from any input because only 1 selector is assigned in the aircraft.cfg !!Even if you donot use autostart, but, accidently used it even once it will screw up the logic until the aircraft was reloaded!!I am assuming this is for a F-111 or any other 2 engine aircraft, any more engines and the code will have to be updated, not difficult. A single engine is OK as is.So on your side you must change the (Fuel) section to "number_of_tank_selectors = 2" <-- equals number of engines.This set of code is ready for testing on your side. A diagnosing gauge should be up shortly.Roman

<Gauge Name="AUTO TANK SWITCHER" Version="1.0"><Macro Name="L_Drop">(A:FUEL TANK LEFT AUX LEVEL, percent)</Macro><Macro Name="R_Drop">(A:FUEL TANK RIGHT AUX LEVEL, percent)</Macro><Macro Name="L_Wing">(A:FUEL TANK LEFT MAIN LEVEL, percent)</Macro><Macro Name="R_Wing">(A:FUEL TANK RIGHT MAIN LEVEL, percent)</Macro><Macro Name="Aft">(A:FUEL TANK CENTER2 LEVEL, percent)</Macro><Macro Name="Fwd">(A:FUEL TANK CENTER LEVEL, percent)</Macro><Macro Name="Has">0.1 ></Macro><Macro Name="Set">(>K:FUEL_SELECTOR_SET)</Macro><Macro Name="Selected">(A:FUEL TANK SELECTOR 1, enum)</Macro><Update><!-- FIND WHAT TANKS HAVE FUEL IN THEM, THEN SELECT THE PROPER MODE FOR LOGIC - REFERENCE BELOW,0 = No Fuel, 1 = Left drop only, 2 = Right drop only, 3 = Mix drop tanks evenly, 4 = Left wing only, 5 = Right wing only, 6 = Mix wing tanks evenly, 7 = Aft tank, 8 = Fwd tank 9 = Mix center tanks evenlyTHE ORDER BELOW HAS SIGNIFICANT VALUE!-->@Fwd @Has if{ 8 s1 }@Aft @Has if{ 7 s1 }@Fwd @Has @Aft @Has and if{ 9 s1 }@R_Wing @Has if{ 5 s1 }@L_Wing @Has if{ 4 s1 }@L_Wing @Has @R_Wing @Has and if{ 6 s1 }@R_Drop @Has if{ 2 s1 }@L_Drop @Has if{ 1 s1 }@L_Drop @Has @R_Drop @Has and if{ 3 s1 }<!-- APPLY MODE LOGIC TO FUEL TANK SELECTOR - REFERENCE BELOW,OFF = 0, ALL = 1, LEFT = 2, RIGHT = 3, L_AUX = 4, R_AUX = 5, CTR = 6, CTR2 = 7, CTR3 = 8, EXT1 = 9, EXT2 = 10, R_TIP = 11, L_TIP = 12, XFEED = 13, XL2R = 14, XR2L = 15, BOTH = 16, ALL_EXT = 17, ISOLATE = 18    --><!-- BASIC NON-MIXING LOGIC -->l1 0 == @Selected 0 != @Selected 1 == || and if{ 0 @Set }l1 1 == @Selected 4 != @Selected 1 == || and if{ 4 @Set }l1 2 == @Selected 5 != @Selected 1 == || and if{ 5 @Set }l1 4 == @Selected 2 != @Selected 1 == || and if{ 2 @Set }l1 5 == @Selected 3 != @Selected 1 == || and if{ 3 @Set }l1 7 == @Selected 7 != @Selected 1 == || and if{ 7 @Set }l1 8 == @Selected 6 != @Selected 1 == || and if{ 6 @Set }<!-- ADVANCED MULTI TANK BALANCING/MIXING -->l1 3 == if{ @L_Drop @R_Drop - -0.5 < @L_Drop @R_Drop == @Selected 1 == || || if{ @Selected 5 != if{ 5 @Set } } els{ @L_Drop @R_Drop - 0.5 > if{ @Selected 4 != if{ 4 @Set } } } }l1 6 == if{ @L_Wing @R_Wing - -0.5 < @L_Wing @R_Wing == @Selected 1 == || || if{ @Selected 3 != if{ 3 @Set } } els{ @L_Wing @R_Wing - 0.5 > if{ @Selected 2 != if{ 2 @Set } } } }l1 9 == if{ @Aft @Fwd - -0.5 < @Aft @Fwd == @Selected 1 == || || if{ @Selected 6 != if{ 6 @Set } } els{ @Aft @Fwd - 0.5 > if{ @Selected 7 != if{ 7 @Set } } } }<!-- FIX MS AUTOSTART LOGIC (FOR 2 ENGINES ONLY!!!!) --> @Selected (A:FUEL TANK SELECTOR 2, enum) != if{ @Selected (>K:FUEL_SELECTOR_2_SET) }<!-- SEND DATA TO A MONITORING GAUGE -->l1 (>L:TEST_MODE, number)</Update></Gauge>

[Steve Hess 1]

I made the change "number_of_tank_selectors = 2"Now The external tanks feed together, but after they are empty, nothing else feeds and the engines shut offSteve

[spokes2112 176]

Steve,OK I did modify the code above (Post #10) so give that a try, keep tank selectors to 2.. First off I was using my Baron testbed for development. It does not have quite the same fuel flow as the 111 LOL! But the auto switching bug did come up. So 1st I updated the gauge read frequency from 4 HZ to 18 HZ to keep better tabs on the higher flow rate. 2nd, and you may have to modify this to suit, on line 9 "<Macro Name="Has">0.1 ></Macro>" I changed this so the tanks will switch when levels get down to .1% instead of 0.025%. The tanks will still mix within 1% but will only empty to 0.1% before a switch, or considered empty. If you still have problems try raising that number, if it gets too high a workaround may have to be made. I also checked whether a copy/paste from the forum had any ill effects,,,, negative.Below is code for a diagnostic gauge, its native size is X=315 Y=110.Hopefully this will take care of the not so good results you are getting. Unfortunately I will not be able to do any more testing today, just let me know how it goes, if still problems, I'll giver another crack at it tomorrow.Roman

<Gauge Name="Diagnostics" Version="1.0"><Element Name="DIAGNOSTIC DISPLAY"><Position X="0" Y="0"/><FormattedText X="315" Y="225" Font="Arial" FontSize="14" BackgroundColor="Yellow" VerticalAdjust="Center" Color="Red" Bright="Yes"><String>%LOGIC MODE - %('MIX CENTER' 'CTR FWD' 'CTR AFT' 'MIX WING' 'RT WING' 'LT WING' 'MIX DROP' 'RT DROP' 'LT DROP' 'EMPTY' 10 (L:TEST_MODE, number) case)%!s!%n%TANK1 SELECTED - %('INVALID' 'CTR AFT' 'CTR FWD' 'RT DROP' 'LT DROP' 'RT WING' 'LT WING' 'INVALID' 'EMPTY' 9 (A:FUEL TANK SELECTOR 1, enum) case)%!s!%n%TANK2 SELECTED - %('INVALID' 'CTR AFT' 'CTR FWD' 'RT DROP' 'LT DROP' 'RT WING' 'LT WING' 'INVALID' 'EMPTY' 9 (A:FUEL TANK SELECTOR 2, enum) case)%!s!%n%LT DROP QTY - %((A:FUEL TANK LEFT AUX LEVEL, percent))%!5.2f!%%	 %RT DROP QTY - %((A:FUEL TANK RIGHT AUX LEVEL, percent))%!5.2f!%%	 %DIFF - %((A:FUEL TANK LEFT AUX LEVEL, percent) (A:FUEL TANK RIGHT AUX LEVEL, percent) - )%!5.2f!%%n%LT WING QTY - %((A:FUEL TANK LEFT MAIN LEVEL, percent))%!5.2f!%%	 %RT WING QTY - %((A:FUEL TANK RIGHT MAIN LEVEL, percent))%!5.2f!%%	 %DIFF - %((A:FUEL TANK LEFT MAIN LEVEL, percent) (A:FUEL TANK RIGHT MAIN LEVEL, percent) - )%!5.2f!%%n%CTR FWD QTY - %((A:FUEL TANK CENTER LEVEL, percent))%!5.2f!%%	 %CTR AFT QTY - %((A:FUEL TANK CENTER2 LEVEL, percent))%!5.2f!%%	 %DIFF - %((A:FUEL TANK CENTER2 LEVEL, percent) (A:FUEL TANK CENTER LEVEL, percent) - )%!5.2f!%%n%-----------------------------------%n%((A:TURB ENG1 NUM TANKS USED, number))%!d!% | %((A:TURB ENG2 NUM TANKS USED, number))%!d!% | %((A:TURB ENG3 NUM TANKS USED, number))%!d!% | %((A:TURB ENG4 NUM TANKS USED, number))%!d!%n%((A:TURB ENG1 TANK SELECTOR, number))%!d!% | %((A:TURB ENG2 TANK SELECTOR, number))%!d!% | %((A:TURB ENG3 TANK SELECTOR, number))%!d!% | %((A:TURB ENG4 TANK SELECTOR, number))%!d!%n%((A:FUEL TANK SELECTOR 1, enum))%!d!% | %((A:FUEL TANK SELECTOR 2, enum))%!d!% | %((A:FUEL TANK SELECTOR 3, enum))%!d!% | %((A:FUEL TANK SELECTOR 4, enum))%!d!%n%((A:TURB ENG1 TANKS USED, number))%!d!% | %((A:TURB ENG2 TANKS USED, number))%!d!% | %((A:TURB ENG3 TANKS USED, number))%!d!% | %((A:TURB ENG4 TANKS USED, number))%!d!%n%((A:FUEL SELECTED TRANSFER MODE, number))%!d!% | %((A:FUEL CROSS FEED, enum))%!d!% | %((A:NUM FUEL SELECTORS, number))%!d!% | %((L:AutostartUsed, bool))%!d!%n%END%</String></FormattedText></Element></Gauge>

[Steve Hess 1]

You're almost there.The drop tanks feed together (good), then the wing tanks feed together (good again), and the engines do not shut down until all four tanks are dry (great).The only problems remaining are the Aft tank feeds while the drop and wing tanks feed and the Fwd tanks does not feed until the Aft tank is emptyI am grateful for your helpSteve

[spokes2112 176]

Steve, I am assuming you're using FSX, correct? And if so are you using the AS F-111 w/ the panel from your page? If so, do the transfer fwd aft switches work? There might just be some auto leveling logic invovled. In order to have the transfer tank function to I do believe an old FS8 Concorde entry in the air file is present and, IF, it is in there it might be doing something a little screwy... Big ???? here. Also make sure selectors are set to 2. If not it will do exactly as you describe if autostart is used, even once..I donot have the AS F111, can you recommend one of the packages from your site that matches as close as possible to your current testing setup?Roman

[Steve Hess 1]

Yes, I am using FSX and the AS F-111 panel from my website. There are no fuel transfer switches. I don't know about the air file. I could send it to you if you like. When I start FSX, the aircraft already has it's engines running.Any of the Mike Stone based F-111s from my website will do for testing. In fact I copied the fuel section from that cfg file to the AS F-111 so the fuel gauges would read the tanks.This is the original fuel section of the cfg file[fuel]//Longitudinal (feet), Lateral (feet), Vertical (feet), Usable(gallons), Unusable (gallons)fuel_type = 2number_of_tank_selectors = 1Center1 = 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 4000.000, 0.000electric_pump= 1ThanksSteve