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View Full Version : A320 FCU potentiometers behind SPD, HDG, ALT and VS knobs


Superpilot
1st Jan 2021, 10:05
Happy New Year's guys...

The A320 FCU uses some unique momentary (non-latching) pull/push type potentiometers for the SPD, HDG, ALT and VS controls. Have any of you brave souls ever took an FCU apart to replace a pot or to give the springs/mechanisms a clean? I'm trying to find out the exact model number of one of those pots (not the knobs), or the name of the company who makes them (please don't say it's Airbus themselves!). This is for a home cockpit project. They're definitely available as a lot of home cockpit panel makers appear to be making use of components that feel just like the real thing.

Any help/steer greatly appreciated.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/768x348/fcd_open_768x348_f84e32a89ae23c1ebf069ea2ed5189a5c43bfa30.jp g

Nuclear Device
5th Jan 2021, 15:30
Are you sure they are potentiometers?
I recall an avionic guy calling these encoders, have a look at the RS website.
Trying to find the component maintenance manual for this would probably be a good starting point, are there no part numbers on the items themselves?
I'm on furlough at present but I'll have a look when I get back to work (hopefully) to see if I can find anything, I'm interested in doing something similar.

QA1
6th Jan 2021, 18:07
The FCU is made by Thales, originally Sextant. As ND says, I think the controls are encoders, not potentiometers.
The only numbers I have come across are: E16224AB, E16224AC, E16216AB, E16216AC.

Superpilot
9th Jan 2021, 16:08
You are right, they are encoders. I found a substitute: https://www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDeta...frBpeWJg%3D%3D (https://www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDetail/Grayhill/62B22-LPP-025C/?qs=ls7QRyWmRk6ALmfrBpeWJg%3D%3D)