Drop Tank Alert

[Alshain]

I'd like a simple mod that has a decoupler tweakable option to an enable an auditory and visual alarm (something not loud and obnoxious but still can be heard over the engines with Real Plume). The alarm would play when there is no fuel left behind the configured decoupler. I really want this to be on the tweakable in the VAB/SPH because I want it saved with the craft or subassembly. EDIT: For the visual alarm, you could just change the decoupler staging icon color like Chute Safety Indicator does.

With drop tanks, you don't have the engine shutting off to cue staging, and you don't really have the fuel meter either since that is listed per engine, not stage. I think this would help with the construction of various types of craft.

Edited October 27, 2015 by Alshain

[Superfluous J]

While I would like this too, you can use Alternate Resource Panel to get similar functionality. The "current stage" meters will go to 0 when the drop tanks are ready to drop. I think auto staging will also drop them, but I've had enough auto staging accidents to just not bother using it.

[Alshain]

While I would like this too, you can use Alternate Resource Panel to get similar functionality. The "current stage" meters will go to 0 when the drop tanks are ready to drop. I think auto staging will also drop them, but I've had enough auto staging accidents to just not bother using it.

I don't like ARP. Never got accustomed to looking at it. I'd like something less intrusive, more stockalike. Thanks though.

[Guest]

It might be possible to whip it up with some code from mech jeb. I can't right now, but I'll put it in my list of things to do.

[Superfluous J]

I don't like ARP. Never got accustomed to looking at it. I'd like something less intrusive, more stockalike. Thanks though.

Wow I never thought of ARP as intrusive or unlike stock. Most KSP updates, I wonder why they changed the resource panel until I remember ARP is a mod I have to install.

But to each their own I guess. Like I said, it'd still be nice to have because I frequently am not watching that panel and instead watching the navball or map or whatever, and a little ding would come in handy.

[SuicidalInsanity]

The Klockheed Martian Smartparts mod had something like that - one of the smartparts was a fuel meter thing that could trigger a chosen action group when the tank it was attached to was empty. its not quite what you're asking for, since it would be an auto-detaching droptank rather than a notification (although I suppose the action group trigger could active a light on the craft to let you know to stage, rather than have it trigger the decoupler).

[Alshain]

The Klockheed Martian Smartparts mod had something like that - one of the smartparts was a fuel meter thing that could trigger a chosen action group when the tank it was attached to was empty. its not quite what you're asking for, since it would be an auto-detaching droptank rather than a notification (although I suppose the action group trigger could active a light on the craft to let you know to stage, rather than have it trigger the decoupler).

No, no automation please. Just a warning light and sound.

[hab136]

You could wire a Smart Parts fuel sensor to fire an action group that then turns on a light on the ship. Surface Mounted Stock-Alike Lights for Self-Illumination or Aviation Lights would probably work well as the warning lights.

Alteratively, just explode something tiny (like the fuel sensor itself) as your warning