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[Q] Telemetry controlled fan?

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Projects' started by Kim R, Mar 13, 2015.

  1. Kim R

    Kim R New Member

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    Hi guys! I am not going to build a motion rig just yet. I have to move to a bigger place first.. But until then I am going to use a buttkicker to simulate tactile feedback.. However I was wondering how to get a fan to work with telemetry? That's something I would like to have meanwhile..

    Example:
  2. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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  3. Kim R

    Kim R New Member

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    I don't understand any of his setup.. "The recommended protocol for SuperFan controllers starts with a connection at 115200/8-N-1 (115200 kbps, 8 data bits, no parity bit, 1 stop bit). The protocol is a simple 6-byte protocol in the following format:".... Ehhh.. What??
  4. Kim R

    Kim R New Member

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    It actually looks more advanced than building a motion rig.. I don't understand 80% of what he is talking about there.. Are there any guides out there that are simpler than this?
  5. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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  6. Kim R

    Kim R New Member

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  7. Kim R

    Kim R New Member

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    @eXntrc Hi man! I was wondering about your fan-system that noorbeast linked me.. Unfortunately I don't have that much technical insight in these stuff, and the arduino programming and how it works.. Is there an easier guide to follow regarding this? If not, are there some things in your guide that are not so important etc?
  8. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    The fan needs to be controlled by a computer board, the Arduino, which runs the code to allow it to interact with SimTools, which in turn is responsible for the game telemetry data.

    You basically need to install the code on the arduino, which is sort of like installing a program on a computer. There is also configuration of SimTools as per the thread. It is a fair bit to get your head around and I am not aware of a simpler way to do it. On the plus side people help out with advice, as per the thread that was posted.
    • Informative Informative x 1
  9. BlazinH

    BlazinH Well-Known Member

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    Actually, unless you plan on using an h-bridge to control your fan(s), a microcontroller (like an Arduino) is not necessarily required. A fan doesn’t need feedback from a pot or encoder to operate so you don’t need a microcontroller to read one. Intelligent motor controllers like the sabertooth and roboclaw can be controlled using serial commands so you don’t need a microcontroller for that either since that can be done directly from a PC. But, at minimum, you do need to have some additional code running on something that can accept speed data from the motion software, process it, and then convert it into serial commands that can run an intelligent motor controller or the like. I use a VB6 program to do this myself along with a USB to serial adaptor on my PC to send the serial commands to a sabertooth controller.
    • Informative Informative x 2
  10. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    I agree @BlazinH but I was trying to explain something related to the thread, as a source of information, for someone who does not have a technical background.
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  11. Kim R

    Kim R New Member

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    That's great info.. But what kind of sabertooth fan do you recommend? And what program do you recommend using to transfer speed-data from iRacing and in to the fan program?
  12. BlazinH

    BlazinH Well-Known Member

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    Sabertooth is the name of a motor controller sold by Dimension Engineering in the USA. It can be used to control any DC motor including a DC fan motor (if 24v or less) with serial commands. It comes in different models depending on how much amperage you need.

    I only mentioned using a sabertooth controller directly with a PC because, in my view, it is a simpler method than using an arduino when you only want to control a fan. However, if you don’t have any programming experience yourself, then the simplest method will be the one that provides everything you need, including code. The arduino method is the only one that has the code you need available on this site atm.
    • Agree Agree x 1