1. Do not share user accounts! Any account that is shared by another person will be blocked and closed. This means: we will close not only the account that is shared, but also the main account of the user who uses another person's account. We have the ability to detect account sharing, so please do not try to cheat the system. This action will take place on 04/18/2023. Read all forum rules.
    Dismiss Notice
  2. For downloading SimTools plugins you need a Download Package. Get it with virtual coins that you receive for forum activity or Buy Download Package - We have a zero Spam tolerance so read our forum rules first.

    Buy Now a Download Plan!
  3. Do not try to cheat our system and do not post an unnecessary amount of useless posts only to earn credits here. We have a zero spam tolerance policy and this will cause a ban of your user account. Otherwise we wish you a pleasant stay here! Read the forum rules
  4. We have a few rules which you need to read and accept before posting anything here! Following these rules will keep the forum clean and your stay pleasant. Do not follow these rules can lead to permanent exclusion from this website: Read the forum rules.
    Are you a company? Read our company rules
Shared accounts will be removed Plugin Downloads Zero spam policy Forum Rules

Controlling a 220V Fan with Game Dash

Discussion in 'SimTools compatible interfaces' started by MarkusB, May 30, 2020.

  1. MarkusB

    MarkusB Well-Known Member Gold Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2015
    Messages:
    552
    Location:
    Germany
    Balance:
    4,212Coins
    Ratings:
    +594 / 2 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, 3DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    I would like to present you my little weekend project, which I had in my mind for quite some time and which I implemented during the last two days.

    As many other members, I am using @SilentChill 's famous setup for simulating air stream.

    Since the Seaflo fans are quite noisy, I wanted to try a setup with a rather quiet 220V desk fan. At a later point in time, I may replace my current fan with a really strong wind machine.

    Since I do not want to mess around with high voltages, I decoupled the 220V circuit completely from the Arduino side. The way of my choice is a ready-to-use speed controller for 220V fans with a potentiometer, which I connect to an RC servo.

    Here is a picture of the speed controller box that I got from ebay. It is capable of handling 900W, which should be more than enough also for really big fans.
    Fan Control Box.jpg

    I replaced the turning knob with a cog, put a second cog onto an RC servo, and mounted the servo to the outside of the speed controller box. Here is how this looks like.
    Setup_01.jpg Setup_02.jpg

    In addition to the servo, I use a relais for powering the speed controller only when the Game Dash speed value exceeds a certain minimum limit. The reason is that very small speed values result in a humming noise of the fan.

    Here is the simple wiring diagram:
    Wiring Diagram.jpg

    These are the Game Dash settings for No Limits 2:
    GameDash_Settings.jpg

    And here is a first video of a rollercoaster ride:


    I have also attached the Arduino code. Credits go to @SilentChill, from whom I borrowed the ReadData() function that provides the connection to Game Dash. In fact I took his entire wind simulation code and replaced the MonsterMoto part with a simple servo code.

    If you want to try this setup, you may need to adapt the constants for the servo range in order to align the servo rotation range to the rotation range of the potentiometer.

    Best regards,
    Markus

    Attached Files:

    • Creative Creative x 3
    • Like Like x 2
    • Winner Winner x 2
    MarkusB, May 30, 2020
    #1
  2. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2014
    Messages:
    20,533
    Occupation:
    Innovative tech specialist for NGOs
    Location:
    St Helens, Tasmania, Australia
    Balance:
    145,022Coins
    Ratings:
    +10,776 / 52 / -2
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK
    • Like Like x 1
    Last edited: Aug 30, 2020
    noorbeast, May 31, 2020
    #2
  3. T R Para

    T R Para i make stuff up

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2018
    Messages:
    385
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Cincinnati, Oh
    Balance:
    2,436Coins
    Ratings:
    +357 / 2 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    AC motor, 6DOF
    Hello Marcus!.. I have incorporated your sketch with a model aircraft electric ducted fan. The fan is 90mm in diameter and is running through a 10 meter 100 mm vent hose.. It is drawing 62 amps @ 24volts dc. About 1500watts of power... Velocity is about 120 kph.. I like this fan as it has a pretty fast spool up time... The output of the Arduino goes right into the electronic speed control. I most likely will play with the pwm values to see if taming this beast is needed..

    Attached Files:

    • Like Like x 2
    T R Para, Aug 29, 2020
    #3
  4. MarkusB

    MarkusB Well-Known Member Gold Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2015
    Messages:
    552
    Location:
    Germany
    Balance:
    4,212Coins
    Ratings:
    +594 / 2 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, 3DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform
    Wow, that looks like a strong little beast.

    A week ago I bought a rather big one:
    IMG_7951.JPG
    It has a diameter of 50 cm and a rated throughput of 6.562 m³/h. It runs with 220 V and has 120 W.

    Before this, I was using two 12V Seaflo blowers.

    The Seaflo is really powerful, probably similar to yours. When you position your nose 5 cm in front of it, it literally takes your breath away.

    My current big one does not have this effect, but I like the wide field of wind that you get with it. And with a distance of about 1 m it still produces a considerable storm.
    MarkusB, Aug 30, 2020
    #4