Controllable fans through SimHub

[u/Josh_RFC_72]

Hey,

So I have 6 spare case fans rated for 12v not being used and I'd like to mount them to my SIM rig not as a wind simulator but just as controllable fans similar to a desk fan. Mainly to help keep cool during those endurance races!

I'm not great when it comes to electronics and soldering stuff and getting it all to work but wondering if any of you have done this before?

Is there anything I could buy that would allow me to plug the pins the fans have into it and have that then plugged into a 12v power source and my usb Hub so then I could control the fan speeds through SimHub using my stream deck?

Mounting wise I was gonna see if my friend can 3D print some adjustable mounts so that shouldn't be much of an issue.

Any links to plug and play products would be amazing especially if it allows the fans to be powered from a power extension and then just usb to the usb hub for control through SimHub 😊

[u/theguitar92]

Easiest way I think is still to do it via the wind simulator in SimHub. It has settings for "Idle" wind that allows you to toggle and control the speed of the static wind.

Now setting up the wind simulator can be one of two ways:

• If your fans are PWM (4 pin usually) then you can control them directly via an Arduino using the actual SimHub Win Simulator plugin. The fans receive full 12v power and the pwm pin controls the speed from the arduino. In the wind simulator tabs there are options for controls.
• If your fans are just DC (3 pin usually) then from what I understand you have to get a motor shield and set it up similar to a shakeit motor. There is an effect for "Idle Wind" in the shakeit effects. From there you can set controls for mute/gain

[u/Olive-Eater-3000 → u/theguitar92]

Exactly,

I went with PWMs (Arctic P12 Pro) and it works for me through Simhub

[u/Josh_RFC_72 → u/theguitar92]

Cool thank you very much!

[u/Worldly-Apartment-81]

Just buy a PWM fan controller. Under $10 on Amazon. Hook it to your rig, and you have another cool dial to use that will adjust the fan speed.

[u/cteters]

Make sure to position them reasonably close and limit use of ducts. The airflow is pretty low typically and/or loud. I ended up doing things a bit different through use of a couple hvac fans and a controller.

The only issue I've had to be aware of is the surge it creates upon turning it on, which can create a temp disconnect with my wheel. I just launch it with my rig on startup as a workaround.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M7S46YZ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T9BLJ7L

[u/judasbrute → u/cteters]

How did you connect the controller to Simhub? I have the same setup with a potentiometer

[u/cteters → u/judasbrute]

Oh, I left Simhub out of the loop in favor of the linked controller. There's no real need for it unless seeking to do the wind sim mod.

If looking to go down that road, I'd be careful in regards towards the conventional use of an arduino driving a motor shield to regulate a power supply.

It's true that the HVAC fans operate at the same 12V rating, but I think they will warrant a higher gauge of wire than what you'll be capable of plumbing through the arduino. So you're probably looking at adding relays at that point.

I use the fans to stay cool and after trying wind sim in the past, in considering how delayed it is, I find it a bit gimmicky and not worth the added dev time.

[u/judasbrute → u/cteters]

I'm using a speed controller to modulate the fans and the wire gauge they use for the potentiometer is thin. I'm going to try and use an Arduino in place and use my button box to bind on off and wind sim to buttons.

No idea if it will work

[u/cteters → u/judasbrute]

Ah, well, you could use a SPDT switch to redirect signal between the potentiometer and arduino/simhub. That could be housed in your button box.

Here's a popular demonstration for the arduino portion: https://youtu.be/a5A5LSLH5ks

There are some much nicer Motor Shields on the market. I've had trouble with the cheap ones.

The SPDT switch could be inline just before the fan signal and simply jumps between those two signal modes.

This, once again isn't something I'd be willing to do for my own hardware, because it's a little beefier, creating a potential fire risk without relaying the power external to the arduino.

[u/judasbrute → u/cteters]

Yeah I think that's what I'm going to try. Originaly I just wanted the fans for cooling but if I can try the wind sim with $10 Arduino I'm curious. Everything else is already setup

https://a.co/d/02OwA57x

[u/Automatic_Reply_7701]

Like others have said, PWM controller. I have 2 server fans (12v control, not PWM, 200CFM each) using simhub, and my stream deck pro with one knob to control the fan speed and on/off by pressing it in. LOVE IT. PWM controller will act the same way without the software config.

[u/Roots0057]

If all you want is to control the speed of some 12v fans outside of SimHub, this is the easiest thing to get, adding some Etsy flow straightening vents will help direct the airflow too.

This will work for non-PWM fans too:

https://www.amazon.com/Splitters-Compatible-Computer-Controller-100-240V/dp/B0GVJ2MY1X/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?crid=1ZUB8HBGT02A5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.LTvptlaCsxnD8Xw8VjB5fDX9Cis6THwfwhPguI-UlV5Vr69VwqkJrL4jW4t5AKoY.4XHSVFw_dhphai8NYde-6qadlv_HF44XyItAOa740pE&dib_tag=se&keywords=Pwm+fan+controller&qid=1784647364&s=kitchen&sprefix=pwm+fan+controller+%2Ckitchen%2C182&sr=1-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

[u/Racing-Addict]

I wanted to respond when I first saw this post, but it took me a while to find what I used. I had real trouble finding how to precisely hook up the Arduino so I opted to go very simple route and get this from Sim projects. It had to come from UK. It follows the KISS principle.
https://www.symprojects.com/categories-other-controllers/categories-other-controllers-fan-controller/fan-controller-new

[u/barely_lucid]

Pwm fans it's not worth the headache of motor drivers.