Hello everyone, I Mike a new member here on the forums, so I would make my first post about a project I’m going to start as soon as I get home from Iraq in 13 days.
My project is for my iRacing simulator, trying to make a dash to replicate the dash found in the current model of the NASCAR Sprint cup racecars.
Now to be honest with everyone, I have no clue how to write code, or even the closest ideal where to begin on this project. The only thing I know how to do is use a soldiering iron, and use a multi-meter. So as much help as I can get would be great.
Now I want to learn this as much as possible, I would like to add other gauges when money permits, these gauge’s run in price from $374 for the 5” Tachometer and $234 for the smaller 2” gauges.
But here are my questions I have as I’m still in Iraq and the parts are at my house in Atlanta, Ga.
Is the Ardunio start up kit enough to get me started with this project?
Is there anything else I need to start this project?
How would I interface the Ardunio UNO with my gauges?
Where do I start with coding to interface with the iRacing software?
Now I have seen people use Xsim to help with the interfacing of the iRacing software, and I have also seen people write custom code to bypass Xsim and go strait to the Ardunio, which is going to give be the best results without a huge head ache?
If someone is willing to help me out, it would be great.
Welcome!
I suggest if you are new to programming to do some programming practice.
Just small steps at a time, led blinking, two leds a traffic light etc.
If you are comfortable with the language then you could start thinking about interfacing with things you have a need for.
Small steps lead you to great projects...
Learn and enjoy!
... the kit you have is good enough to begin with!
Hey i just registered too! And thought id contribute a little to the community before asking my own question...
I would recommend taking apart the front dash from an old car and looking up the pinouts(local junkyard anyone?) to save a LOT more cash, and i think the result would look just as cool.
This isnt really a beginner project, but you will learn a lot of you are willing to go through with it.
You can't improve if you don't reach high right?
I had some experience interfacing with car dashes with microcontrollers for school but I'm not that good with electronics yet xD.
But I'll share the wealth..
In addition to powering it up from a 12v power source, you will need to take(buffer i thinks the term? idk) the 5V signals coming from the microcontroller to 12V for the instruments.
You are also going to need more current than what the Arduino can output to even move the dials, so some 2N2222 transistors should fit the bill nicely.
Communications will most likely be done serially from iRacing to the Arduino, and then the Arduino will move the gauges/dials.
I dont know how iRacing sends data out.. probably an SDK somewhere? You will have to make your own library unless there is one already out there to interface the Arduino with iRacing.
Also, the speedometer and rev counter are controlled by clock signals. You are gonna have to generate the appropriate signal using a timer for each instrument.
Good luck. I'll try to answer your questions, but i wont be of much help on the iracing side of things.