usb fan and software to control

Marco_il_bello · Jun 6, 2021

hi,
to generate the wind in the game, do u know or did u try or any tips about the following question:

if i cut a usb cable and i connect to a fan that i removed from a pc case and i connect than this fan to the pc and use the software to control the wind (don't remember the name of the software) will this work or i need to buy some equipment ?
don't have experience at all about this so i'm thinking to try
thx for any tips and suggestion

blekenbleu · Jun 6, 2021

Marco_il_bello said:
i need to buy some equipment

PC fans do not understand USB.
4-wire fans have one wire for PWM (Pulse-width modulation) control.
SimHub supports such fans using Arduino modules.

Marco_il_bello · Jun 6, 2021

blekenbleu said:
PC fans do not understand USB.
4-wire fans have one wire for PWM (Pulse-width modulation) control.
SimHub supports such fans using Arduino modules.

so let me see if i understood
i take pc fan (case fun with 3 cable for example),
i buy arduino, so i connect the fan to arduino and arduino to pc and than all by software
something like this is ok ?

blekenbleu · Jun 6, 2021

Marco_il_bello said:
case fun with 3 cable

For 3 cable fans, a so-called motor shield is required to control fan speed,
but SimHub also supports Arduino with motor shield for such use.
However, users report that fan with 100CFM wind rating are wanted for good results,
and few PC fans are so powerful. If buying a new fan with sufficient power,
it will be cheaper and easier to get 4-wire and avoid the complication of a motor shield.

Frankly, if you lack DIY experience, consider a turn-key wind package, such as from SRS.

Marco_il_bello · Jun 6, 2021

blekenbleu said:
For 3 cable fans, a so-called motor shield is required to control fan speed,
but SimHub also supports Arduino with motor shield for such use.
However, users report that fan with 100CFM wind rating are wanted for good results,
and few PC fans are so powerful. If buying a new fan with sufficient power,
it will be cheaper and easier to get 4-wire and avoid the complication of a motor shield.

Frankly, if you lack DIY experience, consider a turn-key wind package, such as from SRS.

4 key wire need arduino or something else to work with the software?

blekenbleu · Jun 7, 2021

Marco_il_bello said:
something else

It is not plug and play. The fan needs wiring to an Arduino module and power supply.
One must learn enough about SimHub to configure and download appropriate code
from SimHub to the Arduino module. Links in previous replies are for such information.

Marco_il_bello · Jun 7, 2021

blekenbleu said:
It is not plug and play. The fan needs wiring to an Arduino module and power supply.
One must learn enough about SimHub to configure and download appropriate code
from SimHub to the Arduino module. Links in previous replies are for such information.

ok thx for all the info, i found in the website many info
thx again for the tips

Vintagedriver01 · Oct 16, 2021

Just incase somebody does needs this info while using the RD search function
https://www.instructables.com/Use-Arduino-with-TIP120-transistor-to-control-moto/#discuss

blekenbleu · Oct 16, 2021

Marco_il_bello said:
4 key wire need arduino or something else to work with the software?

I apologize for missing that question.
4-wire PC fan PWM signal pin can be driven by 5-V tolerant Arduino (or e.g. STM32) pin.
Fan power should be supplied from another source,
with negative fan power connected to Arduino ground (to complete PWM signal path).