Simhub Dash Unit with Wind Sim

This is a Simhub Dash Unit that has the following front facing outputs/displays:

• 1 x HT16KK Single Colour Matrix: I used the Adafruit Small 1.2" 8x8 Ultra Bright Matrix which quite honestly is too bright.  I think its set at around 4% brightness.
• 2 x MAX7221 7 Segment Modules:  I used the AZDelivery MAX7219 Led Module 8 Bit 7 Segment Display. 
• 3 x WS2812B Led Strips: I used the Kitronik ZIP Stick - 5 ZIP LEDs 
• 3 x 10mm RGB Leds: I used Chanzon 50 pcs 10mm RGB Tricolor but see notes below.

In addition I included:

• 1 x DF Robot 20W DC-DC buck converter that provides 5V power to everything but the Arduino. 
• 1 x Male XT60E Panel Mount Gold Plated Socket on the rear for the 12V PSU.   You will also need a suitable plug for the end of your PSU Cable.  
• 4 x Molex Micro-Fit 3.0 Single Row (4-Pin) Male & Female Receptacle Plug, w/Terminal sockets like these from Amazon. 
• 1 x AZDelivery Nano V3.0 Terminal Adapter Board Expansion for mounting the Arduino and making it easy to wire. 

This is all controlled & powered by:

• 1 x Arudino Nano 
• 1 x MeanWell RSP-150-12RS.  This feeds power to the DFRobot board where it is reduced to 5v and it splits off 12v to both of the wind sim fans.   Check out my Meanwell RSP150-12 PSU Mount and Case for securing this to your rig. 

You will need a selection of 3mm bolts and heat inserts (M3 x 4mm L x 5mm OD) to fit everything together.   Box sets such as this and this should have you covered.   You will need 45mm M3 Bolts to hold the back and front together.  The XT socket might require a couple of 2.5mm bolts that might come with the sockets themselves - depends how you get them.

The unit is 70mm deep, 156mm wide and 56mm tall.   It is design to sit across a Simucube Pro 2 wheel base and I have included mount arms and some neat hexagon plugs that allow it to be attached to the Simucube base.  However, it will be possible to fit it to other bases.

Some notes about putting it together:

I believe its IMPORTANT to link the ground from the Buck to the Arduino otherwise its just a case of connecting all the 5V positive and negatives from the front panel to the Buck and then just the signal leads to the Arduino.   Do not connect 5v from the arduino to the buck.

DO NOT try and power the Arduino from the buck. 

DO NOT push the Molex connectors into place until you have installed the pins.  They are pretty tricky to get out again.   Its not impossible but you have been warned! ;)

The Wind Simulator feature is based on my other design that uses 120mm 12v Fans - you can see it here.   I take 12v for the fans direct from the back of the XT socket.

I have not yet connected the RGB LEDs so they are decorative.  I have not been able to find a comfortable way of connecting all their legs together.   The idea was that they would be a flag output.  I might just look at a version 2 which includes a fourth zip strip. 

There is almost certainly something I have forgotten to mention so please let me know in the comments if you stumble into something I have not mentioned.