Dashboard Help, Ideas. (1 Viewer)

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This is my first post here, its currently just a concept rolling around in my head, but id like to create a fully functioning dashboard for ETS2 and ATS, my first idea was to use this program; http://www.symprojects.com/shop/ to control the gauges, i'd have 6 gauges on the dash from that site, the Tach, Speedo, fuel gauge, water temp, oil temp, and oil pressure. the only problem with the Tach and Speedo is that the range is way to big for a Big Rig, from reading through the documents on the website the range is adjustable, but the back side of the gauges is still wrong, (Example, i could adjust it so the gauge reads out 110 KPH, but the "paper" would still read 300 KPH. the same goes for the Tach. those 6 gauges would be in front of my steering wheel, then to the right of the steering wheel would be an angled dash, like so; http://triadfreightliner.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/dash-left-side.jpg, i would use 2 of the 2560 siwtch panels on this page ( http://www.desktopaviator.com/Products/Switch_Array/index.htm) one on top of other, to give me 12 switches for plenty of functions. and for starting and lights i would use the cessna 1010 panel on this page ( http://www.desktopaviator.com/Products/Panel/Model_1010/index.htm), ive considerd placing the 1010 panel in place of one of the 2560 panels, as only 2 switches would be used for lights. all of this will be held by a custom wooden built dash (which is also just an idea). i just wanted to share my ideas with you all and see what you would think about this setup, and how well it would work.
 

Seven

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To be plain and honest - I don't quite know how, but I've seen people in Live For Speed who build cockpits create full dashboards by literally going to the junkyard and removing the gauges from a real car and then using a circuit board like that to control it... Again, not sure how but just try to work that to save yourself some money (if that's an issue).

As for the buttons and switches, easy! Literally just use a website such as http://esr.co.uk and buy all the switches and wiring you need in bulk, pretty much spending nothing - then again, buy a USB controller or use an old gamepad circuit board which I've seen done many times - old PS2/PC controllers particularly as they have at least 12 switch/button capability and build a box from plastic (or sheet metal, either works) and job done.

Building a switchbox is something I've been interested in doing on and off for a long time but I've never got around to doing one myself, it's a topic that really interests me. Good luck to you and please show us some pictures if you get around to doing it! :)
 

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I Thought about buying the dash out of a Freightliner, (my dad drives for a small company ~20 drivers, and the owner has plenty of wrecked parts trucks), the only issue is that the dash cant be to big. this coming august i will be part of a woodworking class, i was going to custom tailor the dash to fit my desk, its only a 20" x 36" desk. ive currently got paper covering the whole desk, drafting layout designs. my thought was to make the dash roughly 4.5 inchs tall, with a 4.5 tall gap, then a shelf above, where my laptop to sit, thats where my limitations come in, where to fit the laptop.
 
Check out this video, this guy has a monster cockpit
Unfortunately his videos are only in Spanish, but he made a lot of the components himself

There used to be a link off of the RTA mod website hd-trucks where there someone made controller boards. All you had to do was provide your own surface for the switches and the switches of your choice
 
after watching his video there, i didnt notice it before, but he's using the telementary application for gauges, thats an interesting thought, that'd save a lot of money also building this dash. but i want to be able to use this dash for multiple games. after looking on ebay this morning i found a tachometer that has a range on 0-4000 Rpms. its 85 mm in diameter instead of the depo racing tachometer that are 95 mm in diameter. it is also roughly $80 cheeper to. so i think i found the tach i will use. looking at picture of it, it has a ground, 12/24v wire and signal, so it will interface nicely with the pro gauge controller. this is the link to the tach: http://www.ebay.com/itm/85mm-Electrical-Tachometer-Gauge-for-Diesel-12v-24v-0-4000-RPM-/231589973358
 

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after talking with Pro Guage Support about a different tachometer and speedometer they linked me to a website, http://www.raneystruckparts.com/, where they had found a speedometer and tach that costed roughly $170 each so that idea is set aside for the time being, ive budgeted this whole project at $650, add those two gauges and it raises it up to almost $1000. but while i was looking around on the website i found some other gauges that cost $5 more than the gauges offered on Pro Guages website, but offer the Units i prefer, Fahrenheit and Psi, links to the 4 gauges.
those gauges also have a top set of spades on them to control the light inside each of them, my idea is to wire them altogether into a switch somewhere on the dash, so when im playing at night i can actually read what they say, ive considered a dimmer switch so its a little easier on the eyes. my next hassle was what to do with all the cords, my laptop only has three port, one on the right, two on the left, the two on the left are SS hubs, which i think carry more data then a regular hub, so i looked around, and found this, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ue&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_1&smid=A2SBT3E4YYUGG8, 6 hub usb 3.0, it will be mounted inside the dash, and only have the cord coming out of it, making the dash take up only one usb slot. my little 4 hub i have currently works great with my saitek wheel and pedals, and side panel. 4 hubs would be one hub short of the needed slots, 1 for the 2 switch panels, one for steering wheel and pedals, (pedals plug into steering wheel), one for the side panel, (which i most likely wont use for trucking game, as everything will be programmed to the 2 switch panels, but i will still use the panel for farming simulator. and the next port would be used for the Pro Gauge controller, which does have a power supply, so the dash will have 2 cords on the outside, power cord, and usb cord. i have also decided to use only one 2560 switch panel from desktop aviator, and a cessna 1010 panel from desktop aviator, links to both can be found in my first post. the only reason im using the 1010 panel is that it has an ignition setup already build into it. im going to my local electronics store today to pick up wire, and butt and spade connectors.
 
Please let me know if this link works, https://onedrive.live.com/redir?res...authkey=!AEIQtTmCDHaXjKk&v=3&ithint=photo,jpg,
but these are the few things i picked up today, 40 Ft of 14 gauge automotive wire, 2 rolls of 20 Ft each. butt and 1/4" spade connectors as the gauge i plan to use have 1/4" output spades. then i also bought http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0177U634W/ref=nav_timeline_asin?ie=UTF8&psc=1#, on sale for $17.99, saved $21.00. so today totaled $41.65, not to bad, sales are always nice, both rolls of wire were on clearance for 4.19, saved $2 on each roll. the hub should be at my door by friday.
 
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so my woodworking class has finally gotten here, ive started cutting out the pieces for my project, i will admit that funds are a little low right now, but i have ordered my first gauge for the project, a water temp gauge, 2 1/16" in diameter for $47. I'll link photos in once i get to woodworking. im not sure of your alls policy of bumping old topics, but sorry if im im bumping this topic.
 

Max

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im not sure of your alls policy of bumping old topics, but sorry if im im bumping this topic.
Very much depending on the topic you're bumping, I've no issue with you continuing this topic to share updates or creating another dedicated to just that, totally up to you :)

Look forward so seeing some progress, is a pretty cool project you've got going on! Will be interesting to see how eaily gauges etc are to link with data from the game, if you need any help with that side of things sure there's people about that can give you some advice! @4D1L @StuartD? :)
 
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This is the 3d drawing for the wood building itself.


5Wb1dLM1JQFN9DDEDUMUaWh0-1024x725.jpg


https://1drv.ms/i/s!Ai8D8E8GbCMrjQXEQS2V0vLv1DKp
 
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