[ENG] Ev3 metro dashboard (for LOTUS simulator)

This video is made to represent how I reworked an Ev3 metro dashboard (similar to Ezh3 in Russia) so that it can be connected to a PC for using it with simulators (in this video, for LOTUS, but it's similar in OMSI, Metrostoi, Train Simulator, Maszcyna... anything that is capable of exporting its values, like lights, meters...etc). WIthout such a feature, a dashboard can still be used as a game controller, for I don't know, openBVE or even Doom if you like to.
** DISCLAIMER **
I can't and don't even want to give advices where you can get parts like these. FB Marketplace, ad sites like OLX, flagma (in Russia/Ukraine). Here in Hungary, public transport companies sometimes (well, rarely) sell parts. For bus parts, you can look up bus scrapyards, private persons who disassamble their buses...etc. Also there are some train parts on ebay.
** Used parts **
Microcontroller: Arduino Due
Optocoupler: 4N25 (...you can use EL817 or anything similar)
BCD converter: CD4511B
2x7 LED display: DC08-11GWA
Step-down: DSN-1504-3A
MOS-FET: BS170 (n-channel)
Stepper-motor: x27-168
I bought an original Arduino from an auction site (vatera), but you can get same-functioning parts from china on ebay, aliexpress. I bought the step-down and other components in Hungarian electric retailers, but you can find alternatives on ebay...etc.
** Programme codes **
Sorry, I won't publish any of my code, bad programmer habit.
But the main goal is to read all switches/buttons in the main loop of the Arduino, and after that (with if-else-s) I send joystick button events (on/off commands). For the controllers I send joystick axis data, which will be decoded by LOTUS for distinct positions.
To make use of gauges, meters, warning lights...etc you need a plugin ingame. Of course it depends on the simulator, but in LOTUS you can scavange the data so you can later send it out in serial por, like this format (yes, the KOMSI format, with some modifications):
A0B0C0D0E0u000v000w000x000t000

...where A-E are the lights, the numbers after them (0/1) represent the lights (on/off). The other vars between u-t are the other gauges, where each number after them represent their values. Here, in every send I send this whole string to the Arduino, which then decodes it by selecting by the characters (whether they are a char or number).
The mentioned Arduino library for the X27-168 stepper motors:
guy.carpenter.id.au/gaugette/...
** What I forget to include in the video: amper meter **
I forgot to add the amper-meter implementation in the video, sry.
Here, the meter reads values in both directions in a way that its pins are switched-up (also it reads pretty low voltage, 75mV/full offset). I switch the legs with a common bridge-connection, similar what is used in electric motors to change rotation direction or in full-bridge DC to AC inverters.
I have 4 FETs, I drive 2-2 every time, so the meter is connectiond into one or another direction. The value is fed from the Arduino, through a series resistor (because the Due has a 3,3V (!) PWM output, which would simply burn the coils of the meter if I connected it to it directly).
Since here's no gain nor any suspicious black magic, the meter is driven directly from the Arduino. I don't even need optocouplers. You can also connect the battery and line voltage meter like so, if they work between 0-3,3V. If not, you need optocouplers and some kind of amplification circuit.
Bzmot332, 2022.

[@flyingfrenemy5476]

i am curious where do u get these pannels from(i am not a fed). i wanna make something like this and it would be really good if u can help me get one of these. I am looking to make 81-718, 717 and 740 ones

[@Bzmot332bve]

This dashboard is my friend's panel, he got it from another friend who I guess worked at our depot. All of these cars were withdrawn here in Budapest, almost everything went to scrapyards or to Russia (let's not talk about that part). But some parts were, let's say scavanged before going to the dump. I, myself have an E type dashboard, controller and accessories, I got it from the Hungarian anti-counterstrike centre (long ago they bought 2 cars to simulate stuff on them, and I contacted them if I could buy some parts if possible). The local transport company sells some parts on auctions, too bad there are not so many things left, but still they sold 5-6 Ev3 dashboards (almost like in this video), each for about 300 eur. I don't know if in other countries there's any way like this to buy stuff, because I know on ebay...etc these things are pretty rare (I mean the soviet trains, you can sometimes buy U-bahn stuff for horror prices).

[@ecsmetrostroicz1916]

can you try make dashboard of type 81-717?

[@Bzmot332bve]

This dashboard is one of my friends dash. He actually has a 81-717.2 dash (more or less in a full state), but that project wasn't started and I don't know if I will do it. I have an Ev panel with a KV-40 controller and most of the accessaries (gauges, speedo) but I haven't made any videos about that (also I didn't record the making of it).

[@Hommbree]

@@Bzmot332bve Isn't there a plan to make a video about the plugin and how to use it ?

[@Bzmot332bve]

@@Hommbree I don't really think. I'm thinking about writing an example on the forum lexikon page, but usually I don't really find time (and enthusiasm) to even open LOTUS...

[@Hommbree]

@@Bzmot332bve Would it be possible to talk to you about it? Messenger, Skype, Discord? We want to get data from Lotus for the upcoming tram trainer :) i wrote you an E-Mail, unfortunately no reply. Thanks Howky

[@Bzmot332bve]

@@Hommbree I'm rarely checking my old e-mail account if that's what you wrote to. Could you please write to my gmail? It's name is the same as my name here on YT.