MarvinBox (Wind Simulator Controller)

Overview

These are some instructions on how to build your own Intellibox controller replacement. Call it MarvinBox. This replacement box will not work with the SRS software, it will only work with Marvin’s Awesome iRacing App.

If there are any steps in here that isn’t clear to you, please let me know!

Parts

These are the parts you will need to acquire –

  1. Arduino Nano (or clone)
    This is what I am using –
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G99NNXL
    You get 3 chips for around $17, but you only need one.
    These work great and use a mini-USB connector (stronger!) instead of the micro-USB connector that SRS has.
  2. Nano terminal adapter board
    This is what I am using –
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073JGV87F
    You get 3 boards for around $9, but you only need one.
    You just plug the Nano chip in and use a tiny screwdriver to connect the wires, instead of soldiering them on.
  3. RJ45 terminals
    This is what I am using –
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW2Z741L
    This costs around $9 for a pack of two.
    You also just use a tiny screwdriver to connect the wires, no soldiering needed.
  4. Some 22 gauge solid core wires
    This is what I am using –
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TX6BX47
    You get a bunch of different color wires for around $15.
    Really, if you already have some 22 gauge solid core wire laying around, just use that.
  5. Some M2 and M2.5 screws
    These are what I am using –
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BC914ZCP
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BC8ZRB92
    Specifically you will need –
    4x M2 6mm
    2x M2.5 6mm
    4x M2.5 8mm
  6. 3D printed box
    Here is the 3MF file for it –
    http://herboldracing.com/files/MarvinBox.3mf

Wiring

Wiring this up is brain dead simple –

  1. Connect a wire from GND to the 2nd pin on both RJ45 terminals
  2. Connect a wire from D9 to the 5th pin on one RJ45 terminal
  3. Connect a wire from D10 to the 5th pin on the other RJ45 terminal

Assembly

First, screw in the RJ45 terminals and the terminal adapter board into the box using the 6mm screws. The 4 M2 screws are for the RJ45 terminals and the 2 M2.5 screws are for the terminal adapter board.

Then, plug in the Nano chip and connect a USB cable to it. You can use the USB cable that comes with the chip, or use your own.

At this time, you might want to program the Nano chip (see programming instructions below) before putting on the box top.

Finally, close up the box using the 8mm screws.

Programming

Programming the Nano chip is also quite easy –

  1. You will need to download and install an app called Arduino IDE from here –
    https://www.arduino.cc/en/software
  2. Download the MarvinBox chip program from here –
    https://herboldracing.com/files/MarvinBox.ino
    It is just a plain text file – you’ll need to right click on the link above and select “Save link as…” to save it to your computer.
  3. Disconnect ALL of your USB devices from your computer (except for your keyboard and mouse). The reason we do this is so we don’t accidentally re-program a different Arduino based device, that you might already have.
  4. Connect only the MarvinBox to your PC.
  5. Run the Arduino IDE app.
  6. Go to File > Open… and select the MarvinBox.ino file that you downloaded in step 2. The IDE might whine that the file needs to be in a folder called MarvinBox. Allow it to move the file for you.
  7. Go to the “Select Board” dropdown. You should see only one device appear in the list, and labeled as “Unknown”. This is why we disconnect all other USB devices from your computer – to make sure that what we select here is in fact the MarvinBox and not some other Arduino based device. Select the “Unknown” device.
  8. Select “Arduino Nano” from the list of boards that pops up, and click on “OK”.
  9. Click on the “Upload” button – it looks like a circle with an arrow inside, pointing to the right. Wait for it to be done compiling and uploading.
  10. Run the MarvinAIRA app. Once it starts up, you should see the light on the Nano board flash rapidly (10 times a second). This is how you know it is working – that the MarvinBox is receiving wind fan power commands from MarvinAIRA.
  11. Close the Arduino IDE – you don’t need it any more.

You’re done!

Final steps –

  1. Connect your fans to the RJ45 jacks on the MarvinBox.
  2. Reconnect all your other USB devices.
  3. Fire up iRacing, hop into a car, run MarvinAIRA, and have fun!