diff --git a/src/monocoque/devices/CMakeLists.txt b/src/monocoque/devices/CMakeLists.txt
index 914f18a..8b70ff8 100644
--- a/src/monocoque/devices/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/monocoque/devices/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ set(devices_source_files
   sounddevice.c
   serialdevice.h
   serialdevice.c
+  serialadapter.h
+  serialadapter.c
   tachdevice.h
   tachdevice.c
   wheeldevice.h
diff --git a/src/monocoque/devices/hapticeffect.c b/src/monocoque/devices/hapticeffect.c
index 0bf949a..90911ec 100644
--- a/src/monocoque/devices/hapticeffect.c
+++ b/src/monocoque/devices/hapticeffect.c
@@ -90,9 +90,10 @@ int loadtyreconfig(SimData* simdata, char* configfile)
             {
                 if(simdata->car[0] != '\0' && car[0] != '\0')
                 {
+                    slogt("%s %s %i %i", simdata->car, car, simdata->simexe, sim);
                     if (strcicmp(car, simdata->car) == 0 && sim == simdata->simexe)
                     {
-                        slogt("found saved car %s with tyre diameters %f %f %f %f", car, tyre0, tyre1, tyre2, tyre3);
+                        slogi("found saved car %s with tyre diameters %f %f %f %f", car, tyre0, tyre1, tyre2, tyre3);
                         simdata->tyrediameter[0] = tyre0;
                         simdata->tyrediameter[1] = tyre1;
                         simdata->tyrediameter[2] = tyre2;
diff --git a/src/monocoque/devices/serial/arduino.c b/src/monocoque/devices/serial/arduino.c
index 68c4abc..a2c135e 100644
--- a/src/monocoque/devices/serial/arduino.c
+++ b/src/monocoque/devices/serial/arduino.c
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include "arduino.h"
+#include "../serialadapter.h"
 #include "../../slog/slog.h"
 
 #define arduino_timeout 5000
@@ -11,92 +12,14 @@
 int arduino_update(SerialDevice* serialdevice, void* data, size_t size)
 {
     int result = 1;
-    if (serialdevice->port)
-    {
-        slogt("copying %i bytes to arduino device", size);
-        result = check(sp_blocking_write(serialdevice->port, data, size, arduino_timeout));
-    }
+    slogt("copying %i bytes to arduino device", size);
+    result = monocoque_serial_write(serialdevice->id, data, size, arduino_timeout);
 
     return result;
 }
 
-//int arduino_shiftlights_update(SerialDevice* serialdevice, SimData* simdata)
-//{
-//    int result = 1;
-//    if (serialdevice->port)
-//    {
-//        result = check(sp_blocking_write(serialdevice->port, simdata, sizeof(SimData), arduino_timeout));
-//    }
-//
-//    return result;
-//}
-//
-//int arduino_simwind_update(SerialDevice* serialdevice, SimData* simdata)
-//{
-//    int result = 1;
-//    if (serialdevice->port)
-//    {
-//        result = check(sp_blocking_write(serialdevice->port, simdata, sizeof(SimData), arduino_timeout));
-//    }
-//
-//    return result;
-//}
-
 int arduino_init(SerialDevice* serialdevice, const char* portdev)
 {
-    slogi("initializing arduino serial device...");
-    int error = 0;
-    char* port_name = strdup(portdev);
-
-    slogd("Looking for port %s", port_name);
-    error = check(sp_get_port_by_name(port_name, &serialdevice->port));
-    if (error != 0)
-    {
-        return error;
-    }
-
-    slogd("Opening port");
-    check(sp_open(serialdevice->port, SP_MODE_READ_WRITE));
-
-    slogd("Setting port to %i 8N1, no flow control", serialdevice->baudrate);
-    check(sp_set_baudrate(serialdevice->port, serialdevice->baudrate));
-    check(sp_set_bits(serialdevice->port, 8));
-    check(sp_set_parity(serialdevice->port, SP_PARITY_NONE));
-    check(sp_set_stopbits(serialdevice->port, 1));
-    check(sp_set_flowcontrol(serialdevice->port, SP_FLOWCONTROL_NONE));
-
-    free(port_name);
-    slogd("Successfully setup arduino serial device...");
-    return 0;
+    serialdevice->id = monocoque_serial_open(serialdevice, portdev);
+    return serialdevice->id;
 }
-
-int arduino_free(SerialDevice* serialdevice)
-{
-    check(sp_close(serialdevice->port));
-    sp_free_port(serialdevice->port);
-}
-
-int check(enum sp_return result)
-{
-    /* For this example we'll just exit on any error by calling abort(). */
-    char* error_message;
-
-    switch (result)
-    {
-        case SP_ERR_ARG:
-            //printf("Error: Invalid argument.\n");
-            return 1;
-        case SP_ERR_FAIL:
-            error_message = sp_last_error_message();
-            sloge("error: serial write failed: %s", error_message);
-            sp_free_error_message(error_message);
-        case SP_ERR_SUPP:
-            printf("Error: Not supported.\n");
-        case SP_ERR_MEM:
-            printf("Error: Couldn't allocate memory.\n");
-        case SP_OK:
-        default:
-            return result;
-    }
-}
-
diff --git a/src/monocoque/devices/serial/arduino.h b/src/monocoque/devices/serial/arduino.h
index a348988..8bf47c9 100644
--- a/src/monocoque/devices/serial/arduino.h
+++ b/src/monocoque/devices/serial/arduino.h
@@ -8,6 +8,5 @@
 int arduino_update(SerialDevice* serialdevice, void* data, size_t size);
 int arduino_init(SerialDevice* serialdevice,  const char* portdev);
 int arduino_free(SerialDevice* serialdevice);
-int check(enum sp_return result);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/monocoque/devices/serial/moza.c b/src/monocoque/devices/serial/moza.c
index 41def00..afda1a8 100644
--- a/src/monocoque/devices/serial/moza.c
+++ b/src/monocoque/devices/serial/moza.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include <hidapi/hidapi.h>
 
 #include "moza.h"
+#include "../serialadapter.h"
 #include "../../slog/slog.h"
 
 #define MOZA_TIMEOUT 1000
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ int moza_update(SerialDevice* serialdevice, unsigned short maxrpm, unsigned shor
     {
         slogd("copying %i bytes to moza device", size);
         slogt("writing bytes %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x from rpm %i maxrpm %i", bytes[0], bytes[1], bytes[2], bytes[3], bytes[4], bytes[5], bytes[6], bytes[7], bytes[8], bytes[9], bytes[10], rpm, maxrpm);
-        result = moza_serial_check(sp_blocking_write(serialdevice->port, bytes, size, MOZA_TIMEOUT));
+        result = monocoque_serial_write(serialdevice->id, bytes, size, MOZA_TIMEOUT);
     }
 
     return result;
@@ -82,58 +83,6 @@ int moza_update(SerialDevice* serialdevice, unsigned short maxrpm, unsigned shor
 
 int moza_init(SerialDevice* serialdevice, const char* portdev)
 {
-    slogi("initializing moza serial device...");
-    int error = 0;
-    char* port_name = strdup(portdev);
-
-    slogd("Looking for port %s.\n", port_name);
-    error = moza_serial_check(sp_get_port_by_name(port_name, &serialdevice->port));
-    if (error != 0)
-    {
-        return error;
-    }
-
-    slogd("Opening port.\n");
-    moza_serial_check(sp_open(serialdevice->port, SP_MODE_READ_WRITE));
-
-    slogd("Setting port to 115200 8N1, no flow control.\n");
-    moza_serial_check(sp_set_baudrate(serialdevice->port, 115200));
-    moza_serial_check(sp_set_bits(serialdevice->port, 8));
-    moza_serial_check(sp_set_parity(serialdevice->port, SP_PARITY_NONE));
-    moza_serial_check(sp_set_stopbits(serialdevice->port, 1));
-    moza_serial_check(sp_set_flowcontrol(serialdevice->port, SP_FLOWCONTROL_NONE));
-
-    free(port_name);
-    slogd("Successfully setup moza serial device...");
-    return 0;
-}
-
-int moza_free(SerialDevice* serialdevice)
-{
-    moza_serial_check(sp_close(serialdevice->port));
-    sp_free_port(serialdevice->port);
-}
-
-// i have to move this some place common
-int moza_serial_check(enum sp_return result)
-{
-    /* For this example we'll just exit on any error by calling abort(). */
-    char* error_message;
-
-    switch (result)
-    {
-        case SP_ERR_ARG:
-            return 1;
-        case SP_ERR_FAIL:
-            error_message = sp_last_error_message();
-            sloge("error: serial write failed: %s", error_message);
-            sp_free_error_message(error_message);
-        case SP_ERR_SUPP:
-            printf("Error: Not supported.\n");
-        case SP_ERR_MEM:
-            printf("Error: Couldn't allocate memory.\n");
-        case SP_OK:
-        default:
-            return result;
-    }
+    serialdevice->id = monocoque_serial_open(serialdevice, portdev);
+    return serialdevice->id;
 }
diff --git a/src/monocoque/devices/serialadapter.c b/src/monocoque/devices/serialadapter.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e0a421f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/monocoque/devices/serialadapter.c
@@ -0,0 +1,205 @@
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <ctype.h>
+
+#include "serialadapter.h"
+#include "../slog/slog.h"
+
+int msastrcicmp(char const *a, char const *b)
+{
+    for (;; a++, b++) {
+        int d = tolower((unsigned char)*a) - tolower((unsigned char)*b);
+        if (d != 0 || !*a)
+            return d;
+    }
+}
+
+int check(enum sp_return result)
+{
+    char* error_message;
+
+    switch (result)
+    {
+        case SP_ERR_ARG:
+            return 1;
+        case SP_ERR_FAIL:
+            error_message = sp_last_error_message();
+            sloge("error: serial write failed: %s", error_message);
+            sp_free_error_message(error_message);
+        case SP_ERR_SUPP:
+            printf("Error: Not supported.\n");
+        case SP_ERR_MEM:
+            printf("Error: Couldn't allocate memory.\n");
+        case SP_OK:
+        default:
+            return result;
+    }
+}
+
+int monocoque_serial_free(SerialDevice* serialdevice)
+{
+    monocoque_serial_device monocoque_serial_dev = monocoque_serial_devices[serialdevice->id];
+
+    if(monocoque_serial_dev.open == true)
+    {
+        while(monocoque_serial_dev.busy == true)
+        {
+            slogt("hopefully this doesn't happen long");
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        monocoque_serial_devices[serialdevice->id].busy = true;
+        monocoque_serial_devices[serialdevice->id].refs--;
+
+        if(monocoque_serial_devices[serialdevice->id].refs == 0)
+        {
+            slogd("freeing physical device %s", monocoque_serial_devices[serialdevice->id].portname);
+            sp_close(monocoque_serial_devices[serialdevice->id].port);
+            sp_free_port(monocoque_serial_devices[serialdevice->id].port);
+            monocoque_serial_devices[serialdevice->id].busy = false;
+            monocoque_serial_devices[serialdevice->id].open = false;
+            monocoque_serial_devices[serialdevice->id].openfail = false;
+            free(monocoque_serial_devices[serialdevice->id].portname);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            monocoque_serial_devices[serialdevice->id].busy = false;
+        }
+
+    }
+}
+
+int monocoque_serial_write(uint8_t serialdevicenum, void* data, size_t size, int timeout)
+{
+    slogt("serial device id %i", serialdevicenum);
+    monocoque_serial_device monocoque_serial_dev = monocoque_serial_devices[serialdevicenum];
+
+    slogt("port name: %s, busy %i, open %i, openfail %i", monocoque_serial_dev.portname, monocoque_serial_dev.busy, monocoque_serial_dev.open, monocoque_serial_dev.busy);
+
+    if(monocoque_serial_dev.port == NULL)
+    {
+        sloge("port is null");
+    }
+
+    int result = -1;
+    if(monocoque_serial_dev.busy == false && monocoque_serial_dev.open == true)
+    {
+        monocoque_serial_dev.busy = true;
+        result = sp_blocking_write(monocoque_serial_dev.port, data, size, timeout);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        slogw("serial device data update ignored due to busy or lost device");
+        result = -1;
+    }
+    slogt("write result is %i", result);
+    monocoque_serial_dev.busy = false;
+    return result;
+}
+
+int monocoque_serial_write_block(uint8_t serialdevicenum, void* data, size_t size, int timeout)
+{
+    slogt("serial device id %i", serialdevicenum);
+    monocoque_serial_device monocoque_serial_dev = monocoque_serial_devices[serialdevicenum];
+
+    slogt("port name: %s, busy %i, open %i, openfail %i", monocoque_serial_dev.portname, monocoque_serial_dev.busy, monocoque_serial_dev.open, monocoque_serial_dev.busy);
+
+    if(monocoque_serial_dev.port == NULL)
+    {
+        sloge("port is null");
+    }
+
+    int result = -1;
+    if(monocoque_serial_dev.open == true)
+    {
+        while(monocoque_serial_dev.busy == true)
+        {
+            slogt("hopefully this doesn't happen long");
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        monocoque_serial_dev.busy = true;
+        result = sp_blocking_write(monocoque_serial_dev.port, data, size, timeout);
+        slogi("actually performed write");
+    }
+
+    monocoque_serial_dev.busy = false;
+    return result;
+}
+
+int monocoque_serial_open(SerialDevice* serialdevice, const char* portdev)
+{
+    int serial_device_num = -1;
+    bool notfound = true;
+    slogi("looking to open physical serialdevice %s", portdev);
+    for(int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
+    {
+        if(monocoque_serial_devices[i].open == true || monocoque_serial_devices[i].openfail == true)
+        {
+            if(msastrcicmp(monocoque_serial_devices[i].portname, portdev) == 0)
+            {
+                notfound = false;
+                serial_device_num = i;
+                monocoque_serial_devices[i].refs++;
+                slogd("found exisiting handle to serial device %s", portdev);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    if(notfound == true)
+    {
+        slogd("no existing connections found, looking to create new");
+        int i = -1;
+        bool avail = false;
+        while(avail == false)
+        {
+            i++;
+            if(monocoque_serial_devices[i].open == false && monocoque_serial_devices[i].openfail == false)
+            {
+                avail = true;
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+
+
+        slogi("opening physical serial device...");
+        int error = 0;
+        char* port_name = strdup(portdev);
+        monocoque_serial_devices[i].portname = strdup(port_name);
+
+        struct sp_port* sp;
+        slogd("Looking for port %s", port_name);
+        error = check(sp_get_port_by_name(port_name, &sp));
+        if (error != 0)
+        {
+            monocoque_serial_devices[i].open = false;
+            monocoque_serial_devices[i].openfail = true;
+            return -1;
+        }
+
+        slogd("Opening port");
+        check(sp_open(sp, SP_MODE_READ_WRITE));
+
+        slogd("Setting port to %i 8N1, no flow control", serialdevice->baudrate);
+        check(sp_set_baudrate(sp, serialdevice->baudrate));
+        check(sp_set_bits(sp, 8));
+        check(sp_set_parity(sp, SP_PARITY_NONE));
+        check(sp_set_stopbits(sp, 1));
+        check(sp_set_flowcontrol(sp, SP_FLOWCONTROL_NONE));
+
+        monocoque_serial_devices[i].port = sp;
+
+        monocoque_serial_devices[i].open = true;
+        monocoque_serial_devices[i].openfail = false;
+        monocoque_serial_devices[i].busy = false;
+        monocoque_serial_devices[i].refs++;
+
+        serial_device_num = i;
+
+        free(port_name);
+        slogd("Successfully setup arduino serial device...");
+    }
+
+    return serial_device_num;
+}
diff --git a/src/monocoque/devices/serialadapter.h b/src/monocoque/devices/serialadapter.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc023aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/monocoque/devices/serialadapter.h
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#ifndef _SERIALADAPTER_H
+#define _SERIALADAPTER_H
+
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include <libserialport.h>
+
+#include "simdevice.h"
+
+typedef struct
+{
+    char* portname;
+    struct sp_port* port;
+    uint8_t refs;
+    bool open;
+    bool openfail;
+    bool busy;
+}
+monocoque_serial_device;
+
+static monocoque_serial_device monocoque_serial_devices[10];
+
+int monocoque_serial_write(uint8_t serialdevicenum, void* data, size_t size, int timeout);
+int monocoque_serial_write_block(uint8_t serialdevicenum, void* data, size_t size, int timeout);
+int monocoque_serial_open(SerialDevice* serialdevice, const char* port);
+int monocoque_serial_free(SerialDevice* serialdevice);
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/monocoque/devices/serialdevice.c b/src/monocoque/devices/serialdevice.c
index 34d0c6e..d607396 100644
--- a/src/monocoque/devices/serialdevice.c
+++ b/src/monocoque/devices/serialdevice.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 #include "simdevice.h"
 #include "serialdevice.h"
+#include "serialadapter.h"
 #include "hapticeffect.h"
 #include "serial/arduino.h"
 #include "serial/moza.h"
@@ -134,9 +135,29 @@ int serialdev_free(SimDevice* this)
 {
     SerialDevice* serialdevice = (void *) this->derived;
 
-    arduino_free(serialdevice);
+    switch (serialdevice->devicetype) {
+        case (ARDUINODEV__HAPTIC):
+
+            serialdevice->u.simhapticdata.effect1 = 0;
+            serialdevice->u.simhapticdata.motor1 = 1;
+            serialdevice->u.simhapticdata.effect2 = 0;
+            serialdevice->u.simhapticdata.motor2 = 1;
+            serialdevice->u.simhapticdata.effect3 = 0;
+            serialdevice->u.simhapticdata.motor3 = 1;
+            serialdevice->u.simhapticdata.effect4 = 0;
+            serialdevice->u.simhapticdata.motor4 = 1;
+            serialdevice->state = 0;
+            
+            size_t size = sizeof(SimHapticData);
+            monocoque_serial_write_block(serialdevice->id, &serialdevice->u.simhapticdata, size, 9000);
+            slogi("set zero to arduino device");
+    }
+
+
+    monocoque_serial_free(serialdevice);
 
     free(serialdevice);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -144,9 +165,10 @@ int serial_wheel_free(SimDevice* this)
 {
     SerialDevice* serialdevice = (void *) this->derived;
 
-    moza_free(serialdevice);
+    monocoque_serial_free(serialdevice);
 
     free(serialdevice);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -250,7 +272,7 @@ SerialDevice* new_serial_device(DeviceSettings* ds, MonocoqueSettings* ms) {
 
     int error = serialdev_init(this, ds);
 
-    if (error != 0)
+    if (error < 0)
     {
         free(this);
         return NULL;
diff --git a/src/monocoque/gameloop/gameloop.c b/src/monocoque/gameloop/gameloop.c
index a8e6949..6cbc6be 100644
--- a/src/monocoque/gameloop/gameloop.c
+++ b/src/monocoque/gameloop/gameloop.c
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include "../helper/parameters.h"
 #include "../helper/confighelper.h"
 #include "../devices/simdevice.h"
+#include "../devices/serialadapter.h"
 #include "../simulatorapi/simapi/simapi/simdata.h"
 #include "../simulatorapi/simapi/simapi/simmapper.h"
 #include "../slog/slog.h"
@@ -242,6 +243,10 @@ void looprun(MonocoqueSettings* ms, loop_data* f, SimData* simdata)
         slogd("loading confignum %i, with %i devices.", confignum, configureddevices);
 
         f->numdevices = uiloadconfig(ms->config_str, confignum, configureddevices, ms, ds);
+        if(ms->useconfig == 1)
+        {
+            ms->configcheck = 0;
+        }
 
         f->simdevices = malloc(f->numdevices * sizeof(SimDevice));
         int initdevices = devinit(f->simdevices, configureddevices, ds, ms);
@@ -253,6 +258,14 @@ void looprun(MonocoqueSettings* ms, loop_data* f, SimData* simdata)
         free(ds);
 
 
+        for(int d = 0; d < 10; d++)
+        {
+            monocoque_serial_devices[d].open = false;
+            monocoque_serial_devices[d].openfail = false;
+            monocoque_serial_devices[d].busy = false;
+            monocoque_serial_devices[d].refs = 0;
+        }
+
 
         int numdevices = f->numdevices;
         SimDevice* devices = f->simdevices;
@@ -350,6 +363,15 @@ void shmdatamapcallback(uv_timer_t* handle)
                 }
             }
             free(devices);
+
+            for(int d = 0; d < 10; d++)
+            {
+                if(monocoque_serial_devices[d].portname != NULL)
+                {
+                    free(monocoque_serial_devices[d].portname);
+                }
+            }
+
             int r = simfree(simdata, simmap, f->map);
             slogd("simfree returned %i", r);
             f->numdevices = 0;