Hacking a Wheelpilot

Technical Electrical
#1

The control board of my Simrad wheelpilot is bricked. Unfortunately, they don’t make or support it anymore. I can access the motor leads and supply 12v in both polarities and make it work in a manual mode. My son, a veteran FIRSTer suggests I use the Wild Thumper Controller Board: http://www.sparkfun.com/products/11057

Has anyone had experience with this? It is designed to use a rechargable 7.2v RC battery, but I will be supplying 12 v from my boat batteries (max 18v per specs).

Even when it’s not FIRST season, we can still be doing the fun stuff!

#2

It looks like the wheelpilot was meant to be hacked. Seems like you can put your own control code on it :).

But yes, the FETs can handle the 12V (they probably go up to 60V), and so can the regulator on the board (probably goes up to 12-18V). I’d be slightly more concerned at the battery charging circuity, even though you won’t try charging through it, but I would assume it won’t be an issue.