Smart Wheel?

[gumby]

I was wondering. How does it work? Do all the controls go through the device then to the screen? Or to the screen then to the device? I guess what I want to know is could someone that was savvy enough take the entire steering column and retro fit it to an older boat? Obviously the steering cable and mechanical things would have to change. Could you get it to control the stereo? Perfect pass? Maybe not all of the functions? Can you buy the entire thing?.... Just some things I was thinking about taking on this winter. I planned on putting in electronics/stereo, speakers, tower speakers, amps. Also need to do a rebuild on the rudder and might as well do the cable. Got me thinking. I currently haven't sourced any thing for either project. Thinking if I could tie it all in one cool project I would. I really don't want a screen. I would think it is just a screen, the brain is separate? I would love some insight even if it is just in theory insight. All I ask. Please don't be to negative. I am the type of person who thinks. Anything is possible. Just how much do you want to pay. If it was possible would Tige sell the Items to you? Could you get one from manufacturer who builds them for Tige? Would you have to source them from a totaled boat?
TigeSmartWheel3-e1518017306673.jpg

[freeheel4life]

The screens dont have seperate module that runs them. There are PDMs(power distribution modules) but as far as I know they are basically just solid state relays that control switching and fuse protection all in one and the screens doing all the "work". As far as I know. Been wrong before and will be wrong again.
The other thing is that the new boats arent using Perfect Pass(different software handling spped control/throttle body modulation) so to integrate youd need a special harness to plug into a PP module and you would need the module likely flashed by PP to see the wheel inputs.
Id say the only way youd really benefit is by adding a lot of other components to get it to work(screen, PDMs). Though thats just at first glance. A much smarter mind may have a better idea. IDboating for one. My brains stuck in winterization, oil change, shrinkwrap, impeller service mode right now.

[cltTige]

My brain tells me this is not a simple task. At work we are integrating some new "smart" steering wheels, and while we already have "smart" steering wheels, its entirely new programing for the new ones (all that black magic electrical stuff is above my head). Also, they are limiting the types of radios possible b/c some are not even compatible. I feel like you would need a new control system to output the buttons, it would be new circuits/relays/PDMs/etc, completely custom job.

A lot of time we build the system from the ground up, not integrating with existing radios/cruise controls etc. we change or create new systems to work with the smart wheel over bending the smart wheel functions.

I can make some macros do some mean stuff, but this is above me.

[UNSTUCK]

You have to remember that a switch is just a switch. It just lets "information" pass through or not pass through. If you can push a button on a perfect pass screen to increase your speed, why could you not press the button on the smart wheel. You just need to figure out what the inputs and outputs are and match them. That's likely easier said than done, as it will be hard to get that information beforehand. So you may have to purchase the parts and then try to figure it out. While I haven't played with the smart wheel yet, I do know that it is a bolt on to the column. Unless the diameter of your column is different I think it may bolt on so you probably wouldn't need all those parts.

[gumby]

UNSTUCK I kinda feel the same way you do. Not to say that citTIGE is wrong because it would be new circuits/relays/etc, completely custom job is exactly what it might/would take to make it work. I need all the parts because my boat has no stereo now(to speak of) and the rudder box needs rebuilt. I was kinda hoping someone would chime in about sourcing the parts. Can I get them from my dealer? What might be needed? I mean obviously the wheel. I am sure the hole housing would have to change. Depending on how it all works. We know it works with wet sounds. as for the perfect pass. I think freeheal4life hit it on the head you would have to build a special harness to plug into a PP. At this point we have not surpassed things I am comfortable doing.

[freeheel4life]

For figuring out PP i would try calling them first. Those Nova Scotians are super noce and helpful at their HQ. If they can hook you up with source voltage(not sure if module is running 12v, 5v, switched ground etc) then that should speed up that process. Otherwise Id say backpin your display and start pressing buttons and moving backpin around until you figure out how to get up and down arrows to work remotely.
The stereo side Im really not sure as the smartwheel didnt come out until the first year they did away with a head unit completely. Polk in the glovebox in 16 went away when ICE came out in 17 along with smart wheel and "Clear" (10 Inch screen). So Im not sure about head units that could be controlled remotely after the fact via the wheel. As far as getting your hands on one...short of asking Tige, Im not sure whos making them as a work around.

[UNSTUCK]

The biggest hurdle I see is wiring into the PP unit. As far as I know there is no plug in in the back of the unit. So it's not like you can just build a harness and plug it in. You would actually have to take the unit apart and figure out how the buttons work on it. Do they go right into a circuit board or are there wires between the buttons and a board? If the buttons go right into the board you would have to figure out how to tap into that. Can you just solder wires to the board that would run out of the unit and form your new harness to the smart wheel? Once I would have to modify a circuit board is where I personally would have draw the line. Hard to spend a grand on PP just to mess up the circuit board in it.

[gumby]

My PP has a module(star gazer GPS) the display is just a display I believe. Haven't taken any of apart yet. Like I said winter project..... But winter is coming. I am kinda still in the fence wether to try this. The cool factor is off the charts. Fitting my old 2000 with some new gadgets It is cool.
Feeeheel4life you said "short of asking Tige" I am not sure what that means. Would I have to ask them to buy the wheel assembly? If so don't think that is going to go well for me. I mean I am not special. If no one can walk in and buy/order one they are not going to sell one to me. Might be why I haven't heard from Koolaid on this thread LOL. Kinda thought controlling the head unit wasn't going to be the easy part when most of them can be controlled with a transom remote.

[freeheel4life]

Meant just put a feeler out and see if theyd supply some vendor info. Seastar/Teleflex is kind of the name in steering products but I didnt see anything similar on their site. Even if you could get your hands on one Id bet the $ you would spend could get you a pair of rev 10s or some other nice compinents for that system you want to do, or pay for a nice set of underwater lights.

Found this while nerding out
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-Gd61AY...-adapters.html

If a guy were to find a wheel with controls that could be put onto a helm then youd be getting somewhere quick. I think the standard is a 3/4" shaft on most helms.

[UNSTUCK]

I forgot they run a module to the gauge. That simplifies it a bunch. Call PP and tell them what you are doing. They should be willing to tell you what wire is supply to the gauge buttons and what wires are the return from the gauge buttons. Hopefully it’s not a CAN buss system. I doubt it.

[gumby]

I got the under water lights already and been saving of a year for the stereo stuff got that covered plus. I wouldn't just put any steering wheel on I would want it to look right. Any thing worth doing is worth doing right. I have this vision of my smart wheel off my F250 on my boat. Suddenly not cool any more.LOL I know that isn't what you are suggesting.It is just what went through my mind. After chatting with with you guys. I kinda think the wiring part is doable. I guess I need to try find a wheel. We will see what Tige says. Should I start at my local dealer? I really wouldn't know who to contact at Tide.

[KoolAid]

The tough part on this whole thing is that the smart wheel communicates over CAN. They aren't really just switches with multiple outputs to tap into. You will have to talk on CAN to read the button push, then have a digital switch box to make the requested function work.

[gumby]

So the CAN communion dose make it a little more difficult. After giving it some thought. Correct me if I am wrong. My old Carling Technologies distribution box communicates CAN?

[KoolAid]

I don't believe it did. I think each switch was 5v reference which drove the digital switching box. Issue with CAN is each item has its own address and without knowing what those addresses are, there is no way to find them on the CAN.

[sandm]

Varatti boats out of minnesnota look to be using the exact same smart wheel. if tige isn't any luck try them. must mean there's a company making them and selling across multiple channels.