Have you ever wanted to put thrusters on a kayak, stand-up paddleboard, or surfboard, or just wanted an easier way to get them up and running in the shop? If so, the Thruster Commander is the perfect tool to help with that.

The Thruster Commander comes with a small control unit that has inputs and outputs along with potentiometers, knobs, cables, and terminal blocks. The control unit is designed to be as flexible as possible and has the following features:

• 2 thruster output channels (but four outputs so you can double up each channel)
• Input channels for independent LEFT/RIGHT control
• Input channels for mixed SPEED/STEERING control
• Switch input for toggle switch or deadman switch (normally closed with a jumper)
• Power through ESC’s BEC if available or 7-20v through the included cable
• Anodized aluminum case with mounting holes

Using the independent inputs, you can control one or both of the thruster output channels separately. This is perfect for testing thrusters in the shop or running them in a permanent installation. We use this setup in our own thruster production process to quickly test thruster functionality. The mixed speed and steering inputs are perfect anytime you’re using two thrusters side-by-side on a vehicle and want control over combined speed as well as differential steering.

Please note that none of the components in the Thruster Commander are waterproof! They are meant to be integrated into a larger project. We recommend installing them in a waterproof case. The potentiometers are panel-mount style and include nuts to fasten them to a control panel.

There are a lot of neat things that you can do with the Thruster Commander, but we put together a video of one example using a stand-up paddleboard. Check it out!

For most applications, we recommend pairing the Thruster Commander with the T200 Thrusters and the Basic ESC.

Contents

• 1 x Commander Control Unit
• 1 x Commander Power Cable
• 2 x Commander Potentiometers
• 2 x Commander Knobs
• 2 x Commander Knob Set Screws
• 1 x 1.5mm Hex Key
• 1 x Barrier Block for Power Wiring
• 4 x Barrier Block Jumpers
• 1 x XT90 to Spade Power Cable
• 2 x Euro-style Terminal Block for Thruster Wiring
• 1 x Quickstart Guide

Specifications

3D Models

•  CMDR-ASM-POTENTIOMETER-R1 (.zip)
•  CMDR-ASM-THRUSTER-COMMANDER-R1 (.zip)

Quick Start

1. Connect the power cable to the POWER connector in the top left of the board
2. Attach the potentiometer(s) to the inputs (see Modes of Operation for input configurations)
   • Each potentiometer’s 3-pin connector can be reversed to reverse its input
3. Attach electronic speed controllers (ESCs) to the output pins
   • The black/brown wire should be connected to the GND pin
   • These connectors should not be reversed
4. Apply 7-20 VDC power to the POWER connector and ESCs
5. To initialize the ESCs, either:
   • Turn the knobs to their center position, or
   • Turn the external switch to the off position
6. That’s it! You’re ready to go.

Modes of Operation

Troubleshooting

Two short blinks
	Not enough potentiometers are plugged in. The Modes of Operation table shows all valid combinations of potentiometer connections.

One long blink
	The switch is not pressed/connected or is not correctly connected. The SWITCH signal (center) pin must be connected to the ground (GND pin) by a switch or jumper for the motors to turn.

Guides