Simucube Wireless Wheel 2

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Wireless Wheel 2 Module
Wireless Wheel 2 Module.jpg
Wireless Wheel 2 Module dimensions.png
Configurable inputs
Digital 96
Analog 4
Antenna
Type External (not included)
Connector U.FL
Frequency (Center/Band) 2.4 GHz
Gain (max) 2.14 dBi
Electrical specifications
Rechargeable version:
Charger input voltage/current 5.0V / 450mA
Supported battery chemistry Li-Ion or Li-Po
Battery voltage 2.5V – 4.2V
Non-rechargeable version:
Input voltage

2.0V – 3.8V

The Simucube Wireless Wheel 2 Module is an upgraded version of the Simucube Wireless wheel module. The new module offers more digital inputs and 4 analog axes, and includes also the battery management functions. It has a built-in charger and a voltage regulator.

Update January 31st, 2023: Removed mentions about the rechargeable and non-rechargeable versions of the module. Non-rechargeable version was not produced until this date, and has been discontinued (End-of-life) completely on this date.

Digital inputs[edit | edit source]

Wireless Wheel 2 Module has 98 digital input pins, of which 96 are fully configurable by wheel manufacturers. Two of the pins are reserved for shifter paddles that must be included in every steering wheel. Paddles are mandatory because they are used to connect and disconnect the wheel from Simucube. Each configurable input pin can be used multiple times with different device types. The input pins can also be used as enable pins. These enable pins can be used to enable and disable other devices. This allows for advanced functionalities, e.g., using a physical encoder as 12 virtual encoders using a rotary switch or disabling unintentional center presses in a 5 or 7-way switch.

Digital input device types:
Button (regular button): The game controller output signal is high if pressed.
Encoder: Each detent is shown as a pulse (25ms). The game controller has an output signal for each turning direction.
Rotary switch: Maximum of 12 positions. Changing the switch position will send a pulse (100ms) to the corresponding output.
If the desired functionality is that the output is constantly on, the rotary switch can also be configured as regular buttons. This can also be done in addition to the default functionality if there are enough unused HID pins.
Simucube Button: Holding down this button more than 1 second will start or stop Simucube Button mode. When at this mode, user can change Simucube force feedback paramerers using buttons and encoders from wheel.

Simucube Button[edit | edit source]

Holding down the Simucube Button over one second will switch Simucube 2 to Simucube Button mode, where force feedback parameters can be changed using the Wireless Wheel. Sc Button mode is designed around a 7-way switch (“Funky Switch”) with an encoder and a five-way joystick. Other buttons can also be used, but it is recommended to keep layout similar between different wheels. When entering SC button mode, the overall strength parameter is selected by default. The adjusted parameter is selected by configurable buttons. Holding parameter selection down for more than 2 seconds will reset the parameter to the previous value (Last value set from True Drive).

The function of inputs when in Sc Button mode:
Encoder: Changes currently selected parameter
Up: Overall strength
Left: Damping
Right: Simucube Force Reconstruction filter
Down: TBD

Analog inputs[edit | edit source]

SLEEP pin with transistors can be used to turn external devices on and off

The wireless module offers an AVCC output pin for analog devices. To reduce power consumption, the AVCC pin is pulsed so that the pin is only turned on when the ADC module is sampling inputs. Output pulses are approximately 2ms long, and the frequency is 100Hz; this means that AVCC is on 20% of the time. Pulses work great with potentiometers, but Hall-effect sensors might not work with pulsed AVCC if Hall-sensor power-on time is too long. As a result, any excess capacitance must be avoided in the AVCC pin.

The backup option is to provide VCC for Hall-sensors is to power it from the 3v VDD pin and use MOSFETs connected to the SLEEP pin so Hall-sensor can be powered off while Wireless Wheel 2 isn’t connected. SLEEP pin is high when Wireless Wheel 2 is connected to Simucube. See the example in the picture. In example picture VDD is 3v output from Wireless Wheel module 2 and V+ is VDD for Hall-sensors.

Battery connections[edit | edit source]

Wireless Wheel 2 Module has multiple VIN, GND, BATT, and SW_IN pins for redundancy. It is recommended to tie them together to ensure a reliable connection with the M.2 connector in mechanical shock or shaking.

BATT and SW_IN must be connected with external switch or shorted. Otherwise the BLE2 module DO NOT GET ANY POWER!

Rechargeable version[edit | edit source]

Rechargeable example

The rechargeable version has a built-in charger circuit and a DC-DC converter to regulate battery voltage to 3.0V. The charger is connected to VIN and should be provided with 5.0V +- 5% with a minimum of 450mA for charging (e.g. using a USB cable). BATT pins are charger output, and the battery should be connected between these and GND. SW_IN is unregulated voltage input for the Module and will provide voltage to the in-built DC-DC converter. The power switch must be connected between SW_IN pins and the positive battery terminal. Installing a power switch between SW_IN and BATT enables charging when the wheel is turned off.

The integrated battery charger is suitable to be used only with Li-Po or Li-Ion rechargeable batteries that are suitable for being recharged with 490 mA current.
No other battery types are supported!
Using any other battery type can result in damages for example to, but not limited to, the battery, Wireless Wheel 2 module, and/or wheel in which the Wireless Wheel 2 module is installed to!

Granite Devices is not responsible for any damages caused by using the Wireless Wheel 2 module in any way not specified in this document!



Non-rechargeable version (EOL, not available)[edit | edit source]

Non-rechargeable example

The non-rechargeable version does not have a charger or DC-DC converter and is intended for non-rechargeable batteries. Due to a non-existing DC-DC converter, all module voltages will be the same as battery voltage. Even though it is possible to connect batteries straight to SW_IN pins to power this version, it is recommended to connect battery positive lead to VIN, which is internally connected to BATT pins in a non-rechargeable version and includes reverse polarity protection. If a power switch is needed, it can be installed on battery leads or between BATT and SW_IN pins. BATT pins should be connected to SW_IN pins to establish power for the module if the power switch is not connected between mentioned pins.

Pinout[edit | edit source]

Connector naming and pin numbering

Wireless Wheel 2 Module uses M.2 connectors to fit all the I/O pins in a compact, low-profile packet. All LED pins include a 220 Ohm current limiter resistor.

Left M.2 connector[edit | edit source]

Bottom side Top side
Function Signal Pin Signal Function
GND GND 66 67 AVCC 3.0 V OUTPUT to analog circuitry
Max. 100 mA including VDD current.
GND GND 64 65 AN0 ADC CH0 INPUT
0 .. 3.0 V voltage range
GND GND 62 63 AN1 ADC CH1 INPUT
0 .. 3.0 V voltage range
GND GND 60 61 AN2 ADC CH2 INPUT
0 .. 3.0 V voltage range
Input BTN64 58 59 AN3 ADC CH3 INPUT
0 .. 3.0 V voltage range
Input BTN63 56 57 BTN1 Input
Input BTN62 54 55 BTN2 Input
Input BTN61 52 53 BTN3 Input
Input BTN60 50 51 BTN4 Input
Input BTN89 48 49 BTN5 Input
Input BTN58 46 47 BTN6 Input
Input BTN57 44 45 BTN7 Input
Input BTN56 42 43 BTN8 Input
Input BTN55 40 41 BTN9 Input
Input BTN54 38 39 BTN10 Input
Input BTN53 36 37 BTN11 Input
Input BTN52 34 35 BTN12 Input
Input BTN51 32 33 BTN13 Input
Input BTN50 30 31 BTN14 Input
Input BTN49 28 29 BTN15 Input
GND GND 26 27 BTN16 Input
Input BTN80 24 25 GND GND
Input BTN78 22 23 BTN79 Input
Input BTN76 20 21 BTN77 Input
Input BTN74 18 19 BTN75 Input
Input BTN72 16 17 BTN73 Input
Input BTN70 14 15 BTN71 Input
Input BTN68 12 13 BTN69 Input
Input BTN66 10 11 BTN67 Input
Input BTN17 8 9 BTN65 Input
Input BTN19 6 7 BTN18 Input
Input BTN32 4 5 LED1 3.0 V status LED OUTPUT
through 220 Ohm series resistor
Input BTN30 2 3 BTN20 Input
- - - 1 BTN31 Input

Right M.2 connector[edit | edit source]

Bottom side Top side
Function Signal Pin Signal Function
Input BTN28 66 67 BTN29 Input
Input BTN26 64 65 BTN27 Input
Input BTN22 62 63 BTN25 Input
Input BTN24 60 61 BTN21 Input
Do not connect - 58 59 BTN23 Input
Do not connect - 56 57 - Do not connect
Input BTN96 54 55 - Do not connect
Input BTN95 52 53 - Do not connect
Input BTN94 50 51 - Do not connect
Input BTN93 48 49 - Do not connect
Input BTN92 46 47 SLEEP BP2 module sleep status
Active LOW (BP2 sleeps)
Input BTN91 44 45 TX LEUART TX signal OUTPUT
Input BTN90 42 43 RX LEUART RX signal INPUT
Input BTN89 40 41 LED2 2nd indicator LED OUTPUT
3.0 V through 220 Ohm resistor
Input BTN88 38 39 PADDLE1 Paddle input 1 (left)
Input BTN87 36 37 PADDLE2 Paddle input 2 (right)
Input BTN86 34 35 GND GND
Input BTN85 32 33 VDD +3.0 V OUTPUT
Max. 100 mA including AVCC current.
Input BTN84 30 31 BTN33 Input
Input BTN83 28 29 BTN34 Input
Input BTN82 26 27 BTN35 Input
Input BTN81 24 25 BTN36 Input
GND GND 22 23 BTN37 Input
GND GND 20 21 BTN38 Input
LED indicator for battery charging
Connect LED Anode to BATT
LED_CHG 18 19 BTN39 Input
SWITCH_IN operating voltage input SW_IN 16 17 BTN40 Input
SW_IN 14 15 BTN41 Input
LiPO/Ion/battery positive terminal BATT 12 13 BTN42 Input
BATT 10 11 BTN43 Input
GND GND 8 9 BTN44 Input
GND 6 7 BTN45 Input
Voltage INPUT terminal
5.0 V ± 5 %
VIN 4 5 BTN46 Input
VIN 2 3 BTN47 Input
- - - 1 BTN48 Input

Resources[edit | edit source]

Footprint and 3D-model is using the following components:

Name Manufacturer MPN
M.2 connector TE Connectivity 1-2199119-5
Spacer Wurth 9774015151R
M2.5x3 screws

Technical drawing and tolerances for Wireless Wheel 2 Module footprint
Wireless Wheel 2 Module footprint and tolerances (.pdf)

Eagle library[edit | edit source]

The Eagle footprint is designed to be used with TE 1-2199119-x M.2 connector. If any other M.2 connector is used, the footprint must be corrected, as the location pins under the M.2 connector are not identical between different manufacturers and models!
Eagle library of Wireless Wheel 2 Module

3D-model[edit | edit source]

Wireless Wheel 2 Module 3D model file (.step)

Availability[edit | edit source]

Simucube Wireless Wheel 2 modules are sold to commercial sim racing steering wheel manufacturers. Contact sales@granitedevices.com for any enquiries.


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