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Leo Bodnar Electronics · diy board
BU0836X Joystick Interface (push-in connectors)
DIY helm builders who want the proven Bodnar axis-and-button board but prefer solderless push-in wiring to a soldering iron.
~$77 approx 2026 price (GBP 59.99, ~$77 USD before shipping)
The solderless big brother of the BU0836A — the same proven Leo Bodnar interface behind most DIY ship-helm builds, but with push-in wire terminals so you can wire pots, switches and encoders with no soldering iron at all. It gives you 8 analog axes at 12-bit resolution (4096 steps each) for two throttles, a wheel and a thruster, plus 32 buttons, up to 16 encoders and an 8-way hat. Plug-and-play HID on Windows, Mac and Linux, no drivers. For a marine builder this is the one-board answer to the full Bridge Command recipe (three 10k pots plus a horn button) without touching solder. The honest caveat: it's pricier than the BU0836A you'd solder yourself, and you still fabricate the enclosure, levers and friction.
Buy with confidence
This is one of the cleaner buys in its lane if the price and platform fit your setup.
Known caution: Pricier than the solder-it-yourself BU0836A for the same core capabilityIgnitionSim is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you — it never changes our verdict or your price. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Specs
| analogInputs | 8 axes, 12-bit (4096 steps each) |
|---|---|
| digitalInputs | 32 buttons; up to 16 rotary encoders |
| hat | 1 POV hat, 8 directions |
| drivers | None required (Windows/Mac/Linux plug-and-play) |
| connection | USB Type B, full-speed |
| size | ~123 x 49.5 x 16.1 mm |
| marineRole | Solderless DIY helm + throttle + switch interface |
Pros
- Push-in connectors — wire the full Bridge Command helm recipe with zero soldering
- 8 analog axes plus 32 buttons covers twin throttles, wheel, thruster and a panel on one board
- Driver-free HID on Windows, Mac and Linux
Cons
- Pricier than the solder-it-yourself BU0836A for the same core capability
- You still build the enclosure, levers, friction and panel
- Ships from the UK, so add shipping and lead time
Common questions
BU0836X or BU0836A for a DIY helm?
Same core capability — 8 axes, 32 buttons, 12-bit. The X uses solderless push-in connectors and costs a bit more; the A is cheaper but you solder. Pick the X if you'd rather not solder.
Can the BU0836X run a twin-throttle ship build?
Yes — its 8 analog axes easily cover two throttles, a wheel and a bow thruster, with 32 buttons left over for horn, lights and bridge commands.
Does the BU0836X need drivers or software?
No. It's a native HID joystick on Windows, Mac and Linux — plug it in and your pots and switches read as real axes and buttons immediately.
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