Minn Kota PowerDrive Control Boards: What’s the Difference?
Choosing a Minn Kota PowerDrive control board takes more than matching the motor name. Voltage, model generation and steering-system configuration determine which replacement to consider.
Lakeside Marine & Service is a Minn Kota Authorized Service Center. This guide brings together replacement-part information and the wiring distinctions explained below to help you choose the correct board.
Technical guidance from Clint Sands: Clint is the owner of Lakeside Marine & Service, has worked in the marine industry since 1999, and has more than 15 years of experience repairing Minn Kota trolling motors. He is factory trained by Minn Kota.
This main guide covers 2007-to-present PowerDrive models. Individual board year ranges and configurations still apply. Have a 2001–2006 PowerDrive V1? Jump to discontinued parts and upgrade options.
Compare PowerDrive Control Boards 2884055, 2884056, 2884057 and 2884058
| Part number and photo | Voltage | Original non-GPS steering configuration | Listed model years |
|---|---|---|---|
 2884055 |
12V | Without AutoPilot | 2007–present |
 2884056 |
24V | Without AutoPilot | 2007–present |
 2884057 |
12V | With AutoPilot | 2007–2023 |
 2884058 |
24V | With AutoPilot | 2007–2023 |
These groupings reflect our product listings for PowerDrive PD/V2/BT and Riptide SP applications. Confirm your exact model, serial number, existing board number and equipment before ordering, especially near a generation change.
GPS-equipped exception: On the applicable i-Pilot, i-Pilot Link and Advanced GPS-equipped PowerDrive models covered here, either board style can work when matched to the correct voltage. The GPS head controls steering instead of the main board’s steering circuit. Read the GPS-equipped board note below.
12 volts versus 24 volts
The 2884055 and 2884057 are the 12-volt choices. The 2884056 and 2884058 are the 24-volt choices.
Use thrust as a cross-check
Our listings associate the 12-volt boards with 40-, 45-, 50- and 55-pound-thrust PowerDrive models, and the 24-volt boards with 65-, 68-, 70- and 80-pound-thrust models. Verify your motor’s actual voltage and model information rather than selecting by thrust alone.
A different-voltage board is not a direct replacement. A board swap alone should not be treated as a complete voltage conversion.
How to tell whether your PowerDrive has original AutoPilot
Look for the button on top of the control head
Original AutoPilot-equipped PowerDrive models have a button on top of the control head that you press to engage or disengage AutoPilot. This is the simplest external check before comparing internal wiring.
Original AutoPilot hardware is different from an AutoPilot function on an i-Pilot, i-Pilot Link or Advanced GPS remote. On those GPS-equipped motors, either main-board style can work at the correct voltage because steering comes from the GPS head. Extra unused AutoPilot leads do not, by themselves, indicate an incorrect board.
Wiring identification examples: 2884055 (12V) and 2884058 (24V). Verify the part number and motor voltage separately. Arrows identify wire groups, not installation connections. GPS-equipped motors may leave these steering-related leads unused.
Without AutoPilot: steering wires connect directly to the main board
On conventional non-GPS PowerDrive models using 2884055 or 2884056, the steering motor’s black and white wires connect directly to the main control board. This steering circuit does not use an AutoPilot compass or sensor board.
With AutoPilot: steering wires connect through the sensor board
On original non-GPS AutoPilot PowerDrive models using 2884057 or 2884058, a compass connects to a separate sensor board inside the motor head.
Brown, yellow, green and red wires connect the main control board to that sensor board through the coil cord. The steering motor’s black and white wires connect to the sensor board instead of directly to the main control board.
The additional yellow and green loose leads are useful visual clues in the AutoPilot board photographs. Do not confuse those loose leads with the small colored wires inside the round-connector cable, which appears on both board styles.
| Check | Non-AutoPilot configuration | Original AutoPilot configuration |
|---|---|---|
| External control | No original AutoPilot head button | Engage/disengage button on top of head |
| Steering motor black/white wires | Connect directly to main board | Connect to sensor board in head |
| Compass and sensor board | Not used in steering circuit | Located inside head |
| Main board to sensor board | No sensor-board connection | Brown, yellow, green and red wires through coil cord |
View the full-size Non-AutoPilot wiring diagram or Original AutoPilot wiring diagram (opens in a new tab). These are universal multi-voltage diagrams. They explain wiring configuration, not whether an individual replacement board is 12 or 24 volts. GPS-equipped motors use the GPS head for steering rather than the conventional steering circuits described here. Disconnect battery power before inspecting internal wiring. Contact us if you need assistance rather than guessing at connections.
i-Pilot, i-Pilot Link and Advanced GPS: either board style can work
If you are replacing the main control board on an i-Pilot, i-Pilot Link or Advanced GPS-equipped PowerDrive, you may find an AutoPilot-version board with its extra wires not connected to anything. Minn Kota used AutoPilot-version main boards in some model years of these GPS-equipped motors, so unused AutoPilot leads can be normal.
On these equipped motors, the main control board’s steering circuit is not used. Steering comes from the i-Pilot, i-Pilot Link or Advanced GPS head instead. For the applicable PowerDrive models in this guide, either the non-AutoPilot or AutoPilot main board will work as long as the board is the proper voltage.
For 12-volt applications, the choices compared here are 2884055 without AutoPilot or 2884057 with AutoPilot. For 24-volt applications, they are 2884056 without AutoPilot or 2884058 with AutoPilot.
This exception applies to GPS-head-controlled steering, not to a motor retaining the original compass/sensor-board AutoPilot system. Do not connect unused leads based solely on their color. Confirm your motor’s generation, voltage and actual equipment before ordering.
What if the original AutoPilot sensor board has failed?
The original AutoPilot sensor board in the control head has been discontinued. This is a separate component from the main control boards compared above. Replacing an AutoPilot-version main board alone will not restore AutoPilot if the head’s sensor board has failed.
One option is to convert the motor to non-AutoPilot operation by changing the main control board to the correct non-AutoPilot version for its voltage and configuring the steering wiring accordingly. For the applicable 2007-to-present models in this guide, the non-AutoPilot boards are 2884055 for 12 volts and 2884056 for 24 volts. With the conversion completed correctly and the rest of the motor in working order, the motor can operate without the original AutoPilot features. Contact us to confirm the parts and configuration before ordering.
To regain AutoPilot functionality after failure of the discontinued original sensor board, upgrade to Advanced GPS. This adds much more than heading control, including Spot-Lock, app control and additional navigation features. Available functions depend on the selected remote and compatible equipment; some features require a compatible Humminbird and additional connections.
- 2007–2016 PowerDrive V2 Advanced GPS upgrade kit
- 2017-to-present PowerDrive Advanced GPS upgrade kit
Choose the kit for your motor’s generation. With Advanced GPS controlling steering, either main-board style can work at the correct voltage as explained above. Owners of 2001–2006 V1 motors should use the V1 upgrade information below.
Previously upgraded motors need an extra check
For a converted motor, confirm its voltage, generation and actual control system rather than relying solely on its head cover or original equipment. An original AutoPilot-version main board with unused leads can remain compatible when steering is handled by an i-Pilot, i-Pilot Link or Advanced GPS head.
Superseded PowerDrive control board numbers
Your original board may carry an older number that has been replaced by a current part number.
| Current replacement | Superseded part numbers |
|---|---|
| 2884055 | 2304046, 2304055, 2304060, 2304064, 2884046 |
| 2884056 | 2304047, 2304056, 2304061, 2304065, 2884047 |
| 2884057 | 2304048, 2304057, 2304062, 2304066 |
| 2884058 | 2304023, 2304049, 2304058, 2304063, 2304067 |
Check these numbers alongside the motor configuration, especially if it has been modified.
What to check before ordering
- Record your motor’s model and serial number.
- Confirm its voltage.
- Check for the original AutoPilot button on top of the control head, and identify whether steering is controlled by an i-Pilot, i-Pilot Link or Advanced GPS head instead.
- Identify the existing control board number and confirm steering-wire routing if needed.
- Account for previous upgrades and verify compatible control options.
Get help choosing the right PowerDrive board
Lakeside Marine & Service is a Minn Kota Authorized Service Center. We can help compare your motor information with the replacement options before you order.
Text 815 246 2535 with your model and serial number, existing board number and photos, or email support@lakesidemarineandservice.com.
Use our Minn Kota parts diagrams to help identify parts for your motor.
2001–2006 PowerDrive V1: discontinued parts and upgrade options
The original control boards and foot pedals for 2001–2006 Minn Kota PowerDrive V1 motors have been discontinued, but that does not mean you have to replace the entire trolling motor.
These motors can be upgraded to current PowerDrive control boards with a compatible upgrade kit. The existing V1 foot pedal will not work with the newer control board, so the upgrade needs to include a compatible control option rather than just a board replacement.
Keep foot-pedal control or upgrade to Advanced GPS
You can choose a configuration for compatible foot-pedal operation, retain an existing original AutoPilot setup where applicable, or upgrade to Advanced GPS. The Advanced GPS option adds GPS-based control, including Spot-Lock. Select the kit voltage and control options to match your motor and the way you want to operate it.
If retaining original AutoPilot, the AutoPilot kit option does not include a replacement compass and sensor board. If the original sensor board has failed, it has been discontinued; choose a non-AutoPilot conversion to operate without that feature, or an Advanced GPS upgrade to regain AutoPilot functionality.
Explore the PowerDrive V1 control board upgrade kit for 2304043 and 2304045 applications, or text Lakeside Marine & Service at 815 246 2535 for help choosing the correct configuration.
Frequently Asked Questions About Minn Kota PowerDrive Control Boards
What is the difference between Minn Kota 2884055 and 2884057?
Both are 12-volt PowerDrive main control boards. The 2884055 is the non-AutoPilot version; the 2884057 supports the original AutoPilot configuration, which uses a separate sensor board in the head. On applicable GPS-equipped models, either style can work at the correct voltage because the GPS head controls steering. Confirm model-year fitment before ordering.
What is the difference between Minn Kota 2884056 and 2884058?
Both are 24-volt PowerDrive main control boards. The 2884056 is the non-AutoPilot version, while the 2884058 supports the original AutoPilot configuration. Their listed model-year ranges differ, so check the comparison table and your motor’s identification. On applicable GPS-equipped motors, either style can work at the correct voltage because steering comes from the GPS head.
Can I use a Minn Kota AutoPilot control board on a motor with i-Pilot?
Yes, on the applicable PowerDrive models covered in this guide, an AutoPilot-version main board can work with i-Pilot when its voltage is correct. Some model years used AutoPilot boards with extra leads left disconnected. The same steering distinction applies to i-Pilot Link and Advanced GPS: the GPS head controls steering, not the main board’s steering circuit.
How do I know if my Minn Kota PowerDrive has AutoPilot?
Original AutoPilot-equipped PowerDrive models have an engage/disengage button on top of the control head. Inside the head, a compass connects to a sensor board, and the steering motor connects to that sensor board. An AutoPilot function on a GPS remote is different. Previously upgraded motors need their actual equipment checked, not just their head cover.
Are Minn Kota PowerDrive 12V and 24V control boards interchangeable?
No. A replacement main control board must match the motor’s voltage. In this comparison, 2884055 and 2884057 are 12-volt boards; 2884056 and 2884058 are 24-volt boards. The GPS-equipped exception concerns AutoPilot versus non-AutoPilot board styles at the same voltage. It does not make 12-volt and 24-volt boards interchangeable.
What control board replaces a discontinued Minn Kota PowerDrive board?
The replacement depends on the old part number, motor generation, voltage and steering configuration. For example, 2304055 is superseded by 2884055, while 2304058 is superseded by 2884058. Use the complete supersession table above. Older V1 boards such as 2304043 and 2304045 require the compatible upgrade path rather than assuming a newer board is a stand-alone replacement.
Can I upgrade an older PowerDrive V1 motor to use a newer control board?
Yes. The 2001–2006 PowerDrive V1 motors discussed here can use a compatible upgrade kit to move to current PowerDrive control boards. The original V1 foot pedal will not work with the newer board. Choose a compatible control option, including foot-pedal operation or Advanced GPS, and match the kit to your motor’s voltage and configuration.
How do I find the correct Minn Kota PowerDrive control board for my trolling motor?
Start with your motor’s model and serial number, voltage, existing board number, and actual steering system. Identify whether it retains original AutoPilot or uses i-Pilot, i-Pilot Link or Advanced GPS. Check previous upgrades and the supersession table. Text Lakeside Marine & Service at 815-246-2535 with those details and photos for help before ordering.
Ready to replace your Minn Kota PowerDrive control board? Shop the replacement boards linked above or text Lakeside Marine & Service at 815-246-2535 with your model and serial number for expert fitment assistance.