Sim-Lab DDS26 and DDS39 Now Available for Pre-order: 39 Nm and 350 V Under the Hood
Quick summary· AI-generated
Sim-Lab's entry into direct-drive wheelbases focuses on a 350-volt internal power architecture, a significant departure from the industry-standard 48-volt designs. The DDS39 delivers 39 Nm (exceeding the Simucube 3 Ultimate's 35 Nm) with a 2,500 W integrated power supply, while the DDS26 offers 26 Nm with 1,500 W. The higher voltage margin enables faster direction changes and instant current delivery during transitions, though the trade-off is a heavier wheelbase (13.5 kg and 11.1 kg respectively) with all power electronics built-in. The technical work is handled by Italian specialist SOLO Motorcontrollers; Sim-Lab provided specs and the quick-release mechanism.
Excerpt from Sim Racing Nerd
Sim-Lab has opened pre-orders for its first two direct-drive wheelbases, and the specs are impressive: 39 Nm for the DDS39 at 1,999 euros, more than the 35 Nm advertised by the Simucube 3 Ultimate, and 26 Nm for the DDS26 at 1,499 euros. The real story, however, lies elsewhere. Both wheelbases run on a 350-volt internal bus, whereas virtually all high-end models make do with 48 volts, and this choice explains almost everything else in their spec sheets.
What the 350 V Really Changes
Specifically, this bus delivers 25 A on the DDS26 and 40 A on the DDS39. If you come across the names DD26 and DD39, they refer to the same machines: the manufacturer alternates between the two spellings on its own website.
The brand’s explanation boils down to one concept: the voltage margin. When the motor spins fast, it generates a back-EMF that increases with speed, and a controller can only supply current if it remains above that level. At 48 V, torque at low speeds is achieved by supplying a high current, but the reserve is depleted sooner and transitions slow down. With 350 V, there’s enough headroom left to push current instantly when the wheel changes direction. Sim-Lab presents this as a trade-off, not an advantage: faster transients, but a significantly larger power supply.
For a brand that sells aluminum profile frames and just about everything that bolts onto them, this is a clear shift in direction. Sim-Lab didn’t go it alone: the technical side isn’t handled by Sim-Lab but by SOLO Motorcontrollers, an Italian specialist in motor control. Sim-Lab provided the specifications, the passthrough, and the quick-release mechanism; production takes place in Italy. The same industrial ethos is evident in the technical specifications: an industrial-grade SPMSM brushless motor and STO (safe torque off) as standard features, a rarity in consumer-grade equipment. Both wheelbases were already on display at the SimRacing Expo in October 2025.
Direct consequence: the power supply goes inside the wheelbase
That large power supply had to go somewhere. Sim-Lab explains that for power ratings above 500 to 600 W, there are no suitable consumer-grade external power supplies available, only bulky, noisy industrial units. So everything is built-in: 1,500 W peak on the DDS26, 2,500 W on the DDS39, with a single 110/240 VAC mains connection.
The price you pay shows up on the scales: 11.1 kg and 13.5 kg. In exchange, you get a single cable and no external box to hide under the…
Comments (0)
No comments yet.