Apex Control Innovations — Transmission Control

This wiki documents the Apex Control Innovations devices for running modern OEM automatic and dual-clutch transmissions — ZF 8HP, DCT/DKG, PDK, DQ250, and DQ500 — outside of their original vehicle environment: engine swaps, custom builds, restomods, and motorsport applications.

Two devices cover two different approaches, and both are set up with the same configuration software.

Choose your device

New to this? Start with the category pages: transmission swap controllers · ZF 8HP · BMW DCT / DKG · Porsche PDK

Which one do I need? If you want to keep the OEM transmission control unit and integrate it into a non-original vehicle, use the IOcan gateway. If you want to run the transmission without its OEM TCU, under full custom control, use the standalone transmission controller.

Standalone transmission controller

A complete transmission controller that replaces the OEM TCU and drives the transmission directly — solenoids, sensors, and speed signals. Supports ZF 8HP, DKG, PDK, DQ250, and DQ500.

• Device pinout — connector layout, inputs, outputs, and supplies

IOcan CAN gateway

A CAN gateway that keeps the OEM transmission control unit in place and recreates the OEM CAN environment it expects. Supports ZF 8HP, DKG, and PDK.

• What is IOcan? — overview, capabilities, and intended use
• Getting Started with IOcan — first power-up, the five core connections, and initial validation
• Hardware & Electrical Specifications — supply, CAN interfaces, inputs, outputs, connector, and power management
• Wiring Concepts — system architecture, vehicle/transmission CAN separation, and power sequencing
• Device pinout — main connector and terminal descriptions
• Per-transmission guides: ZF 8HP, BMW DKG, Porsche PDK — supported variants, wiring, and configuration
• BMW F30 chassis guide — worked vehicle integration example

Configuration software

Both devices are configured with the same software and share the same configuration model: inputs, controllers, CAN presets, and outputs.

• Configuration Concepts — how signals flow through the device
• The signal path — signals are assembled from generic parts rather than picked from a fixed list of slots, which is what makes an unusual engine-and-gearbox combination workable
• Configuring Inputs — every input type
• Configuring Outputs — every output type
• Ecumaster ADU with EMU Classic or Black — displaying transmission data on an Ecumaster ADU dash

Advisories

• Advisories — conditions found in the field, what causes them, and whether a fix has shipped

Owners of earlier hardware

• GCU documentation and support — support status, service, wiring and firmware for GCU hardware

Release notes

• Release Notes — firmware requirements, changes, and deprecation notices per release

Compatibility

• Supported Vehicles & Modules — engines, transmissions, shifters, dashboards, keypads, and aftermarket ECUs supported over CAN
• Supported transmissions: ZF 8HP · BMW DKG · Porsche PDK — current transmission support and status