Video summary

Best Controller For Your 3D Printer Build? (BTT Kraken)

Main summary

Key takeaways

Product Review

Product reviewed

BigTreeTech (BTT) Kraken 3D printer controller board

Key features / specs mentioned

  • Board size: 200 × 113 mm (described as a “monster of a board”)
  • MCU: STM32H7230 GT6
    • ARM Cortex-M7
    • 32-bit
    • up to 550 MHz
  • Motor drivers: 8× TMC2160
    • 4 drivers rated 24–60V, up to 8A each (for AB/A1/A2/B1/B2 in all-wheel drive setups)
    • 4 drivers rated up to 3A (with separate capacitor sizing)

Cooling

  • Large red heatsink covering the drivers
  • Individual fan connector for the 8A drivers

Capacitors

  • 8A drivers: 820 µF capacitors
  • 3A drivers: 560 µF, 80V capacitors

Power terminals / I/O

  • Motor power screw terminals
    • Separate supply option for motors; supports higher-voltage setups
  • 24V input for the controller
  • Bed SSR trigger terminals
    • Supports AC beds
    • DC 12–24V bed up to 10A
  • Heater terminals: can power up to 4 heaters
    • 12–24V, 6A each
  • 8 fan ports
    • 6× 2-pin, 2× 4-pin
    • Jumpers to set ports to 5V / 12V / 24V
    • 4-pin ports can be standard fans or used for a water cooling loop

Sensors / expansion

  • Proximity switch connection
  • Endstop ports: 8
  • NTC 100K sensor inputs: 5
  • Additional: 2 ports for PT100/PT1000 sensors (higher-accuracy, high-temp)
  • CAN ports: 2 (can-high/can-low), with mention of potential multiple CAN boards
  • Servo port: 1
  • RGB filament runout probe: 2
  • Interfaces: I2C, SPI
  • Expansion ports: 2 (implied limited by build complexity unless adding CAN boards)

Media / connectivity

  • MicroSD slot (for flashing the MCU)
  • USB-C for connecting to a Klipper host
  • Full-size USB providing 5V / 3A for Raspberry Pi / alternatives

Safety

  • Replaceable fuses behind power terminals
  • Built-in fuses and thermistor protection circuits mentioned

Firmware compatibility (as stated)

Compatible with:

  • Marlin
  • Klipper
  • Reprap wrap (“rep wrap”) firmware (like the previously discussed Leviathan)

Documentation / setup experience (pros/cons)

Pros

  • Generally good documentation compared to some other vendors
  • Covers voltage/jumper configuration
  • Includes picture examples for most ports (even if some images don’t exactly match board layout, they still help with wiring)
  • Provides Marlin and Klipper instructions
  • For Klipper, includes an example config with header coverage and pinout to get started

Cons

  • Documentation gaps for RepWrap
    • Claims compatibility, but explicitly notes there’s no rep WAP info
  • Klipper example config is generic
    • Unlike some Leviathan examples, it may require comfort editing configuration settings

Comparison made: BTT Kraken vs LDO Leviathan

What the narrator claims Kraken is better for

Kraken targets modders and high-complexity builds, due to:

  • 8 drivers
    • including four 8A-capable drivers for higher-power/all-wheel-drive needs
  • More ports overall, including CAN, water cooling hookups, and extensive I/O

Suggested use cases:

  • All-wheel drive (e.g., “VY bot,” “Hort”)
  • Voron Phoenix
  • Converting Voron to all-wheel drive

What the narrator claims Leviathan is better for

  • Smaller footprint (especially considering associated board/power/placement details)
  • If you don’t need Kraken’s extra drivers/ports, the Leviathan may be simpler/cleaner

Price / value comparison

  • Leviathan is $20 less (as stated)
  • Framing: no absolute winner
    • Kraken = maximum capability
    • Leviathan = cleaner/simple build with fewer extras

Unique points list (distinct product-related points mentioned)

  1. Kraken is a new BTT controller positioned against the LDO Leviathan
  2. Footprint: 200×113 mm
  3. STM32H7230 GT6 (Cortex-M7 @ up to 550 MHz)
  4. 8× TMC2160 motor drivers
  5. 4× 8A drivers (24–60V) for high-demand/all-wheel-drive setups
  6. 4× 3A drivers for lower-demand outputs
  7. Huge red heatsink design and fan connector per 8A driver
  8. Capacitor sizing: 820 µF (8A) and 560 µF 80V (3A)
  9. Screw terminals for motor power (separate motor PSU option)
  10. 24V input terminals for controller operation
  11. Bed trigger terminals for SSR; AC bed support; DC bed up to 10A at 12–24V
  12. Heater outputs: up to 4 heaters at 6A each, 12–24V
  13. 8 fan ports with jumpers for 5/12/24V
  14. 4-pin fan ports can support standard fans or a water cooling loop
  15. Proximity switch connection
  16. SBC connector (UART) and PS terminal for power supply relay
  17. MicroSD for MCU flashing
  18. USB-C to Klipper host; full-size USB provides 5V/3A for Raspberry Pi
  19. 8 endstop ports
  20. 5× NTC 100K sensor ports
  21. 2× PT100/PT1000 sensor ports for higher-temp accuracy
  22. Dual CAN ports (can high/can low), with ability to use multiple CAN boards
  23. Servo port and two RGB filament runout probe I/O
  24. I2C and SPI support
  25. Two expansion ports
  26. Safety features: replaceable fuses, built-in fuses, thermistor protection circuits
  27. Firmware compatibility claimed: Marlin, Klipper, and repwrap
  28. Documentation: good overall, but missing RepWrap documentation
  29. Klipper config is generic; may need comfort editing settings
  30. Kraken vs Leviathan conclusion: Kraken for complex/modded; Leviathan for compact/clean/simple
  31. Leviathan is $20 cheaper

Speakers / perspectives

  • Single main speaker: Dan (“Dan from modbot”), reviewing and comparing Kraken vs Leviathan
  • Mentions LDO Leviathan as prior reference from an earlier video (no additional speaker beyond the narrator)

Concise verdict / recommendation

Buy the BTT Kraken if you want the most feature-rich controller for complex/custom builds—especially all-wheel-drive, multi-motor setups, heavy I/O needs, CAN expansion, and water cooling integration.

Consider the LDO Leviathan instead if you need a smaller, simpler, cleaner build and don’t require Kraken’s extra drivers/ports—especially since it’s $20 cheaper.

Original video