CAN bus to USB - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Jeroen3
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2015, 08:00:41 pm
content: Does anyone know of any reliable CAN bus to USB interfaces?I want to build my own application around it, so the api must be available.Currently I have ADFweb HD67390's, but they can only do a maximum of 25kbaud (2 kBps) of actual bridging. A little poor, don't you think?I'm investigating possibilities for a CAN bootloader, but at 25kbaud flashing (max) 1MB is going to take "forever". (~10minutes)Although, you can load to multiple devices at once. But that will require some more advanced bootloader on-target.Compared to 1 Mbaud uart, which will take 10 seconds, excluding overhead.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 07, 2015, 08:08:52 pm
content: Quote from: Jeroen3 on April 07, 2015, 08:00:41 pmI have one of these:http://www.can232.com/?page_id=16Works very well, is quite mature, and the company has been consistently updating the firmware over the lifetime of the product.It has both a virtual serial port interface and a direct API (for faster speeds). I am quite happy with it.I believe I purchased it from here, as they had it in stock:http://www.equinox-tech.com/products/manufacturer.asp?ID=15Received in California 2 days after order was placed.

author: max_torque
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2015, 09:26:01 pm
content: I use these:http://www.peak-system.com/PCAN-USB.199.0.html?&L=1Cheap(ish), reliable, and has a free "API" for numerous languages/platforms

author: TwinScroll
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2015, 09:40:16 pm
content: Another one to consider :::http://www.cananalyser.co.ukVery good support from the developer.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2015, 10:08:02 pm
content: FTDI's Easysync division do a few :http://www.easysync-ltd.com/category/123/canbus-solutions.html

author: Jeroen3
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2015, 05:38:57 am
content: I forgot to mention it has to be isolated.The CANUSB mentions in their manual they can only sustain 125kb for a short time.

author: aiq25
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2015, 05:23:43 pm
content: If you want to go Open Source you could use the USBtin. Although I tried to build the circuit and couldn't get it work. I ended up making a simple device using a PIC and CP2102 module from eBay, it was for a class and it worked very well for my needs. The USBtin would need some modifications in my opinion, look at the schematic.http://www.fischl.de/usbtin/

author: Jeroen3
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2015, 07:00:32 pm
content: Open Source is typically very far away from begin user friendly. As are some proprietary solutions.Using custom USB drivers and other non-signed stuff. Remember that all "users" are using Microsoft by default.The HD67390's from ADFweb use FTDI chips which auto-install on almost every workstation on the planet.

author: rollatorwieltje
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 08, 2015, 09:21:04 pm
content: At work we use IXXAT USB-CAN Compact adapters, they work fine and can handle up to 1 mbit. It comes with a C and C# api. It can also report CANbus errors properly (instead of just saying "screw you, its broken"), which is useful for debugging purposes. They are quite expensive though, I though they were in the order of 200 euro.

author: veeev
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 09, 2015, 04:51:36 pm
content: I have this one:http://www.kreatives-chaos.com/artikel/can-debugger(Sorry, it's in German).It uses the documented Lawicel protocol or a simple shell interface.CAN is galvanically isolated, a termination resistor may be activated via shell interface.I used it to communicate with my CAN-based home automation system. Hasn't disappointed me for 6 years by now.

author: Christopher
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2015, 06:39:05 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on April 07, 2015, 10:08:02 pmI have used the isolated version of this in an install and it works great. Easy USB/Serial interface

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2015, 07:25:40 pm
content: i know a placethat uses this :http://www.gemac-chemnitz.de/en/products/can-diagnostic-systems/can-bus-tester

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2015, 07:35:19 pm
content: To be fair Vince, you use it every day at work............It can even change the radio volume for you.

author: Kohanbash
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2015, 07:41:48 pm
content: Quote from: max_torque on April 07, 2015, 09:26:01 pmThere is an isolated version of this one (that costs more). I also use the PCAN-USB. The hardware is pretty good. The software is average and gives basic read and writing of CAN messages.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2015, 08:39:44 pm
content: Quote from: Jeroen3 on April 08, 2015, 07:00:32 pmStill I would look for a solution which doesn't use FTDI or any other serial bridge chips. There is no reason why not to use a controller which has USB and CAN so you can have a CDC serial class device. That way the baudrate doesn't matter; the only limit is the 12Mbit USB provides.

author: Christopher
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2015, 09:49:30 pm
content: It's much easier (probably) to isolate uart serial than canbus.You could roll your own but the solutions here are good enough

author: Jeroen3
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2015, 08:01:28 am
content: I could run my own. Maybe I would, just because I can. For self-training purposes, I've never done anything with USB vcom other than 115200-8N1.Isolating CAN is cheaper. You'd only need a few 10's mW of isolated power and two channels. Instead of 4 channels (rx/tx/cts/rts) and (several) 100mW of isolated power.You isolate can before the transceiver.

author: Mad ID
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2015, 10:15:51 pm
content: Quote from: Jeroen3 on April 07, 2015, 08:00:41 pmI use PCAN from peak system, very good. They provide API.

author: Jeroen3
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2015, 07:09:57 am
content: To make it even worse. The converter I'm currently using does not default to passive.So when plugged in, it destroys 90% of the frames.Edit: This problem has been fixed in a firmware update.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2015, 01:37:53 am
content: I got recently 4 of these prototype boards:CY8CKIT-059 PSoC® 5LP Prototyping Kithttp://www.cypress.com/?rid=108038Have not played with the CAN bus but it's supported provided you use CAN transceivers for the differential signal.Link to prototype chip details and datasheet:http://www.cypress.com/?mpn=CY8C5888LTI-LP097CAN docs:http://www.cypress.com/?docID=19093http://ia700402.us.archive.org/2/items/CanBusInPsoc5_482/CanBusInPsocReport.pdfBut I have no experience at all with CAN so not sure if it will fit your needs.

author: kaz911
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2015, 03:58:50 am
content: Quote from: Jeroen3 on April 07, 2015, 08:00:41 pmThe gold standard being used by a lot of companies as OEM is kvaser. And by gold standard I mean they are not cheap - but comes with free API and inspection tool.http://www.kvaser.com/- Some of the OEMs that use them are Mercruiser, Navico (Simrad), MasterVolt CZone and others. (I know the before mentioned as I work with Marine stuff) - I picked mine up cheap on eBay...They just launched an Ethernet <-> CAN adaptor as well.

author: Jeroen3
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2015, 11:33:17 am
content: I've bought a kvaser leaf. Overall first impresssion is great.- They are the only one to specify (or brag about) the maximum number of frames per second.- They claim 1 driver to rule them all.- They explain CAN bus on their website. So at least someone they hired knows stuff.- They sell bare boards similar to the USB dongle.- Their CANking tool works nice. Looks feature packed.- Virtual can networks.- Multiple application on 1 piece of interface hardware.However:- It isn't fully plug&play, a 7 MB driver installer for windows is required. But maybe that is not actually needed when deploying custom application using kvaser drivers.- Not a fan of the DB9 connector. But oldhabitsstandards die hard.As I'm seeing now, with CANKing, I'm able to generate 90% of 250kb bus with random frames.

author: kaz911
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2015, 11:12:20 am
content: Cool - let us know how you get on

author: Jeroen3
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2015, 12:07:31 pm
content: I forgot. I quickly made this based on earlier attempts with different interfaces to determine if the api is worth it.https://github.com/Jeroen6/QtKvaserIt is. You'll need 1 dll, and there is only 1 driver to install for all kvaser devices.You can install the driver yourself, they share the .sys/.inf files. But you can also call the installer (8MB) from your application. With arguments to opt-out or run in the background.The api seems quite large. But I got it working with the basics.For more elaborate applications you might be interested in filters and callbacks or events.And you can actually connect 2 sessions to 1 interface. Just be aware that both can't be used to initialize the bus parameters.I also contacted them to ask if they have DIN Rail solutions. They don't have now, but will have in the future.

author: kaz911
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2015, 02:47:09 pm
content: I mainly use mine for reverse engineering the protocolsand then I have a TI based launchpad board with my own CAN bus design on top working with the protocols. There are about 9 different "non-standard" marine CAN networks + NMEA 2000...Quote from: Jeroen3 on June 03, 2015, 12:07:31 pm