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CAN Bus Troubleshooting with the PiCAN HATs: Why the Board Is Probably Not the Problem
The PiCAN product line has become the go-to CAN Bus interface solution for Raspberry Pi developers, system integrators, educators, and industrial engineers worldwide. From entry-level CAN Bus connectivity to advanced dual-channel CAN, CAN FD, GPS/GNSS integration, RS232, RS485, and real-time industrial networking, PiCAN boards combine robust hardware design with seamless Raspberry Pi integration. Whether you [...]
Building NMEA 2000 Devices Has Never Been Easier: Meet the Teensy 4.0 with IPS LCD and NMEA 2000 Connector
Developing NMEA 2000 devices often involves a frustrating combination of custom hardware, display integration, network connectivity, and endless testing. Many engineers and hobbyists spend more time wiring components together than actually developing their applications. The Teensy 4.0 with NMEA 2000 Connector and 240×240 IPS LCD changes that equation completely. By combining a powerful microcontroller, integrated NMEA [...]
Why the PiCAN-M with SMPS Cannot Power Raspberry Pi 5 — and the Simple Workaround
The PiCAN-M HAT from Copperhill Technologies is a specialized interface developed exclusively for marine applications and specifically targets NMEA 2000 networks. NMEA 2000 is the standard backbone for modern marine electronics, used to interconnect engines, chart plotters, sensors, and onboard monitoring systems. In its standard version without SMPS, the PiCAN-M HAT is powered directly from [...]
Adafruit HUZZAH32 ESP32 Feather Board – WiFi, Bluetooth & Battery Power for IoT Projects
The Adafruit HUZZAH32 Feather Board brings Espressif’s powerful ESP32-WROOM32 module into Adafruit’s popular Feather ecosystem. It offers built-in WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, dual-core performance, and efficient battery management — making it an excellent choice for Internet of Things (IoT) and embedded applications that demand portability, wireless communication, and reliability. Compact Power for Wireless Projects The HUZZAH32 is [...]
Testing NMEA 0183 For The PICAN-M - NMEA 0183 & NMEA 2000 HAT For Raspberry Pi
PICAN-M - NMEA 0183 & NMEA 2000 HAT For Raspberry Pi Our PICAN-M (M = Marine) is a Raspberry Pi HAT with NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 connection. The NMEA 0183 (RS422) port is accessible via a 5-way screw terminal. The NMEA 2000 port is accessible via a Micro-C connector. The board comes with a 3A SMPS [...]
Raspberry Pi PICAN2 Functionality Test With Two PICAN2 HATs
The following is yet another post on testing the PICAN2 - CAN Bus Interface for the Raspberry Pi, however, with a different approach. In this case, we utilize two identical PICAN2 boards and connect them per the CAN Bus (CAN_H to CAN_H, CAN_L to CAN_L) as shown in the image above.In the past, we have [...]
SAE J1939 Programmable Data Traffic Simulator For Generating Diesel Engine Signals (PGNs)
The following represents an update on our current development activities, in this case the jCOM.J1939 Programmable Data Traffic Simulator (a first prototype is shown in the image to the left).In short, the plan is that the device is being set up by means of a Windows software and then runs the programmed PGNs (Parameter Group [...]
CAN FD To USB Gateway Project With Teensy 3.2 And Microchip MCP2517FD CAN FD Controller
Our Teensy 3.2 With CAN FD Breakout Board provides all the components needed to create your CAN FD to USB-Micro Gateway. The board comes with the Microchip MCP2517FD CAN FD controller, while the Teensy 3.2 provides the USB connection. It also has an onboard 5 VDC regulator and reverse-voltage protection. The MCP2517FD is a cost-effective and small-footprint CAN [...]
SAE J1939 Monitor, Analyzer, And ECU Simulator For Windows - New Byte & Bit Editing Mode
The jCOM1939 Monitor Software by Copperhill Technologies is the ideal software tool for monitoring, analyzing, and simulating SAE J1939 data traffic. The program links to our jCOM.J1939.USB ECU Simulator Board that operates as an SAE J1939 to USB (or UART) gateway. This comprehensive and easy-to-use, easy-to-understand Windows software illustrates not only SAE J1939 data traffic; it also allows the [...]
Controller Area Network (CAN Bus) - Physical Layer And Bus Topology
The following is an excerpt from A Comprehensible Controller Area Network by Wilfried Voss. The ISO/OSI Reference Model specifies seven levels starting with the physical connection up to the actual user application, i.e., the Application Layer. The standard CAN Bus implementation neglects the connection between the Data Link Layer and the Application Layer to save on relevant memory resources [...]