Prius CAN Monitor and data logger for Windows PC

And even if not, it wouldn't be too difficult to just slice the wires and solder them in a different order...

 

The Multiplex cables look like they use over-molding and therefore the pins can't be extracted and reinserted easily. I would probably just purchase the cable with the loose wires on one end and rewire to the correct pin-out. However, not all of us can solder wires of small gauge.

I did get another reply from Multiplex and maybe we'll have a second interface to use someday.


Hello Glen,

The CAN232 device is more of an industrial CAN interface not an automotive CAN interface. It will work but there are some limitations on what you can do. I am hoping to get someone in the group to write a simple software program to use the Multiplex Engineering CAN interface for Prius communications. This would solve the cable problem and lower the costs to the users because the Multiplex Engineering CAN only interface costs only $82.00 (sometimes less).

I do not know of anyone making a OBD2 to DB9 with the pin out you need for the CAN232 device.

Good luck with your project!

Sincerely,

Paul Bowen
Multiplex Engineering

 

This looks very exciting. I wish I had the skills to join you.

 

Just to update this thread. I've been pondering getting a "base" model Prius instead of either "loaded" ones (in Canada we can have no options, or all options except nav - pack. "B"-, or all options including nav - pack "C"- no leather offered, and no touring). So if I got a "base", I'd want to add certain things on my own. One way to add several of these is to install a "carputer".

I just noticed ASUS is introducing the R2H - a small tablet PC. It could easily be mounted with velcro on the dash. It has built in GPS, bluetooth, wireless (a,b, and g), USB 2, can output audio (MP3 file player and GPS instructions), has a touch screen - just about everything I wanted to add to the car. It runs Windows XP, so -should- be able to run this software. Oh, and best of all it's about $700 US or $1000 Can. It can be run off 12 VDC as well.

Any idea if it would be ok with the software Ken?

 

No, unfortunately it's a 800X480 screen (WVGA).

 

konnichiwa ken@japan,

chotto onegai ga arimasu

is the beta software still available for test? or maybe there was a release? i just received a can232 and i'd like to try this out in my 2006 prius.

arigatougozaimasu!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ken1784 @ Feb 2 2007, 02:32 AM) [snapback]384695[/snapback]</div>

Ken could I try to get it running under Boot Camp?

 

just a followup message...

i received the software from ken and managed to get it working using a macbook running the latest beta of parallels. on the release version of parallels, somehow windows thought all the CAN data coming from the CAN232 was mouse or keyboard data and it totally went berzerk - menus popping up all over the place and windows opening, etc.

after upgrading though, it all worked fine for me.

OBD2 --- homemade cable --- CAN232 --- serial to usb cable --- macbook (windows XP under parallels Build 3160 RC2)

the serial/usb cable is a generic one using the prolific PL-2303 chip.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ken1784 @ Jan 31 2007, 04:44 PM) [snapback]383579[/snapback]</div>

[attachmentid=6428]

 

I would expect Boot Camp would be fine, since it's still a Windows OS. Personally, I'd only go with Parallels rather than wasting time restarting to switch operating systems.

Ken, allow me to suggest some room for improvement in the display for readability. Grouping items with similar scales (e.g. the 20, 40, 60 units) would allow the deletion of all but one copy of the numeric scale.

Another idea is to create a display similar to the way aircraft displays work. The basic "gauge" remains circular, with a pointer that moves, and a digital number inside the gauge circle. This provides the appearance of an analog sweep needle with a precise numeric value.

Something like the attached photo, though perhaps more attractive.

 

Avarage speed since or after last fuel fill-up is the only thing I would like to have.

 

Yes, Ken, I agree that there will be many designs of the visual display.

The important work of reading the data has been accomplished. Later, there could perhaps be a variety of display versions.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Stringer @ Feb 7 2007, 07:43 PM) [snapback]386716[/snapback]</div>

If that's all you desire, it looks like Scangauge would work well for you.

http://www.scangauge.com/

-Stepclimb

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rick Auricchio @ Feb 4 2007, 11:51 AM) [snapback]385199[/snapback]</div>

Potentially a LabVIEW application although the run time module is huge

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nicos @ Feb 21 2007, 12:09 AM) [snapback]393740[/snapback]</div>

Labview is a very heavy program to run on a small portable device; a LARGE company already developed an internal interface under the Labview's code for Hybrids vehicles ( an owner/engineer has a Prius) and their price is in the order of few thousands $$$ for the soft alone, on top of that we have to provide/buy certified hardware to make things happy. I researched on this mater well over 8 months ago.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(glenk @ Nov 27 2006, 01:31 PM) [snapback]354552[/snapback]</div>

The CAN232 and CAN-USB use the CiA DS102-1 pin assignments for their DB9 connectors to the CAN Bus. Googling "CAN bus DS102-1" turns up this as the eighth link:

http://www.computer-solutions.co.uk/gendev/can-cables.htm

The third cable on this page is labeled "Converts the 9-pin Sub-D socket (to CiA DS102-1) to the OBD-2 connector". This product is the "PEAK System Technik OBD-2 / D-SUB IPEK-003004".

I bought one of these PEAK cables and a CAN-USB, connected them to each other, to the Prius, and to my laptop. It seems to work! I installed the VCP driver for the CAN-USB (since that's what PCM will want) and ran the CAN232 Monitor demo program from the CAN232 site. After a little tinkering with the settings, I was able to get data that looked good out of the CAN232 program. There's a steady stream of packets when the car is powered off, and when it's powered on, the packets start appearing at a much greater rate. I can't visually decode the packets, of course, but I think the fact that I'm seeing packets at all means that electrically everything is happy.

(By the way, along the way I accidentally set the CAN-USB to use a low data rate on the CAN bus and the car got very unhappy. Don't do this -- use 500 KB/sec instead. Various error lights and error messages showed up on the car. Power cycling the car a few times got rid of most of this, though the check engine light is still on. Once I fixed the CAN data rate, everything was happy, and the car will still drive properly.)

I don't have a copy of the Prius CAN Monitor yet, but I'm looking forward to trying it out as soon as I can get ahold of a copy.