CAN BUS LOGGER - INSTRUCTIONS MANUAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The following images depict the connectors on the "CAN Bus Logger".
The USB mini-B connector on the device serves dual purposes: it can provide power to the unit or connect the unit to a Windows PC for configuring its settings.
The push button on the device serves the following purposes:
Starting/stopping logging data to the SD card.
Entering into "configuration" mode.
The push button on the device is utilized to initiate and halt the logging of CAN Bus messages onto the SD card. When the device is initially powered on, logging messages are disabled, and the push button must be pressed and released once for the CAN Bus logger to start recording the messages onto the SD card. The same button can also be used to stop logging messages.
The primary function of this push button is to allow the customer to halt the writing of messages to the SD card before removing it.
🗒 It is highly recommended to stop logging data before removing the micro SD card.
To enter the configuration mode, the push button must be pressed while the device is being powered on.
The "CAN Bus Logger" has three external LEDs to indicate status and faults. These LEDs are:
Device status.
CAN Bus activity.
SD Card activity.
These three LEDs indicate the following device statuses:
Device off:
Device status is off.
CAN Bus activity is off.
SD Card activity is off.
Device on, Logging off:
Device status is on.
CAN Bus activity flashes based on the received CAN Bus messages.
SD Card activity is off.
Device on, Logging on:
Device status on
CAN Bus activity flashes based on the received CAN Bus messages
SD Card activity flashes based on the writing activity of the SD Card
Device on, CAN Bus fault:
Device status flashes
CAN Bus activity is on
SD Card activity is off
Device on, SD Card fault:
Device status flashes
CAN Bus activity is off
SD Card activity is on
It is important to note that if any of these statuses occur, the device may require attention to resolve the issue.
The device features a push-push micro SD card socket that can accept micro SD cards of up to 32GB, formatted under FAT-32.
The 4 ways pluggable terminal block connector (Farnell Order Code: 3705018) is used to connect the CAN Bus (CAN-H and CAN-L) and the power supply voltage.
The CAN Bus termination resistor can be connected or disconnected using the switch on the front panel of the device. When the switch is locked, the termination resistor is connected.
The "CAN Bus Logger" can be set up by connecting it to a Windows PC using the configuration tool provided by Diagonal Systems. The image below displays the "Diagonal Systems - CAN Bus Logger Configuration Tool" for Windows.
The first step in connecting the "CAN Bus Logger" to the configuration tool is to put it in "Configuration Mode." This is achieved by pressing the push button while turning on the device. Once the device is in this mode, the user can click the "Search Device" button in the program to search for available units connected to the PC. The program will then display a list of serial numbers of the units that are connected via USB. Finally, the user can select the desired unit from the list and connect to it by clicking the "Connect" button.
The configuration parameters for the "CAN Bus Logger" are straightforward and can be easily customized to meet specific requirements. You can set the CAN Bus baud rate from a range of speeds including 20, 33.333, 45, 50, 80, 90, 100, 250, 500, 800, 1000 kbps. Additionally, you can choose between two operating modes: Normal and Silent. In Normal Mode, the unit will function as another device connected to the CAN Bus and will respond with the ACK bit for every CAN Bus message received. In Silent Mode, the unit will not send the ACK bit and will be as if it is not connected to the CAN Bus network.
Another important parameter is the frequency of creating new files on the SD Card, which can be set to Hourly, Daily, Weekly, or Monthly. The device also allows you to set daylight saving time and determine when the logging should start, either automatically on power-up or through the push button. In the event of a power cycle while logging, the Recovering Logging feature ensures that the device will automatically resume logging data after power has been restored.
Finally, the "Write Config" and "Read Config" buttons are used to program and receive the configured parameters from the device.
The “CAN Bus Logger” has the ability to log only specific CAN Bus IDs by programming its internal memory flash with the desired IDs. This is done by connecting the device to the configuration tool and entering the desired IDs into the tool. The IDs are then sent to the device, which stores them in its internal flash memory. This means that the IDs will not be lost even if the SD Card is removed. The "CAN Bus Logger" supports up to 140 ID filters, which allows for customization of the data that is logged.
The “CAN Bus Logger” writes the data of the CAN Bus network into SD Card as a “.can” extension files. These files contain the RAW data of the network, including date, time and timestamp. The “Diagonal Systems – CAN Bus Logger Configuration Tool” needs to be used in order to convert the “.can” files into “Comma-Separated Values” files.
The “Comma-Separated Values” files are plain text files which contain values separated by commas. These files can be edited with a word processor, note editor or imported to a spreadsheet editor. The header of the logging files contains general information from the device and its configuration. It also describes each of the columns on the file.
To update the firmware on the device, the customer can download the "Device Firmware Update" Windows program and the latest available firmware for the "CAN Bus Logger" from www.diagonalsystems.co.uk.
The first step to update the firmware is to enter the "bootloader mode" on the device. To do this, the push button must be held down while the device is powered on via USB to the PC.
Once the device is in "bootloader mode," the PC program can search and connect to it by clicking the "Search Device" button. If necessary, the device information can be read and displayed on the program. The new firmware can be loaded into the "Device Firmware Update" Windows program, and then loaded into the unit by clicking the "Update Firmware" button. It is recommended to erase the previous firmware programmed on the unit or the application.
The device will organize the logging files into folders, named based on the year, month, and day (CANlog/YYMMDD/) programmed into the internal Real Time Clock. For example, if the device starts logging data on April 24th, 2017, it will log the files inside the folder 'CANlog/170424/'. Similarly, the files will be named based on the hour, minute, and second that each file is created (HHMMSS.can) with the ".can" extension.
To convert the ".can" files to ".csv", the "Diagonal Systems – CAN Bus Logger Configuration Tool" program will be required.
The "CAN Bus Logger" can be configured to start logging data either every time it is powered on or only when the push button is pressed. Additionally, it can be configured to resume logging data when power is restored in case it was logging when the power was lost. The diagram below illustrates the behaviour of the device when it is powered on.
The Diagonal Systems "CAN Bus Logger" is able to replay previously logged CAN bus messages from the SD card. To replay the CAN bus messages, the device needs to know which file to repeat. In this case, the customer needs to plug the SD card into a computer or smartphone, copy the file to be repeated to the "CANLog" folder and rename it to "repeat.can". Once the file is in the correct folder with the correct name, the "CAN Bus Logger" will start sending the CAN bus messages contained in the file after pressing and holding the push button for more than 2 seconds.
🗒 The repeater functionality will not be available in "Configuration Mode".
The device has an internal 1220 coin cell battery to keep the internal Real Time Clock running when it is not powered. The real time clock has been pre-programmed at the factory and its battery should only be replaced if the date and time recorded in the log files is incorrect.
To replace the coin cell battery, follow these steps:
Remove the screws on the bottom of the unit.
Remove the old coin cell battery.
Place the new coin cell battery with the correct orientation, as indicated by the image.
Reassemble the unit and screw it back together.
Reprogram the real time clock calendar using the "Diagonal Systems - CAN Bus Logger Configuration Tool" Windows program.
⚠ The positive side of the battery must face up. Also, be careful not to short the new coin cell terminals, as this may cause the battery to discharge or overheat.