CAN-BUS Datalogger for Vectrix

I'm using a similar type of CAN shield with Leonardo MCU.

Not sure about distributing the source yet, im just focusing on reading and analyzing the CAN data stream besides outputting the raw data output.
Although I can control almost all instrument lights and symbols and fuel gauge on the dash as we speak.

I did make some progress on the CAN-analyser which ended up in a Vectrix VX1 'Expansion Box' as I will call it.

It's a plug-and-play box which attaches to the CAN socket inside the glovebox. No soldering or additional wiring needed.

After plugging in the box what it does is this:

- It shows an accurate Ah counter on the center odometer when driving faster then 5kmh
- Ah counter value is stored in memory
- Ah counter is user resettable
- Bus voltage is shown on left trip/odometer when driving faster then 5km
- Adjustable maximum battery Ah from 0Ah - 99Ah by using brake handles and kill-switch
- Fuel gauge is showing appropriate values according to measured Ah counter versus set Ah maximum.
- Software in box is user updatable
- Box has USB interface and can provide diagnostic information about the Vectrix

This works with every type of charger/motorcontroller/firmware/battery

I'm still working/expanding on this project but if someone is interested I'll be happy to sell you one for just $45,-

Made a small update on the 'Expension Box' aka Ah counter:

- 'Ah Used' is calculated as Ah drawn from the battery minus the Ah regenerated into the battery
- when driving faster then 5kmh the 'Ah Used' is shown on center dash
- when driving faster then 5kmh AND in regen mode (braking with throttle) the 'Ah Regen' is shown with the '-' minus sign

Just another update on the 'Expension Box' (I think I can say it has superseded the name/function of 'data-logger' ):

The left ODO/TRIPmeter can now show following items:
- ODOmeter or TRIP A/B (default setting)
- Actual Bus Voltage
- Actual Bus current (preceded with '-' when in regeneration)
- Total Ah used from battery since last user reset
- Total Ah regenerated into battery since last user reset

More items can be added on request like temperature values, pack voltages etc etc.

Selecting the item to show is done by using the left brake handle with killswitch on.
After selecting the item it will be shown until scooter is switched off.

I got some questions about the box and will try to upload a picture of it:
It has a 15cm of cable on it which plugs right into the diagnostic socket into the glovebox.
The 'Expension Box' itself can be taped with double sided tape or velcro to the inside of the glovebox.
Upgrading of any future firmware can be easily done by a simple upload program and standard USB cable with any Windows PC.

Planned updates:
- bluetooth support
- wifi support
- XML export of all live CAN-bus data though USB (is already there but needs more attention)
- cruise-control enabler :-)
- integrated control to CAN-enabled chargers like Elcon or ThunderStruck

Here's another update on the Expension Box (EB):

The following 11 items can be shown on the left bottom odo/trip meter display:
1 - Actual Bus voltage (preceded with '-' when in regeneration)
2 - Actual Bus current (preceded with '-' when in regeneration)
3 - Ah used/withdrawn from battery since last reset
4 - Ah regenerated (into battery since last reset
5/7 - Capacitor 1,2,3 temperatures
8/10 - Current 1,2,3 sensors values
11 - standard ODO/trip meter

The item to view can be chosen by selecting the left brake while standing still and killswitch is off.
The selected item is stored in non-volatile memory of the EB until another item is selected.

The center ODOmeter shows the total used Ah ,that is Ah withdrawn minus the Ah regenerated.
This value is shown when driving faster then 5kmh.
The Ah numbers are shown in tens of Ah , so 123 is actually 12,3 Ah.
These values can be reset to 0 manually by selecting both brakes with killswitch of for more then 3 seconds.

This is the EB as it is, i'm looking for a smaller enclosure and STP cable between EB and plug.

Here's another update after some more testing:

The box has been tested with both ESD and Runke chargers with the following firmware

mc1014b with ESD charger and Laird firmware
mc1021 with Runke charger and bc3001 firmware

Reset of the Ah counters is done automatically after any charging cycle or can be done manually.

I'm currently working on an enhanced version which supports the ThunderStruck modular CH4100 2500W charger.

Greetings! I'm looking to have a CANBUS data logger developed for a Bionx electric bike. It would need to be an inline/passthrough device using Hirose HR30 connectors as there is no diagnostic port. I've already got this device for programming (using a hex file developed to re-write very specific portions of the firmware), but what I want to do is just listen to everything going on.

http://www.chip45.com/products/crumb128-can-dongle_at90can128_usb_can.php

Your thoughts please!

I'm not sure what you want.
I looked at the chip45 adapter you've quoted and this allready should provide you with what you need.
Apart from that you could consider buying a general type of CAN-BUS adapter like the one from PeakSystems.
This comes with a pcanview application that gives you all raw can traffic. You only need to make an adapter cable then from DSUB9 to Hirose HR30 connector.
Unforunally the Peak is rather expensive.

I can make a special firmware for my CAN datalogger which spits out every can message on the USB/Serial port.
But then i need to know what CAN bus speed and protocol is used on your bike.

what were they doing with all their time? after all they did make the best looking and structural bike body made.

And that was done by Rob Brady.
See robrady.com
He still has some great ideas on his site that never made it. Like the bike stand/charger combo.
Such a pity.

I like the docking station concept but in reality this would not work very well, if at all.
Just think about dirt, salt, ice, snow and whatever that would stick to the lower front legs of the scooter and then try to dock that..
It would be much better if they 'ínvented' something like a roll-on/roll-over inductive type charging system.
Just park the bike anywhere near a system like that and it could be charged.
No fiddling with connectors, adapters, cables or whatever.

Again i nice idea like many others implemented in the Vectrix but in reality not very feasable or practible.

I am impressed that you have gotten the ability to read and write things on the bus. I am curious if you have figured out how to light the wireless icon on the dash. It would be cool if someday someone could light that icon as it communicates with your iphone. I have had all my phones mounted on the handlebars but only ever got to use them for anything but maps and music. Would be nice if diags and charging displayed there too.

-Randy

I'm working on this :-)
Both wireless and bluetooth sysmbols could be addressed and in future releases of my firmware it will support that.
Together with a BT plugin adapter which provides the data on any BLE enabled device.

Update:

The Magic Box firmware is now at 1.48.

Latest update has:
- temperature simulation
- support for fuel gauge when using aftermarkt chargers
- user selectable options/values

You can find the update and latest manual on The Lairds box location.

What do you mean with 'reset the fuel gauge' ?

Currently it drives the fuel gauge based on 1: initial SoC at startup and 2: used Ah during driving.
This all with respect to the user settable parameters like battery capacity and upper and lower voltages.
With this method the fuel gauge is following the actual battery status very dynamically because at every trip the SoC is determined at first and used as reference during the trip.
This only works with a linear decharge curve as with Li-ion chemistry batteries like Leaf cells and 18650 cells.

Theres also the possibility to drive the gauge based on a (user adjustable) fixed battery capacity and used Ah during driving.
So you set your battery capacity fixed at ie. 40Ah and that together with the used/generated Ah during driving is used as reference for the fuel gauge.
At every charge the used Ah is reset to 0 and the gauge will be 100% full.

And finally theres a way of driving the gauge based on just battery voltages.
So you set your upper and lower battery voltages and this determines the range of the fuel gauge.
The actual voltage will then be used as gauge.

Ok I see.
And do you want to let the BMS think its full or just the fuel gauge displaying all bars ie full or whatever SoC it has.?

Regarding the latter it already does that.