From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

Hello all you experts.

I'm going to install Venus on a pi for another Victron installation.

Right, that's filtered out everyone that *won't* know.

I have a USB to RS485 converter. Is that the same as CAN?

Or should I buy a CANBUS hat?

Assuming one of these works, can I connect multiple doodas (mppt, battery etc.) to the same port or will I need a hub?

Ta.
--
Paul.

https://paulc.es

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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

El Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:30:58 +0000, Paul Carmichael escribi||:

Hello all you experts.

I'm going to install Venus on a pi for another Victron installation.

Right, that's filtered out everyone that *won't* know.

I have a USB to RS485 converter. Is that the same as CAN?

Or should I buy a CANBUS hat?

Assuming one of these works, can I connect multiple doodas (mppt,
battery etc.) to the same port or will I need a hub?

Ta.

Forgot to mention - I also have a couple of USB-TTL (RS232) adapters. Any
use?
--
Paul.

https://paulc.es

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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

On 09/04/2026 15:30, Paul Carmichael wrote:

Hello all you experts.

I'm going to install Venus on a pi for another Victron installation.

Right, that's filtered out everyone that *won't* know.

I have a USB to RS485 converter. Is that the same as CAN?

I've never heard of Venus or Victron.

I believe CAN and RS485 are different things. RS485 is just a serial bus whereas CAN is an entire network with node addressing, data packet
structures and communication layers etc. CAN can also be superimposed
over power wires, like in motor vehicles, which it was originally
designed for, I think.

I have a vague idea there can be some similarities in the physical layer(unpowered), but that's about it.
--

CHUMP #1 (CHarge Up Muppet)

Pip
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

On 09/04/2026 15:33, Paul Carmichael wrote:

El Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:30:58 +0000, Paul Carmichael escribi||:

Hello all you experts.

I'm going to install Venus on a pi for another Victron installation.

Right, that's filtered out everyone that *won't* know.

I have a USB to RS485 converter. Is that the same as CAN?

Or should I buy a CANBUS hat?

Assuming one of these works, can I connect multiple doodas (mppt,
battery etc.) to the same port or will I need a hub?

Ta.

Forgot to mention - I also have a couple of USB-TTL (RS232) adapters. Any use?

CAN is a two-wire bus with (70 Ohm, iirc) resistors terminating them.
So, no, any USB to <something not CAN> converter won't work.

Regards,
--
Bruce Horrocks
Hampshire, England
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

El Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:29:42 +0100, PipL escribi||:

I believe CAN and RS485 are different things. RS485 is just a serial bus whereas CAN is an entire network with node addressing, data packet
structures and communication layers etc. CAN can also be superimposed
over power wires, like in motor vehicles, which it was originally
designed for, I think.

I have a vague idea there can be some similarities in the physical layer(unpowered), but that's about it.

Cheers.

I've ordered this: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B07DNPFMRW? psc=1&smid=A3U321I9X7C9XA&ref_=chk_typ_imgToDp
--
Paul.

https://paulc.es

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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

El Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:55:17 +0100, Bruce escribi||:

CAN is a two-wire bus with (70 Ohm, iirc) resistors terminating them.
So, no, any USB to <something not CAN> converter won't work.

Thanks.
--
Paul.

https://paulc.es

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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

On 10/04/2026 08:38, Paul Carmichael wrote:

El Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:29:42 +0100, PipL escribi||:

I believe CAN and RS485 are different things. RS485 is just a
serial bus whereas CAN is an entire network with node addressing,
data packet structures and communication layers etc. CAN can also
be superimposed over power wires, like in motor vehicles, which it
was originally designed for, I think.

I have a vague idea there can be some similarities in the physical
layer(unpowered), but that's about it.

Cheers.

I've ordered this: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B07DNPFMRW? psc=1&smid=A3U321I9X7C9XA&ref_=chk_typ_imgToDp

I don't know much about PV/battery systems but it looks like it should
do the job. In the reviews, someone claimed to be using it for what
sounds like the same purpose you are.

You might want to consider a dust-proof case for the Pi+hat combined,
but early days for that.

In your original post you asked:

can I connect multiple doodas (mppt, battery
etc.) to the same port or will I need a hub?

Both CAN and RS485 are buses so you could add extra devices of either
type by wiring in at an appropriate point.

Handy wiring illustrations here - the same approach applies for CAN bus
as well.
<https://scadaprotocols.com/rs-485-wiring-guidelines/>

Connect the ground to the ground on the Pi - at least one of the HAT
pins should be ground. Shame they couldn't find space for a 5th wire on
the connector block for ground.

Regards,
--
Bruce Horrocks
Hampshire, England
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

El Fri, 10 Apr 2026 23:48:42 +0100, Bruce escribi||:

You might want to consider a dust-proof case for the Pi+hat combined,
but early days for that.

It'll have 2 hats. I'm going to fit a UPS hat as well (no grid). So I'll prolly put it in a cupboard.

In your original post you asked:

can I connect multiple doodas (mppt, battery etc.) to the same port or
will I need a hub?

Both CAN and RS485 are buses so you could add extra devices of either
type by wiring in at an appropriate point.

Handy wiring illustrations here - the same approach applies for CAN bus
as well.
<https://scadaprotocols.com/rs-485-wiring-guidelines/>

Connect the ground to the ground on the Pi - at least one of the HAT
pins should be ground. Shame they couldn't find space for a 5th wire on
the connector block for ground.

Thanks Bruce. That looks pretty simple.
--
Paul.

https://paulc.es

--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

Paul Carmichael wrote:

Hello all you experts.

I'm going to install Venus on a pi for another Victron installation.

Right, that's filtered out everyone that won't know.

I have a USB to RS485 converter. Is that the same as CAN?

Or should I buy a CANBUS hat?

Assuming one of these works, can I connect multiple doodas (mppt,
battery etc.) to the same port or will I need a hub?

Ta.

I fitted a Victron Smart Shunt in the camper and it is an excellent
device. I dabbled with the idea of using a RPi and Venus OS to monitor
the battery remotely but that idea stumbled when it came to the wifi
connection in the camper so that RPi has since been re-assigned to
running a Moode music streamer (which it does very well).
When it comes to connecting a BMS to the RPi then Louis vd Walt is your
man for the driver as explained by this Nutty Professor type in an
amusing way.

https://youtu.be/sHIlP2oJ3DU?si=-bGr3Rumt6wdYIVz
--
Geoff
NTV 650
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

On 09/04/2026 15:30, Paul Carmichael wrote:

Hello all you experts.

I'm going to install Venus on a pi for another Victron installation.

Right, that's filtered out everyone that *won't* know.

I have a USB to RS485 converter. Is that the same as CAN?

Or should I buy a CANBUS hat?

Assuming one of these works, can I connect multiple doodas (mppt, battery etc.) to the same port or will I need a hub?

Ta.

I've just connected a CAN battery BMS to my RPi/Venus

1) buy one (or two) of these: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006847406713.html (I used the pro
version)

2) flash it/them with cnadlelight firmware

3) connect it/them to your BMS

3) install setuphelper (re-installs everything if you upgrade your Venus software - see https://github.com/kwindrem/VeCanSetup)

4) install VeCan.

5) done
--
/Simon
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

El Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:04:22 +0100, Simon Wilson escribi||:

1) buy one (or two) of these: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006847406713.html (I used the pro version)

Already got the canhat now, so following this:


https://github.com/victronenergy/venus/wiki/RaspberryPi-CAN-Interfaces
--
Paul.

https://paulc.es

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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

El Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:31:52 +0000, Paul Carmichael escribi||:

El Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:04:22 +0100, Simon Wilson escribi||:

1) buy one (or two) of these:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006847406713.html (I used the pro
version)

Already got the canhat now, so following this:

https://github.com/victronenergy/venus/wiki/RaspberryPi-CAN-Interfaces

And the venus os identifies can0 as vecan.
--
Paul.

https://paulc.es

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