Canbus open your mind part2

Setup Process

Overview

The goal is to establish a CANbus setup using two devices, detailing every step, component, and issue encountered. The setup involves both Linux and Windows environments due to compatibility issues with certain hardware.

Parts

- i-PCAN USB to CAN Adapter (China clone of PEAK IPEH-002022)
- Arduino
- Seeed Studio CAN adapter

Steps

1. Linux Setup
- Attempted to use the i-PCAN USB to CAN Adapter with Linux Mint.
- Followed PEAK's instructions to install PCan-View, but the driver installation was problematic.
- Linux Mint did not recognize the adapter despite the device being listed by lsusb.
2. Windows Setup
- Installed PEAK drivers on Windows, which recognized the i-PCAN USB to CAN Adapter.
- Used PCan-View to launch the adapter.
3. Arduino Setup
- Installed Arduino IDE and connected Seeed Studio CAN adapter.
- Encountered permission issues with avrdude ser_open() and resolved by adding user to dialout group.

Notes

- The Linux setup was frustrating due to driver issues and lack of support.
- Windows provided a more straightforward setup for the i-PCAN USB to CAN Adapter.
- Arduino IDE required additional configuration to recognize the Seeed Studio CAN adapter.

Problem and Solution

Problem

- Linux Driver Installation: Unable to install drivers for the i-PCAN USB to CAN Adapter on Linux Mint.
- Permission Issue: avrdude ser_open() could not open /dev/ttyACM0 due to permission denied.

Solution

- Linux Driver Installation: Installed PEAK's drivers manually instead of relying on built-in Linux drivers.
- Permission Issue: Added user to dialout group using sudo usermod -a -G dialout $USER.

Lessons Learned

Summary

- Hardware Compatibility: China clones of PEAK devices may not work as expected, especially with Linux.
- Operating System Choice: Windows provided a more stable environment for initial setup compared to Linux.
- Community Support: Open-source communities can offer solutions to common issues, such as permission problems.

Key Points

- Driver Installation: Always check if hardware drivers are compatible with your operating system.
- User Permissions: Ensure the user has the necessary permissions to access hardware devices.
- Hardware Quality: Opt for original devices if possible, especially for critical setups.