Arduino Shield - CAN BUS (OBD-II) V2.0 Shield - SeeedStudio
Looking for a reliable Arduino CAN Bus shield for vehicle diagnostics or industrial automation? This CAN BUS Shield V2.0 by SeeedStudio turns any compatible Arduino board into a fully functional CAN network node — supporting both OBD-II vehicle diagnostics and standard CAN protocol communication. Whether you're building an automotive data logger or an industrial monitoring system, this CAN bus shield for Arduino gives you a stable, SPI-based connection with onboard SD storage for data logging.
Internal Reference:
ARDUINO.SH.CAN.V2.SEEED
Overview
The CAN-BUS Shield V2.0 allows Arduino-compatible boards to communicate over a CAN network. It is based on the MCP2515 CAN controller and MCP2551 transceiver. The shield supports CAN protocol version 2.0B with data rates up to 1 Mbps and includes a DB9 connector that can be configured for either OBD-II or standard CAN applications. Ideal for automotive diagnostics, industrial automation, and embedded systems, this Arduino CAN bus shield pairs well with an Arduino Uno board or an Arduino Mega 2560 board for projects that need extra I/O pins.
Key Features
- Supports CAN protocol version 2.0B (up to 1 Mbps)
- Dual-function DB9 connector (OBD-II or standard CAN via jumper)
- Uses SPI interface (up to 10 MHz)
- Supports standard (11-bit) and extended (29-bit) CAN frames
- Two receive buffers with message prioritization
- Onboard micro-SD card slot (selectable CS pin: D4 or D5) for standalone CAN data logging
- Selectable SPI CS and INT pins for flexible MCU compatibility
- Two Grove connectors (I2C and UART) for quick sensor expansion
- LED indicators for Power, TX, RX, and Interrupt
- Screw terminal block for CAN_H and CAN_L connections
- Cuttable termination pad (P1) for proper network termination
Technical Specifications
- Controller: MCP2515 (via SPI)
- Transceiver: MCP2551
- CAN Speed: Up to 1 Mbps
- SPI Speed: Up to 10 MHz
- DB9 Connector: Configurable for OBD-II or standard CAN
- Micro-SD Slot: Yes (with CS pin jumper)
- CS Pin: Default D9, selectable to D10
- INT Pin: Default D2, selectable to D3
- Grove Ports: I2C and UART
- LEDs: Power, TX, RX, INT
- Termination Pad: P1 (cuttable)
- Dimensions: Approximately 68 mm × 53 mm
- Operating Voltage: 5V
- Weight: Approx. 50 grams
- Compatible Boards: Arduino Uno, Mega, Leonardo, etc.
Applications
This CAN bus shield Arduino module is widely used across several fields:
- OBD-II vehicle diagnostics
- Automotive CAN networks
- Industrial automation
- CAN-based robotics
- Embedded CAN data logging and monitoring systems
Pairing this shield with our Arduino sensor kit lets you build a complete diagnostics or automation station without sourcing parts from multiple places. If you're just getting started, browse our full Arduino Boards & Shields collection to find the right board for your project first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this Arduino CAN Bus shield compatible with cloned Arduino boards sold in Egypt?
Yes, the shield works with Arduino Uno, Mega, Leonardo, and most compatible clone boards, as long as they follow the standard Arduino shield pin layout.
Does this shield support OBD-II out of the box?
Yes. The DB9 connector can be configured for OBD-II via a jumper setting, so no additional hardware modification is needed for basic vehicle diagnostics.
What's the difference between this shield and a standard MCP2515 module?
This shield integrates the MCP2515 controller directly onto an Arduino-compatible form factor with a DB9 connector, micro-SD slot, and Grove ports — a standalone MCP2515 module requires manual wiring and lacks these built-in extras.
Do I need a specific library to use this shield with Arduino?
Yes, you'll need a CAN-BUS library compatible with the MCP2515 controller (such as the standard mcp_can library). Setup instructions are available on the SeeedStudio wiki linked below.
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