The PiCAN series from Copperhill Technologies is a line of CAN Bus interface boards (HATs) designed for the Raspberry Pi. These add-on boards are widely recognized as powerful and versatile, enabling seamless integration of the Raspberry Pi with Controller Area Network (CAN) bus systems. CAN bus is the robust vehicle networking standard used extensively in automotive and industrial applications, and PiCAN boards allow engineers and hobbyists to unlock the full potential of this protocol in their projects. In other words, the PiCAN product line provides a professional and extremely reliable platform for CAN-based development and prototyping on the Raspberry Pi. With PiCAN, a Raspberry Pi can function as a fully-fledged CAN node, bridging the gap between inexpensive single-board computing and the demanding communication needs of automotive and automation systems.
Key Features & Benefits
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Plug-and-Play Raspberry Pi Integration: PiCAN boards conform to the Raspberry Pi HAT standard and plug directly onto the Pi’s GPIO header for a hassle-free hardware setup. The boards use the Pi’s SPI interface for communication, leaving most GPIO pins free for other peripherals. Standard CAN bus connectors (either a DB9 sub-D socket or screw terminals) are provided on each board for straightforward wiring to automotive or industrial networks. Attaching a PiCAN board is as simple as mounting it on the Pi and connecting the CAN High/Low wires – minimal additional hardware is required.
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Robust CAN Bus Communication: Every PiCAN board is built around proven Microchip CAN controller and transceiver chips (the MCP2515 CAN controller paired with an MCP2551 or equivalent transceiver), ensuring reliable CAN 2.0A/B communication up to 1 Mbps. Onboard 120 Ω termination resistors are typically included (often via a solderable jumper) to properly terminate the CAN bus for error-free communication. Some models incorporate electrical isolation or noise filtering features to protect the Raspberry Pi and maintain signal integrity in electrically noisy environments. This hardware design gives the Raspberry Pi industrial-grade CAN bus robustness and reliability.
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Easy Software Setup and Open-Source Support: Setting up a PiCAN board in software is straightforward. The boards are supported by Linux’s SocketCAN framework with an easy-to-install driver, so the CAN interface appears as a network device (e.g.
can0) in Raspberry Pi OS. Developers can immediately access the CAN bus using open-source tools and libraries. Programming can be done in C or Python, and Copperhill (along with the community) provides plenty of sample code and documentation to jump-start development. This means even beginners can get a CAN network up and running on a Raspberry Pi with minimal configuration and begin sending/receiving CAN messages via common utilities or Python libraries (like python-can). The strong open-source ecosystem and community around SocketCAN and Raspberry Pi makes troubleshooting and iteration much easier. -
Cost-Effective Prototyping Solution: Using a PiCAN board with a Raspberry Pi is an economical way to experiment with CAN bus compared to traditional CAN interface modules or industrial CAN loggers. The PiCAN hardware provides full CAN functionality at a hobbyist price point, without compromising on capability. This cost-effectiveness lowers the barrier to entry for students, makers, and engineers who want to develop custom automotive or automation solutions. Instead of investing in expensive dedicated CAN analyzers or ECU development kits, one can utilize the affordable Raspberry Pi + PiCAN combo to achieve similar outcomes for prototyping and testing.
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Versatile and Scalable: A single Raspberry Pi with a PiCAN HAT can interface with a CAN network, and multiple such setups can be used for larger systems – offering a highly scalable approach to distributed control or data collection. Moreover, the PiCAN series itself is very versatile: it includes numerous board variants tailored to different needs (from single or dual CAN port versions to those with specialized features), which means users can choose a model that best fits their project. The boards support both standard 11-bit and extended 29-bit CAN identifiers (frames) out of the box, so they can handle OBD-II, J1939, CANopen and other higher-layer protocols that run over CAN. Many PiCAN units are also “OBD-II cable ready,” meaning the DB9 connector pin-out can be switched via solder bridges to match an OBD-II port, allowing easy connection to vehicle diagnostic ports. This flexibility in hardware and protocol support makes the PiCAN line suitable for anything from a car hacking project to an industrial sensor network.
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Built-In Power Supply and Extras (Select Models): One of the standout features of newer PiCAN models is the inclusion of onboard power supplies and peripherals that simplify field deployment. For example, the PiCAN3 and certain PiCAN2 variants include a built-in Switch Mode Power Supply (SMPS) that accepts a wide input voltage (e.g. 6–20 V DC) and can power both the PiCAN board and the Raspberry Pi itself via the HAT interface. This allows a Raspberry Pi to be powered directly from a vehicle’s 12 V outlet or an industrial 24 V supply through the PiCAN board, eliminating the need for a separate USB power source. Additionally, the PiCAN3 introduced an onboard Real-Time Clock (RTC) chip with battery backup for timestamping CAN messages and maintaining time in data logs. Some PiCAN boards even integrate extras like GPS receivers, gyroscopes, or accelerometers (for example, PiCAN with GPS/Gyro variants) to support telemetry and motion data collection alongside CAN data. These integrated features make the PiCAN boards extremely convenient for building prototypes like vehicle data loggers or telematics units, where power management and accurate time or location data are crucial.
Applications in Automotive and Automation
One of the main appeals of the PiCAN product line is how it enables a Raspberry Pi to interface with real-world vehicle and industrial networks. This opens up a wide range of application scenarios for both hobby and professional projects:
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Automotive Diagnostics and Hacking: With a PiCAN-equipped Raspberry Pi, users can plug into a vehicle’s CAN bus (for example via the OBD-II port) and read data from engine control units, sensors, and other electronic control units in real time. This is ideal for building custom car diagnostic tools, data loggers, or even performance tuning devices. Hobbyists can experiment with reading OBD-II parameter IDs, while engineers can prototype advanced telemetry systems that monitor vehicle health and performance using the PiCAN board as a gateway to the car’s network. By leveraging open-source software and libraries, one can decode CAN messages (such as RPM, temperature, speed, etc.) and create personalized dashboards or alert systems. The robust CAN communication facilitated by PiCAN makes it possible to reliably gather and log data from a car’s many sensors and modules, just like professional automotive scan tools.
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Industrial Automation & Control: In industrial environments like factories or process plants, CAN bus networks (often in the form of higher-layer protocols like CANopen or DeviceNet) connect PLCs, actuators, and sensors. A Raspberry Pi with a PiCAN HAT can be introduced into these networks to act as a low-cost controller, data monitor, or protocol translator. For example, one might use a Pi + PiCAN to monitor sensor outputs on an assembly line and then log that data or send it to a cloud service for IIoT (Industrial IoT) analytics. Likewise, the PiCAN can enable the Pi to control CAN-based motor drivers or robotic components in real time. Because PiCAN supports the same CAN standards as industrial equipment, the Pi can seamlessly join an existing machine network to perform tasks like predictive maintenance monitoring, data collection, or even real-time control of devices, all at a fraction of the cost of traditional industrial computer systems. The reliability of CAN bus communication (fault tolerance, error checking, etc.) combined with the flexibility of the Raspberry Pi forms a powerful tool for automation engineers.
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Robotics: Many modern robotics platforms use CAN bus for communication between modules (for instance, between a central computer, motor controllers, battery management systems, and sensor units). By adding a PiCAN board, a Raspberry Pi can serve as the brain of a robot that communicates with distributed CAN-based components. The PiCAN’s support for real-time CAN messages means a Pi can issue commands to motor controllers or read feedback from sensors in a robot with high reliability and speed. Hobby robot builders could use PiCAN to interface with smart motor drivers or LIDAR sensors that speak CAN, creating a more robust robot network. In educational robotics, a Raspberry Pi + PiCAN combination allows students to learn about CAN bus networking in robots, enabling complex projects like autonomous vehicles or robotic arms where multiple controllers must coordinate over CAN. The robustness and efficient bus arbitration that CAN provides are especially beneficial in robotics, where multiple systems need to communicate without data collisions.
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IoT Gateways & Data Bridges: The PiCAN boards also shine in Internet-of-Things scenarios that require bridging CAN networks with other systems. A Raspberry Pi can act as a gateway between a CAN bus and the internet or a local network. For instance, in a smart agriculture or smart city project, CAN-based sensors and devices (common in industrial settings) could be interfaced to a Raspberry Pi via PiCAN, and the Pi could then transmit that data to a cloud service or database. This is essentially creating an IoT gatewaythat speaks CAN on one side and Ethernet/Wi-Fi on the other. Similarly, PiCAN can be used in conjunction with other protocols; for example, a Pi with both a PiCAN HAT and a wireless HAT could receive CAN data and then broadcast it via MQTT or HTTP. This ability to translate between CAN and other communication mediums means legacy industrial machines (which often use CAN) can be connected to modern IoT platforms for monitoring and control. The PiCAN’s support for standard CAN frames ensures compatibility with protocols like SAE J1939 (used in heavy machinery and trucks) and NMEA 2000 (used in marine systems), which means a PiCAN-enabled Pi can even serve in specialized domains like fleet telematics or marine instrumentation as part of an IoT solution.
(Beyond these, the PiCAN line has even spawned specialized uses – for instance, the PiCAN-M model is tailored for marine electronics, supporting NMEA 2000 marine CAN networks – highlighting the adaptability of the product line to niche applications.)
PiCAN Models and Variants
Copperhill’s PiCAN family has evolved to include several models and variants, each suited for different needs. No matter the project’s requirements – whether it’s a basic single-CAN setup or a more advanced dual-bus or high-speed application – there is likely a PiCAN board that fits. Below is an overview of key models in the PiCAN product line:
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PiCAN2 – The PiCAN2 is a single-channel CAN Bus interface HAT that became a popular choice for Raspberry Pi 2 and 3 (and remains compatible with newer Pi models as well). It provides one CAN 2.0B port (up to 1 Mb/s) using the MCP2515/MCP2551 chipset and features a DB9 connector (and alternative screw terminal) for CAN wiring. The PiCAN2 is known for its reliable performance and simplicity – it offers the core necessities like an on-board termination resistor and an interrupt line to the Pi’s GPIO for CAN message handling. With an easy SocketCAN driver installation and support for programming in C/Python, PiCAN2 allows developers to quickly turn any Raspberry Pi into a CAN node for prototyping or educational use. Its affordability and proven design have made it a staple for many CAN projects. -
PiCAN3 – Introduced as the next-generation HAT for the Raspberry Pi 4, the PiCAN3 retains the same CAN controller/transceiver foundation as the PiCAN2 but adds significant enhancements tailored for more demanding applications. The PiCAN3 includes a 3A Switch Mode Power Supply (SMPS) on-board, enabling input power from ~6–20 V to the HAT which can simultaneously power the Raspberry Pi 4 itself. This feature is ideal for automotive use, as it lets you run a Pi directly from a vehicle’s battery or 12 V socket with built-in voltage regulation and reverse-polarity protection. Another major addition is the Real-Time Clock (RTC) (an NXP PCF8523 chip) with battery backup on the PiCAN3, which provides timekeeping for timestamping CAN messages or waking the Pi from low-power states. Like its predecessor, PiCAN3 supports CAN 2.0B at 1 Mb/s and connects via DB9 or screw terminal, and it’s fully backward-compatible in software (SocketCAN). Copperhill specifically targeted the PiCAN3 at automotive and industrial automation audiences who need robust power management and timekeeping in their prototypes. With these features, the PiCAN3 is a top choice for building more advanced in-vehicle systems, data loggers, or industrial controllers using the Raspberry Pi 4, since it simplifies power wiring and improves reliability in the field. -
PiCAN2 Duo – For projects that require connecting to two separate CAN networks at once (for example, bridging data between two CAN buses, or monitoring two independent CAN lines), the PiCAN2 Duo offers dual CAN channels on a single HAT. This board effectively combines two CAN controllers on one Pi HAT, providing two CAN interfaces (typically appearing as can0andcan1in Linux). Each channel on the PiCAN2 Duo supports the full CAN 2.0B spec at 1 Mb/s and has its own screw terminal or connector for CAN High/Low wiring. The PiCAN2 Duo for Raspberry Pi 4 also includes a 5V 3A SMPS (with 7–24 V input) similar to the PiCAN3, meaning it can power the Pi and both CAN transceivers from an external supply safely. This dual-channel capability is extremely useful in scenarios such as vehicle gateways (connecting a car’s high-speed CAN and low-speed CAN, for instance) or for logging data from two buses simultaneously (common in heavy vehicles which may have multiple CAN networks). The board comes with on-board termination for each channel and status LEDs, but remains compact and uses the standard 40-pin HAT mount. With straightforward SocketCAN setup, the PiCAN2 Duo makes it easy to develop prototypes that need multi-CAN communication, like protocol converters, CAN bridges, or multi-bus monitors. -
PiCAN FD Variants – As CAN FD (Flexible Data-rate) technology emerged to allow higher throughput on CAN networks, Copperhill expanded the PiCAN line to support it. PiCAN FD boards have hardware capable of CAN FD, which means they support larger frame sizes (up to 64 bytes of data per frame) and faster bit rates (Data phase up to 5 or 8 Mbps, vs. 1 Mbps in classic CAN). For example, the PiCAN CAN Bus FD Board (single channel) and PiCAN FD Duo Board (dual channel) are offered for the Raspberry Pi, each with an onboard RTC as well. These use Microchip’s upgraded CAN-FD controller (MCP2517FD or MCP2518FD) and transceiver chips to fully implement the CAN FD protocol. From a software perspective, SocketCAN treats CAN FD interfaces similarly, so you can send/receive extended CAN frames once the driver is installed. The advantage of PiCAN FD models is evident for cutting-edge automotive research and high-performance applications: you can experiment with CAN FD’s higher data rates and payload sizes, enabling use cases like logging high-resolution sensor data or OTA firmware update simulations that would be impractical over classic CAN. Despite the advanced capabilities, these HATs remain easy to use – for instance, the PiCAN FD boards also include convenient power input options and appear as standard
can0devices (with CAN FD enabled) to user applications. In summary, the PiCAN FD variants future-proof your Raspberry Pi for the next generation of CAN bus networks while still being hobbyist-friendly. -
PiCAN-M (Marine CAN HAT): The PiCAN-M is a special member of the product line aimed at marine automation enthusiasts. It is tailored to support marine communication standards – specifically it provides compatibility with NMEA 2000, which is essentially CAN bus adapted for boats/ships, and also includes an RS-422 port for NMEA 0183 devicesl This HAT allows a Raspberry Pi to interface with onboard ship networks (for example, reading data from marine sensors, GPS, or navigation systems on a boat that use NMEA 2000). It features the appropriate connectors (like a marine-grade CAN port and terminals for NMEA 0183) to tie into a vessel’s communication lines. The PiCAN-M showcases the breadth of the PiCAN series – by addressing a niche yet important domain – and highlights that whether on land or sea, there’s likely a PiCAN board that fits the application. For a hobbyist building a DIY boat monitoring system or a marine engineer prototyping an onboard data logger, the PiCAN-M offers a ready-made solution to connect a Raspberry Pi to the vessel’s CAN-based network, bringing the power of Raspberry Pi computing into the marine electronics world. -
Compact and Custom Options (PiCAN Zero & More): In addition to the primary HATs, the PiCAN ecosystem includes variants for smaller Raspberry Pi boards and custom use-cases. For instance, the PiCAN FD Zero is designed for the Raspberry Pi Zero form factor, offering CAN FD support in a very compact package. Despite its small size, the PiCAN FD Zero carries a 1A SMPS (6–20V input) to power the Pi Zero and includes the CAN FD controller/transceiver, effectively turning the credit-card-sized Pi Zero into a CAN/CAN-FD gadget. This is perfect for lightweight or portable projects, such as a CAN bus sniffer that can fit in tight spaces. Another example is the CANPico board (a collaboration mentioned by Copperhill), which isn’t branded PiCAN but integrates a Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller with a CAN transceiver for embedded CAN applications. Together, these options demonstrate the flexibility of the PiCAN line – whether you need a full-featured PiCAN3 on a Pi 4 for a car dashboard project, or a tiny CAN interface on a Pi Zero to tuck into a vehicle’s wiring, Copperhill’s offerings have you covered.
Conclusion
The PiCAN product line transforms the Raspberry Pi into a versatile development platform for automotive and industrial communication. By combining robust CAN bus hardware with the Raspberry Pi’s computing power, PiCAN boards empower engineers and hobbyists to prototype and experiment with vehicle networks and automation systems quickly and with minimal hassle. The ease of integration – from the physical HAT attachment to the SocketCAN software support – means users can go from unboxing a PiCAN board to logging CAN data or controlling a CAN-based device in very little time. At the same time, the reliability of the PiCAN design (quality transceivers, proper bus termination, optional isolation and power regulation) ensures stable and error-free data communication, even in demanding environments.
In summary, Copperhill’s PiCAN series offers plug-and-play CAN bus connectivity for the Raspberry Pi, enriching it with the ability to interface with the same networks that run our cars, factories, and robots. From the basic PiCAN2 to the feature-packed PiCAN3 and specialized variants, each board in the lineup caters to the needs of prototypers who value convenience, versatility, and reliability. With these HATs, a Raspberry Pi can seamlessly join CAN-based ecosystems, allowing innovators to build everything from custom car tech and industrial controllers to smart IoT gateways. The PiCAN product line’s blend of user-friendliness and professional-grade capability makes it a compelling choice for anyone looking to bridge Raspberry Pi projects with the world of CAN bus communication – truly enabling ideas to go from the workbench into real-world vehicles and systems with confidence. More information…
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