Introduction

Controller Area Network (CAN) is a communication standard used in the industry. CAN is a communication protocol that allows different devices or modules in a system to exchange data efficiently and reliably. It is used for managing and monitoring devices such as engines, control systems, sensors, and many others, especially in cars and the automotive industry. It is known for its reliability and ability to operate in harsh conditions, making it an ideal choice for applications where stable and fast data exchange between various system components is essential. This document discusses the application of the CAN bus for the wired connection of Enelion Lumina chargers, which allows:

1. Communication via OCPP for the charger or network of chargers with more than one connector. With the CAN connection, only one Enelion Lumina in the network needs to be connected to the Internet.

2. DLB communication in the charger network, enabling dynamic power management.

Hardware Connection

Wired communication in Enelion Lumina is based on a serial, wired CAN bus. It is recommended to use a CAT5e or better network cable with copper conductors (not CCA – Copper Clad Aluminium). One twisted pair of wires and the shielding of the cable are used for communication. The total cable length must not exceed 500 meters. The socket to which the cable should be connected for CAN communication is shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 1. Location for CAN wire connections on the transmitter board

Fig. 2. Termination on the transmitter board   

a) termination enabled  b) termination disabled,

Termination, using the switch shown in Figure 2, should be enabled on devices at the beginning and end of the charger chain. If termination is not correctly implemented, communication issues will occur.

The CAN connection for devices from the 3.0 range, such as Enelion Lumina, is not compatible with the CAN connection in Enelion devices from the 2.0 range, such as Vertica, Wallbox, and Stilo. Therefore, it is not possible to connect Lumina with a Vertica charger, for example.

Configuration in the Panel

The configuration for the CAN connection in the configuration panel is available from software version 2.7.0. In the Charging Network - Configuration tab, shown in Figures 3 and 4, the communication method can be selected: wireless Mesh or wired CAN. If CAN is selected, each device must be assigned a unique number in the network from 1 to 99.

Fig. 3. View of the menu for CAN connection settings between stations in the configuration panel

Fig. 4. CAN configuration in the Enelion Lumina configuration panel,

It is not possible to connect chargers simultaneously via both CAN and Wi-Fi mesh.

It is not possible to edit the Enelion Energy Guard number in the network. EEG always has the number 0.

To connect to the network, click the connection icon.

Since Enelion Energy Guard can operate in only one communication mode at a time, attempting to connect to the CAN network will disable the Hotspot and disconnect from the device.

Fig. 5. Start of communication between Enelion Energy Guard and Enelion Lumina

Connecting Enelion Lumina Chargers to Enelion Energy Guard 3.0 via CAN

Using the CAN connection, EEG 3.0 can be added to the charger network. To do this, connect the cable to the socket shown in Figure 6. Then, enable termination as shown in Figure 7 if EEG 3.0 is at the beginning or end of the chain.

Fig. 6. Location for connecting CAN wires to EEG 3.0

Fig. 7. CAN connection termination enabled (switch in the right position)

Fig. 8. CAN connection termination disabled (switch in the left position)

Termination using the switch shown in Figures 7 and 8 should be performed only if Enelion Energy Guard is at the beginning or end of the Enelion device chain.

The effectiveness of the CAN connection can be verified in the configuration panel of the Lumina charger in the Charging Network/Overview section. Figure 9 shows a sample topology of the connection of Enelion Lumina chargers to Enelion Energy Guard via the CAN bus.

Fig. 9. View of Enelion Energy Guard in the Enelion Lumina configuration panel connected to chargers via CAN bus