In the world of automotive and heavy machinery, the terms CAN Bus and J1939 are often incorrectly interchanged. What exactly sets them apart?
📞 CAN Bus (Controller Area Network):
Think of CAN Bus as the telephone system that connects different parts of a vehicle. It’s the physical wires and the way in which messages are communicated, regardless of the conversation or language being used.
🗣️ J1939:
If CAN Bus is the telephone, then J1939 is the specific language spoken over that line. J1939 is the default for heavy-duty vehicles like trucks and buses. Marine applications often use NMEA200, and cars OBD-II. These standard languages describe how the various electronic modules address each other, and the format of data sent between them.
🔍 Why It’s Important:
Having a standard electrical connection to a machine, understanding how messages are shared, and the vocabulary used, allows different electronics modules to communicate reliably. Diagnostic tools, including Senquip devices can listen to, and understand the messages on the network, providing diagnostic information to users.
In summary, while CAN Bus is the telephone line connecting different vehicle systems, J1939 is the structured language that these systems use to communicate, ensuring reliable operation.