SPI-CAN Breakout

Product codename: can_hat_mini.

A small-footprint, breadboard-friendly breakout board that bridges an SPI host to a CAN bus. It exposes a standard SPI interface on one side and a CAN transceiver on the other, letting any microcontroller with SPI talk CAN without an integrated controller.

Key features:

  • Miniature breadboard-compatible footprint for quick prototyping.
  • SPI host interface for Classic CAN and CAN FD via the MCP2518FD controller.
  • Switch selectable bus termination (split 2x 60 Ohm + centre-tap capacitor).
  • Jumper selectable 5 V or 3.3 V logic level for the host interface.
  • Jumper selectable silent mode (listen-only) for bus monitoring.
  • 1x M2.5 mounting hole.

Getting Started

  1. Wire the 8-pin header to your host:
    1. 5 V power.
    2. GND ground (second pin optional).
    3. SPI lines (COPI, CIPO, CS and SCK).
    4. Optionally, but recommended: interrupt INT pin.
  2. Set the logic level jumper to match your host, the default logic level is 5 V.
  3. Set bus termination on (120 mark) or (NC mark) off depending on where the board sits on the bus (enable 120 Ohm only at the physical ends of the bus).
  4. Connect the 3-pin CAN side to your bus (GND, CAN high, CAN low).
  5. Flash the example firmware and confirm the link.

Table of contents

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