Quick Reference:

Wiring hints for a

CAN bus together with
inverters
70100012
 Schwarzmüller- Inverter
Danfoss Power Solutions
GmbH & Co. OHG

Versions History
Table of Versions
Date Page Description Version
23.08.2011 All First edition 1.0
25.06.2015 All Update company logo 1.1

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suggestions for improving this document, please contact Schwarzmüller Inverter at
info@schwarzmueller-inverter.com.

© 2010, Schwarzmüller Inverter

Schwarzmüller Inverter can accept no responsibility for possible errors in catalogs, brochures and other printed
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 Schwarzmüller- Inverter
Danfoss Power Solutions
GmbH & Co. OHG

Wiring hints for a CAN Bus together with inverters

Two things are important for a reliably working CAN bus. These are
• a carefully made minus connection of all the devices on the bus
• a correct layout of the bus wiring

Minus connection of all devices on the bus

It is a very usual situation, that all electronic devices in a battery powered system have at least the same minus
potential. It is also very common that inputs and outputs of these devices are not galvanically isolated from
the supply voltage circuits.
This means, that the reference level for all signals is the minus potential of the power supply.
This means also, that voltage drops along the minus wires of the power supply are offset for the signals.

Example with voltage drops along the wires

0,1V 0,2V

1V 0,8V

0,1V 0,2V

Voltage drops of some 100mV along the wiring have to be considered but normally do not cause any
problems.

The most critical situation can appear during the switching on of the devices, especially if the devices are
inverters for motor applications. The effect has to do with the high value of the capacitors inside the inverters.

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 Schwarzmüller- Inverter
Danfoss Power Solutions
GmbH & Co. OHG

This means:
The Central Minus Point of the vehicle should be as near as possible at the Minus screw of the inverter.
If there are more than one inverters of the same size in use, the shortest possible connection between the
inverters (copper rail) should be made and the middle of this rail should be used as the central minus point of
the vehicle.
all other devices inverters

+ +

- -

A B

CAN bus
Central Minus Point
Examples:

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 Schwarzmüller- Inverter
Danfoss Power Solutions
GmbH & Co. OHG

If there are more than one inverters of different sizes in use, the central minus point should be made near
the minus screw of the biggest inverter.

+ +

- -

A B

all other devices inverters

Central Minus Point

The intention of these actions is, to reduce the voltage differences between inverters and other devices (at
least those that are connected to a CAN bus) along the minus connections as much as possible

In no case other CAN devices must be connected to other minus points:

+ +

- -

A B

all other devices inverters

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 Schwarzmüller- Inverter
Danfoss Power Solutions
GmbH & Co. OHG

Layout of the bus wiring

Two things are important for each CAN bus:
1. The bus must have a beginning and an end. Don´t build close loops. On both sides of the bus a termination
resistor of 120Ohm is necessary.

CAN H CAN H
CAN L CAN L

2. The bus should really go from one device to the next device, stubs should be avoided or should have a max.
length of 30cm.

max. 30cm
CAN H
CAN L

better

CAN H
CAN L

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 Schwarzmüller- Inverter
Danfoss Power Solutions
GmbH & Co. OHG

Two possible ways of crimping the wires

CAN high and CAN low signals have two pins each at the Schwarzmüller inverters. This offers two
possibilities for the crimping:

3 4 3 4 3 4 3647 3647 3647

CAN H CAN H
CAN L CAN L

Advantage: Pulling out the connector does not Advantage: One crimp contact for each wire
interrupt the bus Disadvantage: Pulling out a connector interrupts the
Disadvantage: Two wires in one crimp contact bus

If an inverter is the last one in a bus then the termination resistor can directly be put into the two remaining
pins. Example:

3647 3647 3647

CAN H
CAN L

How to connect the CAN/USB converter?

It is allowed to make a short (max 30cm) stub to a 9 pole SubD connector.

3647 3647 3647 3647 3647

CAN H
CAN L

minus (e.g. pin1)

max. 30cm

7 2 3
SubD 9 pole female

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 Schwarzmüller- Inverter
Danfoss Power Solutions
GmbH & Co. OHG

If it is necessary to have the SubD connector further away, then the recommendation is to define this
connector as one end of the bus and put the termination resistor there.

3647 3647 3647 3647

CAN H
7
CAN L
2
3 minus (e.g. pin1)

SubD 9 pole female

23.08.11 FRS

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