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Navi.zoneCAN bus: what you can read and how to count engine hours on heavy equipment
The CAN bus is the on-board network through which a vehicle's control units exchange data. A GPS tracker with a CAN reader gets fuel consumption and level, engine hours, RPM and other parameters from it without separate sensors. Exactly which data is available depends on the make and model.
What can be read from the CAN bus
The tracker sends this data to the platform along with coordinates, so reports show not only what happened with the engine but also where the machine worked. The parameter list is not the same for all machines: before installation we check exactly what a given make and model provides.
Typical parameters the tracker reads from CAN:
- engine hours;
- fuel consumption;
- fuel level in the tank from the factory sensor;
- engine RPM;
- engine load.
How the tracker connects to the CAN bus
The Teltonika FMB140 has a built-in CAN reader, so no separate adapter is needed: the tracker is connected to the machine's CAN bus and power, and then the parameters to read are configured.
Before installation, the make, model and year of the machine are identified to check compatibility. After connection, platform data is checked against the on-board computer readings so that engine hours and consumption in reports match what the mechanic sees.
Engine hours: why they matter more than kilometres for heavy equipment
An excavator or loader can work a full shift barely moving. Kilometres say nothing here, while engine hours show the engine's actual work.
With CAN, engine hours are taken from the machine's on-board computer. If CAN isn't available, they're calculated from engine running time, which the tracker records via the ignition.
For equipment rental companies, engine hours are the basis of the invoice: the client pays for actual engine running time, not calendar days. For your own fleet, they're the basis of the maintenance schedule.
What engine hours are used for:
- maintenance schedule based on actual operating hours;
- idle time and idling control;
- machine rental invoices based on actual engine hours;
- comparison of fuel consumption with run time.
LV-CAN or ALL-CAN: what's the difference
The Teltonika FMB140 has a built-in CAN reader and comes in two versions: LV-CAN and ALL-CAN. Both read CAN data; the difference is the list of supported makes and models. Which version suits your vehicle is determined from the Teltonika compatibility list before installation.
Ready-made MonitorLand kits:
- CAN and engine hours — FMB140 LV-CAN with installation and setup, for heavy equipment and trucks — 6,349 UAH;
- Agro — FMB140 ALL-CAN with EYE Sensor and installation, for tractors and combines — 11,999 UAH.
CAN or fuel level sensor
CAN gives fuel consumption and level without touching the tank or adding sensors, so installation is simpler. But to record drains in litres, trucks get a fuel level sensor. On machinery, both data sources can be combined.
Choosing is simple: if you need engine hours and total consumption, CAN is enough; if catching drains matters, add a fuel level sensor.
CAN data is processed by Wialon (from 195 UAH/mo per unit): reports on engine hours, fuel consumption and idle time. Fuel sensor data — Wialon or Navi.zone on the Business plan.
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