Some jobs need one signal off the CAN bus. A reversing camera needs reverse, and that is the end of it. Plenty of installs are not that simple. A commercial safety system might need reverse, the left indicator, and a road-speed threshold all at once. A conversion might need ignition, park brake, illumination and reverse together. Wiring those from separate single-function interfaces means several boxes, several connections to the bus, and more to go wrong.
A single configurable module that reads the bus and drives several outputs is the tidier answer.
Where multiple triggers are needed
A few common examples where one output is not enough:
- Side-scan and turn-warning systems on urban commercial vehicles, where a camera or audible warning is triggered by the left indicator, by reverse, or by moving below a set speed. This is the logic behind Direct Vision Standard and similar safety fitments.
- AV and telematics installs that want ignition on, reverse, illumination and a speed input from one connection.
- Conversions that switch several body functions from vehicle states, such as beacons on ignition, work lights on park brake, and a load on reverse.
Each of those is several triggers driven from the same bus. Reading them once and switching several outputs is more reliable than stacking single-purpose modules.
Reading two CAN lines
There is a second reason to use one capable module. Some vehicles split functions across more than one CAN network, and some installs genuinely need to read two buses. The i2CAN-8 has two isolated CAN peripherals, so it can read two lines independently and drive outputs from either. A single box covers a case that would otherwise need two interfaces and careful isolation between them.
Why i2CAN-8 suits this
The i2CAN-8 is built for exactly this kind of work. It provides:
- Two isolated CAN peripherals for reading two lines at once.
- Eight switched outputs, six positive and two negative, rated up to 900mA, for relays, camera and sensor controllers, audible warnings and telematics inputs.
- Configurable baud rates up to 1 Mbps and support for both 11-bit and 29-bit identifiers, so it works across cars and commercial vehicles.
- A 5V protected output for an inductive CAN reader, so the bus can be read without cutting the loom.
That is enough to replace a shelf of single-function interfaces with one module, wired once. A negative-switching i2CAN-8 NEG version is available where the equipment needs a switched ground rather than a switched positive.
Configure once, reuse later
Single-function boxes are fixed. A configurable module is not. The i2CAN range can be updated as vehicle CAN protocols change, either by returning a budget module to the factory for a signal upgrade or by reprogramming a premium module in the field over USB OTG. When a fleet changes vehicles, the module moves with the work rather than going in the bin.
Every module is designed and manufactured in the UK.
If you have an install that needs more than one trigger, tell us the vehicle and the outputs you need, and we will confirm the configuration.