Au SAE-J1939 Message Center System User Manual
Rev. B
By Au Group Electronics
April 2008
All Copyrights are reserved by Au Group Electronics 2008
This document can NOT be freely distributed without written approval from Au Groups Electronics
Table of Content
1. Major Hardware and Software Features
2. Hardware, network topology and Hardware Connection
2.1 Hardware
2.2 CAN Network topology
3. PC Software (Au J1939 MCS GUI)
3.1 Parameters displayed on Au J1939 MSC GUI
3.2 J1939 MCS GUI Installation
4. Frequent Asked Questions
4.1 How to Use the Software?
4.2 How to change the serial port?
4.3 How to enter/exit self test mode?
4.4 How to reset Trip-odometer?
4.5 How to exit program?
4.6 My GUI is only showing partially, is there something wrong?
5. Limited Life Time Warranty
Au J1939 Message Center System (MCS) is a quick turn-key product, which displays SAE-J1939 parameters on computer screen, such as Engine RPM, vehicle speed, etc. It can be used as a secondary display on trucks, school bus, recreation vehicles (RV), marine vessels, and any place with SAE-J1939 CAN network.
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Enclosure dimension: 3" L x 1-5/8" W x ¾" H
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PC interface: DB-9 RS232 female connector
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CAN interface: DB-9 male connector
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Power supply: +12V DC, 250mA max
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PC side software provides friendly graphic user interface (GUI)
Au J1939 message center system includes both hardware and software to receive messages from J1939 network and display those messages with a user-friendly graphic display on PC.
The hardware is listed below (figure 1):
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RS-232C extension cable (figure 1a, part #: CBL-RS232-01)
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Au J1939 Message Center Box (J1939 MCB, figure 1b, part #: MCB-CAN)
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CAN cable (4 wires: CAN-H, CAN-L, Power and Ground, figure 1c, part#: CBL-CAN-01)
Au J1939 message center box (figure 1b) is a handheld device with one push button, 2 LEDs (Power, Comm), and 2 DB-9 connectors (a DB-9 female RS-232C connector on RS232 side for PC connection, a DB-9 male connector on Bus side for J1939 network and power supply),
Figure 1a - extension cable Figure 1b - Message Center Box Figure 1c –CAN cable
Two possible CAN network topologies of Au J1939 Message Center System (MCS) are illustrated in figure 2.
Figure 2-a Vehicle network
Figure 2-b Lab test network
Hardware Connection at Au J1939 MCB
Figure 3 – Connection of Au J1939 message center box with PC and J1939 network
Connect with PC
One end of the RS232C extension cable (Part# CBL-RS232-01) connects to PC, the other end connects to Au J1939 MCB RS232 side.
If your PC is equipped with RS232 interface, simply plug the RS232 extension cable in.
If your PC does not have a RS232 interface but it has some USB ports, an USB to RS232 converter is needed.
Connect with SAE-J1939 Network
The Au J1939 MCB Bus side is connected to J1939 network by a CAN cable (part# CBL-CAN-01), as shown in figure 3.
The CAN cable (part #: CBL-CAN-01) is a 4-wire color coded cable. The pin # of J1939 MCB bus side interface and signal for each color wire is showing in figure 4 and table 1.
Note: The CAN-H wire on the Au CAN cable (part #: CBL-CAN-01) could be white or yellow color.
Figure 4 - J1939 MCB bus side interface and wire color for Au CAN-cable(part #: CBL-CAN-01)
Table 1 – color coding of CBL-CAN-01 cable
Pin # |
Color |
Signal |
1 |
Black |
Ground |
6 |
Green |
CAN-L |
5 |
Red |
+12 V power supply |
7 |
White or Yellow |
CAN-H |
The PC software for Au J1939 message center system (Au J1939 MCS GUI) provides user friendly graphic interface, which simulates an instrument panel with 6 analog outputs, 17 digital outputs, and 8 message/warning lamps.
Parameters can be monitored by Au J1939 MCS are listed below.
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Engine Revolution per Minutes (RPM)
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Engine Hour
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Vehicle/vessel Speed
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Engine Oil Pressure
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Engine Coolant Temperature
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Battery Voltage
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J1939 Fuel Level (when available)
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Transmission Temperature
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Engine Boost Pressure
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Instant Fuel Economy
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Instant Fuel Rate
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Accelerator Position
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Inlet Air Temperature
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Engine Load Percentage
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Cruise Lamp
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Water In Fuel Warning Lamp
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Engine Red Stop Warning Lamp
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Engine Amber Warning Lamp
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Transmission Red Stop Warning Lamp
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Transmission Amber Warning Lamp
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ABS Red Stop Warning Lamp
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ABS Amber Warning Lamp
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Trip Odometer Accumulation and Reset Capability
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Computer Clock
The Au J1939 MCS GUI is showing in figure 5.
Figure 5 – Au J1939 Message Center System GUI
Following paragraphs will illustrate how to install Au J1939 MCS GUI step by step, also frequent asked questions for Au J1939 MCS are attached.
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11
Figure 12
Figure 13
Figure 14 Setup has finished installation Au J1939 MCS GUI on your computer.
The software will function accordingly with J1939 input, no special tune-up required.
At the top-right side, click "Change" button to bring up "Change Serial Port" window, select desired COM from the drop down list, click “OK” to confirm change (figure 15).
Figure 15
Self Test button on the top right is an On-Off switch, click "Self Test" once will start a self test mode, click "Self Test" again will exit self test mode (Figure 16).
Figure 16
Click the "Reset" button at Trip Odo meter will reset trip odometer to 0 (figure 17), also it will be reset to 0 every time when the program starts. This is only a "Trip" odometer.
Figure 17
There are 2 ways to exit the program
Figure 18
Follow step I to III to change the monitor display setting on PC will solve this issue.
Figure 19
Figure 20
Figure 21
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On the "Plug and Play Monitor Properties" window, click "General" tab, set "Normal size (96 DPI)” for DPI setting, click OK button to confirm the setting. (figure 22)
Figure 22
Au Group Electronics provides limited life time warranty to this product under normal use in accordance with the specification and warning, for as long as you own this product. This warranty extends only to the original purchaser of the product, and is not transferable. To exercise your rights under this warranty, you must provide proof of purchase in the form of an original sales receipt/shipping memo that shows the product name and the date of purchase. Any non-authorized modification to hardware will violate this warranty. Shipping cost for any return material will be carried by purchaser.