TennaCANbus Overview and FAQ
This article contains detailed information about TennaCANbus tracker, including functionality, features, technical specifications, available data from heavy equipment or fleet, and FAQ.
An updated way to track your heavy iron with Tenna—the TennaCANbus tracker.
When it comes to equipment management, TennaCANbus provides the data you need to answer questions, make better decisions, and have more oversight of your assets and job sites.
- Allows for a more detailed analysis of performance, fuel consumption, operator behavior, and other relevant metrics
- Operates on a dedicated bus, ensuring data integrity and minimizing interference
- Enables better decisions about rental needs, replacing assets, preventative maintenance, and resource management
What is CAN?
Controller Area Network (CAN) is a widely used communication protocol that allows different electronic control units (ECUs) within an asset to communicate with each other.
CAN helps data exchange between various systems—such as the engine, transmission, brakes, sensors, and more. CAN enables real-time, reliable, and robust communication, making it suitable for applications requiring extensive data coverage and integration between different machine components.
Data
| From Heavy Equipment | From Vehicles |
|---|---|
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Hardware
Each TennaCANbus package includes the tracker + one harness + one appropriate adapter.
Reach out to your Tenna Rep for details on currently available TennaCANbus adapters.
Specifications
| Size | 3.95" L x 2.62" W x 1.02" H |
|---|---|
| Installation Location | Inside the cabin of your asset *Can be installed outdoors if installed within a Tenna StormBox |
| Connectivity | Internal antenna for cellular data and GPS location |
| Capability | Works with 12V and 24V assets |
| Reporting | Pings 1x/min when asset is ON Pings 1x/3 hours when asset is OFF |
| Durability | Strong ABS housing for impact, heat, chemical, and abrasion resistance |
| Operating Temperature Range | -20°C to 80°C / -4°F to 176°F |
Features and Benefits
- Detecting idle time to understand when an asset is running (utilization) but not working (e.g., when the operator wants the A/C running while eating lunch inside the asset’s cab)
- Monitoring OEM or third-party Power Take Off (PTO) to improve billing and asset utilization understanding
- Combining fuel and idling metrics to understand where waste is happening in one simple view
- Reading standard fault codes for quicker understanding of machine issues and faster maintenance responses to avoid costly downtime
- Works for multiple machine inputs with a simple harness and adaptor
- Valuable for fleet managers who require accurate and specific data to optimize operations and identify potential issues
- Expansive storage capacity when not in cellular coverage. May store events for up to 10 working days (with 10 hour work shifts).
FAQ
What types of assets are ideal for the TennaCANbus?
TennaCANbus is the best solution for heavy equipment.
Why do I need a TennaCANbus when I can receive ECU data from my AEMP integration?
TennaCANbus provides real-real time information, while AEMP information typically is only pushed to the customer once per hour to once daily. TennaCANbus works alongside the AEMP integration so that you can get real-time data while still receiving custom/priority messages from your OEM.
Where should I install a TennaCANbus tracker?
TennaCANbus on it’s own is not weatherproof, and therefore should be installed within the cab of equipment.
If it must be installed outside of the cab, it should be installed in the using a Tenna StormBox (see photo below), or equivalent.
Contact your Tenna Representative for more details.
How do I know what data my TennaCANbus tracker is capturing from the ECU?
Once you install a TennaCANbus tracker, a discovery message will populate in the Tracker Details page. This message will show you all data points that the tracker is capable of capturing from the asset’s ECU.
