My new Dashboard!

[GC-DUB]

I wanted to add the GC to Home Assistant and so far its looking good. Its a bit complicated!
We only picked the GC (2022 model) up on the 7th June!

For those interested, I'm using:
Raspberry Pi Zero 2w with Waveshare RS485 Hat to talk to the Canbus
ESP32 with a LIN adapter to talk to Truma Combi
INA219 to measure voltage
GPS module for location
Plus VW for locking etc

Everything is installed in a small black box in the electrics cupboard where everything is accessible. I've also isolated the 12v feed for the Ambient lights (We don't have them) and I'm logging the changes to the ambient light colours on the Canbus so I can add a cheap led light string and control it from the panel like the OEM lights.

 

[GordonH]

That is fantastic!! Can you share details of the build/schematics/software? I’m familiar with HomeAssistant as I run an instance for home automation but you’ve plainly got some advanced skills for the CAN and LIN bus interfaces and decoding. Have you worked out all the CI-Bus protocols for control of the Truma etc.

 

[GC-DUB]

Thanks Gordon, in terms of the CI-BUS I've used a very comprehensive reference online here:

GitHub - mk4001/VWGC-CanBus: VolksWagen Grand California Can Bus control

VolksWagen Grand California Can Bus control. Contribute to mk4001/VWGC-CanBus development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

I'm still fine tuning things and logging packets to iron out some anomalies, but Marco (mk4001) has done an amazing job of documenting his findings. I'm running Node-Red on my Pi Zero which also runs Tailscale to VPN all traffic back to my Home Assistant server which is at home.

Truma is all through LIN rather than CI-BUS which exposes the extra features of Truma CP Plus, notably Boost mode for hot water which isn't possible on the GC panel.

 

[GordonH]

Great. Many thanks for that link. I have the Truma iNet box which allows Bluetooth & SMS control but adding your setup appeals as there is much more useful GC information . I have already integrated the VW Connect custom integration in my house Home Assistant server. For some reason I can see the door status but I can’t perform any lock/unlock actions. Which integration are you using for your VW Connect control?

 

[GC-DUB]

We just traded our iNet box in with our last van, it was great when it first came out (We had swapped it between 3 different vans, so it didn't owe us anything!) , but its only a matter of time before the app stops working.

I'm using this in HA:

GitHub - robinostlund/homeassistant-volkswagencarnet: Volkswagen Carnet Component for home assistant

Volkswagen Carnet Component for home assistant. Contribute to robinostlund/homeassistant-volkswagencarnet development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

 

[GordonH]

The iNet box works with the new app for the new Truma panel so probably fine for a bit. The 2G network will go away at some point but in the UK that’s probably a good few years away. Either way your approach is nicer, future proof and a more comprehensive viewer and control setup. On my todo list …..

 

[arsein]

I wanted to add the GC to Home Assistant and so far its looking good. Its a bit complicated!
We only picked the GC (2022 model) up on the 7th June!

For those interested, I'm using:
Raspberry Pi Zero 2w with Waveshare RS485 Hat to talk to the Canbus
ESP32 with a LIN adapter to talk to Truma Combi
INA219 to measure voltage
GPS module for location
Plus VW for locking etc

Everything is installed in a small black box in the electrics cupboard where everything is accessible. I've also isolated the 12v feed for the Ambient lights (We don't have them) and I'm logging the changes to the ambient light colours on the Canbus so I can add a cheap led light string and control it from the panel like the OEM lights.


View attachment 137298

Hi GC,

Sono solo curioso di sapere due cose:
1] hai usato "inetbox2mqtt" a bordo del tuo ESP32?
2] da Home Assistant riesci a mandare i comandi alla truma (ON/OFF, cambio temperatura, ecc)?

Ho sviluppato un app per IOS che parla direttamente con "inetbox2mqtt" se può interessare tra qualche settimana la dovrei pubblicare sull'AppStore.

grazie e buon viaggio

Marco (mk4001)

 

[GC-DUB]

Marco!

Thanks again for all your documentation. Its not easy to decipher all those packets!.

I'm using:

GitHub - Fabian-Schmidt/esphome-truma_inetbox: ESPHome component to remote control Truma CP Plus Heater

ESPHome component to remote control Truma CP Plus Heater - Fabian-Schmidt/esphome-truma_inetbox

github.com

and yes, I can send the commands from Home Assistant for Truma and Node-Red (I hadn't used Node Red before, so thanks again. Its a very quick way to get started.) I had thought about using Can2mqtt until I realised I could connect Node-Red to HA so easily.

The app sounds interesting (Although I am on Android)

Brian

 

[Gareth Salton]

I wanted to add the GC to Home Assistant and so far its looking good. Its a bit complicated!
We only picked the GC (2022 model) up on the 7th June!

For those interested, I'm using:
Raspberry Pi Zero 2w with Waveshare RS485 Hat to talk to the Canbus
ESP32 with a LIN adapter to talk to Truma Combi
INA219 to measure voltage
GPS module for location
Plus VW for locking etc

Everything is installed in a small black box in the electrics cupboard where everything is accessible. I've also isolated the 12v feed for the Ambient lights (We don't have them) and I'm logging the changes to the ambient light colours on the Canbus so I can add a cheap led light string and control it from the panel like the OEM lights.


View attachment 137298

You need to be selling this. I would buy it. You could offer a customisation service as well for other bits of kit. For example I have quite a comprehensive eco flow system hooked up.

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

I have a torch and some old quality street wrappers, sets the mood quite nicely

 

[marten_sweden]

Thanks Gordon, in terms of the CI-BUS I've used a very comprehensive reference online here:

GitHub - mk4001/VWGC-CanBus: VolksWagen Grand California Can Bus control

VolksWagen Grand California Can Bus control. Contribute to mk4001/VWGC-CanBus development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

I'm still fine tuning things and logging packets to iron out some anomalies, but Marco (mk4001) has done an amazing job of documenting his findings. I'm running Node-Red on my Pi Zero which also runs Tailscale to VPN all traffic back to my Home Assistant server which is at home.

Truma is all through LIN rather than CI-BUS which exposes the extra features of Truma CP Plus, notably Boost mode for hot water which isn't possible on the GC panel.

Good job! Any more info on how to do this? Can it be done with the RS428Hat connected to the rraspberry running Home Assistant also?

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Is it just me or does anyone else have no idea what they are posting about above ...?

 

[Wannabecamperman]

Is it just me or does anyone else have no idea what they are posting about above ...?

If you did O' Levels rather than the watered down GCSEs, then there is little hope of ever understanding this brave new tech world. At least in my experience.

AGE IS RARELY KIND

 

[GC-DUB]

Good job! Any more info on how to do this? Can it be done with the RS428Hat connected to the rraspberry running Home Assistant also?

This should work, although I haven't tried it.

 

[GC-DUB]

For anyone wondering about additional solar my latest addition to my GC are 2 x 50w extra solar panels shoehorned into the tiny space on the roof. I thought it would be interesting to see how they perform compared to the factory panel. I've added another ESP32 that's connected to the Votronic display port and to my new Victron MPPT solar controllers VE Direct port. This is the output this afternoon in a not very sunny UK.

 

[jaydisc]

Hey folks, I'm doing something similar with a regular California. I've successfully implemented the four cornerstones: Power, Climate, Lighting and Security. Here's snap of the first page of my home dashboard:



My next goal is to integrate with CANBUS so I can access the door lock status/control, and camping functions (electric roof, auxiliary heating, camping mode, integrated lighting, etc.). I'm just not sure where to _physically_ begin. You mention a RS485 interface. Would I expect this to be somewhere in my vehicle? Any chance you know where on the Non-Grand California? I purchased a WICAN Pro (OBDII interface made to work with HA), which mentions CANBUS. Is this possibly an alternative path?

 

[GC-DUB]

The CANBUS I'm connecting too is specific to the camping side, having said that you could connect to the ODBII as you suggested and see what you can access. The RS485 interface just allows a direct connection to CAN

 

[GC-DUB]

Hi GC,

Sono solo curioso di sapere due cose:
1] hai usato "inetbox2mqtt" a bordo del tuo ESP32?
2] da Home Assistant riesci a mandare i comandi alla truma (ON/OFF, cambio temperatura, ecc)?

Ho sviluppato un app per IOS che parla direttamente con "inetbox2mqtt" se può interessare tra qualche settimana la dovrei pubblicare sull'AppStore.

grazie e buon viaggio

Marco (mk4001)

Hi Marco, I've made some updates that I have found to the table of commands/messages! Hopefully that's ok, not used Github before!

 

[marraton_pl]

Hi Marco, I've made some updates that I have found to the table of commands/messages! Hopefully that's ok, not used Github before!

Where did you save your changes? There have been no changes to the table on GitHub for 10 months.

 

[RoamingHoming]

I wanted to add the GC to Home Assistant and so far its looking good. Its a bit complicated!
We only picked the GC (2022 model) up on the 7th June!

For those interested, I'm using:
Raspberry Pi Zero 2w with Waveshare RS485 Hat to talk to the Canbus
ESP32 with a LIN adapter to talk to Truma Combi
INA219 to measure voltage
GPS module for location
Plus VW for locking etc

This is an amazing project, and I'm really keen to learn more/have a play. HAOS integration would be a dream for remote monitoring/access.

What hardware did you use for the LIN interface?
Where did you connect into the CANBUS?

Would love some photos of the hardware setup

 

[ourcaliforniakid]

I love this thread so much and when I get a GC in a few years this will be a retirement project for me. I’m super interested in if you’re getting any historical data as I would love to feed some of it into an AI engine to spot any interesting patterns us humans can’t see.

 

[GordonH]

Hi GC,

Sono solo curioso di sapere due cose:
1] hai usato "inetbox2mqtt" a bordo del tuo ESP32?
2] da Home Assistant riesci a mandare i comandi alla truma (ON/OFF, cambio temperatura, ecc)?

Ho sviluppato un app per IOS che parla direttamente con "inetbox2mqtt" se può interessare tra qualche settimana la dovrei pubblicare sull'AppStore.

grazie e buon viaggio

Marco (mk4001)

Hi Marco,

I'm currently building up the various bits of hardware to attempt to replicate much of this. I note on Github you suggest the Tru-Control app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store but I can't see it in the store. (UK) Is it available yet or still a work in progress?

 

[josef.tichy]

I wanted to add the GC to Home Assistant and so far its looking good. Its a bit complicated!
We only picked the GC (2022 model) up on the 7th June!

For those interested, I'm using:
Raspberry Pi Zero 2w with Waveshare RS485 Hat to talk to the Canbus
ESP32 with a LIN adapter to talk to Truma Combi
INA219 to measure voltage
GPS module for location
Plus VW for locking etc

Everything is installed in a small black box in the electrics cupboard where everything is accessible. I've also isolated the 12v feed for the Ambient lights (We don't have them) and I'm logging the changes to the ambient light colours on the Canbus so I can add a cheap led light string and control it from the panel like the OEM lights.


View attachment 137298

Hi Marco,

is I understood you are a author of this project https://github.com/mk4001. I follow you manual and I realized this with RB pi 2w and can bus hat and mikrotik router. I established the communication with car. I'm able to send commands to leisure car part. I add the info from GPS on mikrotik router to dashboard. But I have a issue with can bus communication, when the display in leisure part of the car fall in to sleep the CAN bus just receive one telegram for ex. lights on, or camp mode on and than nothing. I have to manually turn on display and then the car follow telegrams. Is there any trick how to wakeup the display?

And another thing is how to communicate with TRUMA heater and VW can bus for doors, please can you help me with these topics?

thanks for help

Josef

 

[maxtorque]

For anyone wondering about additional solar my latest addition to my GC are 2 x 50w extra solar panels shoehorned into the tiny space on the roof. I thought it would be interesting to see how they perform compared to the factory panel. I've added another ESP32 that's connected to the Votronic display port and to my new Victron MPPT solar controllers VE Direct port. This is the output this afternoon in a not very sunny UK.

View attachment 142026

Hi,

I've also got 2x 50w stick on solar panels stuck between the sky lights and vents (and my 4g/5g/gps attenna) on the roof in addition to the OE solar panel on the vans forehead!
Because the OE panel is angled and faces forwards you can really tell which way the van is facing, because that panel manages a higher peak output than the panels flat on the roof, but only when its nicely aligned to the suns direction. My roof solar by comparison tends to sit at about half power (40 to 60w) for a lot of the time, and collects as much power, just a lower average power for longer!

 

[maxtorque]

Hi Marco, I've made some updates that I have found to the table of commands/messages! Hopefully that's ok, not used Github before!

I've just looked at some of the CAN data, it looks very much like the message IDs are 29bit J1939 format, with a priority, PGN and ECU identifier. This makes sense because a lot of CAN stuff comes from the commercial world where CAN needs to be used across a much wider range of system and subsystems, ie a lorry trailer needs to work with an model of tractor unit for example. OE passcar uses mostly proprietry formats and IDs because you don't need say a BMW engine to work in a VW!

I've got a log of the CI CAN bus off my GC600 i took last year, but never found the time to do anything with it (too busy travelling in the van and surfing )