📡 Overview

This project reads raw CANBus frames from Midnite Solar charge controllers and publishes decoded metrics to MQTT for Home Assistant, Node-RED, and other consumers.

Uses:

• CANable / CANable Pro (candleLight firmware)
• SocketCAN on Linux / Raspberry Pi
• Python script (can2mqtt_hbay.py) to decode CAN frames

Supported controllers:

• Hawkes Bay
• Barcelona
• Rosie (experimental)

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🚀 Features

• Reads CANBus frames from can0
• Decodes:
  • Battery voltage, current, power
  • State of charge
  • Temperatures
  • PV MPPT voltage & current
  • Whizbang Jr current
  • Daily kWh
• Throttled MQTT publishing
• Clean MQTT topic structure
• Optional Home Assistant Discovery
• Optional systemd service

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🔧 Requirements

Hardware

• Raspberry Pi
• started with CANable / CANable Pro (candleLight firmware)
• but now using Innomaker USB2CAN ( shows up as Can0 without a lot of setup)
• CAN-H & CAN-L wired to charge controller pin 4 Can High pin 5 Can Low

Software

• Linux with SocketCAN
• Python 3.8+
• MQTT broker (Mosquitto recommended)

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📦 Install Required Packages

Install CAN utilities

sudo apt install can-utils

Python dependencies

pip3 install paho-mqtt python-can

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📥 Installation

1. Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/<your-username>/hawkesbay-canbus-mqtt.git
cd hawkesbay-canbus-mqtt

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🔌 Enable SocketCAN

If using CANable (candleLight)

sudo ip link set can0 up type can bitrate 250000

If using Innomaker

''' sudo ip link set can0 down sudo ip link set can0 type can bitrate 500000 sudo ip link set can0 up '''

Verify:

ifconfig can0

Monitor live CAN:

candump can0

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▶️ Running the Script

Run directly

python3 can2mqtt_hbay.py

Optional: fix ownership

sudo chown pi:pi can2mqtt_hbay.py

Optional: make executable

chmod +x can2mqtt_hbay.py

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🛠 systemd Service (optional)

Install service

sudo cp can2mqtt_hbay.service /etc/systemd/system/
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable --now can2mqtt_hbay.service

View logs

sudo journalctl -fu can2mqtt_hbay.service

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📡 Example MQTT Topics

hawkesbay/battery/voltage
hawkesbay/battery/current
hawkesbay/battery/power
hawkesbay/pv/voltage_mppt2
hawkesbay/pv/current_mppt2
hawkesbay/daily/kwh_today
hawkesbay/whizbang/amps
hawkesbay/state

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🏠 Home Assistant Example

sensor:
  - platform: mqtt
    name: "HB Battery Voltage"
    state_topic: "hawkesbay/battery/voltage"
    unit_of_measurement: "V"

  - platform: mqtt
    name: "HB PV Watts"
    state_topic: "hawkesbay/pv/watts"
    unit_of_measurement: "W"

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📝 Notes

• Barcelona and Rosie decoding may require refining.
• PRs welcome for new CAN frame IDs or captured logs.

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🤝 Contributing

PRs welcome — especially:

• New CAN frame IDs
• Expanded controller support
• Documentation improvements

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📜 License

MIT License

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📬 Contact

Open a GitHub Issue for questions, improvements, or contributions.

hawkesbay-canbus-mqtt

CAN → MQTT bridge for Midnite Solar Hawkes Bay, Barcelona, and potentially Rosie charge controllers.

📡 Overview

This project reads raw CANBus frames from Midnite Solar charge controllers and publishes decoded metrics to MQTT. It allows you to view full system telemetry in:

Home Assistant

Node-RED

MQTT Explorer

Any MQTT-compatible system

This project uses:

A CANable / CANable Pro flashed with candleLight firmware

SocketCAN on Raspberry Pi / Linux

A Python script (can2mqtt_hbay.py) that decodes CAN frames and publishes MQTT topics

Supported controllers:

✔ Hawkes Bay

✔ Barcelona

⚠ Rosie (experimental — needs frame captures)

🚀 Features

Reads CANBus frames via SocketCAN (can0)

Decodes:

Battery voltage, current, power

State of charge

Temperatures

PV (MPPT) voltage & current

Whizbang Jr current readings

Daily kWh production

Throttled publishing to reduce MQTT noise

Clean MQTT topic structure: