CAN-Bus shield (MCP2515 + MCP2551): specs
An Arduino Uno shield that adds a CAN bus node using the MCP2515 CAN controller (SPI) and the MCP2551 CAN transceiver, as named in the product title. This page gives the two Microchip chip facts; the Elecrow board itself (pins used, jumpers, terminal layout, extra parts) is not covered by a document found for this page.
Specs
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CAN controller: protocol and speed | MCP2515 implements CAN V2.0B at up to 1 Mb/s, standard and extended frames, 0 to 8 data bytes | source Features, p.1 |
| CAN controller: host interface | SPI, up to 10 MHz, modes 0,0 and 1,1 | source Features, p.1 |
| CAN controller: supply | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | source Features p.1; DC Characteristics |
| CAN controller: current | 5 mA active typ; 1 uA standby (sleep) typ | source Features, p.1 |
| CAN controller: temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial grade). The sheet also lists an extended grade; which grade the shield carries is not documented, so only the industrial range is stated | source Features, p.1 |
| CAN transceiver: supply | MCP2551 VDD 4.5 V to 5.5 V | source DC Characteristics (VDD = 4.5 V to 5.5 V) |
| CAN transceiver: speed and nodes | Up to 1 Mb/s; up to 112 nodes; ISO-11898 physical layer; nominal bus termination 120 ohm | source Features p.1; Section 1.2 |
| CAN bus pin ratings | DC voltage at CANH and CANL -42 V to +42 V | source Absolute Maximum Ratings |
| Maker lifecycle note | MCP2551 sheet is marked 'Not Recommended for New Designs. Please use MCP2561' | source Cover, p.1 |
Power
| Value | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Supply | MCP2515 2.7 V to 5.5 V; MCP2551 4.5 V to 5.5 V (chip sheets); shield supply arrangement not documented | source Features, p.1 |
| Current | MCP2515 5 mA active typ (chip only; transceiver and board current not sourced) | source Features, p.1 |
Pinout
We don't publish a pin table for this part: no official source we could verify gives one. Check the labels printed on your module, and see the notes below.
The Elecrow V1.5 board's pin usage (chip-select, interrupt, jumpers) is not given in an official Elecrow document, so it is not listed here. The numbers above are the Microchip chip limits, not board facts.
Build with it
Project ideas for the CAN-Bus shield (MCP2515 + MCP2551). Each link opens Soldr with the prompt filled in; Soldr assigns the pins, checks power and shows how to wire every part.
- Two-node CAN temperature link: Needs two shields and two Unos (one of each per node); quantity 2. One node sends the temperature, the other shows it. A CAN bus needs 120 ohm termination at both ends of the bus: check how the shield provides it on both nodes before the first test. Learning project.
- CAN button to LED remote: Needs two shields and two Unos (quantity 2). The smallest useful CAN test: one frame per button state. The MCP2551 chip needs 4.5 V to 5.5 V; the shield's own supply wiring is not documented here. Check the 120 ohm termination at both ends of the bus: an unterminated two-node test often fails. Use a resistor in series with the LED. Learning project.
- CAN frame counter on a display: Needs a second node (a second Uno and shield sending frames, as in the button idea), so the parts are quantity 2. The MCP2515 has two receive buffers and hardware filtering, so counting frames is a practical read-only project on a bus you control. Check the 120 ohm termination at both ends of the bus. Learning project.
Common mistakes
- The MCP2551 chip itself needs 4.5 V to 5.5 V, so it must not be powered from a 3.3 V rail; the shield's own supply arrangement is not documented here (source: link, DC Characteristics).
- A CAN bus is specified with a nominal 120 ohm termination; a bus with no termination gives unreliable frames, so check how the shield provides it for a two-node test (source: link, Section 1.2).
- CANH and CANL are rated -42 V to +42 V; never connect them to a vehicle or mains supply line by mistake (source: link, Absolute Maximum Ratings).
Not covered by the official source
- No Elecrow V1.5 document (pins, jumpers, schematic) is available; board pinout and any board-specific current are not given.
- MCP2551 is marked Not Recommended for New Designs by Microchip; it is still the transceiver named for this board.