meatpiHQ
commented
1 month ago @oywino
So how can it maintain communication with Home Assistant when you park the car and turn off the ignition - which on most (all?) cars will shut off the power on the CAN-bus.
The idea is that many users will be using WiCAN PRO with EVs to monitor charging. Many EVs keep the ECU on while charging, allowing access to charging parameters. For users with non-EVs, the focus is mostly on diagnostic data, odometer readings, fuel levels, and efficiency, which can be obtained while the car is on.
And WiFi ?? What WiFi? Public Hotspots (?) or tapping into your phone set up as hot-spot? Perhaps you car has a WiFi-AP, who knows. Some cars do.
There are several options. WiCAN PRO can log data to an SD card and upload it to Home Assistant when connected to your home WiFi. Alternatively, it can send data directly to Home Assistant over wifi access point if you have one in your car, and if HA is configured to be accessible publicly. Another option is using the ESPNetLink, which I will be releasing soon. It will provide LTE connectivity and GPS positioning.
If I understand correctly, the WiCAN device announced as a crowd-funded project, needs power from the CAN bus in order to operate, right? So how can it maintain communication with Home Assistant when you park the car and turn off the ignition - which on most (all?) cars will shut off the power on the CAN-bus.
And WiFi ?? What WiFi? Public Hotspots (?) or tapping into your phone set up as hot-spot? Perhaps you car has a WiFi-AP, who knows. Some cars do. How about adding an eSIM interface to the design? That could at least solve all the comms uncertainties (at a cost). Then I could consider supporting the project.