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Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: BrianTRice@gmail.com on February 14, 2014, 01:02:41 AM

Title: OBD-II / OBD2 usage
Post by: BrianTRice@gmail.com on February 14, 2014, 01:02:41 AM
I'm wondering whether any owners have identified and used their onboard diagnostics port on the 2013/2014 models.


I saw this product launched called Automatic (http://www.automatic.com) which is very intriguing and seems to be generic even if they're mainly advertising gas savings. I'm interested in the GPS and accelerometer integration (trip tracking, potential emergency crash reporting), at least, even if only a subset of what the port emits will be intelligible. Has anyone connected such off-the-shelf dongles successfully?


I suppose that since the owner's manual makes no mention of this port, it would be good to document its location so new/potential owners can know that they have access to it.
Title: Re: OBD-II / OBD2 usage
Post by: LiveandLetDrive on February 14, 2014, 01:10:10 AM
So, where is it?  (:

I'll buy that thing for sure when there's an Android version.  All I have is an OBD scanner currently.
Title: Re: OBD-II / OBD2 usage
Post by: Burton on February 14, 2014, 01:22:27 AM
How does this port differ from the one Electric Cowboy of DigiNow uses for his program?

https://www.wepay.com/stores/diginow/item/basic-obdii-bluetooth-dongle-for-all-zero-motorcyc-316828 (https://www.wepay.com/stores/diginow/item/basic-obdii-bluetooth-dongle-for-all-zero-motorcyc-316828)

I think it is in the rats nest as EC moved his to the tank area.
Title: Re: OBD-II / OBD2 usage
Post by: BrianTRice@gmail.com on February 14, 2014, 01:42:28 AM
It is exactly the same port, and I have one on order from
How does this port differ from the one Electric Cowboy of DigiNow uses for his program?

https://www.wepay.com/stores/diginow/item/basic-obdii-bluetooth-dongle-for-all-zero-motorcyc-316828 (https://www.wepay.com/stores/diginow/item/basic-obdii-bluetooth-dongle-for-all-zero-motorcyc-316828)

I think it is in the rats nest as EC moved his to the tank area.

It's exactly that port, and I have a DigiNow dongle on order. :) But I'm curious about more of a data-collection application, as more commonly applied to cars, rather than Zero-specific proprietary access than may void a warrantee. ;)
Title: Re: OBD-II / OBD2 usage
Post by: BSDThw on February 14, 2014, 10:31:44 AM
Take care,

as much as I see Zeros OBD-II has nothing to do with OBD-II standard. There is the CAN and a serial (3.3V TTL) from MBB at this connector.

My experience is from 2012 models on Saturday I will get my SW update and I can see if the FX has the same programming cable at the OBD-II - if so it will be the same with your 2013/14 and you should not wast your money.
Title: Re: OBD-II / OBD2 usage
Post by: BSDThw on February 16, 2014, 03:55:30 PM
I am sorry we did only the 2012 DS update - weather was nice and I drove the DS to my dealer ( The FX is unlicensed still waiting for the papers).

As much as I know the 2013 S/DS has the OBD-II at the back of its battery and it seams to use the same programming adapter as my 2012DS so IT IS NOT OBD-II standard!

I am pretty curious with the FX update I saw the cable set I believe the FX has no OBD-II connector (not sure haven't seen what is under the cover) but as much as I can interpret seeing the adapter it will be connect direct to the Sevcon - will be interesting to see!   
Title: Re: OBD-II / OBD2 usage
Post by: BrianTRice@gmail.com on February 18, 2014, 11:42:28 PM
Well, I'm glad to know that it's non-standard before I tried applying something. I guess this means that data output for now will have to be through software via terminal protocol to DigiNow (whether over USB or bluetooth).
Title: Re: OBD-II / OBD2 usage
Post by: BrianTRice@gmail.com on July 09, 2015, 03:43:47 AM
As a followup, for reference, the DigiNow Reaper dongle (http://hollywoodelectrics.com/product/diginow-data-reaper-dongle/) is now available from Hollywood Electrics (http://hollywoodelectrics.com/product-category/performance-products/).
Title: Re: OBD-II / OBD2 usage
Post by: BrianTRice@gmail.com on February 13, 2016, 02:31:04 PM
So, I'm noticing that the OBD-II port on a 2016 model is under the seat now, on the left just behind the tank plastics. Is this the first year where this is true?

It's certainly welcome - much more weather protected and easier to reach, side from having to unbolt the seat.
Title: Re: OBD-II / OBD2 usage
Post by: togo on May 20, 2016, 03:10:16 AM
OK, so there are *USB* wires *and* CANBUS lines,
per Burton's wiring diagram.

I'm assuming the Data Reaper and dealer cable
connect to the serial, presented by USB.  Anyone
hooked up to the CANBUS yet?


Title: Re: OBD-II / OBD2 usage
Post by: togo on May 22, 2016, 04:54:26 AM
http://www.instructables.com/id/Hack-your-vehicle-CAN-BUS-with-Arduino-and-Seeed-C/ (http://www.instructables.com/id/Hack-your-vehicle-CAN-BUS-with-Arduino-and-Seeed-C/)

Title: Re: OBD-II / OBD2 usage
Post by: togo on May 22, 2016, 09:20:19 AM
After reading a bit about the capabilities
of the systems sold and available, I think
maybe the Reaper is a CANBUS interface,
while the dealer cable is a Serial interface.

I'm a little confused about the Reaper-
according to the original Kickstarter, the
Reaper was to be an performance optimizer,
but in the materials published more recently,
it seams the Reaper is a bluetooth interface.
Title: Re: OBD-II / OBD2 usage
Post by: togo on May 22, 2016, 10:42:55 PM
Hey, the same pins for CAN+ and CAN-

So this may apply:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Exploring-the-Tesla-Model-S-CAN-Bus/ (http://www.instructables.com/id/Exploring-the-Tesla-Model-S-CAN-Bus/)

Zero is the Tesla of motorcycles, right?  Haha

And also this: "These folks have a cool python tool for plotting CAN message bytes over time. It's really helpful for decoding the messages: http://tucrrc.utulsa.edu/DodgeCAN.html (http://tucrrc.utulsa.edu/DodgeCAN.html) "

"nerdy but fun" indeed.

Title: Re: OBD-II / OBD2 usage
Post by: togo on April 17, 2017, 11:22:52 PM
OK, so as a follow-up, I was able to use Brian's reaper to access my bike using BlueTerm on Android.

It appears as a serial device, so it would appear to be talking to
the USB+ and USB- per Burton's diagram, not the CANBUS (which
is a packetized protocol, and shows up as a network device, like
ethernet).

After pressing ENTER a couple of times, I get the MBB> prompt.
help gives you a list of commands, and status gives you a bunch
of values, including battery voltage if you are interested in that.
Terry claims the battery voltage is a much better predictor of the
remaining range than the reported SoC for those of use with 2014
running-out-of-power early issues (mine is typically 6%, but I've
had loss of thrust and quick-drop as high as 14% riding faster on
a warm day). 

And having something working on the OBD-II connector, I can confirm
it's not like the standard OBD-II, in fact an OBD-II Y-cable made for
cars doesn't work (apparently they didn't wire up the "unused" pins
that zero uses.)
Title: Re: OBD-II / OBD2 usage
Post by: togo on April 18, 2017, 02:01:09 AM
Oh, and comparing Burton's diagram[1] with wikipedia[2] it seems Zero's CAN low and CAN high *do* us the same pins as industry standard, while the "USB" data lines use the "manufacturer reserved" pins.

[1] http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/boards/index.php?topic=3603.msg20961#msg20961 (http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/boards/index.php?topic=3603.msg20961#msg20961)

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On-board_diagnostics#OBD-II (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On-board_diagnostics#OBD-II)