Au J1939 Message Center System User Manual (Rev. B)

Author: Chaonan Chen, Huihui Duan, Au Group Electronics
Au J1939 Message Center System (MCS) is a quick turn-key product, which displays SAE-J1939 parameters on computer screen, such as Engine RPM, vehicle speed, etc. It can be used as a secondary display on trucks, school bus, recreation vehicles (RV), marine vessels, and any place with SAE-J1939 CAN network.
1. Major Hardware and Software Features
• Enclosure dimension: 3" L x 1-5/8" W x ¾" H
• PCB dimension: 2" L x 1.2"W [52 x30 mm]
• PC interface: DB-9 RS232 female connector
• CAN interface: DB-9 male connector
• PC side software provides friendly graphic user interface (GUI)
2. Hardware, network topology and Hardware Connection
Au J1939 message center system includes both hardware and software to receive messages from J1939 network and display those messages with a user-friendly graphic display on PC.
Hardware
The hardware is listed below (figure 1):
• RS-232C extension cable (figure 1a, part #: CBL-RS232-01)
• Au J1939 Message Center Box (J1939 MCB, figure 1b, part #: MCB-CAN)
Au J1939 message center box (figure 1b) is a handheld device with one push button, 2 LEDs (Power, Comm), and 2 DB-9 connectors (a DB-9 female RS-232C connector on RS232 side for PC connection, a DB-9 male connector on Bus side for J1939 network and power supply),
• CAN cable (4 wires: CAN-H, CAN-L, Power and Ground, figure 1c, part#: CBL-CAN-01)

CAN Network topology
Two possible CAN network topologies of Au J1939 Message Center System (MCS) are illustrated in figure 2.


Hardware Connection at Au J1939 MCB

One end of the RS232C extension cable (Part# CBL-RS232-01) connects to PC, the other end connects to Au J1939 MCB RS232 side.
If your PC is equipped with RS232 interface, simply plug the RS232 extension cable in.
If your PC does not have a RS232 interface but it has some USB ports, an USB to RS232 converter is needed.
Connect with SAE-J1939 Network
The Au J1939 MCB Bus side is connected to J1939 network by a CAN cable (part# CBL-CAN-01), as shown in figure 3.
The CAN cable (part #: CBL-CAN-01) is a 4-wire color coded cable. The pin # of J1939 MCB bus side interface and signal for each color wire is showing in figure 4 and table 1.
Note: The CAN-H wire on the Au CAN cable (part #: CBL-CAN-01) could be white or yellow color.


3. PC Software (Au J1939 MCS GUI)
Parameters displayed on Au J1939 MSC GUI
The PC software for Au J1939 message center system (Au J1939 MCS GUI) provides user friendly graphic interface, which simulates an instrument panel with 6 analog outputs, 17 digital outputs, and 8 message/warning lamps.
Parameters can be monitored by Au J1939 MCS are listed below.

• Engine Revolution per Minutes (RPM)
• Engine Hour
• Vehicle/vessel Speed
• Engine Oil Pressure
• Engine Coolant Temperature
• Battery Voltage
• J1939 Fuel Level (when available)
• Transmission Temperature
• Engine Boost Pressure
• Instant Fuel Economy
• Instant Fuel Rate
• Accelerator Position
• Inlet Air Temperature
• Engine Load Percentage
• Cruise Lamp
• Water In Fuel Warning Lamp
• Engine Red Stop Warning Lamp
• Engine Amber Warning Lamp
• Transmission Red Stop Warning Lamp
• Transmission Amber Warning Lamp
• ABS Red Stop Warning Lamp
• ABS Amber Warning Lamp
• Trip Odometer Accumulation and Reset Capability
• Computer Clock


The Au J1939 MCS GUI is showing in figure 5.

Following paragraphs will illustrate how to install Au J1939 MCS GUI step by step, also frequent asked questions for Au J1939 MCS are attached.

J1939 MCS GUI Installation
1 Save Au Group Electronics provided program "setup J1939 Message Center V1.00A" file on your PC, as shown in figure 4. Double click to start installation.

2 "Open File –Security Warning" window pops up (figure 7). Click "Run", "Welcome to the J1939 Message Center Setup Wizard" pops up (figure 8). Click "Next" to continue.

3 "License Agreement" window pops up, select "I accept the agreement", click "Next" to continue (figure 9) Select default destination location, click "Next" to continue (figure 10).

4 Name "J1939Message Center" as the Start Manu Folder to place the program’s shortcut, click "Next" to continue (figure 11), Check "Create desktop icon" and "Create a Quick Launch icon", click "Next" to continue (figure 12).

5 Setup is ready, click "Install" to continue (figure 13). Check "Launch J1939 Message Center" and Click "Finish" to exit setup (figure 14).


J1939 Message Center interface will pop up, as shown in figure 5
Setup has finished installation Au J1939 MCS GUI on your computer.

4. Frequent Asked Questions
4.1 How to Use the Software?
The software will function accordingly with J1939 input, no special tune-up required.
4.2 How to change the serial port?
At the top-right side, click "Change" button to bring up "Change Serial Port" window, select desired COM from the drop down list, click “OK” to confirm change (figure 15).

4.3 How to enter/exit self test mode?
Self Test button on the top right is an On-Off switch, click "Self Test" once will start a self test mode, click "Self Test" again will exit self test mode (Figure 16).

4.4 How to reset Trip-odometer?
Click the "Reset" button at Trip Odo meter will reset trip odometer to 0 (figure 17), also it will be reset to 0 every time when the program starts. This is only a "Trip" odometer.

4.5 How to exit program?
There are 2 ways to exit the program
1. Click "Exit" button (figure 18).
2. Click the "cross" sign on top-right corner of the Au J1939 MSC GUI

4.6 My GUI is only showing partially, is there something wrong?
Follow step I to III to change the monitor display setting on PC will solve this issue.
I. Click Start  Control Panel, then click "Appearance and Themes" (Figure 19)

II. On Appearance and Themes window, click "Display" (Figure 20)

III. On "Display Properties" window, click “Settings” tab. Press “Advanced” (Figure 21)

IV. On the "Plug and Play Monitor Properties" window, click "General" tab, set "Normal size (96 DPI)” for DPI setting, click OK button to confirm the setting. (figure 22)