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Why I picked a CAN-VIEW

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Allannde, Feb 17, 2007.

  1. Allannde

    Allannde Just a Senior

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    There are ways to see into the inner regions of our Prii to watch what is going on better than is allowed by the car as it comes to us. Many of us feel a need for more information than is available from the factory. A few of us want the very best. Since that costs a little more, a description is in order.

    Here are my reasons for choosing a CAN-VIEW and specifically the model V4. If you are a CAN-VIEW owner please add your reasons since I do not use the whole potential.

    1. It displays the EV Mode including the reasons for failure to enter if it is denied.
    2. It displays the 12 volt battery amps and specifically it can be set turn off after the car powers down so
    that it displays the amps after the traction battery support is withdrawn which is the real strength of the
    little battery (I worry about that).
    3. It displays the coolant temperature not just from one of the hoses, but also from the ICE block which is
    useful if you block your radiator.
    4. It displays the % of gas in the tank. This is not a linear reading any more than the “guess gauge†but it is
    more refined and when I add a couple of gallons to a nearly empty tank it shows the increase unlike the
    “guess gaugeâ€.
    5. It displays the State Of Charge of the traction battery in % as opposed to the bars on the MFD
    6. It displays the ICE rpms
    7. It displays the traction battery temperature
    8. It displays the MG1 and MG2 rpms
    9. It displays the % of ICE run
    10. It displays the mpg up to 255 mpg
    11. It displays the MG1 and MG2 temperature
    12. It displays all of the above in both digital and graphic modes at the selection of the user
    13. It keeps a record of your trips even if you shut down the car along the way.
    14. It shows the first three diagnostic trouble codes and allows you to clear them
    15. And this is just the part which I use. There is much more.

    When I am driving I may only be watching one or two items but which ones I am watching can vary.

    People are concerned about the cost. It is not that much. The V4 CAN-VIEW (which I must use since mine is later than’05) is $299. I must also use a separate LCD monitor which costs between $220 and $275 depending on the one chosen. Mounting the monitor in the car takes a 6†piece of 2x4, an angle iron with screws and a few minutes with a saw, a drill and a screwdriver. No modifications to the car are needed (Unless you use a power retractable screen. “theforce†can tell you about that.).

    Note: If you have an ’04 or an ’05, you can install a V3 CAN-VIEW which uses your MFD to display the good stuff. It is more difficult to install and costs almost as much as a V4 WITH the monitor but is neater in that it does not have a second monitor.

    It is especially nice to avoid constantly switching screens on the MFD which is allowed by the second screen with the V4. Also the V4 has a few more features

    There are more details about mounting a V4 here: http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=27906&hl=

    Edit: Norms's Web site is: http://hybridinterfaces.ca/
     
    #1 Allannde, Feb 17, 2007
  2. AnOldHouse

    AnOldHouse Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Allannde @ Feb 17 2007, 01:44 PM) [snapback]392050[/snapback]</div>
    Which is the single overriding reason that I will not be getting one as it does not integrate with the MFD on a 2006-2007.
     
    #2 AnOldHouse, Feb 17, 2007
  3. dmckinstry

    dmckinstry New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Allannde @ Feb 17 2007, 10:44 AM) [snapback]392050[/snapback]</div>
    In addition to all of your reasons, one reason I went with CAN-View rather than Scangauge is the availability of relays that will be useful when I get around to doing a PHEV conversion (whenever battery quality increases and prices drop). I have the '05 CAN-View v3 BTW.

    Dave M.
     
    #3 dmckinstry, Feb 17, 2007
  4. BlairMartin

    BlairMartin New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Allannde @ Feb 17 2007, 02:44 PM) [snapback]392050[/snapback]</div>
    This is a very useful outline of CANVIEW's capabilities. However, I'm not sure I would ever want to have the additional distraction in my car. Is it practical to use it only as a data capture device, and view the results by transferring the log file inot a computer?

    Blair
     
    #4 BlairMartin, Feb 18, 2007
  5. Allannde

    Allannde Just a Senior

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    #5 Allannde, Feb 18, 2007
  6. hdrygas

    hdrygas New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Blair @ Feb 18 2007, 12:15 PM) [snapback]392469[/snapback]</div>
    No more or less distraction than the MFD. Lot of the features are not used on the go. CAN View lets you set up your own graphic and or text pages, in the order you want. You get the information you want where you want it on the page from a large menu of choices. I use a few when driving. More when I stop to review the trip. I have taken my local Prius Tech out for a spin and he thinks it is a great diagnostic tool. The display is big enough to read while driving, unlike the Toyota Handheld scanner. You can also read and remove he DTC. Leave the gas cap loose and get the warning screen it is easy to get rid of it. If I ever had a problem with the car I would record the DTC on the spot. I could then call the dealer talk to a Tech tell him (or her) the symptoms and give them the DTC. They would be in a much better position to tell me what to do. If I was in "hellandgone" North Dakota and had reception or a land line near by when I had a problem I would call my local dealer with the info before I took my "baby" to some stranger. Those are just a few off the top of my head.
     
    #6 hdrygas, Feb 18, 2007
  7. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I was asked by someone on the forum to give the CAN-View a bit of a 'boost' as it has, perhaps, waned in interest in light of the recent Scan-Guage sale and such.

    I just want to say that the CAN-View has absolutely revolutionized the way I drive my Prius. The ability to have awareness of all the various systems, to monitor mile-to-mile mpg over any given route and to see just how all the various systems are working together has really let me fine tune my minute to minute driving. Perhaps more importantly it's increased my understanding of how the Prius actually works.

    For Norm this thing is a labor of love. And though the up-front cost may seem prohibitive it is, to me, the best investment you can make in your car if you're at all interested in getting the most out of it you can and taking full advantage of the technology of the Prius.

    Give Norm's site a look if you're not already familiar and consider adding it to your wish list!
     
    #7 efusco, May 6, 2007
  8. Allannde

    Allannde Just a Senior

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AnOldHouse @ Feb 17 2007, 10:53 AM) [snapback]392051[/snapback]</div>
    I just reurned from a 1000 mile round trip to Victoria B.C., Canada (which included a visit to Norm) over largley unfamliar roads. The availablity of BOTH my Navigation and the Can-View without switching back and forth was VERY valuable. Going over the three passes, I was able to be sure that the radiator blocking (which I had only partly removed) was not causing overheating. The information was much easier to see than the little screen on the ScanGauge (which I have but no longer use).

    By the way, Norm's web site is http://hybridinterfaces.ca/
     
    #8 Allannde, May 6, 2007
  9. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Allannde @ May 6 2007, 03:14 PM) [snapback]436469[/snapback]</div>
    I have to say there are definately times I wish the CAN-View was on a seperate screen in my '04...I use it to tell me when I'm in the 'sweet spot' rpm range and esp. in areas with frequent stops/starts it helps to be able to glance over to make sure you're in it. But if we're navigating we need that screen up and can't look at the CAN data.



    That said, I don't really want another screen most of the time. If there were an easier way to integrate it into the slot under the head unit that would be ideal. Still, if I had an '06, knowing what I know now...I'd adjust to a second screen if that's the only way I could get the CAN-View...I definately wouldn't want to be without it again.
     
    #9 efusco, May 6, 2007
  10. Frank Hudon

    Frank Hudon Senior Member

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    when we first installed the CAN-view the wife wasn't to sure that it was anything other than a geek tool to see what the Pruis was doing. Now if she got a new Prius I'd be installing the add on screen assy. She looks at the ICE temps as soon as she hits the Power button. Then I hear that the thermos temp was a bit low and how it took longer than normal to get it to go into stealth. One of the nice things that Norm did to it other than the black background at night, is the auto save feature. I was forever forgetting to "save" when I shut it down. Also the ability to adjust the fuel useage to match the Info screen data makes normal driving less of a guess. The throttle graphing is a nice feature as well for keeping it in stealth and for the reason why it won't go into stealth because the BSOC is too low or my foot is too heavy. I wish the MiniScanner in my Classic had the additional lines of information. It is more like the ScanGauge. Better than nothing but for a Gen 2 Prius CAN-view is the answer, I'm not just saying this because I know Norm and was the Beta tester for it but from a geeky sort of background and as a mechanic, the data stream is able to make you really understand what is going on.
     
    #10 Frank Hudon, May 6, 2007
  11. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    I got mine primarily because I wanted to know, not only the direction of current flow, but the amperage as well. It really annoyed me not knowing whether the amount of current was significant or not. But I also like having a lot of the other information, and having more precise numbers.

    Mine is an earlier version that has fewer features, but it does everything I want it to.

    And the great advantage of having an aftermarket GPS is that I can have my navigation and my CAN-View both at the same time.
     
    #11 daniel, May 7, 2007
  12. Presto

    Presto Has his homepage set to PC

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    CAN-view came in very handing on my 'performance' driving on a winding mountain side. Particularly, I needed to manage my braking so I would regen brake instead of friction brake, and CAN-view gave me the numbers I needed. I drove a 15KM stretch of road 8 times, and was able to gradually get my fuel economy down and maintain the ability to regen brake when braking was necessary. I don't think I can upgrade to the next Prius unless I have all the info that CAN-view provides.
     
    #12 Presto, May 7, 2007
  13. Frank Hudon

    Frank Hudon Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ May 7 2007, 04:15 PM) [snapback]437158[/snapback]</div>
    come on up and I'll flash it for you Daniel and you'll have all the latest features that were enjoying.
    Edit: that is one of the features of CAN-view it's updateable.
     
    #13 Frank Hudon, May 7, 2007
  14. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Presto @ May 7 2007, 05:03 PM) [snapback]437178[/snapback]</div>
    You can. But you'd have to buy and install a separate screen. CAN-View won't connect to the newer digital screens. But Allan has a method of installing a screen.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ May 7 2007, 05:18 PM) [snapback]437188[/snapback]</div>
    Thanks a lot Frank. But really, mine does what I want it to. And my Prius is going to get a LOT less use starting in a week or so (maybe less) when my new Xebra arrives.
     
    #14 daniel, May 8, 2007
  15. Presto

    Presto Has his homepage set to PC

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ May 8 2007, 07:53 AM) [snapback]437476[/snapback]</div>
    Not too worried screen-wise, but I'm talkiing about the next gen Prius. With a generation change and new hardware, I don't think CAN-view would fully function plug and play-wise.
     
    #15 Presto, May 8, 2007
  16. Frank Hudon

    Frank Hudon Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Presto @ May 8 2007, 04:03 PM) [snapback]437849[/snapback]</div>
    I recon that Norm would figure it out. Give him a week or two.
     
    #16 Frank Hudon, May 8, 2007
  17. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ May 8 2007, 06:50 PM) [snapback]437950[/snapback]</div>
    I imagine he would. However, as much as I like having an aftermarket GPS with its own display, I don't think I'd care for the sort of aftermarket screen that Allan has for his CAN-View.

    But then, now that I'm about to get my Xebra, I'm not sure I'll be all that interested in the 2009 Prius. I think my next new car will either be a full-feature electric car, or a PHEV that can run at least 75 miles on pure EV before the engine starts.
     
    #17 daniel, May 8, 2007
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