The CAN232 is a simple low cost tool which allows any PC or Embedded System which features an RS232 port to send and receive messages over the CAN bus. The CAN232 simply plugs into the 9-way D COM port and converts messages sent in a simple ASCII protocol to CANbus protocol. This makes the CAN232 very simple to use as it is completely PC driver independent.

The CAN232 can also be used together with embedded systems, PLCs etc which require simple CAN connectivity without changing the existing hardware. The CAN232 handles both the 11bit ID CANbus format as well as the 29bit ID format. It has built in FIFO queues and extended info/error information plus simple power up through a few commands.

The CAN232 is the ideal choice for small embedded Linux, DOS or Windows platforms where cost is important and there in only an RS232 port available. A range of free sample programs with source code are available for VB, Delphi, C & C++.