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Waveshare ESP32‐S3‐RS485‐CAN

Hardware basics~

The Waveshare ESP32-S3-RS485-CAN is an affordable and easy to source board. It supports 1x CAN channel, and 1x RS485 port. It comes with a DIN mountable case, and accepts an input voltage between 7-36V.

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Where this hardware shines~

On setups that require RS485, and have CAN controlled contactors (E.g. Tesla Battery with a Fronius inverter). This board is a more future proof alternative compared to the LilyGo T-CAN485.

IMPORTANT

This board supports more than 1 CAN channel and GPIO controlled contactors as from FW 10.10.1!

The hardware can be bought via sites like AliExpress, or the official Waveshare

Limitations~

This board has a single CAN channel and single RS485 port. The 4-pin SH1.0 connector on the board exposes GPIO1 and GPIO2, which can be configured in firmware settings as either a status LED or an I2C display (see below).

Optional accessories~

Status LED (NeoPixel via GPIO2)~

The 4-pin SH1.0 connector (located directly behind the USB C connector) can power an optional Adafruit NeoPixel (or any WS2812-compatible single LED) connected to GPIO2, providing a visual status indicator. Please note that the Waveshare only outputs 3.3v!

Waveshare to NeoPixel wiring diagram

Once wired, open the Settings page in the web interface and set GPIO 1/2 function to Status LED (this is the default).

Waveshare_settings

I2C Display (SSD1306 via GPIO1 + GPIO2)~

The same connector can alternatively drive an SSD1306 128×64 I2C OLED display, using GPIO1 as SDA and GPIO2 as SCL.

In the Settings page, set GPIO 1/2 function to I2C Display (SSD1306) to enable this.

NOTE

The status LED and I2C display are mutually exclusive — only one can be active at a time.

Expansion header~

The board has pads for a 20-pin 2.0mm-pitch pin header.

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Boot button~

The BOOT button has special features to enable AP, wipe wifi settings or factory reset the device

CAUTION

Working with high voltage is dangerous. Always follow local laws and regulations regarding high voltage work. If you are unsure about the rules in your country, consult a licensed electrician for more information.