Adafruit
Adafruit CAN Pal - CAN Bus Transciever
The Adafruit CAN Pal is a CAN bus transceiver breakout for microcontrollers that have a native CAN peripheral. It converts 3.3V logic-level CAN TX/RX signals...
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The Adafruit CAN Pal is a CAN bus transceiver breakout for microcontrollers that have a native CAN peripheral. It converts 3.3V logic-level CAN TX/RX signals to the differential signalling required for the CAN bus. This is a transceiver only — it does not include a CAN controller, so your microcontroller must have built-in CAN support.
Compatible chips with native CAN peripherals include ESP32, ESP32-S2, and ESP32-S3 (Espressif calls this interface TWAI), SAME51, STM32F405, and Teensy 4. Check your board's documentation to confirm CAN support and that the RX/TX pins are accessible.
Key Features
- TJA1051/T3 Transceiver – Supports 3.3V–5V logic for use with modern microcontrollers
- 5V Charge Pump – Generates clean 5V for the transceiver from 3.3V power; no separate 5V supply needed
- 3.5 mm Terminal Block – Quick access to CAN High, CAN Low, and ground
- 120 Ohm Termination – 2× 60 ohm resistors in series with onboard switch for easy activation/removal
- Simple Wiring – Just connect CAN TX, CAN RX, power, and ground
Also Available
- Adafruit CAN Bus BFF – CAN controller + transceiver for QT Py / Xiao (SPI interface, no native CAN needed)
- Adafruit CAN Bus FeatherWing – CAN controller + transceiver for Feather boards (SPI interface, no native CAN needed)
Ideal For
- ESP32-based CAN bus projects using TWAI
- Robotics and sensor networks
- Automotive and industrial CAN interfacing
- Projects using microcontrollers with native CAN peripherals
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit CAN Pal transceiver (assembled)
- 1× 3.5 mm terminal block
- 1× Header strip
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- breakout
- A breakout board carries a small or fine-pitched component and brings its connections out to standard, breadboard- and header-friendly pins. Describing a part as a breakout means it can be wired into a project without soldering directly to the component's tiny contacts.
- CAN bus
- CAN bus is a reliable two-wire communication network originally designed for vehicles and now common in machinery and robotics. It matters when you need multiple controllers or devices to share status and control messages in a noisy electrical environment.
- ESP32
- ESP32 is a family of low-cost microcontroller chips and modules from Espressif with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth. They support programmable firmware and over-the-air updates, and are commonly programmed with toolchains such as the Arduino core and ESP-IDF.
- microcontroller
- A microcontroller is a small computer on a single chip that runs a stored program and controls connected inputs and outputs such as buttons, sensors, displays and communication interfaces. In a device built around one, it is the part that executes the code and coordinates the device's behaviour.
- RX
- RX means receive, usually showing data being received by the board. An RX indicator LED can help with troubleshooting USB or serial communication.
- SPI
- A fast serial communication bus often used for displays, memory cards, and sensors. It matters because SPI devices need specific pins for clock and data, plus a separate chip-select line for each device.
- Terminal block
- A terminal block is a connector that joins wires together in a neat, removable, or serviceable way, usually clamping each wire under a screw or spring instead of soldering. It makes it easier to connect, change, or service wiring without permanent joints.
- TX
- TX means transmit, usually showing data being sent from the board. A TX indicator LED can help you see when the board is communicating or uploading code.
- UART
- UART is a simple asynchronous serial interface that sends data over separate transmit and receive wires, usually labelled TX and RX, with both ends set to the same baud rate. It is a common way for microcontrollers and other serial devices to exchange data.
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