Hondata CAN Bus Setup for the Flock Gauge

Use this guide to connect your Hondata ECU to a Flock gauge over CAN bus. It covers the wiring, ECU software configuration and gauge setup for the KPro4 / S300 V3 Hondata CAN preset.

Required CAN settings: 500 kbit/s, standard 11-bit IDs, 0x660, 0x661, 0x662. Compatibility depends on the ECU model, firmware and output stream described below.

All ECU CAN setup guides · Flock Gauge User Manual

What you need

  • A Flock gauge with CAN-capable firmware and the matching SD-card web interface. If the CAN setup screens below are missing, follow Updating Your Gauge.
  • A Flock CANbus adapter and its supplied gauge connection harness.
  • Access to the ECU’s CAN High, CAN Low and ground connections, using its model-specific wiring diagram.
  • A twisted pair for CAN High and CAN Low, with suitable CAN bus termination.
  • A laptop with the ECU manufacturer’s tuning software and connection cable, plus a phone or computer for the gauge’s WiFi setup.

The ECU must have the sensors you want to display installed, enabled and calibrated. Selecting OilPressure on the gauge does not add an oil-pressure sensor to the ECU.

1. Connect the Flock CANbus adapter and ECU

Turn power off before wiring. Connect the Flock CANbus adapter to the gauge’s five-pin expansion connector using its supplied harness.

Connect ECU CAN H → Flock CANbus adapter CAN H, ECU CAN L → Flock CANbus adapter CAN L, and the adapter’s ground connection to a common ground with the ECU. Follow the connection labels and wiring instructions supplied with the Flock CANbus adapter. Use the same ECU CAN channel you will configure in software.

CAN H and CAN L connect to the Flock CANbus adapter’s ECU-side connections. Do not connect ECU CAN H or CAN L directly to the gauge’s expansion pins. Keep the gauge powered through its normal power connector.

Use a bus layout with short branches and a 120Ω terminator at each end. Check the ECU’s and Flock CANbus adapter’s termination configuration before adding resistors. With an unpowered bus and both terminators connected, resistance across CAN H and CAN L is normally about 60Ω. Confirm your ECU’s termination behavior in its manual.

Back up your calibration before changing CAN settings. Every device on this CAN bus must use the same bit rate.

2. Set up Hondata in the ECU software

The Hondata preset uses the shared CAN layout for KPro4 and S300 V3 at 500 kbit/s. Use the instructions for your model below.

KPro4 — KManager

  1. Verify that your hardware is KPro4 and use its dedicated CAN H and CAN L connections.
  2. In KManager, open Parameters → Multiplexer / Digital Output → CAN Output.
  3. Select MoTeC SDL/ADL, which uses 500 kbit/s, or Hondata CAN output explicitly set to 500 kbit/s.
  4. Upload the calibration. Power-cycle the ECU with USB disconnected.

S300 V3 — SManager

  1. Verify that your hardware is S300 V3. Use CAN H and CAN L on its digital connector.
  2. In SManager, open the calibration parameters and find CAN Output in the digital input/output settings.
  3. Select MoTeC SDL/ADL for 500 kbit/s CAN output. The ordinary Hondata protocol is documented at 250 kbit/s and does not match the Flock preset.
  4. Set the output rate to 100 Hz and upload the calibration to the ECU. Output rate controls how frequently packets are sent; it is separate from the CAN bit rate.

On the gauge, choose Hondata for either model. KPro4 and S300 V3 have no internal CAN terminator, so provide termination appropriate to your bus. The current Flock preset contains engine speed, battery voltage, intake/coolant temperature, throttle position and MAP. Its library does not include oil pressure or lambda, even though the ECU stream can contain additional channels. Earlier S300/KPro versions and FlashPro require separate compatibility verification.

Sources: Hondata KPro4 CAN setup, KPro4 CAN output format, S300 CAN output format and SManager digital input/output settings.

3. Set up the Flock gauge

  1. Power the gauge. For a new gauge, connect to Flock Setup. For an existing gauge, enter Settings Mode and join the WiFi network shown on its screen.
  2. Scan the gauge’s QR code. If needed, open http://192.168.4.1/setup.html for initial setup or http://192.168.4.1/settings.html for settings. Stay connected if your phone reports that this WiFi has no internet.
  3. In initial setup, tap Get Started, select the five-pin expansion connector in the port diagram, then choose CAN bus. In Settings, edit an available display slot and select sensor type CanBus.
  4. Choose Hondata. The gauge loads the Hondata signal library and configures the bus at 500 kbit/s.

Flock ECU selection at 375px phone width

ECU preset selection in the gauge web interface. Screenshot from a local preview; the displayed current value is simulated.

  1. Tap the signal you want to display, such as EngineSpeed or CoolantTemp. Use Search signals to find it.
  2. Set a descriptive label, digital display options and warning thresholds where available, then tap Save.
  3. Add more readings in the remaining display slots, selecting a different signal from the same library. The gauge supports up to four display slots; these CAN assignments do not mean four separate CAN cables.
  4. Finish setup or return to the gauge display. If the interface requests a restart, follow that prompt.

Flock Hondata CAN signal picker at 375px phone width

The Hondata library’s signal picker. Screenshot from a local preview; the displayed current value is simulated.

One CAN library is shared across the gauge. Adding another reading uses that library. Use the CAN library’s Replace control when changing ECU/protocol. Replacement affects every CAN display slot: choose signals again if their names no longer match.

Preset numbers use the decoded protocol units. Do not assume a general temperature or pressure preference converts a custom CAN value. Compare against the ECU software in the same units before setting warnings. MAP is absolute manifold pressure; it is not automatically boost pressure relative to atmosphere.

4. Check the readings

With the car stationary, compare gauge readings against the ECU software. Start with RPM and coolant temperature. Check throttle position and battery voltage, then pressures and other channels. Account for the gauge’s display rounding. Set warnings only after you confirm the values and units.

The preset contains a subset of the ECU’s broadcast channels. A listed signal depends on your ECU’s sensors and firmware. A zero or frozen value alone does not prove that CAN communication is working.

Troubleshooting

What you see What to check
No CAN option or ECU picker Update both gauge firmware and SD-card interface using the Flock update guide.
All readings missing, zero or frozen ECU powered; stream enabled and saved; correct CAN channel; matching bit rate; CAN H/L polarity; Flock CANbus adapter connections and common ground; gauge harness connection; termination.
One channel missing Sensor enabled/calibrated in the ECU, channel present in this preset, ECU firmware supplies that message, and selected signal name matches the installed library.
Numbers are wrong Correct protocol, message IDs, byte order, scaling, signed fields and units. MAP and boost are different measurements.
Data stopped after changing libraries Reassign every CAN display slot to a signal in the new library and follow any restart prompt.
A different ECU or custom stream Select other to upload a compatible Flock CAN JSON file or create one signal. A DBC file needs conversion; renaming it to JSON is insufficient.

If you need help, send hello@flock-mfg.com your ECU model, ECU software/firmware version, gauge firmware version, Flock CANbus adapter connection details, CAN speed and screenshots of your ECU CAN settings and gauge signal selection.

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