Canbus Decoder for Headlights (for newer modern cars) CANM8

CanM8 is a Canbus decoder for connecting additional lights. The decoder is a necessary accessory when installing auxiliary lights for modern and newly manufactured cars equipped with LED or xenon lights, which are controlled by Canbus high beam systems. The Canbus decoder converts the Canbus digital signal into an analogue 12V signal, so the connected relay kit can communicate between the auxiliary light and the car. In this way, the relay turns on the retrofitted auxiliary lights at the same time as you turn on the existing high beams. The Can decoder thus does not work alone, but requires a "normal" relay cable set as a partner.

A traditional relay wiring harness works the same way as a regular switch: On and off. The relay receives a signal (12V current) from the car's high beam, and when the car's high beam is turned on, this signal switches the relay to the "On" position and the auxiliary light turns on. When the car's high beams are turned off and the signal disappears, the relay goes to the "Off" position, and the auxiliary lights are also turned off. In this way, the relay turns on the auxiliary light at the same time as the car's own high beams.

Nowadays, in new cars, above all, LED and xenon lights are controlled more and more via Canbus systems. In this case, the 12V current required by the traditional relay wiring harness, from which the analog signal is read, no longer goes in a circuit, but the on/off information goes digitally via the Canbus system. The Canbus decoder retrieves information from the Canbus system and automatically outputs an analog 12V signal, which in turn signals the auxiliary light relay to be switched to the "On" position. If the car's main beam is powered by halogen lamps, the auxiliary light can be connected directly to the car with a traditional relay cable set without a Canbus decoder.

Note! You can buy either the Canbus decoder only, if the relay wiring kit is already available, OR you can buy a complete package that includes the Canbus decoder and relay wiring kit for 1-2 extra lights or 1-4 extra lights with Deutch DT-2 connectors.

Connecting the various cables of the Canbus decoder

Connection and troubleshooting

	Flashing Red: Searching for CAN information.
	Solid Red: CAN information received with car model not yet identified.
	Solid Green: CAN information received and car model identified.
	Flashing Green: The car's speed detected (does not apply to this model).

CAR MODEL SPECIFIC CONNECTION INSTRUCTIONS can be found in the mobile application. See here: CANM8 Mobile App .

Note! Always ensure the correct Canbus connectors for the specific vehicle from the car manufacturer.

Quick guide

Connecting the Can relay is relatively easy, as long as you have a basic knowledge of connecting auxiliary lights. If everything mentioned above sounds strange or incomprehensible, it is worth going to a workshop or similar for professional installation

Before installing the Canbus decoder, it is recommended to install the traditional relay harness first. The live wire (usually red) connects to the battery or power cable in the fuse box. The ground wire (usually black) is connected to the chassis or to the ground point in the fuse box. The signal cable between the Canbus decoder and the relay kit is left unconnected at this stage.

After this, the Canbus decoder is installed. Initially, the wires where the Canbus decoder travels must be placed in the car. Often the car's OBD port is a good place to start. Once the wires are located you should see the CAN-HI and CAN-LO wires. We have wire location and correct wire information for almost all car models, so if you don't know or can't find the OBD port or wires, please contact our customer service.

Once the correct wires have been found, connect the white wire of the Canbus decoder to the car's CAN-HI wire and the blue wire to the CAN-LO wire. We recommend making the connection by soldering, but if desired, it is also possible to "steal" the current. Then connect the red power cable from the Canbus decoder to e.g. the battery or other power source and the black ground cable to the chassis or other ground point.

Finally, the purple signal wire from the Canbus decoder connects to the traditional relay harness. The purple wire gives the relay the analog signal it needs, so the auxiliary lights come on at the same time as the car's own high beams.

Does my car need a Canbus decoder?

In most new (2016 ->) cars with LED or xenon high beams, the lights are Canbus controlled, then a decoder is required for installation. Cars with traditional halogen lamps, the signal between the auxiliary light and can be directly connected to the standard relay cable set, so a Canbus decoder is not needed. If you are unsure whether you need a Canbus decoder or not, you can always contact our customer service!

To easily see if a decoder is required, you can use a multimeter. If there is a wire behind the left/right lamp housing on the car that outputs a 12V current when the car's main beam is on, and then 0V when the main beam is off, no Canbus decoder is needed. If, however, there are no changes in any of the wires when the high beam is turned off/on, a Canbus decoder is needed to send the signal.