CiA Draft Recommendation 303 
  CANopen 
Additional specification 
Part 1: Cabling and connector pin assignment 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Version 1.6 
03 June 2008 
 CAN in Automation (CiA) e. V. 
Additional specification – Part 1: Cabling and connector pin assignment 
 
 
HISTORY 
Date 
1999-10-10 
2004-09-01 
2004-12-30 
2006-08-14 
2007-06-08 
2008-06-03 
Changes 
Publication of Version 1.0 as draft recommendation 
Publication of Version 1.2 as draft recommendation 
Publication of Version 1.3 as draft recommendation 
Publication of Version 1.4 as draft recommendation 
Publication of Version 1.5 as draft recommendation 
Publication of Version 1.6 as draft recommendation 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
editorial clarifications 
adding connector "Mini-Fit Jr.“ 
clarifying reference to the 7-pin pin-receptacle connector 
clarifying of RJ45 connector pinning 
clarifying  of  recommendation  for  CAN  ground  (chapter 
5.3) 
 
General information on licensing and patents 
CAN in AUTOMATION (CiA) calls attention to the possibility that some of the elements of this 
CiA specification may be subject of patent rights. CiA shall not be responsible for identifying 
any or all such patent rights. 
Because  this  specification  is  licensed  free  of  charge,  there  is  no  warranty  for  this 
specification,  to  the  extent  permitted  by  applicable  law.  Except  when  otherwise  stated  in 
writing  the  copyright  holder  and/or  other  parties  provide  this  specification  “as  is”  without 
warranty  of  any  kind,  either  expressed  or  implied,  including,  but  not  limited  to,  the  implied 
warranties  of  merchantability  and  fitness  for  a  particular  purpose.  The  entire  risk  as  to  the 
correctness and completeness of the specification is with you. Should this specification prove 
failures, you assume the cost of all necessary servicing, repair or correction. 
 
© CiA 2008 
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or 
utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, 
without permission in writing from CiA at the address below. 
CAN in Automation e. V. 
Kontumazgarten 3 
DE - 90429 Nuremberg, Germany 
Tel.: +49-911-928819-0 
Fax: +49-911-928819-79 
Url: www.can-cia.org 
Email: headquarters@can-cia.org 
2 
 
 CiA 2008 – All rights reserved 
Additional specification – Part 1: Cabling and connector pin assignment 
 
 
CONTENTS 
1  Scope ...............................................................................................................................5 
2  References .......................................................................................................................5 
2.1  Normative references ..............................................................................................5 
2.2 
Informative references .............................................................................................5 
3  Abbreviations and definitions ............................................................................................5 
3.1  Abbreviations...........................................................................................................5 
3.2  Definitions ...............................................................................................................5 
4  Naming convention ...........................................................................................................6 
5  AC and DC parameters .....................................................................................................6 
5.1  Bus cable and termination resistors .........................................................................6 
5.2  Un-terminated stub cable.........................................................................................7 
5.3  CAN ground and galvanic isolation ..........................................................................8 
5.4  External power supply .............................................................................................8 
6  General purpose connectors .............................................................................................9 
6.1  9-pin D-sub connector .............................................................................................9 
6.2  15-pin D-sub connector.......................................................................................... 10 
6.3  Multipole connector ............................................................................................... 11 
6.4  RJ10 connector ..................................................................................................... 12 
6.5  RJ45 connector ..................................................................................................... 13 
6.6  Open style connector............................................................................................. 14 
6.7  em069A-3 connector.............................................................................................. 15 
Industrial connectors....................................................................................................... 16 
7.1  5-pin “mini” style connector.................................................................................... 16 
7.2  5-pin “micro” style connector.................................................................................. 17 
7.3  5-pin “pico” style connector.................................................................................... 17 
7.4  Han Quintax®......................................................................................................... 17 
8  Special purpose connectors ............................................................................................ 18 
8.1  Round connectors.................................................................................................. 18 
8.1.1  7-pin round connector................................................................................ 18 
8.1.2  8-pin round connector................................................................................ 19 
8.1.3  9-pin round connector................................................................................ 20 
8.1.4  10-pin round connector .............................................................................. 20 
8.1.5  Mini-snap 10-pin round connector.............................................................. 20 
8.1.6  12-pin round flange connector ................................................................... 21 
8.1.7  9-pin flange round T-connector with ID-switch ........................................... 22 
8.2  Han-Brid® CU ........................................................................................................ 23 
8.2.1  Housing-side ............................................................................................. 23 
8.2.2  Cable-side ................................................................................................. 24 
IEEE1394/Firewire connector with shielding........................................................... 25 
8.3.1  Chaining of the bus on the node ................................................................ 25 
8.3.2  No chaining of the bus on the node............................................................ 27 
8.4  Lift connectors ....................................................................................................... 28 
8.4.1  Mini-Fit Jr. connector ................................................................................. 28 
8.5  Automotive/Vehicle connectors .............................................................................. 28 
8.5.1  7-pin socket connector............................................................................... 28 
8.5.2  9-pin socket connector............................................................................... 28 
3 
8.3 
7 
 CiA 2008 – All rights reserved 
 
 
 
Additional specification – Part 1: Cabling and connector pin assignment 
8.5.3  7-pin pin-receptacle connector................................................................... 28 
8.6  Laboratory automation connectors ......................................................................... 28 
8.6.1  Header 10-pin plug connector.................................................................... 28 
4 
 
 CiA 2008 – All rights reserved 
Additional specification – Part 1: Cabling and connector pin assignment 
 
 
1  Scope 
This  document  recommends  cabling  and  pin  assignment  of  bus  connectors  for  CANopen-
based  systems.  It  specifies  also  the  naming  conventions  for  the  bus  lines,  ground  lines  and 
shield connections. 
2  References 
2.1  Normative references 
/ISO11898-2/ 
/DIN41652/ 
/IEC60130-9/ 
/IEC60947-5-2/ 
/ANSI/B.93.55M/ 
/CiA103/ 
/CiA301/ 
/CiA413-1/ 
/CiA420-1/ 
/CiA425-1/ 
/CiA436-1/ 
ISO  11898-2,  Road  vehicles  -  Controller  area  network  (CAN)  -  Part  2: 
High-speed medium access unit 
DIN 41652, Steckverbinder für die Einschubtechnik 
IEC  60130-9:1989,  Connectors  for  frequencies  below  3  MHz  –  Part  9: 
Circular connectors for radio and associated sound equipment 
IEC  60947-5-2:1997,  Low-voltage switchgear  and controlgear  –  Part  5-
2: Control circuit devices and switching elements – Proximity switch 
ANSI/B.93.55M:1981,  (R1988)  Hydraulic  fluid  power  solenoid  piloted 
industrial valves – Interface dimensions for electrical connectors 
CiA 103, CANopen intrinsically safe capable physical layer specification 
CiA 301, CANopen application layer and communication profile 
CiA  413,  CANopen  device  profile  for  truck  gateways  –  Part  1:  General 
definitions 
CiA  420,  CANopen  profiles  for  extruder  downstream  devices  –  Part  1: 
General definitions 
CiA  425,  CANopen  application  profile  for  medical  diagnostic  add-on 
modules – Part 1: General definitions 
CiA  436,  CANopen  construction  machine  application  profile  –  Part  1: 
General definitions 
Informative references 
2.2 
/AN96116/ 
AN  96116,  Application  note  PCA82C250/251  CAN  Transceiver,  NXP 
(formerly: Philips Semiconductors) 
3  Abbreviations and definitions 
3.1  Abbreviations 
AC 
CAN 
DC 
EMI 
GND 
Jr. 
SJW 
SHLD 
Alternating current 
Controller area network 
Direct current 
Electromagnetic interference 
Ground 
Junior 
Resynchronization jump width 
Shield 
3.2  Definitions 
Bus cable 
The bus cable is terminated at both ends by termination resistors. 
 CiA 2008 – All rights reserved 
 
5 
Additional specification – Part 1: Cabling and connector pin assignment 
 
 
Stub cable 
The stub cable is an un-terminated cable, and should be as short as possible. 
Socket connector 
The socket connector may be powered. 
Plug connector 
The plug connector should be not powered; this is the reason why most devices are equipped 
with plug connectors. 
T-connector 
The  T-connector  provides  a  point  of  attachment  onto  the  bus  cable.  Devices  may  be 
connected to the network either directly to the T-connector or with a stub cable. T-connectors 
also provide easy removal of a device without disrupting network operation. 
4  Naming convention 
If  connectors  are  used  that  are  not  mentioned  in  this  document,  the  pins  shall  be  named 
(either in the accompanying manual or directly on the device) using the terminology shown in 
Table 1. 
Table 1 – Terminology for connectors 
Signal description 
CAN_L bus line (dominant low) 
CAN_H bus line (dominant high) 
CAN ground 
Optional CAN shield 
Optional CAN external positive supply 
Optional ground 
Notation 
CAN_L or CANlow or CAN- 
CAN_H or CANhigh or CAN+ 
CAN_GND or CANGND or Ground or GND 
CAN_SHLD or CANSHIEL D or Shield or SHLD 
CAN_V+ or CANV+  or V+ or UC or UCAN 
OPT_GND or GNDopt or V- or 0 V 
5  AC and DC parameters 
5.1  Bus cable and termination resistors 
The  cables,  connectors  and  termination  resistors  used  in  CANopen  networks  shall  meet  the 
requirements  defined  in  /ISO11898-2/.  In  addition,  here  are  given  some  guidelines  for 
selecting cables and connectors. 
Table 2 shows some standard values for DC parameters for CANopen networks with less than 
64 nodes. 
Table 2 – Standard values for DC parameters for CANopen networks 
 
Bus cable (1) 
 
 
Bus length [m] 
Length-related 
resistance [mΩ/m] 
Cross-section 
[mm2] 
Termination 
resistance [Ω] 
Bit-rate [kbit/s] 
0 to 40 
40 to 300 
300 to 600 
600 to 1000 
70 
<60 
<40 
<26 
0,25 to 0,34 
0,34 to 0,6 
0,5 to 0,6 
0,75 to 0,8 
124 
150 to 300 
150 to 300 
150 to 300 
1000 at 40 m 
>500 at 100 m 
>100 at 500 m 
>50 at 1 km 
(1) Recommended cable AC parameters: 120-Ω impedance and 5-ns/m specific line delay 
6 
 
 CiA 2008 – All rights reserved 
Additional specification – Part 1: Cabling and connector pin assignment 
 
 
For  drop  cables  a  wire  cross-section  of  0,25  to  0,34  mm2  may  be  an  appropriate  choice  in 
many cases. 
Besides the cable resistance, there shall be considered the real resistance of the connectors, 
if calculating the voltage drop. The transmission resistance of one connector should be in the 
range of 2,5 to 10 mΩ. 
With the assumed values for 
  minimum dominant value   
  minimum differential input resistance 
 
  minimum termination resistance 
requested differential input voltage 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vdiff.out.min 
Rdiff.min   
Vth.max   
 
RT.min 
= 1,5 V 
= 20 kΩ 
= 1,0 V 
= 118 Ω 
Table  3  defines  the  maximum  wiring  length  is  given  for  different  bus  cables  and  different 
number of connected bus nodes. 
Table 3 – Maximum wiring length 
Wire cross-
section [mm2] 
0.25 
0.5 
0.75 
Maximum length [m] (1) 
Maximum length [m] (2) 
n = 32 
200 
360 
550 
n = 64 
170 
310 
470 
n = 100 
150 
270 
410 
n = 32 
230 
420 
640 
n = 64 
200 
360 
550 
n = 100 
170 
320 
480 
(1) safety margin of 0,2 
(2) safety margin of 0,1 
NOTE: If driving more than 64 nodes and/or more than 250 m bus length the accuracy of the VCC supply voltage for 
the /ISO11898-2/ transceiver is recommended to be 5  % or better. You also have to consider the minimum supply 
voltage of at least 4,75 V when driving 50 Ω load, i.e. 64 bus nodes, and at least 4,9 V when driving 45 Ω load, i.e. 
100 bus nodes. 
5.2  Un-terminated stub cable 
As a rule of thumb, the following relation may be considered for a single stub cable length Lu: 
 
with the specific line delay per length unit 
 
and the time of the propagation segment 
. 
But also the cumulative drop length Lui should be considered, which is given by the following 
relation: 
 
 CiA 2008 – All rights reserved 
 
7 
! Lu
Additional specification – Part 1: Cabling and connector pin assignment 
 
 
This  effectively  leads  to  a  reduction  of  the  maximum  trunk  cable  length  by  the  sum  of  the 
actual cumulative drop cable length at a given bit rate. If the above recommendations are met, 
then the probability of reflection problems is considered to be fairly low. 
5.3  CAN ground and galvanic isolation 
In complete galvanically isolated CANopen networks CAN ground signal is carried in the cable 
line. It is connected at only one point with the CAN ground potential. If one CAN device with 
not  galvanically  isolated  interface  is  connected  to  the  network,  the  connection  with  the  CAN 
ground  potential  is  given.  Therefore  only  one  device  with  not  galvanically  isolated  interface 
may be connected to the network. 
The user is responsible to guarantee that the common mode rejection of the transceivers has 
still reached the upper limit. 
5.4  External power supply 
The recommended output voltage at the optional power supply is +18 VDC < V+ < +30 VDC in 
order to enable the use of standard power supplies (24 VDC). 
8 
 
 CiA 2008 – All rights reserved