Author: Rob
How To Export An Entire eRVin Configuration (Flow)
This is a pretty simple process, you just need a PC or Mac with a browser connected to the same network as your eRVin system. A tablet should also work fine. Just FYI, what we call a “configuration file” for eRVin, is technically know as a “flow” in Node-Red terminology. You will need to know the IP address of your eRVin. If the eRVin dashboard is already running, you can get it from theLearn More
Dataplicity Installation via the Dataplicity App [currently not working]
Direct Install via the Dataplicity App Note: This tutorial will show screen sessions from an Android smartphone but it should be similar to other devices. Click on any image to enlarge it. Install the Dataplicity app on a device that is connected to the same WiFi where eRVin is running: Run the app then click the Sign Up button: The next screen will ask for your email address, enter it and click Next. Note thatLearn More
Using MQTT Explorer to View the RV-C Network
Wait, I thought RV-C was a CAN bus protocol? Yes RV-C is for sure a CAN protocol, but a core component of eRVin listens to RV-C traffic and converts it to MQTT traffic so it can more easily be manipulated. What is MQTT? MQTT is a lightweight and efficient publish-subscribe protocol used for IOT (Internet of Things) applications. The nitty gritty details aren’t pertinent to this discussion, so for more info have a look hereLearn More
What’s The Difference Between DGN and PGN?
In the context of CAN bus communication, particularly in protocols like J1939 or RV-C (used in vehicles, RVs, and heavy equipment), PGN (Parameter Group Number) and DGN (Data Group Number) are related but serve distinct roles. Here’s the difference: PGN (Parameter Group Number): Definition: A PGN is a standardized identifier used in the J1939 protocol to describe the structure and meaning of the data being transmitted on the CAN bus. It defines the message’s purpose,Learn More
Tutorial: Importing a flow into Node-Red
Node-Red is a graphical, drag and drop, point and click programming environment that uses “nodes” that are “wired” together to do things that create a “flow” of information. The vast majority of eRVin runs in Node-Red and consists of many small flows that all make up one, much larger flow. There are many cases where an update, or some new capability, has been made available for eRVin in the form of a “flow file”. ALearn More
Tutorial: Updating an OS File & Importing a New Flow
This Tutorial walks thru an example of modifying the Shades in eRVin for a previously unsupported RV. In this case the example is for a 2014 Born Free. There are two parts to the modification: PART 1 – installing a new version of the window_shades.pl script in the eRVin OS that matches the hardware shade controller configuration on the RV. PART 2 – installing a new version of the Node-Red Shades flow to match theLearn More
Tutorial – How To Change Lighting Instances in eRVin
For eRVin (and CoachProxy) users trying to adapt a non-supported coach, one of the most common questions is “how do I do some basic modifications so things will work on my coach”? This tutorial will describe how to modify the lighting configuration in Node-Red, which should provide a good intro to working with Node-Red, as well as to get your lighting working. About Instances: All lights in an RV-C equipped RV use the same RV-CLearn More
New BSD License
Copyright 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Rob Picchione https://myervin.com Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met: 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer. 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials providedLearn More
Controlling Lights from an eRVin Terminal Window
This post is for those of you that are eager to explore the inner workings of coachproxy/eRVin. And potentially for those of you that have a coach for which an eRVin configuration does not already exist and you need to create a ‘map’ of what commands are required to control individual lights. A prerequisite to this post is that you have access to your eRVin Raspberry Pi (RPi) desktop, learn how to do that here.Learn More
Configuring Alexa Account Info (eRVin v0.6x and up)
This post will describe how to configure Alexa capability in eRVinOS v0.6x and newer using Virtual Smart Home an Alexa skill that interfaces with eRVin. The configuration involves installing the skill in the Alexa app, then linking the skill by entering your Amazon account info into the appropriate Alexa “nodes” in eRVin via node-red. This is a one time task, that when complete, will provide reliable integration between Alexa and your RV lights (and downLearn More