Not Neil, but will give some ideas...
CAN has three different wiring \'topologies\' that Wakespeed commonly supports:
- RJ45 (With a variety of different pin-outs)
- DeviceNet (aka: NMEA-2000, also at times called M12 for the round connector size used.)
- Automobile (RV-C) style (Open the hood of your car!).
What is common to all is the basic concept of \'CAN\': The CAN is a bus with terminators at each end to which nodes as attached along the bus. Does not matter the wiring standard used, the CAN is always a \'bus\' + nodes. Now there are of course lots of other technical details, but perhaps a key one to keep in mind is: Drops have a max length, contain only a single node, and contain no termination. (Keep this point in mind for later on)
Lets take the 2nd one 1st, DeviceNet (aka: NMEA2000): Likely somewhat well known in the Marine world, here is an example (Thank you Garmin):
The top \'T\'s are the backbone with terminators on each end, and then there are two Drops to two devices (Chartplotter and GPS Antenna). The middle Yellow wire is a detail of NMEA, so we will ignore it here. In the photo the backbone is really short, but in most installs there will be cables between the \'T\'s that run from one end of the vessel to the other. When one needs to \'attach\' a node, a T is installed and a drop.
Now lets consider RJ45/CAT-5 cables. You will note in almost all cases devices using the RJ45+CAT-5 cabling system will have two RJ45 sockets. WS500 White boxes, Victron Cerbo, etc. These are not really two \'ports\', but the RJ45 sockets are wired in parallel inside the box -- so, when you \'daisy chain\' devices, you are in effect created the backbone via the CAT-5 cables, and the \'drops\' are really short. Simple to install, just daisy-chain them up, add terminators at each end and you are done. One MASSIVE detail here is that there are (Sadly) several RJ45 \'standards\' used, so one needs to be VERY CAREFUL with the pinouts. Case in point, Wakespeed uses the published CiA_303 industry standard for our RJ45 pinout; Victron uses --- well --- Victron\'s standard. And they are NOT compatible. It is very important to use a cross over cable at some point between the devices, and the appropriate terminator (A hint, Wakespeed uses Black RJ45 plugs, while Victron Blue - out \'cross over\' cable as a Black and Blue end..)
The final cabling spec Wakespeed supports is more common in automobiles, in our case we use a DTM connector which is part of the RV-C spec.
Now in support of all this, Wakespeed offers the following:
- WS500 White Boxes: Contains RJ45 jacks. We offer terminators, cross over cable to the Victron pinout, and water-proof field install outer boots t0 make a nice clean and reliable install.
- WS500 Black Boxes: CAN is taken out in the attached harness via the large Amp connector. We offer harnesses with a 4th CAN leg: WS500-PH/CAN, and our new Van optimized harness. Both those feature a CAN leg with yellow/green wires and a DTM plug on the end. A note: The WS500 White boxes also have CAN in its large connector, so the above cables will also work with it.
- DTM Adapter Cables: This allows the DTM plug to be \'converter\' to support another wiring standard. Today we have two:
- DeviceNet / M12 adapter (NMEA2000 compatible)
- Lthionics adapter cable, makes simple click-n-go installs.
So, with all there there are a wide range of combinations one
could make up if they wished. Back to the OPs question: Issue here is that two different \'wiring standards\' are being used: N2K and RJ45. And this is where we come back to the point above: Drops can only have one node. So, if one wanted to be REAL cleaver: The could start at one end with N2K and one terminator; then attach to say a WS500 White Box via the PH-CAN harness and a M12 adapter, from there us an RJ45 cross over cable into Victron and finish with a Victron terminator. 3 different wiring standards, but still a compliant topology: backbone with terminators on each and and drop nodes.
--OR--
You could just use the above noted Victron NMEA2000 cable to attach the Victron equipment to a NMEA2000 backbone with a T, and then get the Wakespeed PH-CAN cable with a M12(NMEA) adapter, and attach the Wakespeed also to the NMEA2000 backbone with another T.
Wow - LONG post, sorry. But this can be a confusing topic: I do hope the above provides some background and clarity, just remember: For this conversation: CAN is CAN is CAN , and it is up to the system designer to figure out which wiring system works best for each given case.
-al-
(Full disclosure: I work for Wakespeed Offshore)