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Writer's pictureInflux Big data

What is a CAN bus logger & why is it important?

Updated: Feb 24, 2022

Data loggers are highly efficient devices that can log or store your data. With an ever growing need for advancement in every field, data has become an essential part of our lives. The collection of data allows us to develop more accurate theories and more effective solutions in place. Without having access to Data (be it of any kind), one may fail to understand the actual behavior of systems around.

And we can’t begin to list the horrors linked with losing data. So a better solution to measuring it precisely and keeping it safe is a requirement.

Any device that records your Data for you is a data logger. May it be used for monitoring machinery or other parameters like temperature, PH levels, voltage, CO2, current, pulse, CAN/LIN signals a data logger works for all. They are generally classified into two types:



  • DAQ or Data Acquisition ( where there is no inbuilt storage)

  • Data logger ( having inbuilt storage)


A data logger is designed to operate in a stand-alone mode; without connection to a PC or other system. Thus, they are designed with power-saving or sleep modes to minimize power needs when not actively recording. But A DAQ is typically designed for connecting a PC for data logging functions. DAQ usually cater to many channels, higher sampling rates per channels, and ideal using for laboratory purposes. ​​ Various other factors classify a data logger, and they can be used according to the requirement. In this article, we aim to focus on data loggers used in the automotive sector. In the automobile world, the factors that influence the classification and use of a data logger are listed below:

  • Time of application, before sales or after-sales).

  • Type of channel used by the data logger (LIN, CAN, CAN FD, Ethernet).

  • Types of connection (BT, Wi-Fi, SD card, USB).


Importance of Data Loggers in Automotive and Fleet Management

Data loggers are an intelligent combination of sensors and storage device. They are used for monitoring and optimizing various functionalities in an automobile. From evaluating a small parameter to logging significant performance-related developments, a data logger does it all. Data loggers have become quite popular due to their functionality and features. Using various sensors to receive the information, data loggers monitor and record environmental parameters, CCP/XCP variables and OBD data over time, allowing conditions to be measured, documented, analysed, and validated to be stored on a computer. From studying an automobile to understanding its faults to store its behaviour on a chip, they are loaded with various features.

Analyzing your vehicle with a data logger allows you to increase the effectiveness of the development, and testing, ultimately giving your response and countermeasures more power. Let us list a few essential points which signify the importance and usage of data loggers in today’s automotive world:



  • Analysis of the user’s behaviour to track the reason behind a particular error/fault.

  • Monitors if the product is functioning according to the expectations.

  • Keeps track of data by making sense of machine-generated logs.

  • Records data required for development and testing purposes.

  • Helps to plot the reason behind an error or a fault.

  • Improves overall infrastructural performance.

  • Keep the data safe for future references.

  • Gather an enormous amount of data.

  • Endurance testing at the track.

  • Measurements under the hood.

  • Supports troubleshooting.

  • Climate testing.

  • Fleet testing.


To match the ever-changing technological advancements in the automotive world, “Influx” brings you a wide variety of data loggers to cater to your data logging needs. Data loggers from influx support on-road testing and can be used in remote places for monitoring purposes. These loggers can be set up remotely, providing adequate cost supervision, that too without the support of any other device. They have a very low power consumption and offer features such as cloud-based data logging globally available with remote fleet management using 4G LTE. Data loggers at influx are also powered with sleep and wakeup features;


For more details on Influx data loggers:





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