[Ovmsdev] OVMS VW e-UP T26 connector
Chris van der Meijden
chris at arachnon.de
Mon Jan 19 17:22:51 HKT 2026
Hi Michael,
the connector you found looks good.
I used a 26-pin PC IDC cable and cut the box. The pitch is 2,54 mm.
https://www.goingelectric.de/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1186816#p1186816
It fits perfectly in the t26 socket, but sits loose. I fixated it with
an elastic band.
This works for almost 6 years now in the car, so I never bothered to
look for a better solution.
For DIY it is cheap and works well. For a more professional, sellable,
cable the VW connector seems to be worth a try I think.
Regards
Chris
Am Montag, dem 19.01.2026 um 09:59 +0100 schrieb Michael Balzer via
OvmsDev:
> I think there is no standard male counterpart for the T26 connector.
>
> The connector is used for other devices as well it seems, I'm pretty
> confident it's VW OE part no. 7L6 972 726 A, which is also used for
> the VW RNS-510 navigation system:
>
> →
> https://kufatec.com/en/repair-kit-connector-26-pin-7l6-972-726-plug-housing-for-vw-audi-seat-skoda-rns-510/38171-1
>
> This connector appears to be only meant for cables to be plugged into
> a custom shaped casing hole of a device, exposing a 2x13 board pin
> header, with the casing providing the mounting side for the white
> lock lever.
>
> So we will need to use some standard 2x13 male ribbon connector,
> combined with something to suitably secure the connection (there is
> no movement stress on the cable under the seat, doesn't need to be
> strong).
>
> IIRC the T26 plug is also thicker than a standard ribbon connector.
> Chris, did you find an extra wide boxed 2x13 connector fitting the
> T26 plug without cutting the box?
>
> If not we should probably better use an unboxed variant.
>
> Also, was that standard 2.54mm or 2mm pitch on the connector?
>
> Regards,
> Michael
>
>
> Am 27.11.25 um 09:38 schrieb Mark Webb-Johnson via OvmsDev:
>
> > I agree that tapping wires is not a good solution for general
> > users. Something more reversal much more appropriate.
> >
> >
> >
> > Anyway, if someone can get me pinouts, a link to the connector, and
> > cable lengths, I can get talk to the factory.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Regarding the antenna, I am a little concerned because our
> > certifications are limited on antenna types. In particular I
> > remember some clauses in there regarding not using ‘combined’
> > antennas (as they void the RF testing we did), but also limitations
> > regarding distance between the antenna and driver/passenger head
> > (which we came close to in the Tesla Roadster rear-window antenna
> > placement).
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Regards, Mark
> >
> >
> > >
> > > On 26 Nov 2025, at 4:50 PM, Chris van der Meijden via OvmsDev
> > > <ovmsdev at lists.openvehicles.com> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > That seems the best approach to me too for a prefabricated cable.
> > >
> > >
> > > I hope somebody can provide the exact lengths for the cables,
> > > otherwise it is going to be guesing by rough meassuring the
> > > distances in the car.
> > >
> > >
> > > Am Mittwoch, dem 26.11.2025 um 09:20 +0100 schrieb Michael Balzer
> > > via OvmsDev:
> > >
> > > >
> > > > My 2 cents:
> > > >
> > > > I think tapping into wires (variant 2 / footwell panel) isn't
> > > > something we should suggest / encourage users to do.
> > > >
> > > > A regular user is perfectly capable of unmounting the passenger
> > > > seat and plugging in prefabricated connectors. That also is
> > > > easily reversible, and using the original antennas for the OVMS
> > > > is really neat as well.
> > > >
> > > > So I'd vote for variant 1 (combined with OBD), with a long
> > > > cable to mount the OVMS module in the front left near the OBD
> > > > connector (i.e. not replacing the OCU under the passenger
> > > > seat), and the kit for that could/should include the Fakra
> > > > antenna plug/adapter with antenna cables of the appropriate
> > > > length to connect to the module in the front.
> > > >
> > > > @Mark: for clarification, this image shows a very short T26
> > > > connection meant to place the OVMS under the passenger seat
> > > > near the T26 connector, replacing the OCU:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > This does not apply when mounting the module in the front near
> > > > the OBD port.
> > > >
> > > > Taking +12V from the OBD port, the T26 connection cable then
> > > > only needs to connect GND and CAN-L, CAN-H of the T26
> > > > connector:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > This image shows the vehicle side of the T26 connector, i.e.
> > > > the OVMS cable needs to be plugged into that.
> > > >
> > > > It would be nice if the OVMS plug could also be secured by
> > > > using the white lock lever shown, that's what Chris intends by
> > > > using some original T26 part for this. Maybe there are
> > > > compatible connectors available, but other ways to secure the
> > > > connection would also be OK.
> > > >
> > > > Can't help with the cable lengths needed for a proper
> > > > installation, I still haven't done that connection other than
> > > > by a flying CAT5 cable for re-engineering…
> > > >
> > > > Regards,
> > > > Michael
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Am 26.11.25 um 08:15 schrieb Chris van der Meijden via OvmsDev:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Hi Mark,
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > as I started the e-Up OVMS project years ago my first
> > > > > approach was the T26 cable. The reason for that more
> > > > > complicated cable was that with the direct connection to
> > > > > CAN3, I was able to get write access for i.e. climate
> > > > > control.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > My way to do so was replacing the VW TCU under the passenger
> > > > > seat and connect to the VW T26 connector there (hence the
> > > > > name T26).
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > As the project developed the direct ODB access was added by
> > > > > other very capable developers to gain more data from the car.
> > > > > So we ended up with 4 cables. T26 alone, ODB alone, ODB + T26
> > > > > under the passenger seat, ODB + T26 at the passenger footwell
> > > > > panel.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > T26 alone and ODB alone have only historical value, so there
> > > > > needs to be a decission, if you want to make the hybrid cable
> > > > > for under the passenger seat or at the passenger footwell
> > > > > panel.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > The advantage of the "under the seat" cable is, that you can
> > > > > use the GPS and GSM antenna of the car. Disavantage is, the
> > > > > you have to struggle with the seat. The "footwell" cable is
> > > > > much easier to install, but OVMS will need extra antennas for
> > > > > GPS and GSM.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > I would suggest, that the decission about what cable to make
> > > > > should be discussed here briefly first.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Then someone will probably be able to provide the length of
> > > > > the cable.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Information on the connector, wire type and pinouts are in
> > > > > the documentation. The connector is a workaround as we were
> > > > > not able to find the original female T26 plug. But perhaps
> > > > > things has changed and somebody has more information on that
> > > > > now.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Hope this is of some help.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Regards
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Chris
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Am Mittwoch, dem 26.11.2025 um 10:49 +0800 schrieb Mark Webb-
> > > > > Johnson via OvmsDev:
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > We’ve had some enquiries regarding making a standard OVMS
> > > > > > cable T26 for VW eUP, Skoda E IV, and Seat MII electric.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > From my understanding, the cable is variant 1 described
> > > > > > here:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > >
> > https://docs.openvehicles.com/en/latest/components/vehicle_vweup/docs/index.html
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > >
> > https://docs.openvehicles.com/en/latest/components/vehicle_vweup/docs/index_t26.html
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > If there anybody here knowledgeable about this, that could
> > > > > > help specify the cable exactly? Things like:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > 1. Exact T26 connector
> > > > > > 2. Length of each cable segment
> > > > > > 3. Cable wire type
> > > > > > 4. Pinouts
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Preferable somebody who has already done it and can
> > > > > > document exactly what they have.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Also presumably this requires unplugging the existing OCU,
> > > > > > and what is the impact of that?
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Regards, Mark.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > >
> > > > > > OvmsDev mailing list
> > > > > >
> > > > > > OvmsDev at lists.openvehicles.com
> > > > > >
> > > > > > http://lists.openvehicles.com/mailman/listinfo/ovmsdev
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > >
> > > > > OvmsDev mailing list
> > > > >
> > > > > OvmsDev at lists.openvehicles.com
> > > > >
> > > > > http://lists.openvehicles.com/mailman/listinfo/ovmsdev
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > OvmsDev mailing list
> > > OvmsDev at lists.openvehicles.com
> > > http://lists.openvehicles.com/mailman/listinfo/ovmsdev
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > http://lists.openvehicles.com/mailman/listinfo/ovmsdev
> >
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>
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