[Ovmsdev] OVMS VW e-UP T26 connector
Chris van der Meijden
chris at arachnon.de
Mon Jan 19 17:56:15 HKT 2026
Hi Michael,
yep, got that wrong :-)
So we are still there, where we were 6 years ago.
Regards
Chris
Am Montag, dem 19.01.2026 um 10:45 +0100 schrieb Michael Balzer via
OvmsDev:
> Chris, I think you've got me wrong: the connector I found is the
> cable side, i.e. the one we need to adapt to, not the one we could
> use.
>
> In the forum you wrote & show you actually also bought one of these
> to see if your modified ribbon connector will fit to it.
>
> I assume cutting off the ribbon connector box as you did cannot be
> part of a manufacturing process, so I think we'll need to use an
> unboxed variant -- Mark, maybe you or your manufacturer has a better
> idea?
>
> Regards,
> Michael
>
>
> Am 19.01.26 um 10:25 schrieb Chris van der Meijden via OvmsDev:
>
> >
> > Here some more details an my cable:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > https://www.goingelectric.de/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1197786#p1197786
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Am Montag, dem 19.01.2026 um 10:22 +0100 schrieb Chris van der
> > Meijden via OvmsDev:
> >
> > >
> > > 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
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
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> > > > > > > > >
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> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > _______________________________________________
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> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
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> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > http://lists.openvehicles.com/mailman/listinfo/ovmsdev
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
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> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
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> > > > > >
> > > > > > _______________________________________________
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> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > >
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