Thank you for your interest in Zoho IoT Cloud for vehicle monitoring. As a Zoho Trusted Partner, Creator Scripts is excited to provide this comprehensive guide on compatible OBD-II devices, integration methods, and best practices for capturing vehicle telemetry like GPS, engine RPM, fuel levels, and more.

Overview of Zoho IoT Cloud & OBD Integration

Zoho IoT Cloud is a robust platform for connecting, managing, and analyzing IoT devices, including automotive OBD-II (On-Board Diagnostics) hardware. It supports standard protocols such as MQTT, HTTP/HTTPS, and CoAP, allowing seamless data ingestion from OBD devices into Zoho apps like CRM, Creator, or Analytics for fleet management, predictive maintenance, and real-time dashboards.

OBD-II is the universal standard for vehicle diagnostics (post-1996 models in the US/EU). Zoho IoT acts as a cloud gateway, pulling data via device APIs or middleware without direct hardware dependencies—focus on protocol-compatible devices.

Supported Protocols & Integration Methods

• MQTT: Lightweight pub/sub protocol ideal for real-time telemetry. Devices publish OBD data (e.g., PID queries for speed, RPM) to an MQTT broker, which Zoho IoT subscribes to.
• HTTP/HTTPS: For batch or event-driven uploads. Use REST APIs to POST JSON payloads with OBD metrics to Zoho endpoints.
• CoAP: UDP-based for low-bandwidth scenarios, suitable for mobile OBD units.
• Integration Flow: OBD Device → Gateway/App (e.g., Raspberry Pi or mobile SDK) → Zoho IoT API → Zoho Apps (e.g., Deluge scripts in Creator for processing).

Setup Guide: Register your device in Zoho IoT Console, generate API keys, and configure data mappings (e.g., map OBD PID 0x0C to RPM sensor). Use Zoho's SDKs for custom integrations.

Compatible OBD Devices & Examples

Any OBD-II compliant device with API or protocol support works. Here are vetted examples (based on Zoho ecosystem compatibility and community integrations):

• ELM327 Adapters: Affordable Bluetooth/WiFi dongles (e.g., from Veepeak, OBDLink). Connect via apps like Torque Pro to forward data to Zoho via MQTT. Cost: $10-50. Best for DIY prototypes.
• Teltonika FMB Series (e.g., FMB920): GPS/OBD trackers with built-in CAN bus reading. Native MQTT/HTTP support; integrates directly with Zoho IoT for fleet telematics. Supports AVL (Automatic Vehicle Location).
• Queclink GV Series (e.g., GV55): Rugged OBD trackers with 4G connectivity. Push OBD-II PIDs (engine load, coolant temp) via HTTP to Zoho. Ideal for commercial fleets.
• CalAmp LMU Series: Enterprise-grade with OBD-CAN interface. Supports JSON over HTTPS; Zoho users report easy integration for geo-fencing and diagnostics.
• Geotab GO Devices: Plug-and-play OBD with cloud API. Use their SDK to bridge to Zoho IoT for advanced analytics.
• Other Generics: Arduino/Raspberry Pi with OBD shields (e.g., Seeed Studio OBD-II UART) for custom builds. Libraries like python-OBD simplify data extraction.

Note: Ensure devices support SAE J1979 OBD-II standard. For heavy-duty vehicles, look for J1939/CAN compatibility.

Best Practices for Vehicle Telemetry

• Data Mapping: Standardize OBD PIDs (e.g., 0x0D for speed, 0x05 for coolant temp) to Zoho sensors for consistent analytics.
• Security: Use TLS/SSL for transmissions; implement device authentication in Zoho IoT.
• Scalability: For fleets, use Zoho Creator to build custom apps that trigger alerts (e.g., low fuel via Deluge workflows).
• Edge Computing: Pre-process data on-device to reduce bandwidth (e.g., filter idle events).
• Integration with Zoho Suite: Feed OBD data into CRM for service scheduling or Analytics for ROI dashboards (e.g., fuel efficiency trends).

Sample Deluge Code Snippet (Zoho Creator):

obdData = invokeurl
[
    url: "your-mqtt-broker-endpoint"
    type: GET
];
if(obdData.rpm > 3000)
{
    // Trigger alert in Zoho Desk
    sendmail
    [
        from: zoho.adminuserid
        to: "fleet@company.com"
        subject: "High RPM Alert"
        message: "Vehicle ID: " + obdData.vin
    ];
}

Getting Started & Resources

• Start with a free Zoho IoT trial: All Products Bundle (includes IoT Cloud).
• Zoho IoT Docs: Official Guide
• Creator Scripts Services: Custom OBD integrations – Explore Services
• Consultation: Book a free session at Contact Us

If you need hands-on implementation, our team specializes in Deluge scripting and Zoho IoT setups. Reply to this email or call 844-455-2263.

Best regards,
Creator Scripts Team
creatorscripts@zoho.com

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