CAN custom data set question

[Xgamesjames]

Hi all,

Im part of a Formula Student team that use an M400 ECU within a race car. I am using the CAN protocol to connect a custom built dashboard to the ECU. I think I am right in saying that the ECUs custom data set uses two bytes for each channel.

I have set up the ECU to output a custom data set on identifier 1500. The data set is made up of "Gear" and "Revs". As far as I can work out each of these two channels are represented by 2 bytes of data within each CAN message. Therefore I am assuming each channel is represented by a number that is either between 0 to 65535 or -32000 to +32000.

My question is, how are these channels encoded...For example to output a gear between 0 and 6, theoretically only 3 bits are needed. However, im doubting whether this is the system for outputting the gear value as 16bits are used. Has anyone had previous experience of using custom data sets with a custom built CAN network node?

Any help would be much appreciated

James