Auto Meter Reader Manual
Proprietary Notice
This User’s Guide contains confidential and proprietary information of Equipment BC and, except for use by the authorized user, its employees, consultants and agents, may not be used by or disclosed to other parties in whole or in part without prior written authorization from Equipment BC.
Copyright © 2011 by Equipment BC. All rights reserved.
No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, photographic, electronic, mechanical or otherwise, or used in any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written permission of Equipment BC.
Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability
Equipment BC and its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, directors, employees and agents provide the information contained in this User’s Guide on an “as-is” basis and do not make any express or implied warranties or representations with respect to such information including, without limitation, warranties as to non-infringement, reliability, fitness for a particular purpose, usefulness, completeness, accuracy, or currentness.
Radio Frequency Compliance Statement
Equipment BC is the responsible party for the compliance of the following device:
MODEL : HOUR METER TAG
FCC ID : FCC Part 15 Compliant
CANADA : Industry Canada RSS-210 license exempt
The user(s) of these products are cautioned to only use accessories and peripherals approved, in advance, by Equipment BC. The use of accessories and peripherals, other than those approved by Equipment BC, or unauthorized changes to approved products, may void the compliance of these products and may result in the loss of the user(s) authority to operate the equipment.
Operation is subject to the following conditions: (1) these devices may not cause harmful interference, and (2) these devices must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.
FCC Compliance
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communication.
Warning: Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
Industry Canada Compliance
This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.
Contents
- 1.0Introduction
- 2.0Configuration and Wiring Instructions
- 3.0Mounting the Tag
- 4.0EQUIPMENT BC Hour Meter Tag Technical Specifications
1.0Introduction
1.1 Fundamentals
Equipment BCs’ technology is the next generation of long range active RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags. The objective is wireless and automated data collection of meter data from your fleet.
1.2 System Overview
Equipment BC’ Hour Meter Tag consists of four main components:
- Hour Meters (also called transceivers) utilizing an external power supply, which are used to identify usage as well as maintenance scheduling
- Interrogator (fixed-mounted) operating in conjunction with a Windows based interface application that allows for the retrieval and display of current usage information that is exchanged information between the Hour Meters and host computer systems
- Optional Repeater unit for increasing range of communication in relation to read zone
- A central computer system as basis for control and monitoring
This manual only describes the operations of the EQUIPMENT BC Hour Meter Tag.
1.3 Operational Description
The EQUIPMENT BC Hour Meter is a high performance active RFID transceiver suitable for a wide variety of applications. The meter with read and program commands from the interrogator is to transmit its unique program read commands <identification number>. With the use of the EQUIPMENT BC software, the interrogator can then read a portion of data from the meter which records the cumulative number of hours the meter input has been active.
The Maximum operation range is 200 meters (600 feet) in open air, with a designed operation life of ten years.
The primary feature of this meter is its ability to connect to an ancillary device and record its hours of operation. This device may include a vehicle engine, or other device with a switch such as a lawnmower or portable generator.
Connected to the ancillary device, an hour meter total stored on the meter will increase in increments of one minute. Or one hour, customer choice of Windows application, using EQUIPMENT BC software, it is possible to write an initial or revised value of the hour meter to the tag. The range of possible values for the service meter hour total shall range from 0.0 to 65.000 hours or operating in minutes 0.0 to 1,100 hours displaying both minutes and hours (employee performance monitoring)
2.0 Configuration and Wiring Instructions
The Intelligent Hour Meter Tag interfaces to the device through a standard three wire connection.
Requiring, a simple three wire installation.
The following table provides the Wire Color and functionality:
| Wire color | Function |
|---|---|
| Black Wire | Meters negative ground |
| Red Wire | This is the supply power for the meter. This should supply full time power to the meter, allowing the meter to be read at all times, even if the machine is not running or powered off |
| White Wire | This is used as a trigger to record operating time when connected from machines positive DC voltage input IE ignition run time |
12 Volt the maximum input voltage is 12VDC from signal input required voltage 9 VDC
12 Volt The maximum input voltage is 12VDC from power supply required voltage 9 VDC
24- 60 VDC the maximum input voltage is 60VDC from power supply required voltage12 volts DC
24- 60 VDC the maximum input voltage is 60VDC from power supply required voltage12 VDC
24-60 Volt Units
The Intelligent Hour Meter Tag interfaces to the device through a standard three wire connection.
Requiring, a simple three wire installation.
The following table provides the Wire Color and functionality:
| Wire color | Function |
|---|---|
| Black Wire | Meters negative ground |
| Red Wire White Wire | This is the supply power for the meter. This should supply full time power to the meter, allowing the meter to be read at all times, even if the machine is not running or powered on. White wire is the signal input wire, When 24-60 volts is supplied to this wire, the meter will begin to count, and when power is not present the meter will stop counting until power supply is once again present. |
The maximum input voltage is 60VDC from signal input minimum voltage 12 VDC
The maximum input voltage is 60VDC from power supply minimum voltage 12 VDC
2.2 Wiring Instructions (OPTIONAL)
If the customer wishes to have a total operational time accumulated. than the signal input should only be live when machine is running and operational, allowing for the key to be left in the on position but not accumulating actual time on the Hour Meter. For 36 Volt units you have the option of splitting the Red input wire between the hydraulic pump and drive motor. That way when either is activated the unit will be counting. NOTE: When bridging the wires between the two components please install inline diodes that will keep the signal running one way only. You need to check with the manufacturer to ensure this type of installation is not voiding any type of warranty.
2.3 Wiring Applications
Hour meter can be configured to accumulate time in the event a Machine does not have a power trigger voltage input available. By allowing the meter to be installed into a machine with battery but does not have a separate power trigger source available
This is achieved through utilizing a normally open switch that when the switch is put into a closed state the meters required Power trigger can be provided internally from a at factory configuration
There are three typical types of wiring applications:
- Switch to Ground
- Switch to Battery
- Available in 110 voltages for static positioned equipment
3.0 Mounting the Tag
When installing and mounting the Hour Meter, for best Range results it is best to mount the meter vertically with the wires pointing downward.
The tag is designed with two mounting holes so it can firmly mount onto virtually any surface. It can mount using various methods dependent on the particular application.
Among the common types of mounting are:
- Screws
- Industrial Strength Velcro
Note: Mounting hardware is not supplied with the tag.
Below is a suggested way of installing the meters into an AC powered piece of equipment with one transformer.
When mounting the tag, consideration should be placed on where the connector is located. Avoid placement of the tag in a manner that will put stress on the connector from the wiring harness. Although operation may not be affected, it may cause premature failure of the wiring harness.
The key element in positioning the tag is its location relative to the wireless RFID interrogation antennas. Do not place the tag in a metallic cavity, as this will reduce the ability to retrieve the hour meter log information from the tag and also reduce the effective communication range of the tag. For best performance, position the tag on a non-metallic backing with line-of-site visibility to the interrogation antennas.
4.0 EQUIPMENT BC Hour Meter Tag Technical Specifications
- Antenna options
- Interrogator incorporates external SMA (female) socket for external dipole or patch antenna
- RS-232 / USB interrogator configuration
- Tag to interrogator identification distance 125 meters 400 feet
- Tag incorporates Internal Omni directional integrated antenna
- Proprietary anti collision algorithm identifies multiple tags simultaneously without collision
- Does not interfere with wireless computer networks (IEEE802.11 WiFi)
- Bi directional reader Tag communication
- Interrogator to Tag wireless Timer threshold programming
- Optional antenna selection for longer range applications
- Operating Temperature Celsius -40 to +85 Degrees C
- Operating Temperature Fahrenheit -40 to + 185 F
- Enclosure Dimensions 3.1350'' X 1.5660''
- Input Voltage 12 volt DC60 volt DC
- Available 120 VAC transformers for VAC applications
- Hour Meter Non Volatile Memory write to EE-prom device feature
WARNING: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by manufacturer could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
MATT Meter Activity Tracking Technologies