Percon: Mobile Data Terminal and Rugged Forklift Computer

Data Collection Solution Includes Industrial Computer

Vehicle Computer — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:14:08 +0000

Data collection solution in an industrial environment requires industrial computers. Information is most accurate when collected at the point of origin. So when information is gathered on a manufacturing floor, out in the field or in any other harsh environment, its data collection system must contain industrial touch PC, scanners, barcodes, tag reader that are rated for that environment. An industrial touchscreen PC eliminates the need for a volatile keyboard and the screen accommodates “fat” fingers with gloves. Sealed casing provides internal components protection from heat, dust and water.

Many solution providers evaluate the environmental conditions for the data collection solution and provide the “best of breed” components to the the requirements. VARs such as Efficient Business Systems and ValuTrack offer many industrial rated components within their recommended solutions including the Percon industrial touch PC products.

Mobile Datata Computer and Bar coding

Data Collection Solution Includes Industrial Computer is a post from: Rugged Vehicle Computer

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Forklift Mounted Computer Tracks the Heavy Loads

Vehicle Computer — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:07:27 +0000

Forklifts do the heavy lifting. Forklift mounted computers track the material and operations performed by the forklift operator including those uncontrolled accidents. A rugged computer mounted on a forklift can receive or record information from many sources.

Shock detector to record collisions
RFID readers to capture item ID or/and current locations
Bar codes and scanners to track material and inventory
Touchscreen and industrial keyboards for manual data entries and inquiries
GPS to confirm location and destinations especially in large yards.

All these technologies enable the forklift mounted computer and its operator to do the heavy “data”lifting in any large load operation. Follow the link for more detailed description of our Phoenix forklift computer

photo credit: Metro Centric operating in a warehouse.

Forklift Mounted Computer Tracks the Heavy Loads is a post from: Rugged Vehicle Computer

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Vehicle Mounted Computer in Public Safety Sector (Police, EMS, Fire Dept)

Vehicle Computer — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:45:52 +0000

Imagine a police car or a firetruck without a vehicle mounted computer! How effective would a policeman or a fireman be without the information required for they day to day operation? Inquiries about a license tag, location of an incident, and filing various on the road all require a mobile data terminal terminal within their transportation vehicle (police car, ambulance or firetruck).

Public safety sector is exposed to various environments such as continuous pounding and shocks from the road and off-road, weather conditions such as extreme heat, bitter cold and pounding rain and also the chemical pollutants from incident scenes. These conditions require that the vehicle mounted computer be industrial rated. The Percon rugged industrial computer meets all the specifications of the public service mobile data collection sector.

Follow the link for more details on bar coded and RFID fire department applications.

Vehicle Mounted Computer in Public Safety Sector (Police, EMS, Fire Dept) is a post from: Rugged Vehicle Computer

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RFID Data Collection with Industrial Mobile Data Terminal

Vehicle Computer — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:11:30 +0000

RFID data collection in expansive storage areas mandates mobility and industrial mobile data terminals with RFID readers. Imagine the acreages of stored containers in a shipyard. How does the shipyard manager maintain accountability of all receipts and shipments? Barcodes are sometimes used but are fairly ineffective in reading at such long distance and require large labels for accuracy. Size of container and distance makes scanning very challenging and somewhat difficult. The ideal solution is using RFID long range tags to identify the container with its unique identification number (license tag). The shipper can also use this ID number to their ASN. This ties all the goods and its quantities within the container to receipts of all goods that can be accounted with just one read of the RFID tag.

This RFID data collection can be performed at a time when a mobile vehicle, such as a crane, unloads containers, reads information with an industrial mobile computer and places the containers on trucks or temporary locations. This process records container ID and location for total shipyard inventory control.

This RFID application is provided by select Solution Partners from Percon.

RFID Data Collection with Industrial Mobile Data Terminal is a post from: Rugged Vehicle Computer

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Rugged Industrial Computers For All Seasons

Vehicle Computer — Fri, 28 May 2010 23:10:54 +0000

Rugged industrial computers are designed to provide data collection in all kinds of weather and environments. When you think of the outdoor seasons and its weather, you’d come up with rain, snow, sleet, heat and bitter cold. Fixed or vehicle computers are required to take all that punishment. let’s look into each one;

Rain, snow and sleet: The casing is sealed at various level of protection depending on its IP rating. That would include the display, keyboard and ports.
Temperatures: Operating in the cold winters of Alaska, or a local freezer to the tropic outdoors of Puerto Rico, industrial computers can hold up to temperatures of -30 to +60 degrees centigrade.
Thunder, hail, wind and other natural or man made noises can interfere in the operation of an industrial computer. To compensate, ruggedized computer manufactures install high volume speakers.
Sunlight is good for the garden but very difficult for outdoor PC operations. Fortunately, industrial hardware have display with anti-glare to enhance visibility.

Whatever the weather, rugged industrial computers meet the challenges of their environment.

photo credit: mehul.antani

Rugged Industrial Computers For All Seasons is a post from: Rugged Vehicle Computer

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Wireless Vehicle Computer

Vehicle Computer — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:27:48 +0000

Wireless Vehicle Computer in Warehouse

A summary on using a wireless vehicle computer with barcoding. Data collection is performed in many environments. Some of these environments require that information be collected while in a mobile location such as car, forklift, truck or just a cart. Of course some or most of these locations are not so PC friendly and would require a rugged industrial computer. Since the data is collected in a mobile fashion, the ruggedized PC needs to be connected to a network for real time data collection. A wireless vehicle computer can have multiple real-time connections such as cellular (GSM and GPS) and WiFi.

WiFi connection enables the rugged mobile PC to act as a workstation on wheels. A prime example would be using the wireless vehicle computer in a warehouse operation. The interactive information exchange can be used for many WMS software functions:

Receiving
Putwaway
Cross-docking
Inventory maintenance
Picking
Shipping
Inventory Count

As each functions is used, an operator can update the host main inventory data base with the latest product movements. With inventory being continually up-to-date, web purchasing can reflect the most current available products for sale.

Wireless Vehicle Computer is a post from: Rugged Vehicle Computer

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Bar Code or Barcode or Barcoding Data Collection

Vehicle Computer — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:38:30 +0000

No matter how you spell it, using bar code to collect information is one of the fastest and most accurate technology we can use. A barcode represents information that is static and usually derived from a data base. A good example would be the UPC label you see on all your products at a grocery store. The manufacturer has the product code in a data base. That information is printed on a label using a unique symbology (language that interprets spaces between the black and white lines). This in effects records the product code. When using a scanner, light is emitted unto the label and the decoding symbology provides an electronic translation into the collection device. This device can be an mobile data terminal held by a person or a vehicle computer mounted in a car or forklift.

In summary, barcoding is a solid and established means of data collection. It makes our lives much easier by providing the right information instantly and accurately.

Bar Code or Barcode or Barcoding Data Collection is a post from: Rugged Vehicle Computer

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Wireless Data Collection

Vehicle Computer — Wed, 26 May 2010 15:54:29 +0000

Wireless data collection is performed using various enabling technologies. The components would consist of:

a capturing and storing device such as a mobile data terminal, or vehicle computer(VMT), or a handheld computer such as a portable data terminal (PDT)
Data scanning ability such as a barcode scanner
Optionally, a RFID reader that would collect from RFID tags
A means to move collected data from the mobile data terminal to the database. This can be as simple as a USB wired download, or a WiFi connection to the rugged industrial computer and a GSM connection to move data through a cellular network.

Wireless connectivity can also be interactive via an application that would add, update and interpret information from the mobile computer hardware. These real time mobile computer solutions would include warehouse management, material locator, item tracking, and many more. The true benefit of wireless data collection is the real time results being collected with the information at the point of origin. This makes the data most accurate and ultimately provides any user and their community with excellent services.

photo credit: myuibe

Wireless Data Collection is a post from: Rugged Vehicle Computer

Wireless Vehicle Computer A summary on using a wireless vehicle computer with barcoding. ...
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Bar Code or Barcode or Barcoding Data Collection No matter how you spell it, using bar code to...

Data Collection 101

Vehicle Computer — Tue, 25 May 2010 15:28:55 +0000

Information is all around us. It is in the form of sight (pictures), sound (music), and hand written or printed (paper media). People absorb or interface with information through communications such as television, radio, telephone, books (published media), and now more commonly through the internet. The process of taking information from its pure form into electronic format is called data collection.

Over the years, many technologies have been invented for the capture, processing and dissemination of information. Our most dominant tool today is the Internet. But how did all that data get into a data base, how and where was it collected, what are the computations and formatting performed ? In these series of posts, I will address the various technologies used to capture information in a fixed and mobile environments. My discussions on data collection will focus on industries such manufacturing, health care, oil exploration, transportation, mobile services, logistics and supply chain.

Topics of discussion will be:

Barcode, barcoding, or bar code (many ways of saying the same thing)
RFID (radio frequency identification) and RFID applications
Wireless mobile computing
Portable data collection (batch mode)
Shop floor data collection
Various industrial devices for data capture such as mobile data terminals, forklift computers, small industrial PCs, and vehicle computers

Read more about each data collection method and its associated industries in my posts.

photo credit: Unhindered by Talent

Data Collection 101 is a post from: Rugged Vehicle Computer

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Just one Mobile Data Terminal product Now!

Vehicle Computer — Mon, 24 May 2010 10:47:17 +0000

After the inaugural release of the Percon Phoenix104 (like rising from the ashes) mobile data terminal, we plan on subsequent release of two new industrial computers with 12.1” and 6.4” displays. Although it appears that screen sizes are just the changes, we are addressing our ability to manufacture according to requested configuration(s). The Percon goal is to “right-size” the VMT to the customers’ needs and to provide a rugged terminal with JUST the required features at the right price. …. “kind of like Dell”

Longer term plans include a portable rugged tablet… essentially a mobile data computer that is not limited to a vehicle mount. That will open opportunities in more industries.

Mobile Datata Computer and Bar coding

Just one Mobile Data Terminal product Now! is a post from: Rugged Vehicle Computer

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What’s a Forklift Computer Do?

Vehicle Computer — Mon, 24 May 2010 10:21:42 +0000

Forklift computers are industrial computers designed and manufactured to withstand the constant shock and pounding of a rough terrain vehicle such as a forklift. Operations of a forklift in a warehouse or material movement of a manufacturing plant require a vehicle computer device that can operate effectively and last years without continuous repairs.

It may seem inappropriate for a computer to reside and operate in industrial conditions but data capture for automation requires information for be collected at the point of its origin. That would be applications such as receipt of goods, movement of goods to a locations, picking items for shipment or for manufacturing staging. Each of these operations may require scanning of a barcode or reading an RFID tag to record movement of material to the company’s MRP or SCM systems.

photo credit: Matija Grguric

What’s a Forklift Computer Do? is a post from: Rugged Vehicle Computer

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Which Industries do Percon Products Fit?

Vehicle Computer — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:00:06 +0000

Which industries does Percon plan to concentrate in? Where does our vehicle computer product(s) fit?

Our initial target and plan is ‘stick” with what we know best; supply chain logistics in manufacturing and wholesale trade. We are also planning on penetrating transportation, oil production, and public safety. In reality, the need of our partners and the clients’ demand will dictate the direction of our product. But our marketing focus will be within the industries mentioned.

photo credit: Pimento Of Doom

Which Industries do Percon Products Fit? is a post from: Rugged Vehicle Computer

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Why build another Vehicle Mounted Computer?

Vehicle Computer — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:41:27 +0000

Why build another VMT? Motorola, LXE, Psion, AML are already a big player. You’ll have too much competition!

That’s a good question that most of our prospects and investors are asking us. The answer is two-fold:

Today’s big players do provide VMTs but they are a “step-child” to their product line. The mobile data terminal projects do not get the get the funding and resources that the PDTs projects do. The result is that the VMTs are generally behind in technology (few and slow upgrades) or the VMT offering is an OEM. There is just a three US manufacturers that produce VMTs as their primary product and the majority of their sale is direct.
We did our homework when we did the marketing research in the viability of starting a Vehicle Mounted Terminal manufacturing company. Venture Development Corporation (VDC) also supplied us with solid industry financial and competitive data. The Reader’s Digest version is: VMTs’ are a $250 Million market with a CAGR of 7%. That offers Percon a great opportunity. We are not looking to be a multi billion dollars conglomerate. We’ll be VERY happy with 5% of the market and we plan to get there one rugged computer at a time!

photo credit: Metro Centric

Why build another Vehicle Mounted Computer? is a post from: Rugged Vehicle Computer

Just one Mobile Data Terminal product Now! After the inaugural release of the Percon Phoenix104 (like rising...
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Percon is part of Datalogic? Isn’t?

Vehicle Computer — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:30:21 +0000

Percon is a separate manufacturing/engineering company and we are not related to Datalogic.

PSC purchased Percon in 2000? And the Percon products and employees were merged into PSC. Percon ceased to exist. Datalogic purchased PSC couple years ago and now operate as Datalogic Scanning and Datalogic Mobile.

However, Percon has a great history in AIDC. It is a name associated with quality products and excellent service. We are committed to continuing that tradition.

Another thing we all have in common is that we’re from Eugene Oregon!

photo credit: jontunn

Percon is part of Datalogic? Isn’t? is a post from: Rugged Vehicle Computer

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The Lunch Gang

Vehicle Computer — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:13:33 +0000

Get a crew together for lunch. If you and five of your coworkers order together, you’ll likely save three to four plastic bags. But delivery often means lots of disposable waste… so encourage the use of washable plates, napkins and utensils. Save unused utensils and napkins for general office use.

The Lunch Gang is a post from: Rugged Vehicle Computer

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Computer training to include exposure to industrial vehicle computer

Vehicle Computer — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:06:46 +0000

With computer training so widely available in the US and Canada, it’s sometimes hard to decide among all the it training companies and the courses they offer. Here are some tips for choosing the right it training solutions.

Tip #1 – Look for a Field Trained Faculty
The best IT training contains a balance of theory and practice. The training company’s faculty have balance of experienced industry professionals and academicians.

Tip #2 – Look for Accreditation
A successful it training institute should offer courses that prepare students to take exams that lead to certification by Microsoft and Cisco

Tip #3 – Look for Flexibility
In today’s competitive world, a successful it training center needs to be flexible in order to attract the best students. There should be both full-time and part-time programs that offer both certificates and transferable credits.

In this competitive world, technology has grown at a fast pace. The advent of newer, smarter technology has formed the need for people capable of applying this technology to everyday life. In many ways those people connected with the field of information technology are pioneers of a new wave of communications. It’s key that there are professionals who can help design and supervise information systems which will allow businesses to further succeed in today’s marketplace. Computer IT training can provide tremendous benefits to employees seeking a productive career field.

Another way that this training can be beneficial is to includes industrial computer usage. Quite often, people in professions such as warehouse, military, public safety, electrical engineering, steel work, or the oil industry may require the use of fixed or vehicle computers to control certain operations within their field. There are certain kinds of hardware along with specialized software that come into play in such fields.

The benefits can be numerous for anyone who wants to work in this industry, as the need is always there for IT professionals. As computer technology gets to being an even more vital part of modern life, there is more to achieve from taking PC training courses, and eventually getting computer certification training, which is a major step towards gaining a job in any field.

Computer training to include exposure to industrial vehicle computer is a post from: Rugged Vehicle Computer

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Packing Up

Vehicle Computer — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:43:43 +0000

Bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and other shipping materials are practically made for reuse. Set aside a box or area in the office mail-room for storing these items as they come in so they’re available to coworkers. Your office manager will soon see there’s no need to ever purchase bubble wrap again.

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Be a Part of Our Growth… Partner with us

Vehicle Computer — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:37:03 +0000

Fixed & vehicle mounted computers is a part of a micro niche industry with a small number of active manufacturers. Percon, with the assistance of VDC, has developed a business plan to pursue this profitable market.

Why compete in a crowded PDT industry with dwindling margins? Industrial computers are in demand in specialized industries and command a respectable price. With our focus on industrial computers, we manufacture products at a reasonable price. That means better prices for the clients and solid profits for the partners.

For more information on partnering, please contact James Budniakiewicz (Boony) at Percon Marketing (800) 501-1249 x102.

Be a Part of Our Growth… Partner with us is a post from: Rugged Vehicle Computer

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How Do You Remember the Old Percon?

Vehicle Computer — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:26:39 +0000

To some of us the Percon name has fond memories associated with it. This is how I remember Percon. Two years on the road all over the United States, Canada, Mexico and 3 times around the world. It was safe to visit the Honduras because there were plenty of soldiers around with guns to keep me safe. I did get to visit Beijing! Now I can say it was “nice.” I was teaching IntelliTrack software and wireless networking to partners and offices all over the world. My favorite was the Percon Europe trips.

I have a few events to jog your memories. Does anybody remember Andy wearing a dress at the Falcon launch in a bowling alley ? Do you remember what the real live falcon did when it got agitated? Who is the person that insisted “rooral people” voted Republican?

I bet some of you know the answers and have a few stories to add about Percon. Share it with all of us. Just add your comments below. If you wish to be a regular contributor, please contact Percon Marketing and we’ll get you a sign on name and password. For more information, please contact James Budniakiewicz (Boony) at Percon Marketing (800) 501-1249 x102.

How Do You Remember the Old Percon? is a post from: Rugged Vehicle Computer

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Advantages of Windows Embedded CE 6.0

Vehicle Computer — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:48:13 +0000

Let’s talk a little about the advantages of Windows CE 6.0 R3. It is the latest release from Microsoft. But there are important advantages to the newest version and we will try to shed a little light in this area.

Microsoft lists 6 reasons why WinCE 6.0 is superior to 5.0

Process address space is increased from 32MB to 1 GB.
Number of processes has been increased to 32K from 32.
User mode and kernel mode device drivers are possible.
Device.exe, filesys.exe, GWES.exe has been moved to Kernel mode.
SetKMode and set process permissions not possible.
System call performance will improve

These highly technical reasons focus exclusively on the internals of the operating system and are mostly invisible to the developer or end user, with one exception.

The kernel is the core of the operating system. When Microsoft originally developed WinCE it was believed that many of the systems using it would be “headless appliances”, that is devices without displays or mass file storage. So the designers placed everything related to user interface and file systems outside of the kernel. This allowed the 32MB kernel memory space to contain more real core os features including monitoring and communications drivers, but keyboards, graphics, touch screens and file storage drivers all resided in the “Files” portion of memory and require a task switch to access the rest of the OS. Moving everything into the kernel means less task switching for the OS, resulting in faster execution of applications. Some estimates go as high as 20% faster execution for applications with high levels of graphics interface, such as on screen mapping.

But there are additional reasons why WinCE 6.0 is superior to 5.0.

WinCE 6.0 is fully integrated with Visual Studio 2005. This allows application developers to use the same tools for Windows development as was used for the WinCE development. Visual Studio 2005 also contains an emulation feature which allows application development to begin before hardware has been purchased.
.NET 3.5 in natively supported in the OS and doesn’t have to be added by your application, keeping your applications smaller.
WinCE 6.0 R3 includes Internet Explorer Embedded and Silverlight which allows more robust browser applications to be written.
WinCE 6.0 includes AYGShell API, which ensures compatibility with Windows Mobile applications. This can be important for applications intended to be used by both Vehicle computers and Windows Mobile based handhelds.
Bluetooth is an integrated driver in WinCE 6.0 and works more seamlessly in the OS and faster as its part of the kernel as described above.
WinCE 6.0 R3 includes Touch Gestures, similar to what is used in iPhones, opening up the possibly of a whole new generation of exciting applications.

So while many hardware vendors are still selling forklift computers and mobile data terminals based on Windows CE 5.0 or even 4.2, it’s important to look for devices that use WinCE 6.0 to get the most out of your application!

If you want to learn more visit http://www.e-consystems.com/WindowsCE5vs6.asp or http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee504812.aspx.

Advantages of Windows Embedded CE 6.0 is a post from: Rugged Vehicle Computer

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IBM and Its Industrial Computer

Vehicle Computer — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:05:23 +0000

Shameless Plug from IBM: The Contributor of this Post

An industrial PC is always preferable for a variety of industrial applications, based on the search for an X86 computer. An X86 is actually one of the most successful architectures in personal computing and started by the processor than Intel’s 8086th. In order to develop it into a useful product for various industries, IBM decided to go with their product designated as a 5531 model in 1984. One year later – published in May 1985 – the second industrial PC was from> IBM in the market. This is the so-called IBM 7531st

IBM was just one of many companies that designed an industrial PC for the consumption of several industries. What followed soon after IBM’s initial design, was multiple other computer brands and names on the market. This marked the beginning of the use of industrial products for various applications.

Industrial PC features

The real purpose of the use of industrial PC’s is offering to ease in process control and data acquisitionTransactions for various industries. However, used in a larger environment in which other computers for distributed processing is the industrial product used primarily as a support for the system.

Characteristics of industrial computer

Industrial computers are more reliable and expandable than the area used for residential purposes. They are also capable of working on a long-term end to the industry where they are applied. Since only a few industries use these products, theyare usually in smaller quantities than other consumer PCs produced. Due to the fact that industrial computers serve multiple purposes and occupy more space than computers for home offices, they are by sheer design more expensive.

Types of industrial PCs

There are many types of PCs in the Industrial PC category. One type is a panel PC, that is connected to the display or monitor in the same housing as the motherboard and other parts of the gadget. Although heavy Modelsare being offered on the market, this type of PC is often less costly than the other categories.

To update a simple computer model into a better model, some manufacturers use different operating systems and advanced processors which tends to increase the total cost of the product. Entry-level PCs to work with Linux systems and AMD processors. High-end processes on Microsoft Windows on an Intel processor, longer updated. In addition to the panel PC, other types of industrial PCs include notebooks, desktop and rackmount computers.

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Understanding the Nema and IP Rating Systems

Vehicle Computer — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:20:58 +0000

Contribution by Ujiro

Electricity and water do not go together well, as I am sure that most people are aware. But dust is just as bad for electrical components as is water. Dust hangs in the size of tiny dust particles to larger particles that fall and nothing to hold. Dust can also consist of any materials from the benign skin cells in household dust, conductive metals and liquid particles, harmful for the electrical equipment. Dust also has the nasty habit of blocking filters.

Dust and water are often combined in an industrial environment, which is why electrical equipment, which is produced is operating in circumstances is a rating by both the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The European IP rating is a numerical standard, a piece of electrical equipment to the level of protection given the ERGO.

The IP–Rating is a two-digit number each digit a separate number code to indicate the protection, the lower the number, the lower the protection and the higher the number the harsher environment it can withstand. The first digit stands for the dust-protection that is granted, the second digit stands for waterproof protection. For example, is an IP65-computer with the highest possible protection (dust IP rating of 0 to 6), with a moderate level of waterproof protection enabling the unit to be protected from water jets, but not enough by immersion in water (water protection of 0 to 8).

The NEMA is very similar to the European system except that in most cases a single ascending number higher (13 is the highest), the number of higher degree of protection is granted. Although some ratings such as Nema 4 which to similar protection that does not offer protection IP65 Nema 4xoffer additional anti-corrosion protection (in most cases, the housing units would be made of stainless steel rather than mild steel therefore able, in the catering and manufacturing) are used.

Check the ratings on the Percon fixed and vehicle products.

Understanding the Nema and IP Rating Systems is a post from: Rugged Vehicle Computer

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Responder Public Safety Equipment

Vehicle Computer — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:04:33 +0000

No-Drill Computer Mounts Install Lightning Fast!

RAM (our vendor partner) Vehicle Computer Mounts are designed for the most popular cars (police, fire, EMS), forklifts, trucks and fleet vehicles on the road. These heavy-duty steel laptop bases are custom formed to fit specific vehicle models, providing a mounting platform for any RAM Laptop Mounting System. Using the front bench or passenger side seat rail bolts as attachment points, existing hardware in the vehicle is all that is required to secure these bases. If needed, however, additional hardware is supplied. Because of their unique ability to absorb damaging shock and vibration, RAM Mounting desks are the perfect choice for securing industrial rugged computers and electronics of any type.

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Percon Phoenix 104E passes IP X4 testing

Vehicle Computer — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:38:34 +0000

Percon Phoenix 104E passes IP X4 testing on YouTube.

Deep in our underground laboratory (yes… it is underground! Ask me more about it.), the Phoenix is being taken for a bath. Actually, it is the IP54 testing for water splashing against the enclosure from any direction that will have no harmful effect.. The 4 in x4 represents the splashing water test indicator.

Check out the post Understanding NEMA and IP Ratings to appreciate our Phoenix 104e demonstration video.

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Green Mooching

Vehicle Computer — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:43:49 +0000

When you are traveling, staying with friends or relatives is not only cheap, it is also ecologically responsible. (Be sure you tell them so.) After all, the additional impact of your presence is apt to be small – chances are you’ll be sharing rides, avoiding consuming hotel’s little toiletries and the waste they generate, no daily laundering of sheets, and so on. Fair is fair though – offer your friends and relatives these savings when they visit you, too.

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Why Post Green Business Snippets?

Vehicle Computer — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:23:20 +0000

Why would our blog share Green business tips?

Way back in 1998, I first traveled to Eugene, Oregon to present our software to the Percon management. On my way to the office, I was caught in traffic. I slowly moved pass the police cars and firetrucks but I saw no accident. I shrugged it off as “I must have missed the crash.” Finally reaching the Percon office, I explained my delay was caused by an accident. That was when Andy Storment explained that it was a local chaining himself to a tree stump to halt the start of construction. He was trying to save some wetland that was also home to a unique species of mosquitoes.

Needless to say, I shook my head and said “what’s a wetland to a bunch of mosquitoes?” That was the beginning of my re-education of saving our planet. It seems that Eugene had become the haven for displaced hippies (not that there is anything wrong with that) and they were still promoting flower power and Mother Nature. They were greening our planet long before it became fashionable.

So.. to continue with the Eugene tradition and hippies everywhere, we are going to post Green Business Snippets for you. Enjoy, share, and……. save the mosquitoes!

Mosquito in wetland

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