What can the Tacholink Black Box be installed in?
The Tacholink can be installed in:
• Trucks
• Buses
• Cars
• Tractors
• Building and Construction Equipment
• Emergency Service vehicles: Police Cars, Ambulances, Fire engines
• Earthmoving Equipment
• Motorcycles
• Trains
• etc.
Where can the Tacholink Black Box be installed?
The Tacholink should be installed “out of sight” in the cabin of the vehicle. Possible locations include
• under the dashboard
• under a front seat
• in the boot
What voltage range does the Tacholink Black Box operate within?
The Tacholink will operate between 10 and 30V DC.
Is the Tacholink Black Box affected by power surges?
No, the Tacholink is not affected by power surges within the operating voltage range.
Should the Tacholink Millennium be disconnected when welding is being carried out on the vehicle?
No, this is not necessary.
Does the Tacholink Black Box lose calibration if the vehicle battery goes flat?
No, the Tacholink configuration is stored in non-volatile memory that is not affected by loss of external power.
If the driver disconnects the Tacholink Black Box will it lose any data?
No, the Tacholink data is stored in non-volatile memory that is not affected by loss of external power.
How is the Tacholink Black Box mounted?
The Tacholink housing is fabricated with integrated mounting points which will allow easy fixing in most locations. If this design is not suitable by itself the installer can fabricate a mounting kit specific to the vehicle.
Who normally installs the Tacholink Black Box?
Tacholink is normally installed by authorized personnel from Circuitlink or their distributors. Providing there are no legal considerations preventing this, training can be given to enable companies or institutions to do their own installations.
How long does it take to install the Tacholink Black Box?
Installation and calibration normally takes one to two hours for an electronic speedometer vehicle and slightly longer for a mechanical speedometer vehicle.
Does the company obtain any certification of the calibration?
If an approved installer does the installation then a certificate of calibration is provided.
Can the Operator or Driver change the Calibration?
No, calibration can only be performed by a trained and authorised person equipped with Tacholink Configuration software.
How is the Tacholink Black Box configured?
The Tacholink is configured using a Laptop computer and Circuitlink supplied software. It is not possible for the user to configure the unit.
Can the Tacholink Black Box be moved from one vehicle to another?
Yes, it is possible however the unit would need to be installed and calibrated by an authorized installer.
Is it necessary for the unit to be sealed?
This is not necessary because the Tacholink is a solid state electronic device and cannot be physically tampered with.
Does the Tacholink Black Box require additional modules behind the dashboard?
The standard Tacholink installation does not require any additional modules. However, there is provision for expansion modules, for example:
• GPS Receiver
• GSM modem
• RF Modem
These units can be mounted out of sight and connected into the Tacholink wiring harness.
Can the Tacholink Black Box software be updated?
Yes, the software in the Tacholink is stored in Flash memory and can be updated using a laptop computer and supplied software.
What do the Tacholink Black Box LED’s show?
The LED’s (where visible on the optional Dash Box) indicate the status of the Tacholink:
• The LED is solid Green when the vehicle is moving.
• The LED flashes Green slowly when the vehicle is stationary.
• The LED is solid Red when there is an exception current (eg: accident trigger, RPM, speed, idling).
• The LED is solid Orange when there is a warning current (eg: Enter Driver Tag if fitted)
Does the driver need to do anything to record data?
No, the Tacholink records all vehicle data automatically with no driver input.
Is it possible to use driver identification with the Tacholink Black Box?
Yes, it is possible.
How does driver identification work?
Drivers touch their Driver Tag on the tag reader to identify themselves to the Tacholink. The Driver Tag contains information about the driver, including their driver number and name. The Tacholink stores the driver number and name internally so that the driver is properly identified when the unit is downloaded.
The Tacholink may be configured so that when an unidentified driver tries to start the vehicle either:
a) the Tacholink will beep to warn the driver to identify themselves
b) the Tacholink will not enable the ignition until the driver has identified himself.
Does driver identification have to be used?
No, it is not required but it is recommended. If it is not used then there is no record of who was driving the vehicle at a specific time/date.
Can Tacholink Black Box record exceptions like high speed, high RPM, etc?
Yes, the Tacholink monitors the following items for exceptions:
• Speed
• RPM
• Acceleration (change in speed and accelerometer reading)
• Deceleration (change in speed and accelerometer reading)
• Inputs
• Idling time
When an exception occurs the unit beeps and records what happened. The unit does not stop beeping until the exception has stopped. The parameters for these exceptions are set up when the unit is calibrated.
Does the Tacholink Black Box monitor RPM?
Yes, the Tacholink can sound a warning alarm to alert the driver that revs are excessive. The date, time, maximum RPM and length of the exception are also recorded.
Can the driver tamper with information recorded?
No. When the information is recorded in the Tacholink memory it is not possible to tamper with the data.
Can the driver see the data recorded?
No. The data is stored electronically and can only be downloaded using Circuitlink supplied software.
Does the driver need to fit any type of card or paper into the Tacholink Black Box to record the information?
No, the Tacholink is a fully electronic system requiring no card or paper.
How hard is it for the driver to use the Tacholink Black Box?
The Tacholink has been designed to be used with little or no interaction. If the Driver ID feature is fitted the only input required is placing the Driver Tag in the port on the Dash Box. Most drivers will be able to use the Driver Tag port with little or no training.
Is it possible to print reports from the Tacholink Black Box to a serial printer?
This feature will be available in the future as an option.
How do you download the Tacholink Black Box?
The Tacholink can be downloaded using one of the following options:
• a cable to a PC
• DSM (Download Smart Module) which can be mounted on the optional Dash Box
• RF (Radio Frequency) module (optional)
How is the Tacholink Black Box downloaded by a cable to a PC?
The Tacholink is connected to the PC COM Port via the supplied cable and the software on the PC downloads the data.
How long does it take to download the Tacholink Black Box?
The download time depends on how much data needs to be downloaded, which in turn depends on how the vehicle has been driven (how many exceptions have been generated) and how many hours the vehicle has been operating for. In most circumstances it should not take longer than one minute per day of data when using a direct cable connection.
Is the data erased after it is downloaded from the Tacholink Black Box?
No. The data can be downloaded as many times as required.
How much data does the Tacholink Black Box store?
The standard Tacholink memory capacity is 16Mbytes. This will provide several weeks of storage before the oldest data is overwritten – the exact period of time depends on how the vehicle has been driven (how many exceptions have been generated) and how many hours the vehicle has been operating for.
Can the data be downloaded while the vehicle is moving?
With the introduction of the GSM feature, data will be accessible when the vehicle is moving. Currently downloading to the DSM is not supported while the vehicle is in motion. The RF downloader software will ignore moving vehicles because they are highly likely to move out of range before the download is completed.
What is required to download the Tacholink Black Box using a RF link?
The following additional hardware is required:
• A RF module connected into the Tacholink wiring loom
• An antenna fitted to the vehicle
• A RF module attached to a PC
• An antenna & power supply for the RF module attached to the PC
How does the Tacholink Black Box RF Downloading work?
The vehicle is parked in a designated area (in range of the RF base station). The downloading software on the PC searches for specified vehicles and automatically downloads them when found. If the download is interrupted then it is resumed next time the vehicle is found (either next time the vehicle is polled or when it comes back into range).
How long does RF Downloading take?
RF Downloading will take about one minute for a typical day of data.
Is it possible to download more than one vehicle at the time using RF?
No, the system downloads one vehicle at a time. When that vehicle is completed (or the download is interrupted), the PC software will search for the next vehicle in the list.
Does the RF download system interfere with other vehicle equipment?
The RF modules used are licensed on an “ISM” (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) radio band and operate within the required bandwidth and output power constraints. This should not cause interference with other electronic devices.
How is the Tacholink Black Box downloaded using the DSM?
The DSM (Download Smart Module) is a small device that is plugged into the communication port attached to the Tacholink Black Box. The download commences from the exact point that the previous download ended. The data is sent to the DSM. The DSM is then downloaded to the PC. The DSM is the preferred method of downloading by most Tacholink users.
Is it necessary to have a DSM for every Tacholink Black Box?
No, while sometimes it might be convenient to have more than one DSM it is only necessary to have one DSM per fleet of vehicles. The size of the memory in the DSM allows the downloading of several vehicles (depending on how many days of data are downloaded and how the vehicle is used).
How is the DSM connected to a PC?
The DSM is connected to a PC using a small interface box that is plugged into any serial port of the PC.
Is it possible to lose the data in the DSM?
It is not possible to lose the data in the DSM. If there is a problem with the data in the DSM it is possible to download the data again from the Tacholink Black Box.
Does the Tacholink Black Box have a speed alarm?
Yes, the Tacholink’s Speed Exception provides audible and visual warnings that vehicle is travelling too fast.
Is it possible for the Tacholink Black Box to immobilize the vehicle?
Yes, the Tacholink can be configured to immobilize the ignition if the current driver is unknown. The driver must then identify himself before the vehicle can be started.
How many digital inputs does the Tacholink Black Box have?
The Tacholink has 8 digital inputs.
What are the digital inputs used for?
These inputs can be used for monitoring inputs like:
• Brakes
• Blinkers
• Seat Belt
• Headlights
• Horn
• Wipers
• PTO (Power Take Off )
• Water Temperature or Oil Pressure alarms
• Door open/closing
• etc
What options are there for recording inputs?
The following options are available when recording digital inputs:
• Enable/disable logging
• Invert polarity (ie 0V = on)
• Input can only be on if the ignition is on (eg some warning lights)
• Input can only be on if the vehicle is moving
• “Flashing” or Blinker inputs – the individual flashes are not recorded
• If the input is on then an idling exception is not generated (for PTO, etc)
• Generate an exception if the input is active
These options can be combined – for example a bus door could be connected so that the Tacholink only records when the door is open and the bus is moving. This could also generate an exception to alert the driver.
Can the Tacholink Black Box record temperature?
This feature will be available in the future.
Can the Tacholink Black Box record On-Board Weight?
This feature will be available in the future.
Can the Tacholink Black Box record GPS data?
The Tacholink can record GPS positions using an expansion module. The data is viewed with mapping software available from Circuitlink International.
In an accident, does the driver need to do anything to save the data?
If the accident was “severe” enough to trigger the Tacholink then no further action is required by the driver. If the accident was not severe enough to trigger the Tacholink then the driver can manually trigger the unit, thus saving the data in high resolution (millisecond) format.
How can the data be recovered if the Tacholink Black Box is damaged in an accident?
If the Tacholink will not operate because of damage sustained in the accident then it is possible for the trained personnel to remove the memory chip and use another Tacholink to download the data. This should not be attempted by the end user, as the data in the chip will be corrupted.
What are the PC requirements for the Tacholink Black Box software?
The Tacholink software will operate with most Microsoft Windows PCs. The minimum requirements are:
• Pentium II processor
• 32Mb Ram
• one spare serial port
• mouse
• CD-ROM drive to load the software (or network connection to a CD-ROM drive)
• Windows 98/Me/2000 (note: current Tacholink software may work with Windows 95 however future versions will require Windows 98 or newer)
Whilst the software may operate on an older or slower machine, it is not guaranteed.
If the downloaded data & reports are needed to meet legal requirements then a CD-ROM Burner and appropriate software is recommended for backups.
Will the Tacholink software operate on a network?
Yes, the software can read/write data stored on another PC on a network.
What reports & graphs are available?
The reporting software comes standard with:
• reports that show vehicle including driver, trip times, distance, engine hours, etc
• reports that show driver activity including vehicle, trip times, distance, engine hours, etc
• graphs that show the vehicle speed, trips & inputs over the day
• graphs that show accident logs in detail including speed/time & speed/distance
• ability to view the raw data from the Tacholink
How is the data stored?
The trip summaries, vehicle details and driver details are stored in a Microsoft Access database. The other data is stored in a custom file format that reduces the disk space required and allows rapid graphing.
Can we write my own reports?
Custom reports can link into the Access database, enabling reports specific to your application to be written.
Is the data format secure?
Yes, the Tacholink data files are protected against modification or corruption by a series of checks. If the file is modified then the reporting software will not recognize the data. This ensures that the data cannot be tampered with.
