I'd like to see...

[Earl Weiss]

1. A traveling - non moving part wheel blaster. It would work in the same way as the Viper shine unit. A series of treadle switches matched up to a series (4 should be enough) of solenoid valve activated HP applicators perhaps tied in to a plc. The applicators could be a simple tower outfitted with whatever nozzles you want or pivoting blasters. the Blasters would be fed by a single pump. Solenoid would open in succession as the car hit each treadle. Tunnel controller would turn pump on before first switch and after rear tire passed the last applicator.

2. Why are we still using a separate wire for each bay function? It would seem with the current cost of computing power each bay could have a telephone style keypad, perhaps using whoever manufactured the heavy duty pay phone keypads. Using a CAT 6 type cable a computer or PLC could open the appropriate solenoid(s). That's basically how tunnel controllers operate. This would also make it simple to keep track of function / bay useage, and going way beyond 12 functions wouldn't require any more wiring to the bay.

What would you like to see?

 

[BBE]

2. Why are we still using a separate wire for each bay function? It would seem with the current cost of computing power each bay could have a telephone style keypad, perhaps using whoever manufactured the heavy duty pay phone keypads. Using a CAT 6 type cable a computer or PLC could open the appropriate solenoid(s). That's basically how tunnel controllers operate. This would also make it simple to keep track of function / bay useage, and going way beyond 12 functions wouldn't require any more wiring to the bay.

Seems logical. This is what pdq started doing with their IBA's. If you compare the wiring from a laserwash 4000 to anything M5 and up, there is no longer a separate wire for each function, everything runs off of "nodes" that are just ran from the control panel to the node via ethernet cable.

 

[MEP001]

Coleman has been using a PLC and telephone dial pads for selections for many years.

 

[I.B. Washincars]

A credit card swiper that will accept the card all 4 ways like a Mars bill acceptor.

A credit card system that is automatically stopped when the rotary switch has been in the stop/off position for 30 seconds or so. This is a poor design and should have been addressed years ago.

 

[getnbusy]

^^^^^^^^ WHat IB said. Both should have been addressed YEARS ago !!!

 

[washnvac]

An able and willing buyer for 5 washes.

 

[MEP001]

I addressed the credit card "auto-stop" issue years ago. If someone will ask CryptoPay if they'll add a pair of wires for an external stop trigger, anyone can do it.

 

[Earl Weiss]

Coleman has been using a PLC and telephone dial pads for selections for many years.

I have seen coleman units with and without the phone dial type keypad. Both at one location! Do they all use the CAT cable?

 

[MEP001]

I think it uses an individual wire for each button, plus the power and timed load. The PLC is in a single control cabinet for all the bays, along with one large transformers and all the motor starters.

 

[pgrzes]

I just installed Ginsan 12 selection doors. Only needed 8 wires. Just had to wire in a a decoder board for each bay in the control panel. Pretty easy installation. New selector doors are awesome!! People love the convenience, Coins, bills and Credit cards right at bay. Offer more, stay longer spend more. Now if I could just figure out a vac it up into a 50 year old wash that would do everything including the bills that would be nice!!!

 

[mac]

Geeze, I hate to be the one to throw cold water on progress. I think the comm cable to the self serve bays is, at least now, a bad idea. In south Florida we have a lot of issues with them. Don't know if it's the high humidity and heat, or the lightning strikes, but they are much more susceptible to electrical interference. And when you do have an issue, and you will, you can't simply replace a $40 rotary switch, you have to send the board into a factory and have a bay down for a week. I've sold a fair number of replacement doors to operators who just got fed up sending the doors off.

 

[Earl Weiss]

Geeze, I hate to be the one to throw cold water on progress. I think the comm cable to the self serve bays is, at least now, a bad idea. In south Florida we have a lot of issues with them. Don't know if it's the high humidity and heat, or the lightning strikes, but they are much more susceptible to electrical interference. ...............

Interesting. The tunnel industry does not seem to be plagued with similar issues in the same environment.

 

[mac]

Earl, I have no doubt that the newer system has many advantages. Maybe it's the quality of the people building these for the self serve market that is causing the issues. One distinct advantage that the old system has is when troubleshooting a function that has stopped working. You can simply take a small piece of wire and jump hot to the function in the bay meter box. Then you instantly know if the problem is with the door or the wiring.