Instruments and gauges with ECM controlled engines 1 In the quest for lower emissions and greater efficiency engines and vehicle systems are now managed by Electronic Control Modules, (ECMs or Microcomputers). This means the senders that were formerly used to send signals to the gauges are used by the ECM and are not available for driving conventional instruments or gauges. Solving the problem of gauges for ECM controlled engines Although the senders are not available for use directly with the gauges they have sent their signals to the ECM which can make equivalent data available in digital form. Instruments and gauges can be specially made to read the digital data, solving the sender problem but creating new problems. Instruments and gauges for use with digital data Engine manufacturers may try to force vehicle builders to take their standard instrument panel when they buy an engine. Some instrument suppliers will try to sell expensive electronic and stepper motor instruments and gauges or a automotive type integrated instrument clusters. The problem created is higher costs and limiting the vehicle builders styling and design flexibility of the dash and instruments. Retaining design flexibility to express your corporate image Our solution is the CAN connect 2.0,it is an ECM for instruments. In one small ECM which fits neatly on the rear of our tach or speedo that decodes the digital data and converts it to equivalent sender signals to drive our conventional low cost instruments. Design flexibility with the CAN connect 2.0 You can continue to use cased instruments The same instruments designed for senders are used with the CAN connect 2.0 We can supply 2inch 33/8inch , 4inch, and 5 inch instruments. You can have all matching electrical gauges You can mix and match with mechanical. White dials backlit Black dials floodlit Chrome or black bezels. Scope of the CAN connect 2.0 Drives speedometer and tachometer. Drives 10 small gauges. Drives 8 warning lamps. Drives LCD message centre. Pre programmed to match all our gauges. Pre programmed warning lamp thresholds. Customer choice of small gauges served Customer choice warning thresholds levels Costs and inventory The same gauges are used with senders or digital data, a single inventory. The gauges are low cost air cored, no special high cost steppers motor gauges or speedometer with J1939 decoder. Low maintenance costs, failures are limited to individual gauges, single units to replace. Low assembly costs, all gauge wiring retained in gauge area, only 5 wires connect to vehicle system. Dash pre-assembly easily achieved if required since only 5 wires interface with the vehicle. The standard CAN Connect 2.0 Speedometer Tachometer Coolant temperature Engine oil temperature Trans oil temperature Exhaust gas temperature Engine oil pressure Air 1 pressure Air 2 pressure Boost pressure Fuel Battery volts Low fuel High coolant temperature High engine oil temperature High trans oil temperature High Exhaust gas temperature Low/high battery volts Low air 1 or 2 Low oil pressure More flexibility within CAN connect 2.0 J1939 is the international standard that determines the format of this data, so that the ECMs in a vehicle are compatible and can communicate easily via the CAN bus. CAN is Controller Area Network wired around the vehicle connecting the ECMs that need to communicate. Within J1939 there are hundreds of digital messages covering every parameter appropriate for the vehicle CAN connect 2.0 can be programmed decode any message on the vehicle CAN bus you choose. We can drive gauges, lamps, or LCD message displays.
February 10, 2006 Attention all GBI Reps, Customers, and Distributors GB Instruments, Inc. is announcing a change in our management method. As of February 1, 2006 Perry D. Bennett and Perry J. Bennett will be changing their relationship with GB Instruments, Inc. After five years as President, and Vice President of Sales and Marketing, both Perry D. Bennett and Perry J. Bennett are leaving GB Instruments, Inc. as officers, and owners of the company. Both Perry D., and Perry J Bennett, have formed an Independent Representative Company,Bennetts Heavy Duty Sales LLC,for the Ohio territory, which is made up of Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Western Pennsylvania, and Michigan. They will represent GB Instruments, Inc. in that territory as Independent Representatives, but also work under an exclusive consultant contract with GB Instruments, Inc. for the rest of the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This means they will continue to assist all of you with your technical needs, sales assistance, and any other needs you may have as GBI Customers, Distributors, or Representatives. You may continue to call our offices in reference to the following: place orders, request shipping information, A/P, A/R, Return Goods Authorizations, etc., Karen or Tod will be glad to assist you in any manner. For technical needs, sales assistance, and any other needs you may have as GBI Customers, Distributors, or Representatives you may contact Perry D., or Perry J. direct at the numbers listed below, they will continue to service the same demographic area as they did prior to this change. Please note that their email addresses have changed, although we are in the process of applying forwarding addresses on the Ameritech extensions you email will be delivered sooner if you send direct to the address below. Perry D. Bennett- office 330-966-6666 fax 330-966-6666 cell 330-327-8890 email pdbennett@sbcglobal.net Perry J. Bennett- office 330-908-0806 fax 330-908-0806 cell 330-327-9616 email pjbennett1@alltel.net GBI will continue to maintain its support staff of engineering, customer service, and purchasing/material management, and both Perry D., and Perry J. Bennett will stay actively involved with the support staff at GBI. This decision was mutually reached by all parties in order to provide continued quality products, an active R & D program, and a high level of services to all GBI customers. We look forward to our continued business relationship with all of our customers. Ralph J. Guenther Chairman GB Instruments, Inc.
Fleet Pride held their 3 annual product trade show on July 15-16, 2005 at the Aladdin Resort and Hotel in Las Vegas Nevada. The show was a great success with some 190 Fleet Pride employees in attendance. This was GB Instruments second year to be invited to the show, and after a short review of existing products, we focused the balance of the time we had on two of our new product releases for 2005.
We introduced our new GBI Precision® Freedom Series of back lit white face instruments. We demonstrated their unique qualities, such as fully programmable speedometer and tachometers that are both 12 volt and 24 volt, and can be set up to operate with any type engine. We showed how the instruments change in appearance three different ways depending on the time of day.
We also introduced the new GBI Precision® CAN-Connect 2.0. We outlined some of the featurs of the new GBI Precision CAN-Connect such as;
A simple solution to solve the problem of using conventional low cost instrumentation on CAN bus electronic controlled vehicles. A small electronic module integrated with the speedometer or tachometer. Supplied ready programmed for immediate use Supplied ready wired for connection to the instruments and warning lamps Small module fits neatly on tacho or speedo Decodes CAN J1939 and J1708 protocols Supplied ready programmed. Drives speedo, tacho and up to 10 gauges. Drives up to 8 warning lamps. Compatible with 12 and 24 volt systems. Supplied ready wired for easy connection. Compatible with GBI standard gauge range. Small module 3 3/8 inches diameter by 1 inch Fits neatly on the rear of the tacho or speedo Supplied with fitting kit screws and bracket. No special tools needed No additional brackets or spacer needed Model 2.01 for J1939 protocols. Model 2.02 for J1708 protocols. Pre-programmed for immediate use. Parameters can be customized for special applications. Drives conventional Speedo (freq 8000 pulses/mile) Drives conventional Tacho (freq 2pulses/rev) Drives 10 air cored gauges (PWM 240-33ohms) Drives 8 warning lamps (250mA current sink) 12 volt or 24 volt systems
There was a great deal of interest in both products by the Fleet Pride group, and a lot of good questions asked. We also talked about three other new products that were about to be introduced before the end of the year. PJ and I had a great time meeting and talking with everyone, and we look forward to next years show.
On Wednesday, May 18th, GB Instruments, Inc. attended an open house at the new Fleet Pride store and warehouse in Salt Lake City Utah. There were approximately eighteen other vendors displaying their products with GB Instruments at the open house. My understanding is that there were some 280 RSVPs to attend the open house, and my best estimate is there were over 350 attendees.
The new Salt Lake City branch of Fleet Pride is located at 4520 West 2100 South, Building 602, Salt Lake City, Utah 84120. This is a brand new facility with a large warehouse and show room. It is truly an impressive facility, and one more example of Fleet Prides commitment and aggressive approach to the heavy-duty market.
GB Instruments had an opportunity to show two of our new products first introduced at the Mid America Truck Show in Louisville, KY. The GBI Precision® Freedom Series is our new white face series of heavy duty and automotive instruments. This series of instruments really excites anyone who has an opportunity to see them. The blue back lit numerals, and the white face that actually turns black at night, the red lit pointer, and our well known all metal construction was a big hit at the truck show, and we got the same reception in Salt Lake City at the open house. This product will be in the Fleet Pride stores in July 2005. The second product that we introduced at the Truck Show, and exhibited at the open house is our new CAN-Connect 2.0 The CAN-Connect 2.0is a simple solution to solve the problem of using conventional low cost instrumentation on CAN bus electronic controlled vehicles. These are two more products that demonstrates GB Instruments commitment to provide FUTURE SOLUTIONS NOW to the Heavy Duty Industry.
We feel the open house was a resounding success, and want to thank the entire management team at Fleet Pride for inviting us to share with them their new facility in Salt Lake City Utah.
GB Instruments, Inc. joined Power Products (PDC) again this year at the 2005 Mid America Truck Show in Louisville Kentucky. The show was held on March 31st through April 2nd. Interest in our companys' products was even greater at this years show. Power Products displayed a wide variety of products from their product offering, and GBI introduced two of our new products for 2005.
GB Instruments, Inc. introduced the new GBI Precision Freedom Series of white face instruments. This new series is our first offering of instruments with an international flavor. Backlighting the face and pointer, and new larger easier to read numerals are just a couple of the outstanding characteristics of these new gauges. The response from the attendees of the show was nothing less than phenomenal. This series of electronic/programmable instruments was a major hit for GB Instruments at this years show.
The introduction of our new CAN-BUS product offering, CAN-Connect 2.0 was one of the high points of the show. CAN-Connect 2.0 is a simple solution to solve the problem of using conventional low cost instrumentation on CAN Bus electronic controlled vehicles. A small electronic module integrated with the speedometer or tachometer is supplied already programmed, and wired for connection to the instruments and warning lamps for immediate use. This small module fits neatly on the tachometer or speedometer and decodes CAN J1939, and J1708 protocols. CAN-Connect 2.0 are supplied ready programmed, and can drive up to 10 gauges and 8 warning lamps. It is compatible with 12 and 24-volt systems, and is supplied wired for easy connection to GBI standard gauge range. Both new products will be in our distributors' stores in July 2005.
We want to take this opportunity to thank Power Products for again sharing booth space. We would also like to thank all the attendees who stopped at our booth at this years show. They shared their enthusiasm in GB Instruments and our efforts to bring to the market the highest quality and the most innovative gauges at the most competitive prices.
GB Instruments, Inc. has started to build complete dash panels for some of its customers utilizing the GBI Precision series of heavy duty gauges. Perry J. Bennett, GBI Regional Sales Manager said "we are starting to build complete panels for our customers, and will expand this service to include the GEM 2000 shut down system, as well as other more sophisticated panels as we grow that side of our business".
As of January 17th, 2005 Karen Gruber has joined the GBI team as our new Director of Operations. Karen brings GBI many years of experience in operations, and accounting to the company. Karen spent five years with a PTO manufacturer as their Office Administrator, and as a result, she knows the Heavy Duty market, many of our Reps., and many of our Distributors. Karen will be a great asset to our company.
GB Instruments, Inc. has named Tod Williams as our new Warehouse and Materials Director. Tod joined our company as our Warehouse Manager in July 2003, and has now been appointed to this new post. Tods duties will include overseeing our warehouse activities including warranty replacements, as well as being the company's Purchasing Agent. Tod has excellent organizational skills, and interacts well with our customer base. His addition will allow us to better manage our inventory, and improve our already excellent on-time shipping performance. Please join me in welcoming Tod to our team. Perry D. Bennett President GB Instruments, Inc.
