Installation guide: Equipment Asset Tracker - Wired (for Reveal)

This guide describes the installation steps for the Equipment Asset Tracker (EAT) and is intended for Verizon Connect Reveal customers.

In this guide:

• Device overview
• Preparing for installation
• Installing the device

Device overview

• Mounting holes (one on each corner) (1)
• Device label with its serial number (SN) and International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number (2)
• Status LEDs for battery, network, and GPS (3)
• Status button that wakes the device, runs a status test, and sends a report (4)
• 15 ft (4.5 m) harness (5)

Preparing for installation

What to bring

• Cordless drill with metric and standard bits. For mounting hardware sizes, see What's in the box.
• Safety glasses or other eye protection
• Marker for marking where holes will be drilled
• If drilling a pass-through hole, a grommet and silicone to seal the grommet. (Use a polyurethane based silicone instead of those with acid based curing agents to avoid corroding metal surfaces).
• Heat-shrink ring terminals and butt connectors
• Protective wire loom
• Dielectric grease
• Super 33 or better electrical tape
• 16-18-gauge wire to extend connections, if needed
• Wire ties
• The Reveal Spotlight app: Install the Reveal Spotlight app

What's in the box

• EAT Device with attached 15 ft (4.5 m) harness

• 4 x self-drilling screws for metal: standard 5/16-inch (8mm) hex head, number 12 size, 1 inch (25mm) long
  
  

• 4 x bolts: Serrated-flange 5/16-inch (8mm) hex head, 10-32 thread, 1¼ inch (32mm) long, .19-inch screw width
  

• 4 x lock nuts 3/8-inch (9.5mm) head
  
  

• 4 x washers, flat type
  

Always get permission before you drill, and look to make sure you will not damage any adjacent equipment or OSHA required certified ROPS structures. Refer to the ROPS identification help article for more information about identifying ROPS structures.

Depending on where the device is to be mounted, you may use the provided screws or the bolts with lock nuts and washers to mount the device. If using the screws or bolts, pre-drilling the holes may make the task easier. Based on the application, zip ties or VHB tape may also be used to mount the device.

• If you are unable to determine what parts makeup the manufacturer defined ROPS structure reasonable efforts should always be made to mount devices in locations where the device can be secured using zip ties and VHB tape.
  • Use at least two 1 inch (25mm) wide strips of VHB tape placed down the full length of the edges of the asset tracker's longest side.

Installing the device

Step 1: Make note of the SN (serial number) located on the device.

You need this number later when confirming that the device has connected to Reveal. You can find the serial number on the label on the side of the device.

Step 2: Find a good location to mount the device.

Where the device is mounted depends partly on the type of powered asset.

When choosing a mounting location, consider the following:

• Keep the device clear of moving parts or areas that will expose the device to road debris or high-pressure water spray. Also,
• Do not mount the device next to any heat-generating machinery.
• The device’s omnidirectional antennas allow the device to be mounted facing up or sideways, facing out.
• Mounting the device under the floor, especially if it is an enclosed metal trailer or container and especially if the device is facing down, can limit connection to the network.

Possible locations include:

• Top of the trailer’s tongue
• Hitch rail
• Side rails
• Front bulkhead

Do not mount the device until you have activated and tested the device.

Step 3: Activate and test the device.

• Hold the device in the mounting location.
• Press the status button firmly for 1-3 seconds to wake the device.*
  • Avoid pressing the status button for too long because this can put the device in Bluetooth pairing mode. Bluetooth features are not currently supported in the device. If you put the device in Bluetooth pairing mode, wait about 30 seconds until the Bluetooth LED stops flashing and then press the status button for 1-3 seconds to restart the network check.
• Press the status button again to start the status check.
• Check the status LEDs. (See table in Status LEDs section below.)

*Note for earlier models

If your tracker's HW Rev is "A.11" or lower on the device label, you need to apply additional force to press the status button.

Instead of using only your finger, use a capped pen at an angle to press the bottom edge of the button for 1-3 seconds to wake the device.

Status LEDs

Icon	Name	Status
	Battery	1 flash = 10 - 25% full 2 flashes = 25 - 50% full 3 flashes = 50 - 75% full 4 flashes = 75 - 100% full
	Network	Slow flash: device is seeking network. Solid: network connection acquired.
	GPS	Slow flash: device is seeking GPS. It does not indicate fail/success status. Check Live Map in Spotlight app or Reveal to confirm location reporting.
	Bluetooth	At this time, the device does not support customer accessible Bluetooth features. If the status button is pressed longer than 3 seconds, the device will bypass the network test and go into Bluetooth pairing mode. If Bluetooth pairing mode is turned on: 1. wait for the Bluetooth LED to go out and 2. Press the status button for a shorter duration (1-3 seconds) to restart the network check.

The device runs a status test for battery, network, and GPS.

It can take up to 30 seconds for the LEDs to light up and they stay on for 5 seconds. To recheck the status, press the Status button. Pressing the Status button a second time does not power off the device.

Step 4: Connect the device to a power source

The EAT device is powered by the asset you are installing the device into. You can connect to the asset’s power source using a 2-wire or 3-wire connection.

The 2-wire method is typically used on trailers.

The 3-wire method, where the third wire is connected to ignition, is typically used on heavy equipment (yellow iron) assets such as backhoes and bulldozers.

Before you begin, familiarize yourself with the wiring harness.

Device harness wiring layout

The EAT device has a molded 15.4 ft (4.7 m) long power and I/O harness terminating with these colour-coded wires with bare leads:

colour	Function	Wire Gauge
Red	VDC Battery (power source)	22 AWG
White	Ignition	26 AWG
Black	Ground	22 AWG
Violet	Digital Input 1: High ([+] trigger)	26 AWG
Violet/Black	Digital input 1: Low ([-] trigger)	26 AWG
Blue	Digital input 2: High ([+] trigger)	26 AWG
Blue/Black	Digital Input 2: Low ([-] trigger)	26 AWG
Brown	Digital Output 1 High ([+] output)	26 AWG
Green	Digital Output 1 Low ([-] output)	26 AWG
Gray	One-Wire I/O (not used)*	26 AWG

• One-Wire I/O will not be used at launch but is planned for a later phase.
• The ground wire is actually three ground wires joined together at the exposed end, giving the appearance of being a single wire.

About the sensor wiring connections (digital inputs)

The EAT device is capable of sensing voltage transitions of at least 6 volts on 12/24-volt systems and requires 3mA current when voltage is present in the on phase.

The device uses a trigger wire/reference wire setup method for each sensor input. Therefore, each input requires two connections to complete each input.

The signal to be monitored should have two voltage states. One with no voltage (that is, zero volts when referenced to ground) and another that falls in the range from 6 to 24 volts.

For sensor inputs, use one of the methods below for trigger wire and reference wire colour connections.

If you are wiring for a positive trigger:

• Use the solid colour input wire for the positive trigger.
• Use the striped colour input wire for the reference wire/input ground.

If you are wiring for a negative trigger:

• Use the striped colour input wire for the negative trigger.
• Use the solid colour input wire for the reference wire/+VDC reference voltage.

It is important that the voltage signal is tested to ensure it is continuously providing the necessary voltage and current when in the on or active position.

Fuses

The device harness includes two weather-proof fuse holders, each holding a 3A mini-blade replaceable fuse. Therefore, there is no need to splice in any fuses during installation. Replacement fuses, if needed, can be purchased from any auto parts store. The fuses are located on the device’s red VDC power wire and white ignition wire.

Wiring Best Practices

• Run the harness cable through a pass-through hole, using existing holes to pass the cable through rather than drilling new ones. This prevents the wire chafing
• If drilling is necessary, check that you are not drilling into anything unintended behind the drilling surface. Insert a grommet, that is the right size and type for the hole, into the newly drilled hole to protect the wire and seal with all-weather silicone as necessary.

• Use heat-shrink butt connectors and ring terminals rather than splicing wires, as the device and its wires are usually exposed to the elements. These connectors are also better at preventing air and moisture from reaching the wires and causing corrosion.

Heat-shrink butt connector:

Heat-shrink ring terminal:

• Create a drip loop to prevent moisture from running down the length of the wire toward devices and connections.

Wire splicing

If using butt connectors and ring connectors is not practical, and if wires will not be exposed to the elements (for example, the wires are within the asset’s cab) any splicing should be done by using the standard poke and wrap technique.

1. Remove approximately one inch of wire insulation.
2. Split the wire in half making an oval and push the wire to be terminated through that hole.
3. Press the wire back together then wrap the excess newly inserted wire tightly around it.
4. Wrap the new splice with Super 33 or better electrical tape.
5. Apply two wire ties to the splice. The first goes over the splice and the other approximately one inch down the line of splice.
   
   

Connect to the power source using the two-wire method

1. Connect the device’s red wire to the asset’s +12/24V constant power source.
2. Use a ring terminal to connect the device’s black ground wire to the asset’s negative battery terminal or use a self-tapping screw and a ring terminal to connect the device’s black ground wire to a chassis ground.
3. Coil up and zip tie any extra length of the device harness. Do not cut the harness to shorten it, as doing so limits the device’s usability if transferred to another asset in the future and also increases the chance of making an error with wiring.

2-Wire installation for nose-mounted semi-trailers using a 7-way connector

1. Remove the 7-pin connector’s mounting plate.

2. Mount the unit to the trailer using provided mounting hardware.

3. Use an existing pass-through hole or, if one is not available to use, drill a new pass-through hole into the trailer skin. If it’s a new hole, pull the harness through a grommet.

4. Push the harness end down the interior side of the trailer wall toward the 7-way connector.

   • If it will be necessary for the harness to pass through, clip off the preinstalled fused links from the device harness.

   • Make a drip loop in the harness to prevent condensation from running towards electrical connections.

   • If a grommet is used, insert it into the pass-through hole. Apply a bead of silicone around the grommet to seal the pass-through.

5. Pull the wiring harness through at the 7-pin connector.

6. Reattach the fused links using heat shrink butt connectors and verify a 3•5-amp fuse is present.

7. Separate the black and red wires from the harness.

   • Tape any unused harness wires to the harness sheath (do not cut to custom length).

8. Connect the device’s black ground wire to the trailer’s white wire/top pin on the 7-way trailer stud using a heat shrink ring terminal or poke-and-wrap method.

   1. Connect the device’s red VDC power wire to the trailer’s blue "aux" wire/centre pin on the 7-way trailer wire stud using a heat shrink ring terminal or the poke-and-wrap method.

      Do not connect the red power wire to the marker or running lights unless it is specifically requested by Verizon Connect.

SAE J560 compliant 7-pin diagram for semi-trailers

The typical wiring colours and pin layout for an SAE J560 compliant semi-trailer 7-pin connector are shown here.

The EAT's red wire must be connected to battery positive power via the semi trailer's AUX/ABS circuit which is colour coded blue by the J560 spec and corresponds to pin #7 in the centre when facing the 7-pin connector.

1. Coat both newly installed ring terminal connections with dielectric grease or terminal protecting anti corrosion spray as necessary, and use a wire loom to protect any remaining exposed wiring portions not protected by the device’s wire harness jacket.

2. Remount the 7-pin cover plate.
3. If the EAT device is installed using a 2-wire connection, set it to a 2-wire configuration as follows:
   1. Get the device Serial Number (see device label in Device overview).
   2. Contact Customer Support and supply the device Serial Number.
   3. Request the device be set to a 2-wire configuration.
      

      Do not connect the red power wire to the marker or running lights unless it is specifically requested by Verizon Connect.

Connect to the power source using the 3-wire method

1. Connect the device’s Red VDC power wire to the asset’s +12/24 VDC constant battery power source. Remember to use the AUX/ABS wire located on the 7-pin for power if installing on a semi-trailer.
2. Connect the device’s Black Ground wire to the asset's negative battery terminal. If that is not practical, connect instead to a chassis ground on the asset by using a ring terminal and self-tapping screw or factory bolt.
3. Connect the device’s white Ignition wire to the asset’s +12/24 VDC ignition/switched power. The asset’s ignition source will vary depending on the type of asset; it could be located at the asset’s ignition switch or at the asset’s fuse box.
4. Coil up and zip tie any extra length of the device harness. Do not cut the harness to shorten it, as doing so limits the device’s usability if transferred to another asset in the future and also increases the chance of making an error with wiring.

Additional connections for reefer trailers

While most trailers require 2-wire installation, Reefer trailers are an exception, usually requiring 3-wire installation. In addition to the primary three wires, a digital input wire should be used to enable monitoring the reefer’s engine hours via the reefer’s ignition circuit.

Connecting to digital input/output sensors

After installing the primary device wiring, you can proceed to the I/O wiring for sensors, if called for in the work order. Sensor functions such as PTO, boom, rear door, or lights are an optional part of the installation. If installation does not include I/O wiring, disregard this section and proceed to the Mounting the Device section of this article

As shown in the device harness wiring layout, the EAT device has these I/O options:

• Two digital inputs. These inputs can switch between either positive or negative polarity, so no relays are required. As shown in the Device Harness Wiring Layout section, each of the two inputs has two wire leads, for high (positive) and low (negative). With each input used, both wires must be connected.
• One digital output. Digital output provides a negative 200 mA output. Digital output is typically used to energize a relay coil, or functions such as a buzzer or an LED.
• One-Wire input and output (one wire for both). One-Wire I/O is not yet supported by this device; therefore, the device’s grey One-Wire lead is not used at this time, but is planned for a later phase of the product.

Step 5: Check that the device is reporting to Verizon Connect.

The asset should be listed in Reveal and Spotlight with the serial number as the asset name. You can search for the asset to confirm that it is successfully connected to Verizon Connect.

To check for the device in Spotlight:

1. In Spotlight, go to the Map screen.
   
   
2. In the Search field, enter the device serial number and tap Search.

For further information, see Verify an installation in Reveal.

Step 6: Mount the device

• The less metal between the device and the sky, the stronger the signals for network and GPS. You don't want the device to be surrounded by metal - never install the device inside a metal box.
• keep the device clear of moving parts or areas that will expose the device to road debris or high-pressure water spray.
• How you orient the device can affect how well it performs. Here are some preferred mounting options:

• Mounting the device vertically on a vertical surface

  

  When mounting the device vertically on a vertical surface, the preferred orientation is with the Verizon check mark right side up. This puts the status button at the bottom where it is less exposed to the elements.

  Mounting the device horizontally on a vertical surface

  

  When mounting the device horizontally on a vertical surface, the preferred orientation is with the device label (label not shown in the picture) facing down. This will help keep the label from getting worn by the elements.

  Mounting the device on a horizontal surface

  

  When mounting the device on a horizontal surface, have the Verizon check mark, that is, the front of the device, facing up. Mounting the device facing down is not preferred, as doing so can impact reporting accuracy.

Once you have activated and tested the device, you can mount it to the asset.

To mount the device:

1. Hold the device where it will be mounted mark the positions of the four mounting holes where you will drill.
2. If using the screws, pre-drilling the holes is recommended.
3. Secure the device to the asset using the included screws or bolts.
   Do not use rivets or countersunk screws to secure the device.
   Do not over torque the screws or bolts (this could crack the plastic around the mounting holes).

FCC compliance statement

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.

If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

Consult the dealer or install technician for help.