Internet of Things in Car Wash Industry
Internet of Things in Car Wash Industry
What is IoT?
In Simple words, IOT or Internet of Things is basically devices other than Computers and Mobile Phones to be connected to the Internet. Devices like Sensors, Electric Meters, household devices, etc being connected to the internet. The devices can stream data to a server on the Internet or to a controlling device through the internet.
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What this means is that – your Air Conditioner can send you Fan Motor Current consumed data at regular intervals. Your centralized data processing sensor can then analyze this data inform you or the Air Con company that the Filter needs to be cleaned or changed.
#1. Car Wash Supplies
Equipment that has IOT based Sensors, can inform you about the status of supplies. The system can preempt you to make provisions for car wash supplies like Shampoos, Waxes, and Foam Boosters. This means you do not have to go daily and check how much of the consumables are left. Isn’t it fantastic?
#2 Equipment Status
Since the sensors are connected to the IoT-based controller, you can know the status of each and every sensor sitting at a remote location, you can know when your air pressure has dropped, your chemical levels have dropped, the machine has voltage fluctuations, etc. All this can be tracked while you are not even near the car wash equipment. In fact, you would know more about the machine at a remote location than any person would be able to know while he stands in front of the car wash equipment.
#3 Support
Given that your car wash machine reports the sensor status and performance statistics of your machine to you directly, the same can be shared with KKE for fault diagnosis. Infact KKE Factory can connect to your machine sitting in the opposite corner of the world and understand the fault based on the sensor data logging and current Output status. Wouldn’t it be better if the service person comes with the requisite part before he comes to the site?
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#4 Multiple Locations
With Internet-connected machines, you can get the details on your machine working on your Mobile or remote office. Details like the Number of Car Washed, Car Wash Programs Operated, can be checked by you at any time. Since you do not need to be present on Site always, you’ll have enough time to manage other businesses or start multiple car wash locations.
#5 Business Intelligence
With streaming of such large data, you get a lot of information which can be termed as Business Intelligence. For instance, you can have data of the vehicles washed in the same month last year. You can understand the patterns and make decisions accordingly. Decisions like opening and closing times can be analyzed. You might find that on average only 1 car comes in the morning hours. You might want to shift the working hours towards the evening when you experience higher traffic.
Internet-enabled machines literally change the dynamics of the vehicle wash industry. Instead of owning one car wash center, you can be an owner of an entire chain of car wash centers.
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Questions about using a PLC for various tasks | Car Wash Forum
1. Is this an antiquated Omron model or does that matter?
2. What would it take to remote access it for monitoring?
3. Would it be better to go with another brand?
4. Is anything else needed for a complete setup besides PLC, I/O modules, power supply, rack/enclosure, programming software, cable, laptop computer for programming/uploading/downloading programs? I would stay away from putting in all that time just to save the cost of a processor. What you are looking to do doesn't require very much i/o, and a new unit with all sorts of cool options can be purchased for pretty cheap. I have several setups using simple smart relays for doing the stuff you mentioned. But have also used 1 plc to run a full 6 bay self serve with all options using binary encoded rotary switches (only 4 inputs per bay) and then being able to make a smart weepless system with remote access with text alerts, revenue reports and remote turn on/washdown ability. The problem is that the more custom you make everything, the more you are stuck with the car wash! I like idec because of price/software+capability ratio. I have made more complicated machines with allen-bradley, and mitsubishi, but wouldn't recommend it unless you are looking to sell to public and need direct support at high expense.
I would stay away from putting in all that time just to save the cost of a processor.
Thanks. That's the feedback I was looking for.
I have several setups using simple smart relays for doing the stuff you mentioned.
I have looked at those and they don't seem a whole lot less expensive. I assume they are they easier to program or not require any extra software. We had one that controlled a powdered presoak mixer and we modified the program easily but it was a very simple relay.
I like idec because of price/software+capability ratio.
I'll look into them. I started a thread back in on PLC or PLR uses at the CW and how to program....Here is the thread...
http://www.autocareforum.com/showthread.php?-Programmable-Relay-or-PLC&highlight=programmable
See post 75 for my first attempt at making a Winterizing system for my Foam Guns and FB's for a 4 bay....It uses -22° washer fluid and air to winterize the 8 hoses. It has literally saved me thousands a year in water down the drain since I installed it....Its worked flawlessly since installation...
I like the Idec brand PLC/PLR, same as JGinther....The older FL1E had a 200 Function Block capacity and the newer FL1F has a 400 FB Capacity with an additional Astronomical FB that can be used for lighting projects! (Which I'm currently working on!) The nice thing about the newer FL1F is it can be loaded with either a Micro SD card or by Ethernet....You don't need the $70 cable like the older FL1E used...The software, WindLGC, is free to download. But costs less than $100 in order to transfer files. The FL1F 24vac base module Costs $158 but can also be purchased with the full version software for $200....The 24vac Expansion module is $66 @ WolfAutomation.com ....Pretty cheap to get started into using PLC's at the CW! Personally I like allen bradley from ebay. It's easy to find someone else to program it and there are a few different local plc guys that can support it if needed. It's been a couple years but the micrologix had free software and was 100-250 on ebay. If you want a touchscreen automation direct click plc is good. Like others have said you are choosing to put resources into something the potential buyer will think they can't maintain so sometimes buying a product that already exists has its benefits.
I started a thread back in on PLC or PLR uses at the CW and how to program....Here is the thread...
http://www.autocareforum.com/showthr...t=programmable
See post 75 for my first attempt at making a Winterizing system for my Foam Guns and FB's for a 4 bay....It uses -22° washer fluid and air to winterize the 8 hoses. It has literally saved me thousands a year in water down the drain since I installed it....Its worked flawlessly since installation...
I read that awhile back and that is one of the projects we have in mind.
Personally I like allen bradley from ebay. It's easy to find someone else to program it and there are a few different local plc guys that can support it if needed.
If we were going to make a blow down/antifreeze system I would rather be able to modify the program myself because of the possibility of needing multiple tweaks.
Like others have said you are choosing to put resources into something the potential buyer will think they can't maintain so sometimes buying a product that already exists has its benefits.
We are not overlooking the idea of just buying a factory system. It definitely has its merits but I'm not exactly sure what you mean when you say a potential buyer might think they couldn't maintain it. Is it because it would be custom and not have an factory operator manual?
With allen bradley if you stick with their lower level stuff you can get free software.
I'll look into that brand also.
Yes, no owners manual is intimidating. Even you will forget exactly how it works and have to relook at the program if it's very complicated.
It would be smart to at least write some sort of a basic manual.
Does anyone use one for capturing time on self serve? We have that now but we want to change the vacs to record minutes used instead of just recording cycles. That is where this idea all started from.
Like others have said you are choosing to put resources into something the potential buyer will think they can't maintain so sometimes buying a product that already exists has its benefits.
I have given similar thought, but hoping that when/if I get ready to sell, the potential buyer will have the same interest as I did while seeing the value of creating systems that save you $$$. The 8 LP hose Washer Fluid Air blowdown system cost me roughly $ including the PLC's, Expansion Mods, solenoids, flojet, and all tubing/fittings. A similar off the shelf system would be 4-5 times $$$ that...
Computer and cell phones are bridging the Knowledge Gap we had years ago...I found learning the software is no harder than learning any Microsoft Program...
As for the lighting project, there is no "Off the shelf" system that will do what I want it to do. So customizing it was my only option. 100% of the lights come on based on the Astronomical FB (Latitude/Longitude of CW). Each zone (8 zones - outputs) turns on .5 seconds apart minimizing inrush current. 2/3 of all lights will turn off at 10-11pm and leave (4) security bulbs on in each bay. If someone puts $$$ in a coin box, when the timer starts the remaining 2/3 of the lights in that bay illuminate. After time runs out, there is a 5 minute delay to turn off 2/3's of the bulbs in that bay. Fixtures are 4' (3) Led bulb IP67 rated....(4) fixtures for each bay. Going with LED and the custom program/hardware will pay for itself in about a year over the cost of running CFL's. Then its money in the bank. An old Friend planted the seed! I'm surprised you didn't ask why it took me so long to get started on the project?!?! Glad to see you are still lurking around!
Funny story...After putting the panel together and firing up the Idec, it took me about 6-8 hours just to get the program to load...Kept getting an error in WindLGC during the transfer…. Tried loading the program using a MicroSD card....No go...The program seemed to work flawlessly in WindLGC...Thought I had a communication issue....Checked the connection all the way down to "Pinging" the PLC....It definitely had me scratching my head...
The issue turned out being "Open Output" Message Text Function Blocks. Finding the Open Connector FB clearly says it closes the open Message Text Block....Who would have known?!?! I didn't find anything in the 339 page manual that said this could be an issue. It was telling me all along in the Info Window there were errors in the Ladder! But had to look at it first!
I hope you are having a Great Retirement! I use a few Omron Zen plc's. I use one for my bays, I have a light over each selector box in each bay that turns off and on with a plain intermatic timer. Then 3 other lights in each bay that are programmed on the zen to come on with the bay timer and stay on for 10 minutes after timer shuts off for courtesy time.
I used another zen to make a vac it up system, when a timer is running every 4 1/2 minutes the vac motors and a gate open to dry in coins, I am looking to change this to read just the coins dropped some how, I couldnt get a coin pulse to read on a relay.
Then we have another zen on our automatic for lights. 2 lights in the bay are always on, when someone pays for a wash the other 8 lights in the bay come on for 15 minutes, we went with this time for busier days the lights are not always turning off and on. I had someone I know do the programming on the units for me, I wish I knew more about these units to do my own work with these things. They have had no problems since in service for 6 or 7 years. The main thing to consider when deciding to go centralized with single controller is that most high input/output count PLCs don't have a 24 VAC option for inputs. Only 24 VDC and, to get 32 point outputs - only transistor output is option and not relay output. This means you either have to have a rectifier bank for relay bank to switch the inputs to a voltage the PLC can see. The smaller smart relay type modules have pretty much any voltage as options for inputs or outputs and even processor power. A spare PLC can be replaced within only a couple minutes, so as long as you keep a 2nd of each part, risk of downtime isn't really a concern. But to a buyer... different story.
The main thing to consider when deciding to go centralized with single controller is that most high input/output count PLCs don't have a 24 VAC option for inputs. Only 24 VDC and, to get 32 point outputs - only transistor output is option and not relay output. This means you either have to have a rectifier bank for relay bank to switch the inputs to a voltage the PLC can see. The smaller smart relay type modules have pretty much any voltage as options for inputs or outputs and even processor power. A spare PLC can be replaced within only a couple minutes, so as long as you keep a 2nd of each part, risk of downtime isn't really a concern. But to a buyer... different story.
Exactly why I've had to pull out thousands of dollars of PLC's and relays in two different washes, because the company that designed the equipment doesn't support it or the hardware is obsolete.
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