Engineering long life into ITS equipment

A.D. Engineering International (ADEI) is a leading supplier of ITS equipment in Australia, providing electronic LED signs of all sizes and types, Changeable Message Signs (3-sided prism signs), Variable Speed Limit Signs (VSLS), Variable Message Signs (VMS), Vehicle loop detectors, Over height detectors and signs, Lane Usage Signals and many other types of equipment, mainly for government road projects. We have been doing this for more than 30 years!

Australia is a relatively small market place, so to stand out from our competitors it is important for us to provide the best products and the best service in the industry.

For many government authorities maintaining ITS equipment on main roads, it is vital that the supplier of the equipment provide backup service and support. Without this, the equipment can quickly become non serviceable and therefore very costly to replace.

At ADEI we believe that our equipment should have the longest service life available, and the backup to go with it. Even when the equipment is near the end of its life, we can still supply spare parts, fault finding diagnostics, phone help or even on site call-outs. And, because we believe in our products so much, if it looks like a design problem then we will fix it for free. No one could ask for more than that!

However, it takes more than backup service to have equipment last for decades. It takes careful design at the beginning. There are many facets to the design. The most obvious is designing it to do what it needs to, but there is more to it. Consideration must be given all aspects of the design, including some aspects that are not directly related to the operation of the equipment, such as:

• Weather proofing
• Temperature control
• Mains or power conditioning
• Physical robustness
• Accessibility
• Vandal resistance
• Security
• Paint finish
• Corrosion resistance
• Component de-rating
• Humidity
• Insect and vermin ingress
• Termination and connector types
• Long term parts availability
• Electromechanical parts selection (Fans, relays, switches, etc.)
• Fasteners and fixings
• Serviceability

ALL of these items must be addressed, or the design will start to fail, i.e. the weakest link will bring down the chain.

Most electronic engineering firms are quite capable of producing a product that works. After all, that is the most obvious function of the product and relatively easy to get right! However, designing longevity into the product is much more difficult, requiring years of design, research and testing.

Apart from the correct choice of electronic components to suit the operating conditions (power and ambient temperature) the designer must also choose parts that have a long operational life. Electromechanical devices inherently have a shorter life span because of wear. Fans are particularly troublesome if running all the time because of bearing wear and the clogging of filters (if used). This makes regular servicing essential rather than optional.

One of the big factors that is often overlooked in design is the ability to service the equipment. If you can't pull it apart once it is installed then it will prove very costly to maintain. Each piece of the equipment must be able to be replaced, using standard trade tools, even after the equipment has been installed on a gantry over an express-way. It is also not good enough to have to remove a panel - and then place the panel and fixing screws somewhere else while accessing the equipment inside. How often do the fixing screws go missing in this instance? - Always! A better design is to have all panels and access hatches captive, with captive fixings. This way everything goes back, with nothing left to fall or be caught be the wind.

Another factor often overlooked is the fact that sometimes the equipment needs to be opened in bad weather. This can cause all sorts of problems with moisture (sometimes large amounts) getting into the cabinet. If the temperature rises with water in the cabinet the humidity will quickly destroy the electronics. How do we address this? Several different approaches are required to handle this scenario, and it depends on the location of the equipment. In dryer climates drain holes can be used, coupled with corrosion protection and air circulation. In humid environments, such as the tropics, is is essential to remove the moisture from the air and not allowing air to be drawn into the cabinet. In this case the most effective method to remove the moisture is using a chiller plate to collect the airborne moisture and a mechanism to drain the collected water from the cabinet without allowing outside air to enter.

Of course, designing the best equipment in the world is not worth much if it is not backed up. It is our policy to provide this service, even long after all warranties have expired.

We have been in the business since 1979, and still going strong. This is because we continue to provide high quality equipment at prices that are competitive in the market. Our equipment is engineered to last - even in the harsh Australian climate. We have have specialised in the design of this type of equipment for many years and have continually improved both our knowledge and product. The same principles of design are applied to all products, from large Variable Message Signs, to small car park bays available signs, to trailer mounted message boards, to speed limit signs, to road side cabinets. Every aspect of the design needs to be covered. If not, the product will not stand the test of time.