LMU-2620 Installation Guide

Regulatory Information

Human exposure compliance statement

Pursuant to 47 CFR § 24.52 of the FCC Rules and Regulations, personal communications services (PCS) equipment is subject to the radio frequency radiation exposure requirements specified in § 1.1307(b), § 2.1091 and § 2.1093, as appropriate.

thingtech’s hardware supplier, CalAmp certifies that it has determined that the LMU-26xx comply with the RF hazard requirements applicable to broadband PCS equipment operating under the authority of 47 CFR Part 24, Subpart E of the FCC Rules and Regulations. This determination is dependent upon installation, operation and use of the equipment in accordance with all instructions provided.

The LMU-26xx's are designed for and intended to be used in fixed and mobile applications. “Fixed” means that the device is physically secured at one location and is not able to be easily moved to another location. “Mobile” means that the device is designed to be used in other than fixed locations and generally in such a way that a separation distance of at least 20 cm is normally maintained between the transmitter’s antenna and the body of the user or nearby persons. The LMU- 26xx's are not designed for or intended to be used in portable applications (within 20 cm of the body of the user) and such uses are strictly prohibited.

To ensure that the LMU-26xx's comply with current FCC regulations limiting both maximum RF output power and human exposure to radio frequency radiation, a separation distance of at least 20 cm must be maintained between the unit’s antenna and the body of the user and any nearby persons at all times and in all applications and uses. Additionally, in mobile applications, maximum antenna gain must not exceed 3 dBi.

LMU-26xx overview

hardware precautions

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is the sudden and momentary electric current that flows between two objects at different electrical potentials caused by direct contact or induced by an electrostatic field. The term is usually used in the electronics and other industries to describe momentary unwanted currents that may cause damage to electronic equipment.

ESD Handling Precautions

ESD prevention is based on establishing an Electrostatic Protective Area (EPA). The EPA can be a small working station or a large manufacturing area. The main principle of an EPA is that there are no highly charging materials in the vicinity of ESD sensitive electronics, all conductive materials are grounded, workers are grounded, and charge build-up on ESD sensitive electronics is prevented. International standards are used to define typical EPA and can be obtained for example from International Electro- technical Commission (IEC) or American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

This ESD classification of the sub assembly will be defined for the most sensitive component, therefore the following classifications apply:

• Class 1B – Human Model (< 1 kV)
• Class M1 – Machine Model (< 100V)

When handling the LMU-26xx’s main-board (i.e. sub assembly) by itself or in a partial housing proper ESD precautions should be taken. The handler should be in an ESD safe area and be properly grounded.

GPS Ceramic Patch Handling

When handling the sub assembly it may be natural to pick it up by sides and make contact with the antenna boards. In an uncontrolled ESD environment, contact with the center pin of ceramic patch antenna can create a path for electrostatic discharge directly to the GPS Module. The GPS Module is very sensitive to ESD and can be damaged and rendered non-functional at low levels of ESD.

One should avoid contact with the center pin of the patch during handling. The Factory will be placing a protective layer of Kapton® tape over the patch element to eliminate this ESD path.

Packaging

Anytime the sub assembly is shipped and it is not fully packaged in its final housing it must be sealed in an ESD safe bag.

Electrical Over-Stress (EOS)

The LMU-26xx GPS receiver can be damaged if exposed to an RF level that exceeds its maximum input rating. Such exposure can happen if a nearby source transmits an RF signal at sufficiently high level to cause damage.

Storage and Shipping

One potential source of EOS is proximity of one LMU-26xx series device GPS Antenna to another LMU-26xx series device GSM Antenna. Should one of the units be in a transmit mode, the potential exists for the other unit to become damaged. Therefore, keep any LMU-26xx series device or CAT-720 at least four inches apart from any active unit or any other active high power RF transmitter with power greater than 1 Watt.

environmental Specifications

The LMU-26xx is designed to operate in environments typically encountered by fleet vehicles, including wide temperature extremes, voltage transients and potential interference from other vehicle equipment.

To ensure proper operation in such an environment, the LMU-26xx was subjected to standard tests defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). The specific tests included temperature, shock, vibration and EMI/EMC. These tests were performed by independent labs and documented in a detailed test report. In accordance with Appendix A of SAE J1113 Part 1, the Unit is considered a “Functional Status Class B, Performance Region II” system that requires Threat Level 3 Testing.

The following shows the environmental conditions the LMU-XXX is designed to operate in and the relevant SAE tests that were performed. No formal altitude tests were conducted.

LMU-26xx Specifications:

LMU-26xx Specifications:

about the lmu-26xx

The CalAmp Location and Messaging Unit (LMU-26xx) is a mobile device that resides in private, commercial or government vehicles. The LMU-26xx is a single box enclosure, incorporating a processor, a GPS receiver, a wireless data modem and a vehicle-rated power supply. The device supports inputs and outputs to monitor and react to the vehicular environment and driver actions.

i/o connections

The LMU-26xx has 8 22AWG leads for its power and I/O connections. These leads are mapped as follows:

installation

preparing for installation

Installation can have a major impact on the performance of the LMU-26xx. It is recommended that installers be familiar with the installation of GPS and cellular devices and are comfortable in a vehicle environment. The best way to ensure a trouble-free installation is to consider your options and make appropriate decisions before you start.

To install the LMU-26xx:

Select location for mounting the device and install it.

For ease of installation, the LMU-26xx has internal GPS and Cellular antennas. Assess cable routes while considering placement.

1. Install the power, ignition, and ground connections.

2. Install optional buzzer and/or LED button.

3. Install optional I/O connections.

4. Install optional serial cables.

5. Secure all cables to rigid mounts with cable restraints.

6. Verify operation of the LMU-26xx. 

Be advised that an installation that violates the LMU-26xx Environmental Specifications will void the warranty.

The best way to ensure a trouble-free installation is to consider your options and make appropriate decisions before you start. Review the vehicle and determine the best install approach for the LMU-26xx for the following purposes:

• Ongoing monitoring and maintenance of LMU-26xx
• Accidental or intentional alteration of the equipment or cable connections

Prior to beginning the installation process, verify that you have all the required LMU-26xx components:

• The LMU-26xx device
• Input and output cables (optional)

Verify Power, Ground, and Ignition

Check each source (power, ground and ignition) to ensure that the proper signaling exists. This is typically accomplished with a multi-meter.

Size and Placement of LMU-26xx

When planning device installation, take into account the LMU-26xx dimensions. Typically, the LMU-26xx is installed under the vehicle dashboard. Verify that you can access the device post-installation in the event you need to verify LED status lights or access the unit.

Refer to Environmental Specifications for the exact measurements and specifications of the LMU-26xx.

• Verify that the LMU-26xx fits in selected location before drilling any holes or running cable.
• Ensure that the cable running to the LMU-26xx will not be bent or constricted. Damage to the cable may impede the LMU-26xx performance. Wrap cable in protective plastic shielding if necessary.
• Verify that the installation point does not violate any of the LMU-26xx’s environmental specifications. Improper installation of the LMU-26xx may void the warranty.

Visibility of Diagnostic LEDs

The LMU-26xx’s status LED lights provide valuable information about the device performance and operation. When feasible, attempt to install the LMU-26xx in such a way that the lights are visible with reasonable ease. If you observe poor performance, you may need to read the LEDs to troubleshoot the issue. If you cannot resolve the issue, you will need to provide the LED information to the ThingTech Customer Support Team.

Refer to Status LED's for detailed information on the light patterns and status.

Protection from Heat

Do not place the LMU-26xx in an unusually warm location, such as directly near heater vents, hot engine components or direct sunlight.

Refer to Environmental Specifications for the maximum temperature tolerated by the LMU-26xx.

Cable Length

The harness cable, which is provided for connecting to the LMU-26xx to the vehicle or other auxiliary device, should be used at the length provided. Do not cut cables. Instead, coil and secure any excess cable, making sure not to crimp or bend the cable.

Moisture and Weather Protection

The LMU-26xx is not a weatherproof device and must be kept dry. The mounting location should be inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle safe from physical damage and where it is not exposed to moisture or water. In a typical inside-vehicle installation, this is not a common concern; however, avoid installing the device below the vehicle’s cup holders or where rain might easily splash into the compartment when a door is opened. If the LMU-26xx is installed in a vehicle with a cab exposed to the weather, additional protection is required to avoid damage to the device, which could void the warranty.

Preventing Accidental or Unauthorized Modification

If you anticipate that drivers or others might tamper with the devices once installed, take steps to  ensure that it is not easy to disconnect the wiring or remove the device from its power source. A tamper resistant installation couples a zip-tie secured around the device with a tamper seal applied to protect against potential interference and to deter intentional tampering. When the tamper seal is removed, the seal self-destructs to indicate removal and leaves behind a dot-pattern residue on the device.

Installing the LMU in a vehicle

Installing the LMU-26xx is not difficult, but you must consider the variables involved, such as the vehicle type and location of existing equipment. Installation time can vary depending upon the installer’s experience and the vehicle design. The average time for installation is approximately 45 minutes. A single individual can perform most installation operations.

To install the LMU-26xx:

1. Select location for mounting the device and install it.
2. Assess cable routes while considering placement to avoid exposure to damage.
3. Install the power, ignition and ground connections.
4. Install optional I/O connections.
5. Secure all cables to rigid mounts with cable restraints.
6. Verify operation of the LMU-26xx.

 Mounting Location for Internal Antenna Devices

When determining mounting location, the primary consideration is GPS satellite visibility. LMU-26xx's have internal antennas for both GPS and Cellular. The GPS antenna is located directly under the product label side of the device. The required install orientation of the LMU-26xx is a horizontal mount, label side up. Attach the LMU-26xx to the solid body of the vehicle not to plastic panels. Additionally, verify that any metal is not covering or obstructing the LMU-26xx, allowing the device to have a clear sight with GPS satellites. A typical location is under the vehicle dashboard close to the front windshield. For a stealth installation, remove interior trim or molding to expose available space, and then replace the trim or molding when the LMU-26xx is installed.

For proper mounting, ensure the mounting location is clean. Use a damp towel or alcohol clean wipes, if necessary. Peel off adhesive and mount the LMU-26xx. If required, use a zip-tie to ensure a secure mount.

Plan to route the wires to minimize exposure to damage. If wires are exposed, wrap them with plastic protective cable wrap common to automotive applications. All wiring must be secured to complete the installation.

Note: It is important that you do not mount the LMU-26xx above or near airbags.

Recommended mounting locations for optimal performance include in-dash mounts where the LMU-26xx will not be shielded by metal:

• Above gauge cluster
• Above radio (prevent possible interference by routing power harness away from radio wires)
• Above air vents or air duct
• Glove box
• Center console

Available Wiring Harness

The LMU-26xx works with three available wiring harnesses: 5C908, 5C260, and the 5C261. 

5C908 Wiring Harness

The 5C908 wiring harness ships with the LMU-26xx device. This harness requires hard wiring of the power, ground and ignition wire. The 5C908 wiring harness works with either the Garmin device, jPOD or vPOD, but only one of these.

5C260 Wiring Harness (optional)

The 5C260 wiring harness is an optional cable and gives you the most flexibility:

1. If you have a vPOD or jPOD, do not perform a hard wire install for the red/black power wires.
2. Power will come from the vPOD/jPOD
3. For vPOD: Tape the red/black wires so that they are out of the way. Wire the white wire to the vPOD white wire.
4. For jPOD: We recommend that you wire the white wire to the ignition line on the vehicle, in the event the jPOD does not report ignition. The jPOD will attempt to get ignition sensing from the Jbus before reverting to the ignition wire. If you are using a buzzer, you must also wire the red wire to the white wire.
5. For a Garmin device: Perform a hard wire install as normal.
6. If you do not have the vPOD/jPOD, perform a hard wire it as normal.

5C261 Wiring Harness (Optional)

The 5C261 MUST be used with a vPOD or jPOD or the LMU device will not have power.

1. For vPOD: Wire the white wire to the vPOD white wire.
2. For jPOD: We recommend that you wire the white wire to the ignition line on the vehicle, in the event the jPOD does not report ignition. The jPOD will attempt to get ignition sensing from the Jbus before reverting to the ignition wire. 

Connect the Standard Wiring Harness

Next, connect the Standard Wiring Harness or the 5C908 Harness. This connection provides constant power, ignition and ground for the LMU-26xx. Additionally, the standard wiring harness can connect optional features, depending on the LMU-26xx  configuration.

Note: If you are using the OBD-II Wiring Harness, skip this section and refer to Connect the OBD-II Wiring Harness.

ThingTech recommends power generation from the vehicle’s Ignition Harness.

• Connect the Red Wire from the Standard Wiring Harness to the constant +12VDC in the vehicle.
• Connect the White Wire from the Standard Wiring Harness to True Ignition in the vehicle. Verify that the wire is powered only with the key in the engine on condition, not the ACC or radio key position.
• Connect the Black Wire from the Standard Wiring Harness to a metal surface in the vehicle.

Connect the OBD-II Wiring Harness

This section contains the information required to connect the vPOD/OBD-II Wiring Harness. This harness enables you to obtain power and ground signal from the vehicle without splicing wires from your vehicle. Note that you must still connect the ignition sense wire to the true ignition wire on the vehicle.

Note: If you are using the Standard Wiring Harness, skip this section and refer to Connect the Standard Wiring Harness.

Before you can begin the vPOD/OBD-II Wiring Harness installation, you must crimp together connections from your LMU-26xx wiring harness to the OBD-II pigtail. Join the Red Wire (power) and Black Wire (ground) from each harness using the supplied butt connectors. Note that some vehicles that feature OBD-II may require hard wiring due to signal strength.

1.     Locate and remove the vehicle’s OBD-II port connector from the current vehicle mounting position. If the LMU-26xx OBD-II harness connector does not fit in the original factory mounting position, an optional flange is available.

2.    Plug the Device OBD-II harness connector into the vehicle’s OBDII connector.

3.    Secure the LMU-26xx OBD-II harness connector and the OBD-II connector together with tape to prevent loose connections that may occur from normal vehicle operation vibration.

4.     Re-mount the LMU-26xx OBD-II harness connector in the vehicle’s original location.

5.     Important: The OBD-II port provides device power, but to obtain ignition condition, you must connect the White Wire from the Standard Wiring Harness to True Ignition in the vehicle.

6.     Connect the White Wire from the Standard Wiring Harness to True Ignition in the vehicle. Verify that the wire is powered only with the key in the engine on condition, not the ACC or radio key position.

Installation Verification

Installers should verify that the LMU-26xx GPS and communication functions are working properly before departing the installation site. Installation is complete and successful when you have tested the device by verifying proper LED signal behavior.

Status LEDs

The LMU-26xx is equipped with two status LEDs – one for GPS and one for Comm (wireless network status). The LEDs use the following blink patterns to indicate service. Verify that the GPS receiver has acquired satellite communication to obtain your GPS position by verifying the GPS status LED (Green). Next, verify that the LMU-26xx has established a 2-way connection with the communication server via the wireless network by checking the GSM/GPRS cellular status LED (Orange).

LED #1 (Comm LED- Orange) Definitions

LED #2 (GPS LED - Green) Definitions

Comm Verification

Installers should first verify that the device has acquired a cellular signal and has registered to the wireless network before completing installation. If this LED is solid, then the device has registered to the network and established a data session. Acquiring the wireless network and establishing communication can take several minutes. 

GPS Verification

Next, verify that the GPS receiver is seeing enough satellites to obtain a valid GPS position. If the green LED is solid, then the device has found GPS service. 

InBound Verification

 Lastly, verify is that the device is sending data to the correct server. This is a two-step process and requires a user to be logged into ThingTech. First, force the device to send in an Ignition On event by turning the ignition key to the forward position. Second, open the profile/detail page for the corresponding vehicle in TracIT. If the device is reporting properly, you should see an Ignition On event. 

Troubleshooting Common Problems

The most common problems with the LMU-26xx installations are power connections and installation location. The following table outlines potential problems with the LMU-26xx installation and suggestions to resolve the issues. 

Installation Instructions for External Antenna

Only the LMU-8xx-3x device supports an external antenna. If you have purchased one of the devices with a part number CVF-810-33, -34 or -37 you should have received p/n IV1353-QB-02 SMA/SMC 3M Quadband cell antenna with your kit. This antenna connects to the GPS and cellular SMx ports on the device.

The device should be installed according to the instructions regarding internal antenna devices, however the external antenna allows location of devices in obscure or hard to reach locations that may prevent adequate GPS or cellular reception. The antenna provided is designed to stick on glass or plastic and can then be mounted under the dash or other location suitable for GPS and Cellular reception.

Connect Optional Inputs / Outputs

The LMU-26xx and ThingTech’s tracIT solution support many varieties of additional inputs and outputs.  Specific installation instructions will be provided on a case by case basis.

De-Installation Instructions

Follow the instructions below for field de-installation of the LMU-26xx.

1. Identify the location of the installed device.
2. If re-closable fastener tape holds the LMU-26xx in position, remove the LMU-26xx from the vehicle by separating the re-closable fastener tape.
3. If necessary, cut any zip-ties and discard.

To install a new device, you will need new zip-ties.

1. Disconnect the primary 20-pin wiring harness from the device.
2. Ensure the wiring harness is in an available position for new device installation.