February 28, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
DETROIT Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (PASA) announced today that its integrated control unit for the Chrysler Dodge Charger Uconnect Garmin navigation system has been rated highest among factory-installed systems in a J.D. Power and Associates study.
The 2011 U.S. Navigation and Satisfaction StudySM identified six factors that contributed to customer satisfaction: ease of use, routing, navigation display screen, speed of system, voice directions and voice recognition. The study also considered the number of reported problems for every 100 navigation systems. A lower score for this measure reflected higher quality.
According to J.D. Power, the Garmin system fitted to the Dodge Charger was cited particularly for quality and performance of the navigation screen, the ease of use, and for other system speed factors.
PASA supplied the system control unit that integrates the features and functions of the Chrysler Uconnect system showcasing Chrysler’s user-friendly approach on the Dodge Charger to today’s connected in-vehicle technology. From music and navigation to vehicle settings, the Uconnect system intuitively delivers the information that drivers and passengers need in the moment, and allows drivers to remain focused on the road.
The system was created as a result of a two-year collaborative effort between Panasonic and Garmin. Panasonic engineers worked with Garmin to fully integrate Garmins capabilities.
The Uconnect Touch 8.4N comes complete with Garmins simple and intuitive user interface a feature familiar to millions of customers through its consumer navigation product lines. The new Uconnect Touch system harnesses Garmin horsepower of more than six million points of interest and local searches, and combines that power with Sirius Satellite Radio information, including traffic and Sirius Travel Link weather, fuel prices, movie listings and sports.
{.}
About Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America
Based in Peachtree City, Ga., and with Detroit-area operations located in Southfield, Mich., Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America is a division company of Secaucus, New Jersey-based Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation. (NYSE: PC) of Osaka, Japan, one of the world’s leading developers and producers of innovative digital and other electronic products for consumer, business and industrial use. Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America also acts as the North American operating company of Panasonics Automotive Systems Company, which coordinates global automotive industry systems and components operations. For more information about Panasonic, visit www.panasonic.com/business/automotive.
# # #
February 22, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
High vogue performance for Mecham designed elements furthermore sophisticated equipments are presenting several cars. During an auction, personalised cars are a lot of successful; they profit of the added value Mecham numbered series creations.
Mecham automobile auctions are continuously spectacular and picturesque, like Mecham Pontiac Trans Am, or Mecham Chrysler Plymouth Jeep or Mecham Supercharged Corvette Z06. Mecham offers a centrifugal blower with dual air to air intercoolers; the result is spectacular: 540 hp. This car is giving the elixir of power. Mecham adds also some dress-up items, like custom leather interior, metallic end trim items and custom tips.
Mecham cars auction embrace refined cars that never wrecked and are extremely rust free.The cars are very spectacular, customized and it is obvious they these products must sell. Everyone can flip some heads with Mecham add on his car. Detailed footage are accessible upon request for each Mecham car.
Mecham automotive auctions have managed to stay up with the evolving trade through getting the latest technology; investing in computerized frame machines, the Mecham cars ad adds are safe, spectacular and powerful. Mecham’s quests for perfection include Mecham automobile auction, where every area is kept terribly clean and dirt free.
Mecham cars have a real charisma, they’re thus spectacular and powerful that is laborious to ignore a Mecham designed car. When someone walks up to the Mecham’s automotive, he can be afraid to bit it for worry of it bit him. The Mecham designed car has the presence of a nice elephant in a very China shop. Mecham is giving something of his temperament to the cars, making these cars noticeable, unforgettable aid very completely different from any alternative car. Everybody loves Mecham’s finishing and styling; the wings seem to be put in at the factory; solely few folks understand that it is not true.
Hood and wings appear part of the Mecham designed car. The suppression is really improved too; the paint end is usually higher than the first paint; frequently the painting is a lot of attractive and distinctive. Mecham car auction are forever a maximum attraction point, guests are national and international as well. The teal over silver graphics is spectacular and dramatically improve the automotive’s look.
Mecham car auction include nicely loaded and extraordinarily precious Macho Trans Am, all Mecham designed cars are hot collectibles. The added packages are improving dramatically the cars look; appearance options designed for a wide range of sports fans, remodel a valuable car into an incredible work of art.
Mecham’s cars are rare; this can be the reason why the Mecham automotive auctions are thus fascinating and tempting; they’re great evens and has evolved into a social event over the past years. Mecham automotive auctions are attend by thousands of automobile collectors and sport cars enthusiasts.
Acceptable professional software allows live on-line bidding, saving the client time and money. For Mecham designed cars, the visit at the auction place is often a pleasure; everyone will fancy a journey through spectacular powerful and unique cars.
February 21, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
Owners of motorcycle or ATV always complain about their batteries. If you dont have a motorcycle battery charger or a battery trickle charger, you will definitely have problems. A battery will self-discharge at the rate of 5% per month just sitting around. It would seem logical to assume that a low battery can be charged simply by riding your bike or atv. A low battery cannot be fully charged by riding the bike, no matter how far you go.
Lets start with the battery. If the bike is not in use for 30 days, the battery should be placed on charge with a 2 amp or smaller battery trickle charger for 24-48 hours every 30 days with no usage. This would be a very good idea on bikes that are ridden only once or twice a month as well. Most automotive battery chargers charge at 6, 10, or greater amperage. Using a motorcycle battery charger like that will overheat the battery, warping the plates inside until they ground out against each other, shortening battery life. A battery should never be charged at more than 10% of its rated capacity. The largest battery in our industry is 20 amps, so 2 amps is the maximum charge rate for that battery. Anything more will damage it.
Besides damaging the battery when charging at excessive amperage, the battery remains low on charge after the quick charge, and the same damage will occur, even if you are successful in getting the bike to start. Then the charging system will be strained running the bike with the low battery, possibly causing damage to the alternator components.
When a battery is in a low state of charge (for a period of time), the acid in it separates (as mentioned in last paragraph). This causes a condition known as sulfation. Sulfation causes deterioration of the lead plates inside the battery, leading to an early failure. The lower that the batteries state of charge becomes, the faster sulfations effects take over, weakening the battery quicker.
Once a battery has been left completely dead, they will almost always not come back from that totally dead condition. The handful that will, are almost never very reliable or very strong again.
The bottom line to this battery deal is to work to never let the battery go dead or stored in a low state of charge.
It is best to think of motorcycle battery chargers or battery trickle chargers as a maintenance system. A motorcycle battery chargers or battery trickle chargers are basically designed to replace the energy required to start the motorcycle. In effect, a battery that started the bike at 80% charge, will likely only get to 80-85% after running. Not only will riding the bike with a low battery not fully charge the battery, this causes the battery charger to charge as hard as it can while trying to charge the low battery. A motorcycle battery charger or battery trickle charger are not designed to stay at full charge level for extended periods. When required to do so, this over heats rectifiers, stator windings, and regulator components causing them to fail. This only adds to the cost of replacing the battery that was failing anyway.
A motorcycle battery charger or battery trickle charger can be purchased for below $40. If you prefer not to have to remember to plug/unplug the charger during storage, a battery trickle charger is a great solution as they can be left plugged in.
February 20, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
The best connection is a properly done solder joint. If you aren’t sure how to solder, crimp the connection then solder it. Cold solder joints not only introduce resistance, but they can come apart.
2) Keep your grounds as short as possible. It is far better to have a few more connections than a long ground that can build heat and introduce ground loops. It is common practice to run a ground wire from a high demand devise such as a fuel pump back to the battery. This not only adds additional loads to the pump or devise but also can lead to device failure. Have you ever seen a production auto with a ground cable longer than the positive cable?
3) If at all possible, use stainless hardware to fasten all primary cables. Some galvanic or plated hardware can cause dissimilar corrosion and can sometimes carry more impedance that its stainless counter parts. On smaller secondary circuits, this is not as important.
4) Battery storage. Keep batteries away from humidity. Keeping it charged will prolong its life. If a battery is dead, cool it before you charge it. Put in the refrigerator or outside if its cold. Cool batteries charge better.
5) Batteries specifications and charge rates are for 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature variations will change charge rates.
6) Use relays. Anytime you want to switch a device that draws more current than is provided by an output of a switch or component you’ll need to use a relay. The coil of an SPDT relay that we most commonly use draws very little current (less than 200 milliamps) and the amount of current that you can pass through a relay’s common, normally closed, and normally open contacts will handle up to 30 or 40 amps. This allows you to switch devices such as headlights, parking lights, horns, etc., with low amperage outputs such as those found on keyless entry and alarm systems, and other components. In some cases you may need to switch multiple things at the same time using one output. A single output connected to multiple relays will allow you to open continuity and/or close continuity simultaneously on multiple wires.
7) Most electromechanical devises are rated according to the MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures). You improve your odds of a long MTBF by keeping your electrical devices in a low humidity, low heat environment.
8) Do not ever use THHN/THWN wire. This wire (insulation) classification is not rated for automotive use. Cars move and vibrate which chafes the insulating material.
9) A wire that is rated for A/C voltage may have a different rating when used in low voltage D/C applications. Your house uses A/C, your car uses D/C.
10) The best primary power cable is a type TEW or MTW (Machine Tool Wire) as its rated for continuous use with higher amperage loads.
11) OFC (oxygen free copper) is by far the best cable for automotive use. However, it is expensive and requires a quality crimper and should be soldered for security. The most common application for this wire is high-end car stereo applications.
12) If you are like me, you may choose to skip OFC and go with TXL wire. TXL (thermal cross-linked) wire is next best. TXL wire has twice the voltage rating of standard GPT (general purpose) wire. Most high-end harnesses are made with this wire. If you want to keep your ride for the long haul, you may want to pony up for a harness made with this wire.
February 19, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
Every new model year brings new bells and whistles from the auto industry. Here are the biggest changesand the unofficial rating for how it will affect you personally, either lame, game, or undecided.
Lame. Okay, so air bags were a good idea when they came out. They added safety with virtually no effort on the part of the driver. Even passenger side air bagsstill a good idea. But knee air bags? Seriously? Carmakers are even talking about making air bags to prevent back seat passengers from hitting the front seats. What will they think of next, giant padded walls inside the car to keep you from hurting yourself?
Game. Greater smartphone integration into all aspects of the car, from streaming your mp3s stored inside the phone straight into the car stereo, to projecting the navigation system in your phone onto the car’s DVD player. Now that’s smart: taking an already existing technology and adapting the car to use it without any additional effort on the part of the owner.
Lame. Apparently, the executive boardroom tables at Ford suck all the common-sense right out of the room. That’s because in spite of well-earned criticism for the MyFordTouch touch screen layout, they’ve decided to add it to more models for 2012. Touch screens work great for some things: smart phones, iPadsbut for turning up the heat in your car, it’s easiest just to have a knob. Or a switch.
Undecided. The auto-stop feature, which turns off your engine automatically at things like stop lights, is being added to more models than ever. In theory, it is designed to be imperceptibleto turn back on as soon as you go again. In practice, if it means having to wait for your car to turn on again, it could turn lame real fastor it could mean saving a few bucks on fuel with no perceived difference if it works as advertised.
Game. Secretariat would be proud. The fastest horse ever was always underestimated because of his smaller sizeand today’s engines are smaller and more powerful than ever. GM’s Buick Regal has a 4 banger that puts out 270 horsesjust about the same horsepower as a new 289 V8 produced in a 1965 Ford Mustang when they came out.