Now that you have your hardware ready and have established your connectivity method, it is time to install the devices on the machines. In this article we will walk you though the process of installing Amper on your machines by covering:
- Gateway Placement and Power Source
- Aggregator Placement
Gateway Installation and Power
When placing the gateways, there are three main criteria for choosing where to mount the device:
- Connection Strength
- Proximity to Machine Power Panel
- Proximity to Power Outlet
Connection Strength
The devices should be placed as high as possible to ensure the strongest possible signal. If you are using Wi-Fi devices, consider the location's distance to your router or access point.
When you plug in your gateway and allow it to connect to your cellular network or have configured it to your local Wi-Fi network. Once the gateway has connected to the Wi-Fi or Cellular network, the bottom LED will show the connection strength with Green being the best, followed by Yellow and Red being a weak connection. Try and place your gateway so that the LED maintains a Green or Yellow LED. The picture below shows a gateway with a Green LED indicating a strong connection.
Proximity to Power Source
A set of Amper hardware for one machine will require one 110V outlet to plug your Cellular or Wi-Fi Gateway into. Some machines will have a built-in outlet that can be used, but in the event it does not you will have to run an additional electrical outlet to the machine. The pictures below show a Gateway mounted on a CNC Machine and plugged into an existing outlet on the machine.
Proximity to Machine Power Panel
In addition to the Power Source, you will have to consider the placement in relation to the machines power panel. The Aggregator will be housed inside the Machine Power panel and will connect to the Gateway through a 25' CAT5 cable. Make sure that the Gateway location is close enough to the machine power panel to ensure that the cable can connect to both devices.
Aggregator Installation
Once you have identified your cable port, the next step is to identify a mounting position for your Aggregator. The aggregator will have two different types of cables plugged into it:
- CAT5 Connecting it to the Gateway
- Sensor Cables
After your gateway has been mounted, the next step is to mount your Aggregator. The Aggregator collects signals from the sensors mounted on the machines wires, so it will be placed inside your Machine Power Panel. The aggregator will be connected to the Gateway with a 25' CAT5 cable, so you will need to identify or create a port for the cable to pass from the aggregator out to the Gateway. Below is an example of a knockout used to pass the CAT5 Cable through.
The Aggregator comes with a Velcro backing that will allow you to attach the Aggregator to the wall inside the power panel. Use this Velcro backing to fix the Aggregator in a location that will allow connection of both the CAT5 and Sensor cables while also avoiding interfering with any preexisting components or wires. The image below shows a good example of an aggregator that is attached to the inside wall of a machine's power panel. Note the Aggregator's proximity to the sensors to allow easy connection.
After you have successfully mounted and connected the Aggregator and Gateway together, the last installation step is to install your sensors on your machine wires. For more information on installing your sensors, please see our article Sensor Choice, Placement, and Installation.