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Digital Inputs Introduction

Written by Matthew Clark-Massera

Updated at August 1st, 2024

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  • Hard-Wired Device Concepts and Parameters
  • Configuring I/Os

Table of Contents

Digital Input Specs Bias Resistors Setting Up a Digital Input Buzz on Active/Inactive Buzz only when the ignition is on

Applies to:

Device Firmware Version
Dart3-2G, Dart2-4G, Dart3-4G, Dart3-4G Bluetooth® and Dart3 Global Bluetooth® All Versions
G120-2G and G120-4G All Versions
G150-Global All Versions
G70-2G, G70-4G and G70-4G Bluetooth® All Versions
Hawk 4G (see Hawk Digital Inputs) All Versions

The wired devices have both an Ignition Digital Input along with Digital Inputs with configurable pull up/pull down parameters. 

These inputs detect the voltage at the input, check it against the thresholds, and then record the digital input as on "1" or off "0". This can be used to determine the state of an asset, for example:

  • Door open/close
  • Ignition on/off
  • Pump on/off
  • Button presses
  • Pulse counting

This article provides general information about Digital Inputs on the wired devices. Specific set up examples/wiring guides can be found in subsequent articles.

Device Ignition Input Count Digital Input Count
Dart3 series 1 3
G120 1 6
G150 1 4
G70 series 1 3

Digital Input Specs

  • Input voltage range = 0 - 48V. This can technically be exceeded without damaging the device, but the input will not work properly outside of this range. 
     
  • On/Off Thresholds
    • Pull Up Enabled
      • Input registers low/off below 0.4V
      • High/On above 1.9V
    • Pull down enabled
      • Registers low/off below 0.8V
      • High/On above 2.2V

Bias Resistors

The wired devices have a configurable 'Active Level' and Bias Resistor. 

  • The Active Level determines the physical line level (high or low) at which the input is considered on. 
  • The Bias Resistor essentially determines the state of the input when nothing is connected to the input. Since often we would leave them disconnected, or 'open circuit' meaning the state isn't well defined. The bias resistor handles this.

There are 3 options:

  • Pull up: pull the input high
  • Pull down: pull the input low
  • Disable: do not bias the input

These options are useful when one of the states being read is open-circuit (disconnected/high impedance). In this case, enable the bias resistor setting in the opposite state to the level being switched to. This is commonly used when working with an "open collector" output. The pull up/down is a "weak" pull up/down.

Results of different configurations.

Bias Resistor Active Level Input Result
Pull Down High Low Inactive
High Active High Active
Pull Down Low Low Active
High Inactive High Inactive
Pull Up High Low Inactive
High Active High Active
Pull Up Low Low Active
High Inactive High Inactive

Setting Up a Digital Input

Dart3

To set up either Digital Input 1, 2 or 3, you will need to use the corresponding wires. (See DART3 12-wire Harness Definition)

  • Digital Input 1 = PINK
  • Digital Input 2 = BLUE
  • Digital Input 3* = GREEN

*Digital Input 3 is shared with one of the Driver ID lines, so DI3 cannot be used at the same time as a DM RFID reader, or Wiegand Reader.

Then we can add the corresponding parameter tab to apply the right settings.

Function - Either Digital Input or Pulse Counting.

Digital Input - The virtual input number that you want it mapped to.

Bias Resistor and Active Level - See table above.

Log/Upload on Active - By default, the device will only log a record when the input changes. It is not immediately uploaded. In most cases we want to turn this on. So set Upload on Active/Inactive to Yes

Buzzing Parameters - We can optionally have any buzzers connected to notify us that the input is on/off.

Emergency Uploads - A device can be set to not upload in certain areas. This can be set up as part of Geofence Downloads to Device. If the Emergency Uploads is set to Yes, then the device will upload even in a no comms zone.

Config 1 - Debounce Time. By default, the input must stay on continuously for 1000ms = 1sec for the device to register it as on and send an update to the server.

Digital Input 3

To use Digital Input 3, set the 4 Wire Plug Function to iButton/Digital Input 3

 
 

G120

The following pins represent the Digital Inputs on the G120

Digital Input 1: Pin 16 - Pink

Digital Input 2: Pin 17 - Blue

Digital Input 3: Pin 18 - Green/Black

Digital Input 4: Pin 19 - Brown

Digital Input 5: Pin 4 - Brown/Blue

Digital Input 6: Pin 5 - Violet/Red

Please see G120 Harness Definition for wire colour information.

 

To set up a digital input, we first need to add the corresponding Digital Input parameter tab.

 

Function - Either Digital Input or Pulse Counting.

 

Digital Input - The virtual input number that you want it mapped to.

 

Bias Resistor and Active Level - See table above.

 

Log/Upload on Active - By default, the device will only log a record when the input changes. It is not immediately uploaded. In most cases we want to turn this on. So set Upload on Active/Inactive to Yes

 

Buzzing Parameters - We can optionally have any buzzers connected to notify us that the input is on/off.

 

Emergency Uploads - A device can be set to not upload in certain areas. This can be set up as part of Geofence Downloads to Device. If the Emergency Uploads is set to Yes, then the device will upload even in a no comms zone.

 

Config 1 - Debounce Time. By default, the input must stay on continuously for 1000ms = 1sec for the device to register it as on and send an update to the server.

 
 

G150

The following pins represent the Digital Inputs on the G150

Digital Input 1: Harness 1 Pin 4 - Blue

Digital Input 2: Harness 2 Pin 1 - Red

Digital Input 3: Harness 2 Pin 2 - Black

Digital Input 4: Harness 2 Pin 3 - White

Please see G150 Harness Definition for wire colour information.

 

To set up a digital input, we first need to add the corresponding Digital Input parameter tab.

 

Function - Either Digital Input or Pulse Counting.

 

Digital Input - The virtual input number that you want it mapped to.

 

Bias Resistor and Active Level - See table above.

 

Log/Upload on Active - By default, the device will only log a record when the input changes. It is not immediately uploaded. In most cases we want to turn this on. So set Upload on Active/Inactive to Yes

 

Buzzing Parameters - We can optionally have any buzzers connected to notify us that the input is on/off.

 

Emergency Uploads - A device can be set to not upload in certain areas. This can be set up as part of Geofence Downloads to Device. If the Emergency Uploads is set to Yes, then the device will upload even in a no comms zone.

 

Config 1 - Debounce Time. By default, the input must stay on continuously for 1000ms = 1sec for the device to register it as on and send an update to the server.

 
 

G70

To set up either Digital Input 1 or 2 you will need to use the corresponding wires. See G70 Harness Definition
 

  • Digital Input 1 = BLUE 
  • Digital Input 2 = ORANGE
  • Digital Input 3* = PURPLE
     

*Digital Input 3 is shared with one of the Driver ID lines, so DI3 cannot be used at the same time as a DM RFID reader, or Wiegand Reader.  
 

Then we can add the corresponding parameter tab to apply the right settings. 
 

Function - Either Digital Input or Pulse Counting.

 

Digital Input - The virtual input number that you want it mapped to.

 

Bias Resistor and Active Level - See table above.

 

Log/Upload on Active - By default, the device will only log a record when the input changes. It is not immediately uploaded. In most cases we want to turn this on. So set Upload on Active/Inactive to Yes

 

Buzzing Parameters - We can optionally have any buzzers connected to notify us that the input is on/off.

 

Emergency Uploads - A device can be set to not upload in certain areas. This can be set up as part of Geofence Downloads to Device. If the Emergency Uploads is set to Yes, then the device will upload even in a no comms zone.

 

Config 1 - Debounce Time. By default, the input must stay on continuously for 1000ms = 1sec for the device to register it as on and send an update to the server.Tab Body

 

Digital Input 3

To use Digital Input 3, set the Driver ID Function to iButton/Digital Input 3"
 

 
 

 

Buzz on Active/Inactive

We can configure the wired device to sound any connected buzzers, or flash an LED, when an input is active/on or inactive/off. 

This can be very useful for providing feedback to drivers/operators, for example:

  • Sounding a buzzer when a seatbelt is undone or a tailgate is open.
  • Sounding a buzzer when a duress button has been pressed, to provide feedback that it was registered (note, this doesn't confirm that it has been received by the server). This can also help prevent false alerts as drivers are notified of accidental presses and can contact response teams. 

We can configure buzzing with these parameters. Setting the count to 255 enables continuous buzzing, for the entire time an input is on/off.

Example - 3 beeps when an input goes active.

This would result in the below when the input goes active:

Buzzer on 20ms -> off 20ms -> on 20ms -> off 20ms -> on 20ms -> off 20ms

Example - Continuous buzzing when an input is on, long buzzes (500ms on/off)

Buzz only when the ignition is on

We may want to set up the wired device to buzz when an input is active, and the ignition is on. i.e. we want to buzz if the tailgate is left open and the engine is running. We can solve this using the Input Monitor

dart3 input digital intro digital input digital inputs

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Related Articles

  • Digital Outputs - Introduction
  • Analogue Input (Advanced)
  • Set Up A Panic/Duress Button
  • Configuring Pulse Counting

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