At the National Truck Equipment Association Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, Freightliner Trucks on Tuesday, March 8, introduced the SmartPlex Electrical System for the Freightliner 114SD and Business Class M2 platforms. The electrical system is designed to provide added flexibility for truck equipment manufacturers (TEM) when configuring a truck to suit specific body installations.
“With SmartPlex, we focused on providing TEMs with the most efficient and reliable solution that will increase the ease of body integration and application programming, and keep our customers on the road and working smarter,” says T.J. Reed, director of product marketing for Freightliner Trucks.
The SmartPlex Electrical System uses Freightliner’s proprietary control modules that connect to the J1939 data bus, controlling power to lights and TEM equipment. SmartPlex also introduces the SmartPlex flex switch and lamp module – capacity for up to 24 switches located in the overhead compartment – which can be installed, programmed and labeled by TEMs for specific body needs.
Laser-etched plastic inserts with icons that are appropriate for each industry and/or the type of truck also are provided, allowing TEMs to simply snap the inserts into corresponding switches. The system expands the total number of switches and lamps that can be connected to 35, including dash switches.
The SmartPlex Electrical system is accessed using Freightliner ServiceLink software, which communicates directly with the Freightliner proprietary control modules. ServiceLink is designed to allow TEMs to configure programming for unique needs from their own facility, providing traceability back to Freightliner dealers and easing service in the field for trucks with TEM equipment.
“SmartPlex greatly expands the capability of the computer control system by providing a large number of switches and lamps that are configurable by the TEM with simple snap-in legends, and additional computer power with more inputs and outputs for control,” says Paul Menig, chief mechatronics engineer for Daimler Trucks North America. “And with Freightliner ServiceLink available to the TEMs, they can program all of the above themselves with the assurance that Freightliner dealers know how it is configured.”
