Rick Keller, the owner of Bull's-Eye Express, Inc., in York, PA - a specialized carrier for customers that require special equipment to be hauled - is an avid NASCAR fan, who enjoys watching races in style. Frustrated with the hassle of renting entertainment venues for the many races he attends annually, Keller began exploring ways to create a solution that was portable, easy to set up, offered all the amenities he currently wanted, and would accommodate future additions.
Keller decided to build his own NASCAR entertainment trailer - or as he calls it, The Transformer, which includes all the best tailgating and race viewing amenities. The main level consists of a large kitchen featuring stainless steel, commercial grade appliances; a full, rotating bar; several televisions; and seating areas. Plus, a topside observation deck - raised and lowered via a hydraulics system - features a custom awning to protect against the elements and elevated 360-degree spectator seating for an optimal view of the racetrack.
To control setup, operation of all the features, and teardown, Keller wanted a simple, scalable solution. He found just that in a G315 operator interface panel from Red Lion Controls, manufacturer of industrial control solutions worldwide, also located in York, PA.
Simple, Scalable Solution
The G315 is part of Red Lion's G3 Series of advanced operator interface panels. Typically used for industrial applications to give users complete HMI functionality for control and monitoring of PLCs, drives, motion controllers, and other communications-capable devices, the G315 is, in its essence, a highly configurable visual control system with remote monitoring and data logging functionality. Thanks to its flexibility and ease-of-use, the G315 provided an ideal solution for Keller's entertainment trailer, eliminating the need for multiple mechanical switch panels.
G3 Series HMIs can communicate with over 200 different protocols, providing one of the most powerful communications platforms available today for the plant floor. These sophisticated HMIs manage multi-vendor devices and allow users to easily web- and network-enable these devices through onboard comms and integrated Ethernet.
The ability to allow disparate devices to communicate seamlessly with each other is applied on Keller's entertainment trailer to simplify traditional, more complex wiring and management. The G315 controls everything in Keller's trailer from a single point of command and provides visual feedback, making it both easier to use and more efficient than individual switches.
"The Red Lion controller is simple to use, and it gives me everything I want," said Keller. "I wanted it to operate everything in my trailer at the push of a button, and Red Lion was able to program each device onto one touchscreen."
Designed for Industrial Users
G3 Series HMIs are simply configured using Red Lion's powerful Crimson® programming software. This advanced software gives industrial users unprecedented operator interface configuration and control, making setup of even sophisticated applications — such as protocol conversion, data logging and web-based access — easy and virtually self-explanatory.
Mounted in the wall of his 56 ft trailer — in a place of honor above his bar and on a panel covered with signatures from many past and present racing legends — the G315 touchscreen allows Keller to quickly and easily activate and control any device in the trailer. He can toggle between controlling the hydraulics, the specialized lights for different areas of the trailer, and the awnings, as well as turning on the televisions and serving a beverage at his rotating bar — all with just the touch of a screen.
Plus, the easy, yet powerful programming software allows the ability to incorporate new devices and activities into the control system or reconfigure the entire system as needs change — without costly and complicated rewiring. Programs can also be saved for reverting back to previous configurations or for easily programming additional installations, which could prove useful, as Keller has had requests to build duplicates of his trailer.
"The best thing is that I can go in and change anything I want on the panel; it's that easy to use," Keller said.
The 15-in. full-color XGA LCD display touchscreen is entirely customizable.
When the screen isn't switching between the various controls, it displays backgrounds that include his Bull's-Eye Express trucking logo, pictures of his car collection, and images of tickets from the many NASCAR races he has attended.
"The G315 gets a lot of attention," said Keller. "When people walk up and see the control screen, they get a kick out of it. There is nothing else out there like it."
One New Application Leads to Another
Easily accommodating future growth, the G315 is built to last. Designed to withstand potentially demanding conditions on a plant floor, the G315 is rugged and reliable, withstanding driving between venues — even on bumpy roads.
Keller was so impressed with the functionality, ease-of-use, and flexibility of the Red Lion G3 Series that he looked for other places to implement the advanced operator interface panel. He is currently in the process of installing a G315 HMI to simplify and provide reliable control for all the devices at his home pool and patio entertainment area.
"Upwards of 40 devices will be controlled with the G3 for a swimming pool at my house," said Keller. "Awnings, aluminum doors, fiber optic lights; everything will be controlled by one graphic operator interface panel."
Though designed for industrial applications, this flexible, reliable HMI control technology delivers a highly visual controller with virtually limitless possibilities in multi-zone, multi-device control applications.