Measuring, testing, safety!

AVL DiTEST, a specialist in measurement, testing and diagnostic technology, is part of the AVL Group and operates in 50 countries worldwide under the motto ‘Passion Innovates Future’. Founded in 1999, the Austrian-German automotive and commercial vehicle diagnostics and measurement technology specialist's developments are widely regarded as the technological benchmark. In addition to electromobility, the company's business areas include vehicle diagnostics, general measurement technology, air conditioning service and exhaust emission testing. In 2023, the company employed 393 people at its international locations, generating annual sales of 125 million euros. We provide an overview of products and solutions for commercial vehicle workshops.

Particle counting with the Counter 660

Sustainable environmental management plays a major role in transport. For this reason, vehicle exhaust emissions are being monitored with increasing precision. Recently, the focus has shifted to measuring the number of particles emitted by modern diesel vehicles, both passenger cars and trucks. This is based on stricter AU legislation for measuring particle numbers during regular technical inspections, which has been mandatory in Germany since 1 January 2023. With the Counter 660, AVL DiTEST has a device for precise particle counting that can be used continuously in all-day operation. It is based on the principle of “diffusion charging”, or DC for short, which involves the electrical charging of particles. According to AVL DiTEST, the DC principle enables fast measurement availability without operating materials, accurate particle counting in a short time and continuous measurements in all-day continuous operation. If required in the future, the AVL DiTEST Counter 660 could also be used to test petrol vehicles. The device can be calibrated in the company's own calibration laboratory in accordance with ISO 17025.

Diagnosis with precise measurement technology
The number of electronic components in motor vehicles has increased many times over in recent years. They are an indispensable part of how vehicles function. Evaluating them is a complex and challenging task. The AVL DiTEST SCOPE 1400 provides users in car and commercial vehicle workshops with a high-precision measuring unit for fault diagnosis. Diagnosis with the oscilloscope itself is carried out in three simple, menu-guided steps. Precise localisation of the fault saves time and materials, as only those components that are actually defective need to be replaced. According to AVL DiTEST, the Scope 1400 is the reliable way to track down faults quickly and safely.

Solutions for air conditioning service
Commercial vehicle workshops make an important contribution to climate protection by providing professional air conditioning services. AVL DiTEST aims to support these businesses and minimise environmental impact with fully automatic, intuitive devices. For example, the ADS 340 air conditioning service unit enables fast and fully automatic air conditioning service for buses with CO2 air conditioning systems.

The use of natural gas CO2 (R744) as a refrigerant for trucks is also on the rise. CO2 offers many advantages for the environment, both technically and in terms of cost, and with a GWP (global warming potential) of “1”, it is virtually climate neutral.

Technically, the gas also opens up new areas of application for electric buses such as the Daimler eCitaro (EvoBus) and the Solaris Urbino, for example, thanks to its potential use as a cooling and heating agent. The scope of the devices includes fully automatic operation and automatic documentation of the work performed, safe handling of working pressures of up to 140 bar and high filling accuracy. The ADS 340 is designed for permanent use in workshops and also allows CO2 cylinders to be changed quickly and easily.

AVL DiTEST also offers the DPG 1340 pressure tester. It can be used on air conditioning systems with the three current refrigerants R134a, R1234yf and R744. The device enables simple and efficient location of leaks in the refrigerant circuit by introducing forming gas (nitrogen/hydrogen). For precise detection of leaks, the escaping hydrogen is located by a separate gas detector.

Reliable diagnostics for the repair process on electric vehicles
AVL DiTEST also offers testing tools for electric vehicles. This enables diagnostics and maintenance in car and commercial vehicle workshops to be carried out safely and in accordance with country-specific standards.

For example, the experts at AVL DiTEST have built up specialist expertise for the entire repair process for traction batteries. This has resulted in a product portfolio that covers the entire repair process with a range of different solutions. The current focus is on solutions for vehicle manufacturers. In collaboration with OEMs, numerous tools have already been developed for safe work on batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles. In the foreseeable future, the requirements for independent workshops in this area will also increase. One product from the comprehensive portfolio is workSAFE. It is used to perform safety-related measurements on high-voltage systems in electric vehicles.

These measurements include, in particular, determining that the system is de-energised, checking the potential equalisation and measuring the insulation resistance. With workSAFE, users can quickly and reliably verify and document that the vehicle is de-energised. This is essential for the safe performance of service and repair work. Potential equalisation can also be checked precisely with workSAFE to avoid dangerous potential differences between different components of the high-voltage system. In addition, insulation faults can only be reliably detected by the insulation monitor if potential equalisation is correct. Checking the insulation resistance requires applying a test voltage that is at least equal to the vehicle's battery voltage. workSAFE generates voltages of up to 1,500 V DC and is therefore also equipped for future vehicle generations. Users can also measure the insulation resistance on the active high-voltage system in accordance with SAE J1766. In addition, workSAFE is available in a version adapted to the Chinese standard GB 18384-2020. This is equipped with a third, pluggable measuring cable, enabling faster and more precise measurement results for the insulation resistance on the active system.

Article: Georg Blenk, published in Krafthand Truck, on 09.12.2024

Measuring, testing, safety!

AVL DiTEST, a specialist in measurement, testing and diagnostic technology, is part of the AVL Group and operates in 50 countries worldwide under the motto ‘Passion Innovates Future’. Founded in 1999, the Austrian-German automotive and commercial vehicle diagnostics and measurement technology specialist's developments are widely regarded as the technological benchmark. In addition to electromobility, the company's business areas include vehicle diagnostics, general measurement technology, air conditioning service and exhaust emission testing. In 2023, the company employed 393 people at its international locations, generating annual sales of 125 million euros. We provide an overview of products and solutions for commercial vehicle workshops.

Particle counting with the Counter 660

Sustainable environmental management plays a major role in transport. For this reason, vehicle exhaust emissions are being monitored with increasing precision. Recently, the focus has shifted to measuring the number of particles emitted by modern diesel vehicles, both passenger cars and trucks. This is based on stricter AU legislation for measuring particle numbers during regular technical inspections, which has been mandatory in Germany since 1 January 2023. With the Counter 660, AVL DiTEST has a device for precise particle counting that can be used continuously in all-day operation. It is based on the principle of “diffusion charging”, or DC for short, which involves the electrical charging of particles. According to AVL DiTEST, the DC principle enables fast measurement availability without operating materials, accurate particle counting in a short time and continuous measurements in all-day continuous operation. If required in the future, the AVL DiTEST Counter 660 could also be used to test petrol vehicles. The device can be calibrated in the company's own calibration laboratory in accordance with ISO 17025.

Diagnosis with precise measurement technology
The number of electronic components in motor vehicles has increased many times over in recent years. They are an indispensable part of how vehicles function. Evaluating them is a complex and challenging task. The AVL DiTEST SCOPE 1400 provides users in car and commercial vehicle workshops with a high-precision measuring unit for fault diagnosis. Diagnosis with the oscilloscope itself is carried out in three simple, menu-guided steps. Precise localisation of the fault saves time and materials, as only those components that are actually defective need to be replaced. According to AVL DiTEST, the Scope 1400 is the reliable way to track down faults quickly and safely.

Solutions for air conditioning service
Commercial vehicle workshops make an important contribution to climate protection by providing professional air conditioning services. AVL DiTEST aims to support these businesses and minimise environmental impact with fully automatic, intuitive devices. For example, the ADS 340 air conditioning service unit enables fast and fully automatic air conditioning service for buses with CO2 air conditioning systems.

The use of natural gas CO2 (R744) as a refrigerant for trucks is also on the rise. CO2 offers many advantages for the environment, both technically and in terms of cost, and with a GWP (global warming potential) of “1”, it is virtually climate neutral.

Technically, the gas also opens up new areas of application for electric buses such as the Daimler eCitaro (EvoBus) and the Solaris Urbino, for example, thanks to its potential use as a cooling and heating agent. The scope of the devices includes fully automatic operation and automatic documentation of the work performed, safe handling of working pressures of up to 140 bar and high filling accuracy. The ADS 340 is designed for permanent use in workshops and also allows CO2 cylinders to be changed quickly and easily.

AVL DiTEST also offers the DPG 1340 pressure tester. It can be used on air conditioning systems with the three current refrigerants R134a, R1234yf and R744. The device enables simple and efficient location of leaks in the refrigerant circuit by introducing forming gas (nitrogen/hydrogen). For precise detection of leaks, the escaping hydrogen is located by a separate gas detector.

Reliable diagnostics for the repair process on electric vehicles
AVL DiTEST also offers testing tools for electric vehicles. This enables diagnostics and maintenance in car and commercial vehicle workshops to be carried out safely and in accordance with country-specific standards.

For example, the experts at AVL DiTEST have built up specialist expertise for the entire repair process for traction batteries. This has resulted in a product portfolio that covers the entire repair process with a range of different solutions. The current focus is on solutions for vehicle manufacturers. In collaboration with OEMs, numerous tools have already been developed for safe work on batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles. In the foreseeable future, the requirements for independent workshops in this area will also increase. One product from the comprehensive portfolio is workSAFE. It is used to perform safety-related measurements on high-voltage systems in electric vehicles.

These measurements include, in particular, determining that the system is de-energised, checking the potential equalisation and measuring the insulation resistance. With workSAFE, users can quickly and reliably verify and document that the vehicle is de-energised. This is essential for the safe performance of service and repair work. Potential equalisation can also be checked precisely with workSAFE to avoid dangerous potential differences between different components of the high-voltage system. In addition, insulation faults can only be reliably detected by the insulation monitor if potential equalisation is correct. Checking the insulation resistance requires applying a test voltage that is at least equal to the vehicle's battery voltage. workSAFE generates voltages of up to 1,500 V DC and is therefore also equipped for future vehicle generations. Users can also measure the insulation resistance on the active high-voltage system in accordance with SAE J1766. In addition, workSAFE is available in a version adapted to the Chinese standard GB 18384-2020. This is equipped with a third, pluggable measuring cable, enabling faster and more precise measurement results for the insulation resistance on the active system.

Article: Georg Blenk, published in Krafthand Truck, on 09.12.2024