Chapter 2: Hardware

Hardware Configuration

The Thor VX8 is available in many configurations. Please refer to Technical Specifications for available options.

Note: Using the VMT Manager, Pin 9 of COM1 may be configured to provide 5 volts DC to power a bar code scanner or RI for serial transfer.

Power Input

Vehicle power input for the Thor VX8 is determined by the DC/DC power supply selected. The DC/DC power supply accepts input in the stated range and provides a conditioned 12V DC output for the Thor VX8.

If DC power is not available – for example, in an office environment – an optional external Universal Input Power Supply can be used to convert AC wall power to an appropriate DC level. See Power Supply.

Uninterruptible Power Supply

A DC uninterruptible power supply (UPS) battery is included to maintain power to the Thor VX8 for a minimum of 15 minutes when vehicle power is not available (such as when a vehicle battery is being swapped). The UPS is configured via the VMT Manager.

Backup Battery

The Thor VX8 has a permanent lithium battery installed to maintain time, date and BIOS setup information. The backup battery is not user serviceable and should last five years with normal use before it requires replacement.

Note: This battery should only be changed by authorized service personnel.

PCMCIA Slot

Microsoft Windows Plug and Play operating system controls the PCMCIA cards. These cards are hot swappable per the CardBus/PCMCIA specifications. PCMCIA slots are optional.

Power Management

The Thor VX8 uses Microsoft Windows Power Management. The Thor VX8 has two operating modes: Normal and Standby.

In Normal operating mode all systems are powered up and the video display is on. The RS-232 ports, any installed PCMCIA cards are active. However, Microsoft Windows also allows the display and hard disks to be shut down in normal mode to conserve energy.

The Standby mode shuts down many devices such as the display and hard drives. For complete details on the standby mode, please refer to the Microsoft Help & Support (Start > Help and Support).

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