In Part 1 and Part 2, we decoded the "nuts and bolts" and the electrical signals of your control systems. But in today’s industrial landscape, equipment doesn’t live on an island. It’s all about communication, remote access, and system-wide protection.

In Part 3, we explore the jargons of connectivity—the terms you’ll see when integrating displays, telematics, and advanced engine protection.

Modbus® (TCP/RTU)

Think of this as the "universal translator" for industrial electronics. It is a communication protocol that allows devices from different manufacturers (like a SENS charger talking to a Murphy display) to share data over a single wire.

-RTU usually refers to a serial connection (wires).

-TCP refers to communication over an Ethernet or Wi-Fi network.

Telematics

This is the marriage of telecommunications and informatics. In the MurCal world, this refers to devices that track your equipment’s GPS location and engine health in real-time, sending that data to your phone or computer via cellular or satellite links.

PGN (Parameter Group Number)

If the J1939 CAN Bus (from Part 2) is the highway, a PGN is a specific delivery truck. Each PGN carries a specific set of data, like "Engine Temperature" or "Fuel Level." When setting up a PowerView display, you’ll often look for specific PGNs to tell the screen what info to show.

Tier 4 Final / Stage V

These are government-mandated emission standards for off-road diesel engines. Because these engines use complex exhaust after-treatment systems (like DPFs and SCRs), the controllers (like the MTU 1000-1500 series) have to be much "smarter" to manage those processes without damaging the engine.

DPF Regeneration (Regen)

A process where a Tier 4/Stage V engine burns off accumulated soot in the exhaust filter. "Active Regen" happens automatically, but "Stationary" or "Parked Regen" requires an operator to trigger it via an engine controller—a term you'll definitely see in modern municipal and construction equipment manuals.

Transducer vs. Transmitter

While often used interchangeably, there is a slight difference:

-Transducer: Converts a physical property (like pressure) into a raw electrical signal (voltage).

-Transmitter: Takes that raw signal and "boosts" it into a standardized signal (like 4-20mA) so it can travel long distances without interference.

Resistive Input

Often used for fuel level or temperature senders. The sensor changes its electrical resistance based on the fluid level or heat. MurCal displays are highly versatile because they can be "configured" to read many different resistive curves (like 0-90 ohms vs. 240-33 ohms).

Normally Open (NO) vs. Normally Closed (NC)

This describes the "default" state of a switch or relay when no power or pressure is applied:

-Normally Open: The circuit is broken (off) until triggered.

-Normally Closed: The circuit is continuous (on) until triggered.

Getting this wrong is the #1 cause of "why is my alarm going off when everything is fine?"

Baud Rate

The speed at which data is transmitted between electronic devices. For a J1939 CAN bus system to work, every device on the "line" must be set to the same Baud Rate (typically 250kbps or 500kbps).

Gateway

A device that bridges two different "languages." For example, a Murphy gateway can take old-school mechanical engine data and convert it into a digital J1939 signal that a modern telematics system can understand.

As engines get "smarter," the vocabulary grows. Understanding these terms ensures that when you're looking at a spec sheet for a PV780 display or a telematics module, you aren't just looking at alphabet soup—you're looking at the tools that will save you time and money.

Ready to connect your system? MurCal’s technical experts are here to help you translate these jargons into real-world solutions. Reach out to us at sales@murcal.com!

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