Question 1

What is a Stainless Steel Panel PC?

Accepted Answer

A Stainless Steel Panel PC is an industrial-grade computing device with a touchscreen display, housed in a stainless steel enclosure designed for harsh environments that require protection against water, dust, chemicals, and frequent cleaning. These systems are particularly suitable for food processing, pharmaceutical, medical, and other applications requiring hygienic and washdown-compatible equipment.

Question 2

What advantages do stainless steel enclosures offer over standard industrial Panel PCs?

Accepted Answer

Stainless steel enclosures provide superior corrosion resistance, easy cleaning and sanitizing, compatibility with harsh cleaning agents, higher IP protection ratings (IP66/IP69K), resistance to extreme temperatures, and compliance with food and pharmaceutical industry regulations. They also offer better durability in environments with high humidity, chemicals, or frequent washdowns.

Question 3

What makes these Panel PCs suitable for food and beverage processing environments?

Accepted Answer

These Panel PCs feature hygienic stainless steel designs with minimal crevices, waterproof connectors, IP66/IP69K protection against powerful water jets and washdowns, resistance to cleaning chemicals, and full-flat touchscreens that prevent debris accumulation. They meet industry standards for food production environments and can withstand the rigorous cleaning protocols required in such facilities.

Question 4

What is the difference between IP66 and IP69K ratings?

Accepted Answer

IP66 provides protection against powerful water jets from any direction, while IP69K offers the highest level of protection against close-range high-pressure, high-temperature water jets (such as steam cleaning). Panel PCs with IP69K ratings can withstand industrial washdown procedures with high-pressure water (80-100 bar) at high temperatures (up to 80°C), making them suitable for environments requiring stringent sanitation processes.

Question 5

What mounting options are available for Stainless Steel Panel PCs?

Accepted Answer

Stainless Steel Panel PCs typically support multiple mounting options including panel/cutout mounting in cabinets or walls, VESA mounting (75mm x 75mm or 100mm x 100mm) for attachment to arms or stands, and wall mounting with specialized brackets. Some models also offer stand options specifically designed for clean room or food processing environments.

Question 6

What are the key features of the SPC-2133-B1 Panel PC?

Accepted Answer

The SPC-2133-B1 features a 21.5" Full HD (1920x1080) display with projected capacitive multi-touch, Intel Celeron J3455 processor, fanless design, stainless steel construction, IP66/IP69K protection, waterproof M12 connectors for USB/COM/LAN ports, wide voltage input (12V-24V), and support for Windows 10, Linux, or Android operating systems.

Question 7

What type of touchscreen does the SPC-2133-B1 use and why is it advantageous?

Accepted Answer

The SPC-2133-B1 uses a projected capacitive (PCAP) multi-touch screen supporting up to 10 touch points. This technology provides excellent clarity (85% light transmission), durability with scratch-resistant glass, and a smooth, full-flat design that prevents debris accumulation and enables easier cleaning—crucial for food processing and pharmaceutical applications.

Question 8

What connectivity options does the SPC-2133-B1 provide?

Accepted Answer

The SPC-2133-B1 features waterproof M12 connectors for 2 USB 2.0 ports, 1 COM port (RS-232/422/485), and 1 LAN port, all with protective covers and chains. It also offers expansion via M.2 (2230) A-Key for optional WiFi/Bluetooth connectivity, and provides internal SATA III support for storage expansion.

Question 9

What does 'full-flat design' mean for touchscreens on Stainless Steel Panel PCs?

Accepted Answer

A full-flat design means the touchscreen surface is completely flush with the bezel, eliminating gaps, grooves, or raised edges where dirt, moisture, or bacteria could accumulate. This seamless design is essential for hygienic environments like food processing and pharmaceuticals, as it prevents contamination and makes thorough cleaning easier and more effective.

Question 10

Why are waterproof M12 connectors important for industrial applications?

Accepted Answer

M12 connectors provide industrial-grade waterproof and dustproof connections that maintain the panel's IP66/IP69K protection rating. Unlike standard connectors, these metal connectors withstand high-pressure washdowns, prevent ingress of liquids and contaminants, resist vibration and corrosion, and include protective covers with retention chains to ensure the ports remain sealed when not in use.

Question 11

What is the purpose of the air pressure relief valve featured on some SPC models?

Accepted Answer

The IP66 air pressure relief valve allows for equalization of internal and external air pressure without compromising the waterproof integrity of the enclosure. This prevents pressure differentials caused by temperature changes or altitude variations that could stress the seals or components, while maintaining protection against water and dust ingress.

Question 12

What does fanless operation mean and why is it important for Stainless Steel Panel PCs?

Accepted Answer

Fanless operation means the system dissipates heat through passive cooling methods (like heat sinks) without moving parts. This design is crucial for Stainless Steel Panel PCs as it eliminates ventilation openings that could compromise IP ratings, prevents dust circulation in clean environments, reduces maintenance needs, improves reliability in harsh conditions, and eliminates noise in sensitive environments.

Question 13

What is the significance of wide voltage input for industrial Panel PCs?

Accepted Answer

Wide voltage input (typically 12V-24V or 12V-26V) allows Panel PCs to operate reliably with various power sources and in environments with fluctuating power conditions. This flexibility accommodates different industrial power standards, handles voltage drops in long cable runs, provides tolerance against surges or sags, and eliminates the need for additional power conditioning equipment in challenging settings.

Question 14

What types of storage options are available for SPC series Panel PCs?

Accepted Answer

SPC series Panel PCs typically support multiple storage options including 2.5" SATA drives (SSD/HDD), mSATA solid state drives via Mini PCIe slots, CompactFlash cards (type I/II) on some models, and M.2 drives on newer models. SSDs are generally preferred for industrial environments due to their resistance to vibration, shock, and extreme temperatures compared to mechanical hard drives.

Question 15

What considerations are important when installing a Stainless Steel Panel PC in a food processing environment?

Accepted Answer

When installing in food processing environments, consider: mounting location relative to food handling areas, accessibility for regular cleaning, proper sealing of any panel cutouts, positioning to minimize potential food or liquid splatter, using appropriate stainless steel mounting hardware, ensuring cable management maintains hygiene standards, and verifying the installation doesn't create any crevices or hard-to-clean areas.

Question 16

What mounting options are available for SPC series Panel PCs?

Accepted Answer

SPC series Panel PCs support multiple mounting options including panel/cutout mounting in stainless steel enclosures, VESA mounting (75mm x 75mm or 100mm x 100mm) using specialized stands like the ACC-ARM-D1R or ACC-ARM-D23R, and wall mounting. These versatile options allow installation in various industrial environments while maintaining the integrity of the system's IP rating.

Question 17

How should cables be managed when installing Stainless Steel Panel PCs in washdown environments?

Accepted Answer

In washdown environments, use waterproof cables with appropriate IP ratings, employ stainless steel cable glands or waterproof strain reliefs, create drip loops to prevent water tracking to connections, use cables specifically designed for the specialized M12 connectors, secure cables to prevent stress on connections, and consider protective conduits for exposed cable runs to maintain the hygiene and protection rating of the installation.

Question 18

What power supply considerations are important for SPC Panel PCs?

Accepted Answer

Consider the appropriate voltage within the specified range (typically 12V-24V or 12V-26V), selecting a power supply with sufficient wattage rating (usually 60W or higher), ensuring the power supply has appropriate certifications for the installation environment, using waterproof power connections or appropriate enclosures for power supplies in washdown areas, and possibly implementing an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for critical applications.

Question 19

How can I ensure my SPC Panel PC installation maintains its IP66/IP69K rating?

Accepted Answer

To maintain IP66/IP69K rating: use proper mounting hardware with appropriate gaskets or seals, ensure any enclosure cutouts follow manufacturer specifications and are properly sealed, utilize the supplied waterproof cables or appropriately rated alternatives, always attach protective caps to unused ports, verify that the air pressure relief valve (if equipped) is properly installed, and regularly inspect seals and connections for wear or damage.

Question 20

How can I resolve touchscreen calibration or responsiveness issues?

Accepted Answer

For touchscreen issues: ensure the screen is clean and dry, check if using appropriate touch input (finger for PCAP, stylus/finger for resistive), run the operating system's touch calibration utility, verify touch drivers are properly installed and updated, check for physical damage to the screen surface, test in a different application to isolate software-specific issues, and for persistent problems, contact technical support as the touchscreen controller may require replacement.

Question 21

What should I do if the SPC Panel PC is overheating?

Accepted Answer

If experiencing overheating: verify the ambient temperature is within the specified operating range, ensure the unit has adequate clearance around it for passive cooling, check that mounting hasn't restricted heat dissipation from the rear of the unit, clean any dust or debris from cooling fins or heat sinks if accessible, check resource-intensive applications that may be causing high CPU usage, and consider adding auxiliary cooling to the enclosure while maintaining IP protection for installations in high-temperature environments.

Question 22

How can I troubleshoot connectivity issues with the waterproof M12 ports?

Accepted Answer

For M12 port connectivity issues: verify proper alignment of connector pins before tightening, check for damage to pins or connector threads, ensure connectors are fully seated and properly tightened, test with alternative cables known to be working, verify device drivers are installed correctly, check BIOS/UEFI settings to confirm ports are enabled, and inspect the ports for corrosion or contamination that might affect connectivity.

Question 23

What should I do if the SPC Panel PC fails to power on?

Accepted Answer

If the unit won't power on: check power supply connections and verify output voltage is correct, inspect power cables for damage, verify the power button is functioning correctly, check if the power mode setting (AT/ATX) matches your configuration, disconnect all peripherals to isolate potential issues, look for LED indicators that might signal power presence, and if available, try an alternative power supply meeting the specified requirements to determine if the power supply is the issue.

SPC-2133-B1

SPC-2133-B1

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