Ribbiot Pod Installation Manual

Introduction

Ribbiot builds high quality, industrial trackers that are intended to be permanently mounted on in-field assets. These trackers are built to handle the toughest situations, and integrate seamlessly into the Ribbiot ecosystem for asset management.

What to install Trackers On

Anything with high monetary or operational value!

• High monetary value items

  • Assets that are difficult, expensive, and/or slow to replace (or custom fabricate).

  • This allows for viewing their location and availability/status anytime.

• Mission critical items (high operational value)

  • Items that have the potential to bottleneck a process or even completely delay a job.

  • This allows for better scheduling, ensuring items are accounted for and not overbooked. As well as easy to find and view usage history.

But trackers can be added to any asset that would benefit from physical location tracking, inventory management and/or scheduling, etc.

Optional Pod Cases & Mounts

The tracker alone is already a very robust and industrial product that can take some serious abuse, but Ribbiot does offer a myriad of Pod accessories for either mounting in difficult areas OR further increasing their strength and resistance to abuse.  The Pod does NOT require a mount to be waterproof.

These options are listed below.

Installation

Mounting Location

Placement on equipment

Ribbiot products are intended to remain installed on equipment for the foreseeable future, as such care should be taken when finding a suitable mounting location that will not damage the tracker or impede functionality; i.e. will not interfere with service maintenance, travel, additional accessories, general intended movement (such as collapsing for transport), or be placed in high risk/high damage areas, etc…

Typically, if the equipment you are mounting the tracker onto is used frequently, you can look for protected areas where the paint is still fresh, or there are fewer signs of wear and tear; generally these are the best areas to place the trackers if possible. Another typical placement would be near the equipment nameplate, identification tag, or specification placard. 

See the example mounting locations document for ideas of similar equipment you may have.

Tracker Specifications

The Pods are rated for the following conditions, care should be taken not to exceed these limits as the device and/or battery life may become compromised.

Orientation and RF considerations

Pod

The Ribbiot Pods use BLE, UWB and NFC; meaning that they don’t need an open view to the sky (they can be tucked away if desired), but they do need to be somewhat accessible by your phone to scan the Pod (NFC) during initial setup and for potential future scans. The pods however should not be placed in areas that would completely surround them with metal, water, or other signal blocking materials. The top surface of the device (with the Ribbiot Logo) is where the antennas are located, this surface should be placed facing upwards or outwards into open space to allow the antennas to radiate and easy access for NFC Scanning.

The Pod can be hidden from view or placed in an inconspicuous area per user preference, but be aware that if this location blocks the antenna signals (i.e. is inside of a metal compartment, etc.) than the Pod signal range may be reduced. While this is generally not advised from a signal performance standpoint, sometimes tradeoffs must be made when selecting the best overall location for certain assets.

Application Methods

Now that we know where on the equipment to place it and what mount we need based on the information above we need to finalize how to attach the device to the item. There are various methods that can be used - each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Please see the comparison table below and each section for more information about each method.

Comparison

Installation Instructions by Application Method

VHB

1. Thoroughly prepare both surfaces (the asset for tracking and the Ribbiot device) for adhesive application; see ‘Adhesive Surface Prep’.

2. Remove liner for adhesive on VHB

   • Note: Only do so when the application area is completely cleaned and dried

   • 

3. Apply the product with VHB to the application area.

4. Firmly push on the product and hold for fifteen-to-thirty seconds to activate the adhesive: you should try to apply between 20-to-40lb of force while pressing.

   • 

Epoxy

Epoxy is only recommended and endorsed for installing the Pod in the Industrial Aluminum Case. It is not recommended for any other uses.

Installation Procedure

Ensure you are starting with an un-opened and non-expired bottle of epoxy. A previously opened or expired bottle can become compromised quickly, even if re-sealed. If in doubt, throw it out.

• Step 1: Thoroughly prepare both surfaces (the asset for tracking and the bottom of the Ribbiot case) for adhesive application; see ‘Adhesive Surface Prep’.

• Step 2: Remove liner from one side of the included VHB and stick onto the metal case.

  • Ensure to cover any screw mounting holes with this VHB. Press firmly on the adhesive to ensure it is fully adhered to the case.

  • 

• Step 3: Remove liner from the other side of the VHB to expose the adhesive, and then apply epoxy around the perimeter.

  • Only use approved epoxies

  • The ideal epoxy bead size is between 3/32-to-1/8in (2.5-to-3.2mm).

  • 

• Step 4: Carefully push the product straight onto the asset in the desired location. Once applied, press firmly for 15-to-30 seconds to fully activate the VHB adhesive.

  • Be careful not to wiggle the case when applying, too much lateral movement can cause epoxy to cover the VHB rendering it useless in holding the device until the epoxy cures.

  • 

• Step 5: Allow a full 24hrs for the epoxy to cure before using or transporting the asset.

  • The epoxy should not be exposed to rain or water during the curing process.

  • If rain is expected, you can temporarily cover the tracker to keep it dry. Even something as simple as covering with a tarp or even GLAD PRESS’NSEAL work great.

  • 

Epoxy Type

Ribbiot only endorses these specific Toughened Structural Epoxies; they are the only products capable of withstanding the required tensile, shear, AND impact loading.

• 3M: DP460NS (preferred option)

  • McMaster-Carr PN: 7467A66

• Loctite: E-60hp (alternative option)

  • McMaster-Carr PN: 6430A28

Installation Considerations

• The epoxy will cure in 24hrs when left at a temperature of 73°F. It will cure faster in warmer temperatures and slower at colder temperatures.

• The epoxy should not be installed in temperatures less than 50°F as it will NOT cure. Ensure the temperature will be ≥ 50°F throughout the entire 24hr curing process.

• Consider bringing the asset indoors for epoxy if installing in colder weather.

• Moisture can inhibit the curing process, see Step 5 above (Installation Procedure) for considerations.

Mechanical Fasteners

Installation Procedure

First, find the location where you want to mount the tracker, ensuring that it fits as desired. Then follow the steps below depending on the fastener type that you are using.

• Machine Screws

  • Mark the desired screw hole locations.

  • Drill and tap the holes per your desired fastener thread type.

  • Install the tracker.

• Self Tapping & Wood Screws

  • *(Optional) mark hole locations and pre-drill using an appropriate sized drill.

  • Install the tracker.

Drill / Hole Pattern

All Pod metal cases use the same 1/2" (12.7mm) mounting hole pattern shown here:

Recommended Fasteners: Pod Metal Cases

• Machine Screws (316 Stainless Steel)

  • #10 Flat Head Screws

    • i.e. 10-32 x 0.375in

  • M5 Metric Flat Head Screws

    • i.e. M5x0.8 x 10mm

• Self Tapping Screw (18-8 Stainless Steel)

  • #10 Flat Head Self Drilling Screws for Metal

    • i.e. #10 x 0.75in

• Wood Screw

  • #8 Flat Head Screw

    • i.e. #8 x 1.25in Construction Screw

Weld

1. Prep the area for welding per your company/welding standards

2. The mount is made from Stainless Steel 316L and can be welded to either steel or stainless steel. We recommend any of the following:

   1. SMAW (Stick): AWS E309 is recommended, but AWS E312 may also be used

   2. GMAW (MIG) or GTAW (TIG): ER309L is recommended, but ER312 may also be used

3. We recommend fillet welding 3 sides of the case, with a weld leg size of 3/16” (4.75mm), as shown below.

   • 

4. Clean and treat the welds per your company/welding standards (if applicable)

5. Install the Pod into the case

Wire Rope / Zip Tie

Many Ribbiot products are compatible with installation via wire rope, zip ties, or hose clamps. These methods are especially useful when mounting to round surfaces (such as tubes or pipes) or in environments where traditional mounting techniques are impractical — for example, on expanded metal grating or large wire rope slings.

Zip Tie & Hose Clamp Recommendations

When using zip ties or hose clamps, we recommend stainless steel to minimize the risk of long-term corrosion:

• 316 stainless steel is ideal for highly corrosive environments (e.g., coastal regions).

• 304 stainless steel is generally sufficient for most other conditions.

Plastic zip ties may also be used — they are typically faster and easier to install and remove. However, they do not offer the same durability or lifespan as stainless steel. If plastic ties are chosen, we recommend:

• Nylon 12 (PA12) zip ties for their superior UV and chemical resistance, and extended outdoor longevity.

Wire Rope Installation

All Ribbiot products that are compatible with wire rope are designed to work with 3/32” (2.5 mm) stainless steel wire rope. We recommend:

• Pairing the rope with corrosion-resistant end fittings of your choice, such as:

  • Stainless steel clamps

  • Copper or aluminum compression sleeves

Pod User Interface

The Pod is designed to be simple to use and once it is setup it should not need any further maintenance besides potentially replacing the battery. There are no buttons on the device, as the main way to interact with the device is by an NFC scan.  

The lights on the Pod will give you some basic information on the status of the hardware:

• NFC scan - using your phone - place it near the frog logo to scan the device. The lights will illuminate for a few seconds the following colors

  • Green = Battery is OK

  • 

  • RED = Battery is low

  • 

• During installation the Pod will perform the following

  • Provisioning NFC Scan should blink Green 3 times upon a successful pairing.