A500 VMT Installation Best Practices
Talkman devices and accessories are designed to provide reliable service when used as recommended. The thousands of Talkman VMT equipment users around the world who have followed the best practices outlined here are enjoying increased productivity with Talkman devices integrated on their vehicles.
Do not remove Talkman A500 devices from VMT configurations
Talkman VMT devices were designed and intended for easy installation. They were not designed for frequent removal.
Honeywell recommends that Talkman devices, cables, and VMT battery adapters be left in place after they are installed in vehicles. While these components may be removed for maintenance or temporary use in other areas, they should not be removed as a part of regular operation.
If a Talkman device must be removed, the battery adapter remains in the battery adapter dock.
Frequent removal of the Talkman, battery adapter and/or cable can cause a premature mechanical failure to the cable and/or battery adapter. This damage is not covered by normal product warranty.
Protect Talkman devices from damage
A Talkman device should be mounted on a vehicle in a location where operators can easily access Talkman controls and where the device is well protected from bumps or damage when the vehicle is in use. While recessed mounting offers good protection, the installer must ensure that this mounting does not interfere with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity of the Talkman device.
Do not mount the device in the driver's area of the vehicle or areas where it can distract the driver.
Consider additional options from RAM Mounts
The Honeywell parts provided for mounting Talkman devices represent a small set of the mounting options available from RAM Mounts. Honeywell only requires that customers purchase the BL-710-1, vehicle mount holder for Talkman. When used with the screw-on base attachment (BL-710-102) or other parts that use a 1" ball mounting, the VMT configuration may require additional parts that can be purchased from RAM Mounts for an optimal installation.
In particular, the following standard RAM Mounts parts provide additional mounting flexibility.
| Part Description | Part Number | Usage | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double 1" ball adapter | RAM-B-230U | The adapter offers more articulation to maneuver and position the Talkman device in a protected area of the vehicle. |
|
| Double socket arm B Ball A length | RAM-B-201U-A | This arm and other arm lengths offer options for the best vehicle fit. |
|
Lock parts into place if they might be moved during normal operations
The parts used for mounting the Talkman were designed for a fixed position with easy adjustment. While unlikely, these parts may loosen over time with inadvertent impacts of daily use—especially if the mountings have not been firmly secured or if workers attempt to adjust the mounting manually
The parts used for mounting the Talkman were designed for a fixed position with easy adjustment. While unlikely, these parts may loosen over time with inadvertent impacts of daily use—especially if the mountings have not been firmly secured or if workers attempt to adjust the mounting manually.
To prevent this issue, remove the user-adjustable handle on the arm and install a 1/4" #20 nylon lock nut provided with the Honeywell VMT kit. The lock nut cannot be loosened by hand and resists most vibrations.
Secure VMT cabling
The cables and wiring that connect the Talkman VMT must be well secured to the vehicle so that they do not get caught on anything. Snagged cables could result in an accident and damage to the VMT or vehicle.
Separate the cabling from other wiring in the vehicle and ensure that it is routed away from sharp edges.
The cable pictured here cannot fall out of alignment and possibly snag anything while the vehicle is in motion. Note that there is enough slack in the cable to its right so that the battery adapter can be removed or installed in the Talkman device.
The cable end that connects to the battery adapter should have enough length to permit easy disconnection and docking of the battery adapter but not so much length that it could become snagged on something.
The cable may be secured to the bottom of the adapter using the two holes on the bottom of the docking area of the adapter. If the cable is secured in this manner, use spiral cable wrap, supplied with the VMT Talkman adapter, to provide additional protection.
To accomplish this mounting:
- Place approximately 2.50 inches of spiral wrap (0.25-inch outer diameter) on the yellow cable with its midpoint at 9 or 10 inches from the cable end connector.Using a cable tie (maximum 0.1 inch wide), attach the wrapped section of the cable to the RAM cradle using the holes on the bottom of the adapter docking area as shown.
Cabling inside of the vehicle to the battery adapter should also be secured and maintained neatly to prevent cable travel and accidental damage or shorting. Cables should be kept clear of any articulating members. The full range of articulation should be exercised to ensure that any vehicular operation does not physically compromise the cables.