Power Take Off (PTO) Overview and FAQ
In this article:
What is Power Take Off?
A power take-off or power takeoff (PTO) is one of several methods for taking power from a power source, such as a running engine, and transmitting it to an application such as an attached implement or separate machine for the purpose of carrying out a particular task or work.
Why track Power Take Off?
There are many benefits to tracking PTO:
- Improve scheduling, task allocation, and resource management
- Gather data on the runtime and frequency of PTO engagement for better preventative maintenance
- Track usage data to pinpoint potential causes of issues during PTO activity
- Monitor and document PTO engagement to ensure compliance with regulations and guidelines
- Accurately distribute costs and billing
- Track activity by an asset that may seem to be idle otherwise
OEM PTO vs. External PTO
An asset with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) PTO is capable of communicating PTO data to Tenna through the asset’s Electronic Control Unit (ECU) without any additional installation requirements (as long as the data is made available by the OEM over the diagnostic CAN bus). OEM PTO refers to any attachment or mechanism that is integral to the asset, is installed by the manufacturer, and does not require a physical connection for PTO monitoring.
External PTO, also known as third party PTO, enables the use of an asset’s engine power to drive added equipment or perform specific tasks. It is often used to provide power to external accessories, including hydraulic pumps, generators, winches, compressors, and other types of equipment that require mechanical or electrical power to operate.
Which trackers communicate PTO data to Tenna?
TennaFLEET and TennaCANbus trackers are both capable of capturing and reporting PTO events to Tenna. Only TennaCANbus trackers can report External PTO events.
NOTE: PTO events look the same in Tenna regardless of whether they were sourced by the OEM ECU or external PTO.
Idling and PTO
When PTO is engaged, both as reported by the ECU or by the installed external PTO wire (available only with TennaCANbus), the data will show as a PTO event even if the asset is not moving (idling). Idling hours will not be recorded when the PTO is engaged.
Example: A fuel truck arrives at a project site and parks near the equipment it needs to fill up. The truck is idling, but the driver enables a PTO switch to engage the fuel pump. The duration of the time it takes to fill up the equipment (PTO on to PTO off) will show in Tenna as a PTO event for that trip. Idling data may show in Tenna for the time the truck was parked and not pumping if the idling parameters are met.
How to View PTO Events
There are a few ways to access and review PTO events in Tenna: