Mastering Geotab
★ Geotab Products · IOX Add-On
The IOX-COLD links a Geotab GO9 to the refrigeration unit, thermograph and temperature probes on a reefer truck or trailer. Temperatures, door state and alarms land in MyGeotab, and on supported units setpoints can be changed remotely.
The IOX-COLD is a multipurpose IOX module for GO9 and newer devices running firmware X.42.32 or later. Its main job in this market is cold chain: it talks directly to the refrigeration unit controller or a thermograph and reports what that equipment knows. It also handles tachograph functions for the European market, and it carries general-purpose inputs, outputs and serial interfaces that make it a flexible expansion module.
The difference from a simple temperature probe is depth. A probe tells you the box temperature. The IOX-COLD, on a supported controller, can report return, discharge and evaporator temperatures, setpoint, door state, alarms, run mode and hour meters, and on some units accept commands back.
Food distribution and grocery delivery fleets need a temperature record for every load. Reefer data tied to GPS and stop times gives a shipper or receiver proof the product stayed in range, and an alert lets dispatch call the driver before a load is lost.
Pharmaceutical and medical couriers running small refrigerated vans can use thermograph and probe data for the same record-keeping on tighter temperature bands.
Multi-temperature distributors with frozen, chilled and ambient zones in one body benefit from multi-zone controller and thermograph support, rather than a single box reading.
Reefer trailer operators can catch a unit that switched off, went into alarm or was set to the wrong setpoint at loading, and on supported Thermo King and Carrier units correct it from the office instead of sending a tech.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Compatible GO devices | GO9 and newer, firmware X.42.32 or later |
| Supported reefer controllers | Thermo King Truck Smart Reefer, DSR, CSR; Carrier Standard, APX, Xarios/Pulsor, Neos/Zephyr/Viento, Citimax; Zanotti Uno; GAH/LAE; HWASUNG |
| Supported thermographs | Thermo King, Carrier Transicold Datacold, Transcan, Euroscan, Orbcomm, Made Sistemi, Apache, Grupo Buscalia models |
| General I/O | 4 inputs (digital or analog), 2 outputs |
| Interfaces | CAN, RS-232, RS-485, 1-Wire, TTL UART, I2C, K-Line |
| Nominal input voltage | 12 V / 24 V |
| Typical power | 400 mW |
| Temperature rating | -40 °C to 85 °C |
| Size / weight | 103 x 53 x 20 mm; about 145 g |
| Connectors | Mini-USB in and out; Jack A 4-pin (thermograph); Jack B 6-pin (tachograph); Jack C 22-pin (cold chain and expansion) |
| Status indicator | Tri-color LED |
The IOX-COLD itself is not the hard part; the harness is. Each refrigeration unit and thermograph has its own connection, and Geotab's harness identification document names the right cable for each scenario, so the exact reefer controller model has to be confirmed before parts are ordered. The table of what each controller reports varies a lot. A Carrier Neos or Citimax returns far less than a Thermo King Smart Reefer, and door and fuel data only exist if those sensors are wired to the reefer unit. The GO must be on firmware X.42.32 or newer. After install, the LED tells the story: slow white flashes mean it is initializing and should be left alone, solid green means normal, and orange flashes point to the problem, one for IOX communication, two for the reefer controller, three for the thermograph. Geotab notes most faults come from loose connections, and the shunt rule applies as with any IOX chain.
It fits refrigerated fleets with a supported reefer controller or thermograph who need temperature records, alerts and some remote control. A fleet that only wants a box temperature from a probe, with no controller integration, may find the IOX-COLD more than it needs. Tachograph features are aimed at the EU market and are not relevant to most North American fleets. When a controller is missing from Geotab's list, we confirm support for it before anything is ordered.
On many supported controllers, yes, including Thermo King Smart Reefer, DSR, Carrier Standard and APX, GAH/LAE and Zanotti. Others, such as Carrier Citimax and Neos units, report only.
External 1-Wire temperature probes and door sensors can still give box temperatures and door state without the controller link.
From the reefer unit when it reports it; otherwise MyGeotab shows the GO device's voltage.
We identify the reefer controller on each unit, supply the IOX-COLD with the matching harness and wire it in on site where your refrigerated trucks are parked, then wait for the solid green LED before we leave. Ring 803-513-1009, or list your reefer models on Get a Quote to get started.
Sources: Geotab Support, IOX-COLD product document; Geotab blog, IOX expansion. GEOTAB is a registered trademark of Geotab Inc. API Signal is an independent installer and is not Geotab.
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