AM MAGAZINE SHELL - Australian Automotive Aftermarket Magazine

PRODUCTSElectronic Rust Proofing SystemsCouplerTec electronic rust-proofing systems have evolved to become one of the world’s most effective and trusted means of electronically rust proofingany new or old vehicle.The company claims its electronic rustproofingsystems were the first trulyeffective electronic rust-proofing system toenter the Australian market back in 1996.Even though capacitive couplingtechnology was the only proven way toelectronically rust-proof a vehicle, there wasa very important need to advance thetechnology to what it is today.CouplerTec says its components thatdrive its current electronic rust-proofingsystems are nothing short of state of the art.The company claims that all of itssystems are fully computerised and are theworld’s first and only system that can boastof the special features and functions eachsystem has.CouplerTec’s electronic engineersrecognised that there were many problemsassociated with other electronic rustproofingsystems that were being sold tocustomers around Australia.Some of these electronic systems wereusing cathodic technology developed for themarine industry, which have aluminium ormagnesium anodes attached to thevehicle’s body.It is common knowledge that foran anode to be effective it must besubmerged in water, making itimpossible to be effective on amotor vehicle.Another type of device found onthe market is what is known asimpressed current technology. Theseelectronic rust-proofing devices donot have capacitive couplings (pads)or anodes; they simply have a wiregoing to the battery and another wiregoing straight to the vehicle’s bodyor earth.Again it is common knowledge that youcannot increase the vehicle’s negativepotential by simply putting a negativecharge to the body.If these devices did have an outputstrong enough to do this it would completelyupset the entire vehicle’s electrical system.CouplerTec’s original capacitive couplersystem models from 1996 had potentialproblems that needed to be addressed andthat was the reason for designing a newsystem that could be controlled with a minicomputer or micro-processor.The new state of the art componentswere introduced to all CouplerTec systemsin 2004.CouplerTec says this upgradedcomponent technology in its systems is aworld first and every system is completelyself-diagnostic and is virtually fail-safe.The original systems first introduced in1996 were effective in controllingIt is common knowledge that foran anode to be effective itmust be submerged in water,making it impossible to beeffective on a motor vehicle.corrosion, however CouplerTec engineersdiscovered that if the wire running to thecoupler (pad) became damaged by shortingout, it was possible that the system couldtotally short out and damage the internaltransformer.This would cause the system to fail andnot work at all.This major problem has been overcomeby CouplerTec these days, because if a shortshould occur the micro-processor will pick itup in milliseconds and shut the systemdown internally. When this happens, thegreen LED light will go out and the red LEDlight will flash continuously until the fault isrectified.This has two results, firstly the systemcan not put a positive charge to thevehicle’s body and secondly the short willnot damage the unit as it would have in thepast.The other major advantage CouplerTecsystems have is that the micro-processorwill also detect open pad or open circuit,meaning that if the coupling (pad) comesaway from the vehicle body or the wire tothe coupling becomes broken, the systemwill detect the problem and again turn offthe green LED and the red LED will pulseintermittently by flashing 10 times every 30seconds.This feature lets the vehicle’s ownerknow that there is a problem rather thanonly having half the system working when itis most required, such as driving along abeach.CouplerTec manufactures a system tosuit almost anything, from ranger hutdwellings on Fraser Island to 50-year-oldclassic cars.The company claims it is the preferredrust-proofing solution for the majority ofBMA coal mines in central Queensland overthe past eight years and has in excess of3500 BMA vehicles protected from thehighly corrosive sulphur in the coal.CouplerTec says it is endorsed by SurfLife Saving Australia wide and thatclubs praise the effectiveness ofCouplerTec electronic rust-proofingsystems.The company exports more than50,000 systems to Canada to combatcorrosion from the salted roads.Sym-Tech is one of Canada’slargest aftermarket companiessupplying 500 new car dealershipswith CouplerTec electronic rustproofingsystems.CouplerTec engineers arecontinuously monitoring the latestadvancements in componenttechnology through their ongoingresearch and development program, toensure that CouplerTec remain the marketleader’s world wide.The company also has an assembly plantthat has the capability to assemble andpack thousands of systems weekly, allcomplying with strict quality assurancechecks and standards.CouplerTec’s goal is to supply the highestquality product to the automotiveaftermarket industry at the lowest possibleprice without jeopardising quality.For more information about CouplerTecelectronic rust-proofing call 1800 068 088or visit the website www.couplertec.com.au.38 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E AU G U ST 2 0 0 8 www.aaaa.com.au