Printed circuit boards: get to know the brains of your machine

10 August 2020

Have you ever wondered how your machine knows exactly what to do when you press a button? It’s all made possible by printed circuit boards (PCB). PCBs are the brain of your machine: without it, your machine would be useless. It processes the electrical signals that go to and from the motor controller, dashboard, engine control unit (ECU), joystick, and all other electrical parts. All PCBs have the same basic structure, but no two are exactly the same. Read on to learn more.

High diversity of printed circuit boards

A PCB uses copper wiring to transmit information from one electrical component to another. It’s like an internal messenger service that connects the electrical parts in your machine. When you move your joystick, the mast on your forklift knows exactly what to do thanks to the PCB. PCBs are used in all electric vehicles like forklifts, telehandlers, mobile elevating work platforms ...

PCBs are as diverse as the machines they enable. Even PCBs from the same brand are different to one another. For example, a PCB for a BT P24-M forklift is not the same as a PCB for a BT P24-S forklift. They might be similar, but each is configured specifically for the vehicle it’s installed in.

How are printed circuit boards installed?

PCBs all have the same basic structure: copper marks on one or both sides of the PCB form electrical connections between the parts that are mounted on it. Each one is designed especially for the machine it will be used in, then programmed, installed and calibrated. How you install your PCB, depends on the PCB type.

Some PCBs are Plug and Play and do not need further calibration after they’re installed. As the name suggests, plug them in and they’re ready to use. Other PCBs are fully programmable: there are different parameters that need to be set, and/or they will need to be calibrated. How you calibrate the PCB depends on its brand and type. Calibration can be completed using a diagnostic tool, via the dashboard or other interactions on your vehicle.

Advantages of printed circuit boards

Thanks to PCBs, electronic circuits are smaller, more compact and contained on a convenient board. Not only do they make connecting the components in your machine simpler, but cheaper too.

Other advantages of printed circuit boards:

Simple wiring
Increased safety
High reliability
More comfort thanks to more functions
Easy to repair
Energy efficient: you can work for as long as you need to

Printed circuit boards at TVH

At TVH, you’ll find PCBs from all the biggest brands in the business: Caterpillar, Cesab, Hyster, Mitsubishi, Jungheinrich, Linde, Manitou ... For every make, we have a specialised engineer with the expertise to guarantee optimal quality and service.

Our commitment to quality has led to partnerships with:

In addition to a wide range of PCBs and diagnostic tools, TVH also has a large stock, which results in short delivery times. Furthermore, you can count on us for technical support by experts.

Interested in a top-quality PCB at a lower price? Take a look at our range of remanufactured printed circuit boards. It’s the perfect alternative because you’ll get a top-quality part at a lower price, with the same warranty as a brand new part.