Muggies Coffee has requested our DC-256C-T-UP-Pneumatic-PKG Drive-Thru six-digit car counter with Ethernet webpage logging. A purpose-built solution designed to accurately track drive-thru traffic and order processing time in real-world environments such as quick-service restaurants, cafes, and high-volume service lanes.

The goal of this system is straightforward: count every vehicle that enters the drive-thru while simultaneously timing how long each order takes. Each vehicle is recorded the moment an employee activates their assigned switch, ensuring consistent and repeatable data collection across shifts and locations. When the switch is triggered, the uptime timer immediately begins while the counter increments by one on the green display. This provides instant visual confirmation that a new car has entered the workflow.

In a typical installation, the customer connects their own switch directly to the internal terminal block located inside the enclosure. Each press of the switch starts the uptime timer and increases the car count. Once the order is completed, the stop function is triggered, ending the timing cycle. Pressing start again resets the uptime timer back to zero and prepares the system for the next vehicle, while the total car count continues to increase. This process ensures accurate tracking of both throughput and service efficiency.

For demonstration purposes, a dry-contact push button is used to simulate customer-provided devices. In real-world use, the included pneumatic switch is commonly deployed, allowing employees to trigger the system hands-free by stepping on the switch as a vehicle arrives.

The system supports clear performance monitoring both locally and remotely. On the display, the green digits on the left show the total vehicle count, while the red digits on the right display the active uptime timer, counting up to just under 10 minutes per vehicle. This layout makes it easy for staff and managers to quickly assess current conditions at a glance.

Key functional highlights include:

• Six-digit LED display with high visibility
• Green counter digits tracking up to 999 vehicles
• Red timer digits counting up to 9 minutes and 59 seconds
• Uptime timing triggered by dry contact closure
• Incrementing count with every vehicle interaction

The built-in Ethernet webpage adds another layer of insight by logging and organizing data automatically. Through the web interface, users can view the current elapsed time, total vehicles recorded, and calculated daily averages once each vehicle cycle is completed. The webpage also displays the current time and stores the last 100 vehicle records, making it easy to review recent performance trends without manual logging.

Additional webpage features include:

• Live elapsed time display (±1 second)
• Total car count and daily average calculations
• Storage of the last 100 completed vehicle cycles
• Adjustable flash interval warning for service delays

The flash interval feature provides a visual alert when a vehicle exceeds a set service time threshold. By default, the display begins flashing after 60 seconds, signaling employees to speed up service. This interval can be adjusted in seconds up to 10 minutes or disabled entirely by setting the value to zero.

From a hardware perspective, the DC-256C-T-UP-Pneumatic-PKG is built for durability and long-term use. It is housed in a black powder-coated 14-gauge aluminum enclosure, suitable for demanding commercial environments. The 2.3-inch LED digits are readable from distances of up to 120 feet, making the display effective in both indoor and outdoor drive-thru settings.

Additional hardware details include:

• Six total LED digits (three green, three red)
• 12V wall adapter power supply
• Internal terminal block for dry contact connections
• Dedicated start/increment and stop terminals
• Top-mounted push buttons for stop and full reset
• Rear mounting knockouts for 2×4 or 4×4 electrical boxes

A dedicated reset button allows operators to reset both the counter and timer back to zero when needed, making the system easy to manage during shift changes or daily resets.

Overall, the DC-256C-T-UP-Pneumatic-PKG Drive-Thru Car Counter delivers a reliable, data-driven way to measure drive-thru volume, monitor service speed, and improve operational efficiency using clear visual feedback and powerful Ethernet-based logging.

See product: DC-256C-T-UP-PNEUMATIC-PKG-DRIVE-THRU

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