Custom USB tyre pressure monitoring interface

**WuNgUn** · 01-18-2008, 12:24 AM

Hey, go to town with that Valet setup...I wouldn't mind saving $180 or so!!!!
Dejan, still waiting on the PayPal invoice...

Thanks

**vicky_obee** · 01-18-2008, 06:11 AM

Hi guys has any 1 had any success with WAECO or valet TPMS.....
Man this waiting game is getting longer and longer

**WuNgUn** · 01-18-2008, 09:56 AM

Just ordered the kit from Dejan!
Clearly the 3rd Eye kit is way over priced and this guy is making a killing off us!

**mrbean_phillip** · 01-18-2008, 05:18 PM

@ Wungun: The 3rd EYE doesn't seem to be overprized at the price Viva is charging, I had a look-see, and that seems a fair price for a good quality kit - yes, you can buy cheaper, but proabbly at the expense of reliability, accuracy, and battery life.

Sometimes spending a little more is spending less.

The Waeco kits won't be around for to much longer, the manufacturer has around 250 kits left, and they will be made redundant - something to consider should you have components/sensors fail on them, and you need a replacement.

But, based on Fmode's teting, they are 99% confirmed working, so you can most likely get one and it should work - bear in mind the PCB was designed for the physical different 3rd EYE receiver, so, either it will look butt-ugly if fitted, or you need to re-design the PCB, something which is very simple for this non-complex circuit.

They are considerably cheaper, yes, Euro 100- approximately, but I think I will stock with the 3rd EYE for now.

Robby mentions in his first few posts that he has done a fair bit of testing with various receivers, and he found the 3rd EYE one the best, so that is good enough for me.

I will start a small project to do something similar, as well as adding a few distance-sensors, then I will look at various receivers, and see if their is standalones for better pricing, as well as quality.

Just my 2c.

Just ordered the kit from Dejan!
Clearly the 3rd Eye kit is way over priced and this guy is making a killing off us!

You do realize that by using the kit you get from DeJan, that you will only receive the USB interface to your PC....you will still need to buy the 3rd EYE kit, or for that matter, the Waeco unit to use the receiver and sensors....see my reply to your question on the previous page....

I've been up and down this thread many times...and yet I feel like I still don't know where to start.
I know which sensor kit I need (I think)...so what's left?
Dejan makes a printed board with the parts? Or all parts minus the PIC? I need to get that from Robby? Is it programmed? Just build the board and go?
Any help with this would be appreciated...

Ok, let's make it easy on everyone who needs to know what to get:

The best solution, by far;
1) Get the complete USB interface from DeJan, which will include Robby's PIC Micro with propietary code, pc board, crystal oscillator, ie the complete USB interface to your PC, but no Tyre Pressure System yet.

2) You have to buy the 3rd Eye System from a supplier, ie one that was mentioned here earlier.

3)Then you need to desolder the RF Receiver on the LCD board of the TPMS kit, and mount (solder) it to the USB interface you receive from DeJan.

4)Take your car to a tyre-shop, and have the sensors fitted, and wheels rebalanced.

5)Load the software from Robby's link to your PC, and there you go - you need RoadRunner as a front-end to run this software, but Robby is writing a small test-routine that will check your system for correct operation.

If you do not want to use RoadRunner as a frontend, but rather Centrafuse, DeJan's friend is currently writing a plug-in for CentraFuse.

Easy as pie, all the hard work has been done for us, it is virtually plug-and-play.

**WuNgUn** · 01-19-2008, 12:08 AM

I think I'm on it now...I ordered Dejan's kit, and now I need to get the 3rd Eye sensors and reciever...

Wasn't there a 'coupon' code for the 3rd Eye kit? Is it still in effect?

**juve021** · 01-19-2008, 07:59 AM

Originally Posted by WuNgUn

I think I'm on it now...I ordered Dejan's kit, and now I need to get the 3rd Eye sensors and reciever...

Wasn't there a 'coupon' code for the 3rd Eye kit? Is it still in effect?

Yes, the coupon code should still work, "3RDEYE10%" for 10% off. If it doesn't let me know and I'll contact the owner or Viva.

**inh** · 01-20-2008, 04:09 PM

Code still works, ordering mine soon =]

**mnwcsult** · 01-22-2008, 02:22 PM

I took advantage of the US Holiday and got the 3rd Eye sensors installed. To get the sensors mounted and tires rebalanced 124.00 USD.

My next step is to modify the 3rd Eye device which I must note is pretty damn kool in it's on right.

Since I had not installed the main unit into the car I powered the 3rd Eye device using a 9 volt battery. The power requirements are minimal 18ma idle current, and 130ma while in normal mode.

It immediately starts warning about pressure too low on left rear tire. So I'm thinking I hope the shop just missed the tire or the sensors mounted wrong and I have a real problem. So a quick trip to a filling station and no problem, they just missed it at the shop.

Range is very good, you can be several feet away from the car and get good results. I was initially sitting at my kitchen table (warm), so mounting the usb version in the trunk with the computer will present no problems.

There is a side benefit the unit also gives tire temperature. Overnight temperature here was around 25 degrees F. My car is in the garage front in. Temperature at the front tires is 41 degrees, at the rear near the garage door 35 degrees. I think I should add an insulation strip under the garage door.

Once I mod the board I'll write an update. To RobbyBMW is the test code outside of RR available yet?

**Robby BMW** · 01-22-2008, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by mnwcsult

To RobbyBMW is the test code outside of RR available yet?

I'm sorry, not yet.
I had a problem with my main PC (where Visual Basic is installed), but fortunately now it seems to be all right, so I think to start to work on it as soon as possible.

**Enforcer** · 01-22-2008, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by Robby BMW

I'm sorry, not yet.
I had a problem with my main PC (where Visual Basic is installed), but fortunately now it seems to be all right, so I think to start to work on it as soon as possible.

Backup, backup, backup NOW, we don't want you to lose any of that valuable work you are doing.