Thread: Custom USB tyre pressure monitoring interface

Originally Posted by Robby BMW

It is due to a bad signal reception from the rear tire sensors, as the system stores the latest data received, if it is unable to receive fresh data, it will display the latest values received.
Try to place the receiver in a different location.

Robby. This is interesting. I have been running my setup now for a few months, and I am finding that the readouts are not as accurate as I would have hoped. What is more interesting is that when I look at the TPMS Doctor, I see readings for 5 tires, but in RR, only 4 of the tires are displayed with readings that match the Doctor" readings. The "empty" reading, is for the spare which has been setup in RR, as it previously did display the readings.
Do you have any idea why the spare tire reading would show in the Doctor but not RR? As I said, RR has been configured to display the 5 tires. All I currently see against the spare is a"-".

Originally Posted by allypally

Robby. This is interesting. I have been running my setup now for a few months, and I am finding that the readouts are not as accurate as I would have hoped. What is more interesting is that when I look at the TPMS Doctor, I see readings for 5 tires, but in RR, only 4 of the tires are displayed with readings that match the Doctor" readings. The "empty" reading, is for the spare which has been setup in RR, as it previously did display the readings.
Do you have any idea why the spare tire reading would show in the Doctor but not RR? As I said, RR has been configured to display the 5 tires. All I currently see against the spare is a"-".

Which skin you're using?
Check if in your TMS.skin there are all the labels required for the spare tire, or better post your file here, so I can check it for you.

Originally Posted by bes51659

I just got my kit from Brandon and are reading thru this thread to learn more.

I am concerned about the sensor battery. If it lasts for 5 years as the manual say I will most definitely need new tires before that happens. I would like to make sure that the sensor batteries are full when changing tires and replace them if they are below say 67%.

Seems like a waste to get new sensors because the battery is flat, and what if there's no sensors on the market any more?

Has anyone opened a sensor and tried to replace the battery?

There is no way to replace the battery in these sensors. The circuitry is covered in a potting material that protects the components and makes the sensor air tight.

The good news is that if the tire sees less than a certain amount of pressure (Robby will have to fill in the details on what the pressure is), I believe it goes into a low-power standby mode. If you are changing from summer to winter tires, just make sure you deflate the tire before you store it for the season.

Those of you looking for the 'complete kit' soultion please send me a PM so that I have an idea of how many units to build on the first run...

Could you please post details of the Kit and the pricing please.
I'm sure lots of people here will be interested.

We are currently still developing the system but it will functionally it will be exactly the same components as Robby's Kit. It is hard for me to give you an exact price as of now as we are still selecting components and figuring out the whole price structure. I will be able to give more details in about a week or so...

Originally Posted by bes51659

I just got my kit from Brandon and are reading thru this thread to learn more.

I am concerned about the sensor battery. If it lasts for 5 years as the manual say I will most definitely need new tires before that happens. I would like to make sure that the sensor batteries are full when changing tires and replace them if they are below say 67%.

Seems like a waste to get new sensors because the battery is flat, and what if there's no sensors on the market any more?

Has anyone opened a sensor and tried to replace the battery?

The units tell you their battery life. I notice in CF it tells me the preasure, temp and battery life, so its not like you will have to guess or anything.

PS: there has to be a way to open them, then seal them back with no issues....

Originally Posted by HiJackZX1

PS: there has to be a way to open them, then seal them back with no issues....

I can't imagine anything less fun that trying to chip away all that potting to get to a battery that you will have to de-solder and then solder a new one in... and then epoxy the whole thing over again. I am sure it can be done, but it would take forever!

HiJack and LYTHSPD.

Even if I deflate the tires when not used (which I beleive might deform the tires) the batteries will eventually loose its juice. And that is independend on if I know that it will happen in advance with the battery indicator. In fact I'd prefer not to know rather to see "the ticking bomb".

Is this the way OEM systems work too? I have browsed thru http://www.realoem.com/bmw but did not find replacement sensors.

Have you got a good contact to ask about this, LTHSPD? PM me and I will ask. (I need to ask about how to exchange my four sensor 5's anyway)