FOBO tire pressure monitoring system report..

[Chuckk_imp]

I had problems when I first installed my fobo t.p.m.s. I found the problem to be bad batteries.. the fobo came with extras and they were bad also, almost making me give up on the unit.. I gave it one last shot.. I bought brand new, name brand batteries.. and that solved the problem.. there was the question, how long will new batteries last.. well I have just found out.. the first sign of a battery weakening happened today.. it has been over 7 months..

images are from my iPhone ..

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Chuckk: Is this still good enough for you? What would be good? Two years?

 

[Chuckk_imp]

G.O. I am happy with 7 months.. I am also glad of the warning when the battery is low.. this way no surprises.. I will just change out both batteries.. If I remember correctly, a twin pack of the cr2032 energizers ran about 5 bucks.. it is just so nice to just touch an app on my phone and see the tire pressures before every ride...

 

[Cormanus]

That’s only one bar gone. Will you replace them immediately or see how much longer they last?

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Agreed. Maybe one or up to two years can be had should the batteries deplete linearly. That would be great Chuck.

 

[Chuckk_imp]

after reading the fobo instructions, I will wait until I hear the alarm of a low battery condition..

the only thing I have found with the fobo, that I wish would be better, is when I top off my tire pressures.. I have added that tee fitting, which helps a lot.. but the sensors take up to one minute to register the new pressure as I fill the tire.. it is probably a double edged sword though.. if the sensors responded more quickly, the battery life would probably be reduced..

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[Bheezy27403_imp]

So let me get this straight. Apparently there are doodads you can put on your valve stems that read pressure and talk to an app on your phone to show said pressure? That's nuts.

 

[Lord Popgun]

Welcome to the 21st century Bheezy!

You know, my phone can talk to my car and my house thermostat. Will wonders never cease

 

[KiowaEagle_imp]

This crazy modern world we live in.....

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Low power sensor technology is getting better and better, and cheaper and cheaper.

The rest is rote wireless techniques and run-of-the-mill app software.

 

[Chuckk_imp]

I had problems when I first installed my fobo t.p.m.s. I found the problem to be bad batteries.. the fobo came with extras and they were bad also, almost making me give up on the unit.. I gave it one last shot.. I bought brand new, name brand batteries.. and that solved the problem.. there was the question, how long will new batteries last.. well I have just found out.. the first sign of a battery weakening happened today.. it has been over 7 months..

images are from my iPhone ..

..

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

That is still pretty good Chuck (battery strength).

Usually I just kick the tires and if it feels and sounds just right, I'll leave 'em.

 

[Chuckk_imp]

feb 13th will be a full year on the $5. batteries.. I am hoping that I can make it !! .. if not, no big deal.. it's just kind of fun keeping track of things.. sometimes, when I first start out on a ride, the bike feels a little funny as far as handling.. it is really just me, getting myself back in the groove.. but my first thoughts are of my tire pressures.. I click back a few moments in time and remember the pressure check that I had just performed.. before my FOBO there was always a doubt on my pressures, simply because I didn't check pressures before every ride.. I feel it was one of the better gizmos I installed on my bike.. right next to sealing my spoked rims, allowing me to use tubeless tires..

chuckk ..

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

For sure ... I believe a reliable remote system like FOBO is much better than a tire kick.

I hope they continue to reduce the valve stack size as technology shrinks. Maybe they can eliminate the battery one day and use varying tire pressure (as the tire experiences bumps) to charge a super-capacitor, and thus maybe enough power to broadcast the metrics.

 

[Csory_imp]

A simple coil+magnet would do it (turning wheels making a makeshift dynamo) but it would be neither small nor beautiful

For sure ... I believe a reliable remote system like FOBO is much better than a tire kick.

I hope they continue to reduce the valve stack size as technology shrinks. Maybe they can eliminate the battery one day and use varying tire pressure (as the tire experiences bumps) to charge a super-capacitor, and thus maybe enough power to broadcast the metrics.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

A simple coil+magnet would do it (turning wheels making a makeshift dynamo) but it would be neither small nor beautiful

For sure ... I believe a reliable remote system like FOBO is much better than a tire kick.

I hope they continue to reduce the valve stack size as technology shrinks. Maybe they can eliminate the battery one day and use varying tire pressure (as the tire experiences bumps) to charge a super-capacitor, and thus maybe enough power to broadcast the metrics.

Great point Csory. Although, I was thinking something more elegant and very compact and light (and probably a bit more $&#36.

 

[Chuckk_imp]

so you guys are thinking of a system that supplies the needed voltage to then send the signal to the iPhone ? .. are you thinking of using a capacitor to store some of the charge.. might as well keep what the FOBO is using now.. you need the FOBO to send the data while at rest and the wheels are not turning.. how else could you air up the tires and get a reading on your phone, telling you when the pressures are correct.. unless you can develop something where you can air up your tires on the fly !! .. haha .. I really don't see any problem with my tee valve set up.. the tire has been balanced with the tee valve in place.. the looks don't bother me, when I think of all effort they save me..

chuckk ..

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[GoldOxide_imp]

Hey Chuck:

Just dream-speak for now. A decent R&D / engineering budget would get one closer to a smaller, battery-free tire pressure monitoring design. One would still need to top-up or release air pressure, as needed.

 

[Chuckk_imp]

I know they are just kicking theories around.. I know far less about electronics than many of you guys know.. having a FOBO, I am perhaps more aware of the procedure, when airing up my tires.. I rely on the readings of the FOBO when topping off my pressures, not the gauge on my air hose tool.. I just wanted to toss that in, so the guys can incorporate that into their theoretical designs .. for the life of me, I don't understand why more people aren't using a FOBO.. who wants to get down on their knees and check pressures before every ride.. that only allows for a little air to leak out every time the tires are checked, leading then to even more work (topping off the pressures again)..

chuckk ..

 

[peterbaron]

Chuckk, that FOBO system you installed, will it make multiple mode of alerts - audible, haptic & visual in your phone as well?