FAQs
Solar Colour Monitor
Registering new sensors / registering sensors after battery change
1. Switch off your monitor
2. Fold back the dust shields, loosen the lock nuts, and remove the sensors from your wheels. Keep the
sensors next to their respective wheels.
3. Switch on the monitor.
4. Press and hold the "+" button for 4-5 secs
5. The left hand front tyre icon should be flashing, and a six digit ID should be displayed
6. Screw the left hand front sensor to the tyre valve and wait for the monitor to beep after 4-5 secs.
7. Press the "+" button and repeat the process for the right front tyre
8. Repeat until all four sensors are now registered to the tyre icons on the monitor screen
9. Press and hold the "spanner" button for 4-5 secs to register the sensor ID settings
10. The monitor should now be displaying pressures and temperatures for all four wheels
Monitor is just displaying the vehicle icon only?
This sounds like the monitor has been switched on, but the TCSO external sensors have not ‘woken up’.
The TCSO sensors go to sleep after 10 minutes of inactivity, which preserves the battery life.
The vehicle will need to be driven to wake up the sensors. This will only take a few seconds, and the display will begin displaying tyre pressures and temperatures
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TCSO Sensors
I am seeing temperature variations between two sensors of 5 deg C. Is there a problem with my sensor?
The tolerance on our temperature sensor is +/- 3 deg C. This tolerance band is a compromise between accuracy and power requirements. Our sensors are intended as a guide, rather than scientifically accurate equipment. This tolerance provides the driver with data that is still very useful, such as rapid increase in temperatures indicating a worsening condition needing attention.
The temperature tolerance means that if the outside temperature is 20 deg C one sensor could read 17 deg C and another could read 23 deg C. This is a 6 deg C difference between the sensors at maximum and minimum tolerance. A variation of 5 deg C is within this tolerance.
In addition small changes in solar radiation can affect temperature variation. On my car I can tell which side the sun is shining.
Please monitor the sensor and if it begins to drift outside the 6 deg C maximum variation please let us know.
I am seeing pressure variations between two sensors of 2 psi. Is there a problem with my sensor?
The tolerance on our pressure sensor is +/- 1.5 psi. This tolerance band is a compromise between accuracy and power requirements. Our sensors are intended as a guide, rather than scientifically accurate equipment. This tolerance provides the driver with data that is still very useful, such as a rapid decrease in pressure indicating a worsening condition needing attention.
Our display also rounds up the pressure, which adds another 0.5psi discrepancy.
The pressure tolerance means that if the tyre pressure is 30 psi, one sensor could read 31.5 psi which the display would round-up to 32 psi. Another sensor could read 28.5 psi which the display would round up to 29 psi. Overall there is a 3 psi difference between the two sensors at maximum and minimum tolerance. A variation of 2 psi is within this tolerance.
In addition, variations in solar radiation from one side of the vehicle to the other can affect tyre pressures, leading to perceived discrepancies. On my car I can tell which side the sun is shining.
Please monitor the sensor and if it begins to drift outside the 3 psi maximum variation please let us know.
Sensor is reading zero psi after installation?
Sometimes the sensor can ping out a signal when its being removed from the valve, which can confuse the monitor software.
When setting up / registering the sensors make sure they are removed from the wheel before starting the process. This ensures the sensor is receiving a positive change in pressure as it registers.
It would also be prudent to change the battery for a new one at the same time, if it is an older sensor
My sensor is leaking air. Can I replace the seals?
Yes. We sell a kit of four valve seals on our website. The part number is 505-918-112-0 and can be purchase here
When I tried to unscrew the sensors the rubber covers (dust shields) all tore. They had stuck on the sensors and simply would not move. There is no room because of the design of wheel to allow the rubbers to be pulled back manually before unscrewing the sensors. Can you supply replacements? Are they necessary?
We sell dust shields on our website. The part number is 505-918-116-0 and can be purchased: https://www.tyrepal.co.uk/product/tcsn-3-dust-shield-2/
We advise that the dust shields are fitted, but it is not essential if there is no clearance for them.
When I removed the sensors all tyre valves started to leak and would not stop until the sensors were replaced. Does this mean that the valves have become sticky because they are presumably open all the time for the sensors? How can I fix this?
When the sensors are fitted they press down on the Schrader valve. This allows the air inside the tyre to enter the sensor and allows it to detect pressure. It sounds like your tyre valves need replacing if the Schrader valves are sticking open. The car will need to be taken to a tyre fitters for new valve stems to be fitted.
The tyre gauge (at the fuel station and my own personal one) would not fit on the valves until I removed the locknuts holding the rubber covers. (The valves are too short to allow). Would I be best to remove the nuts and rubber covers and do without them?
We would not recommend removing the lock nuts. The lock nuts secure the sensor to the valve stem. During tyre inflation if the dust shields are not fitted the lock nut can be wound further on to the valve stem, if it is long enough. Otherwise the lock nuts will need to be removed during tyre inflation, and then replaced
It seems that the wheel sensors are not giving an up to date reading after the vehicle has been parked up, eg when I start the vehicle again, or even roll forward the tyre pressure values still show the old reading of when the vehicle last came to a stop. This is not good as I need to know what the tyre pressure values are when the tyres are cold.
Our TCSO sensors go to sleep after 10 minutes of inactivity, which preserves the battery life, allowing the sensor to have a battery life of 1 – 2 years.
The best way to get rapid pressure and temperatures on the monitor is to ensure the sensor is turned off between use. Turn the monitor on before you move the vehicle. Once the vehicle moves the display will show the temperatures and pressures after 4 to 5 secs.
Alternatively, we offer a larger sensor, called the TCSE. This sensor is ‘always on’. It is larger because it needs a bigger battery. This sensor constantly communicates with the monitor. In ‘sleep mode’ the TCSE sensor will send out an update signal every hour, ensuring that any overnight changes to tyre pressures are displayed.
Our kits do not replace the need for visual tyre checks that I am sure are part of you pre-drive check list. These visual checks will spot major changes in tyre condition, such as flat or nearly flat tyres.
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TC215 Kits
How do I set up / code internal sensors?
Please follow this procedure for coding the internal sensors:
1. Switch on the monitor
2. Press and hold the "Code" button for 4-5 secs
3. Using the "+" or "-" buttons select the tyre icon that represents the location of the sensor you want to code
4. The display should be showing "FFF FFF". If another six digit code is present press and hold the "Set" button for 4-5 secs to clear it
5. Position yourself next to the wheel you will be coding.
6. Press the "“Code" button for 1 sec. “Id LF” should appear on the display. Ensure you have positioned the base of the monitor (an area near the “Set” button) in close proximity to the valve stem of the internal sensor when you press the “Code” button 1 sec. The monitor should beep and a six digit ID code appears on the screen.
7. Repeat steps 3 to 6 for the next sensor.
8. Once all of the internal sensors have been coded press and hold the "Code" button to register the sensors in the monitor memory
How do I set up / code external sensors?
Please follow this procedure for coding the external sensors:
1. Prepare the external sensors. Install the batteries. Remove the tyre valve cap, and fit the dust shield and lock nut, leaving enough thread exposed to allow the sensor to create a seal.
2. Do not fit the sensors yet. Just ensure the valve stems are prepared ready for them.
3. Switch on the monitor.
4. Press and hold the "Code" button for 4-5 secs
5. Using the "+" or "-" buttons select the tyre icon that represents the location of the sensor you want to code
6. The display should be showing "FFF FFF". If another six digit code is present press and hold the "Set" button for 4-5 secs to clear it
7. Attach the sensor to the valve stem, ensuring it creates a seal. During installation you may hear air escaping for a few seconds, but this should stop as the sensor seals. Ensure the sensor is fitted rapidly to minimize air loss.
8. The display should beep after 4-5 secs, and a six digit ID code will be displayed on the screen
9. Repeat steps 5 to 8 for the next sensor
9. Once all of the sensors are registered press and hold the "Code" button to register the sensors in the monitor memory
10. Check the external sensors are not leaking using soapy water, tighten the lock-nut using the supplied hex wrench and fold back the dust shield to cover the sensor
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