I had read about TPMS systems sometime back and had given a thought. Recently started following the TPMS thread related to SensAiry
> (SensAiry : An app-based TPMS) on TeamBHP and was impressed with the capability and safety that a TPMS system offers.
I asked several questions about the SensAiry TPMS on TeamBHP and also emailed their support and planned to go for a TPMS system. Given that Sensairy comes with Internal Sensors I decided to go for it only when it was time for the next Wheel Balancing and Alignment.
In the meanwhile, I started gathering information about TPMS systems and the Sensor Types. I also came across some material which stated that TPM systems are mandatory for light motor vehicles in the USA since 2007. This further influenced my decision to go for the TPMS in a more positive way.
It looked to me that the External Sensors gave lot more convenience than the Internal Sensors. Here is a listing of Pros and Cons in my view:
Advantages of the Internal TPMS Sensor:
1. Accuracy of the Internal TPMS Sensor is higher
2. Internal TPMS Sensors are theft proof as compared to External.
3. Refilling of Air/Nitrogen is easier, as one does not have to remove the Sensor which is needed in case of External Sensor.
Advantages of the External TPMS Sensor:
1. Truly D-I-Y, one does not need the help of any Tire Shop for installing these.
2. One can manage the show with 4 sensors even if we plan to rotate all 5 tyres as the sensor can be swapped as needed.
3. Replacement of Battery is easier and can be done as D-I-Y.
4. More economical in comparison as one does not need to invest in Wheel Balancing.
After evaluating the pros and cons of each, I felt it was a safe bet to go with the External Sensor based TPMS. Also if I went for the External TPMS then I would not have to wait for the next round of Wheel Balancing as well. With this direction, I started exploring TPMS options on AliExpress.
After browsing thru multiple options and the ones that other BHPians had also reviewed, I zeroed in on the Deelife External TPMS with Display.
Here is the
AliExpress Link to the product:
URL Reasons for choosing the Deelife TPMS:
1. This has the option of both Internal Sensor and External Sensor - so in future I could swap to Internal sensors by ordering just the sensors.
2. The company sells just the sensors as accessory. It is possible to buy a single sensor as well. They also have a pack of 4 sensors at a discounted price. This meant that I could potentially replace a sensor in case it went bad or was stolen.
3. The AliExpress Page for the Product was quite descriptive and provided a comparison of why this TPMS is better compared to others in terms of the chip used (Infineon Chip) and better Battery (Seiko).
4. Dual charging option of either the Solar Panel or the Micro USB connector.
5. Auto Wake up & Sleep Feature. The TPMS system switches on based on the Vibration of the Car Door Opening/Closing.
Comparison Provided on AliExpress Site Order and Delivery Process
I ordered using the AliExpress website. I did not want to go with the default China Post and opted for Turkish Post - I had no prior experience with this option but had tried Singapore Post before it had taken 20+ days for delivery. The total order value including the shipping came to:
USD 47.97 after some Store and Seller discounts. (Do note that post my purchase and feedback my cousin ordered 2 sets for
USD 90.92) - so do check AliExpress coupons to get the best deal)
Tracking was provided for the Order and it did show some updates. Given my earlier experience with AliExpress I did not expect the order to reach me before 20 days. But Lo and Behold I was in for a surprise when I saw the package delivered on the 12th day itself!
The TPMS Arrives:
The Product arrived well packaged with good amount of Bubble Wrap. The Name Deelife is not mentioned anywhere on the Product and there is no mention of any brand on the Product except for the Serial Number.
The Package Arrives
Box Packing
Unboxing
The LCD Display Unit
The display unit is very compact is shaped like a triangular pyramid.
The Components Provided - 4 Sensors & Locking Spanner
The complete list of items that are included in the box are as follows:
- 1 x Monitor
- 4 x External Sensor
- 4 x Anti-theft Nut
- 1 x Hex Wrench
- 1 x Anti-slip Pad
- 1 x English User Manual
- 1 x USB Cable for Charging
As can be seen there are markings on the External Sensors to denote which tire they need to be mounted on as FR for Front Right, FL got Front Left, RR for Rear Right and RL for Rear Left. The sensor is made of Nylon Glass Fiber and is IPX7 in terms of water proof level and comes with its own battery. The battery on each sensor can also be replaced as a D-I-Y. As per the manufacturer the battery (CR1632) on the sensor should last 2-3 years.
Note: The Font Size on the Printed manual is too small but the Store Support sent me a soft copy of the Manual as an Image which made life easy.
TPMS Display Unit Connected to Phone Charger
I was not sure how much charge the Monitor Unit comes with and decided to charge it for a while but I realized that it was shipped with full charge. Battery life for the Monitor/Display Unit is claimed to be about 1 month as per the reviews. Need to validate this as time passes.
The Monitor/Display Unit when inverted has some concealed buttons which doubles up as a leg for it as well. When these are moved it reveals 3 buttons which are marked as "+", "M" and "-". Pressing the M toggles thru the different settings available. It toggles thru all the 4 tires and long pressing the M button selects the specific tire.
For each tire there is a provision to set the alarm for the Low Pressure as well as for the High Temperature. One can also change the Unit that gets displayed for the Pressure such as kPA, Bar etc as well as the Unit for Temperature (F / C).
The picture above also shows the Circular Anti-Slip Mat provided with the kit.
Installation
The Anti-Theft Nut needs to be threaded onto the nozzle on the tire. Once that is in place, the external Sensor is then threaded onto the same nozzle. After the Sensor has been tightened to a good level, one needs to start threading the Anti-Theft nut in the reverse direction. After it is beyond what can be done manually with hands use the Hex Wrench to tighten it further. This overlaps onto the External Sensor and does not allow the External Sensor to be removed easily.
Note: I pulled the Spanner of the same size from the Spanner set but could not use it as a replacement for the Hex Wrench as the one I had was thicker in size and could not get an approach angle. So, it possibly is not that easy for someone to steal these.
TPMS External Sensor Mounted on the Tire
TPMS External Sensor - Additional View
TPMS Display Unit Placed on the Dashboard of the Honda City
TPMS Display Unit Placed on the Dashboard - Additional View Alarm and How it works
In order to check how the Alarm works, I removed the External Sensor from one of the tires (Front Right in this example). Within 10 seconds of removing the sensor the Display Unit starts to beep and also the specific Tire which has low pressure starts to blink in the display unit along with the pressure reading. The background color of the Display Unit also changes color to Orange from its original Green Color.
Wrapping Up - Summary
In Summary, I am happy with the purchase. Durability is something I need to wait and watch for. I think more manufacturers need to offer this as standard equipment since it does not cost much and offers an additional level of safety. I would personally recommend a TPMS to everyone.
Likes: - The D-I-Y feature is what I liked the most. Being able to remove it and put it back on your own makes it very easy to maintain.
- The Battery on the sensor can also be changed as a D-I-Y as compared to some other brands where the sensor needs to be replaced.
- The overall design looks neat and the quality felt good for the price paid - as compared to products like Sensairy - this is very cost effective. For the same price I would be able to get 2 pieces. Of course, there is no Android/iOS app support but the app based approach did not look convenient to me.
- I also liked the fact that they supplied an anti-skid mat as well.
Dislikes/Wishlist:- Not sure if this is possible and I have not really compared the size of the external sensor but if companies could somehow make it even smaller then it would not be noticeable and less prone to unwanted attention.
- The background color should have been configurable
I liked the Orange color and would have liked to toggle the colors since the LCD display anyway supports it.
- The Printed Manual supplied is useless as the font size is too small. They should plan to provide a better Printed Manual although a soft copy was shared.
- The concealed button in one of the legs also means it may not make sense to stick the base to the dashboard with something like a double sided tape. The anti-skid mat is holding up fine for now.
NOTE: Do go through the AliExpress Product link (
URL) thoroughly to get additional details. They have provided detailed information on the product and also compared the Internal and External sensors as well.
Some Additional Pictures from within the Car