Convert IU into portable

[blizzard]

I bought a brand new IU and did not fix it for 9 months, just lying in my store room. Just a month ago I finally fixed it onto my bike (powered by my bike batt) and it read my card and went thru the gantry with no prob.

 

Mine is those new type of small IUs without the long tube on one side, which is for batteries as someone mentioned here. So I guess the internal batt could last quite a long time for a brand new IU.

 

Also, with regards to dead IUs. I had unknowingly bought a 5 yr old dead IU from an unscrupulous forum member, and it was successfully detected by the IU reader at the Vicom center. The technician there told me that even if the IU has no power, it can still be read by the IU reader, and he got all the IU details (which said that it was reported stolen, but thats another story) from it.

 

I think its not necessary for the IU to be powered, unless it needs to perform transactions on the cashcard. Just as those RFID tags in library books do not need to be powered for it to be recognised by the book readers. So thats why the gantries can know if you have a IU unit on your vehicle or not, even if your IU unit is not powered. Hence the difference in directives given if you have an unpowered IU and compared to not having an IU at all.

[Unagi]

Originally posted by BLACK COMET@Aug 4 2006, 12:05 PM

The internal is powered by 2 cr123a batts.

 

It's not rechargable.

Hi BLACK COMET,

 

My IU isn't working and 2 days ago I sent it for inspection they said the warranty expired 2003... will it come alive if I just replace the 2 CR123A batteries? Thanks!

[BLACK COMET]

Originally posted by tridagger@Nov 21 2006, 07:07 PM

Hi BLACK COMET,

 

My IU isn't working and 2 days ago I sent it for inspection they said the warranty expired 2003... will it come alive if I just replace the 2 CR123A batteries? Thanks!

I don't think u wanna do that.

 

cost it's a sealed unit.the cover to the circuit board is sealed.

If you able to open it, then high chance u already broke the whole IU casing.

 

The batts are solder together with tiny metal pate connectors. Then wire solder to the batts and the other end of wire is solder to the cirucit board.

 

And the batt is further secure by adhesive to the circuit board.

 

Personal experience with this kind of batts is that fresh, they can last 5 to 6 years.

[Unagi]

Soldering is no problem, just that don't have the Y-type screw driver and was told by the hardware shop that it's pretty expensive to order.

 

I guess I'll just leave it as it is then... seldom use it anyway.

 

Thanks for your advice BLACK COMET

[yanuk]

Originally posted by William Tan@Aug 21 2006, 12:30 PM

Actually, you're mistaken. When entering without a power supply connected, the gantry detected a "no IU unit" and snapped a photo of your bike number plate which is what they used to track down to you. The next time, if you have the oppurtunity, take a look at the gantry. You will see a few sets of cameras pointing at your rear number plate.

 

The same method is also used to capture foreign cars without the rental IU entering the restricted zone. They will then be stopped at customs upon exiting Singapore.

demon is correct. My bike was sabotaged with the IU power line being cut, I went thru the exact same process as demon and the IU technician told me that the power line is faulty, either fuse blown or connection loose. True enough, my power line was snipped of by some bas***d.

 

No fine as well.

 

I think the IU's that die without external power belong to the first batch under the 5year warranty ones. The new ones comes seem to come with better internal power that didn't require constant external power.

[snowparang]

I didn't connect power to my IU and it can still be detected by carpark gantries. Only after reading this forum then I realise they're internal batteries in the IU. What a stupid design!

 

Anyway, to the threadstarter, you can always extend 2 leads from the battery to the front of your bike. Hence whenever you wanna use just connect it to the 2 leads instead of scratching your head over portable batteries.

 

Lastly, is it illegal to NOT POSSESS an IU? I get mix answers...

[yanuk]

Originally posted by snowparang@Nov 23 2006, 04:51 PM

I didn't connect power to my IU and it can still be detected by carpark gantries. Only after reading this forum then I realise they're internal batteries in the IU. What a stupid design!

 

Anyway, to the threadstarter, you can always extend 2 leads from the battery to the front of your bike. Hence whenever you wanna use just connect it to the 2 leads instead of scratching your head over portable batteries.

 

Lastly, is it illegal to NOT POSSESS an IU? I get mix answers...

from my understanding it is not illegal not to have an IU, but tampering with the IU (power cords inclusive) is illegal.. So your IU mod to a molex connector power cord is illegal, as you have to cut the power cord which is deemed as tampering.

[snowparang]

Originally posted by yanuk@Nov 23 2006, 05:30 PM

from my understanding it is not illegal not to have an IU, but tampering with the IU (power cords inclusive) is illegal.. So your IU mod to a molex connector power cord is illegal, as you have to cut the power cord which is deemed as tampering.

well...can always use crocodile clips or screw-tighten fasteners, since the end of the IU power cord is a simple exposed copper anyway...