Hale Meters

[Panel]

Interesting question and one that I did ponder to some extent.

As far as my MCT5 is concerned another year isn't an option as it's the older one that expires at the end of this year.

I did consider scrounging a MCT5+ off someone (probably Ken!) and getting a year out of it, the rationale being that my car is only good until early 2026 but I decided against 'cos that would ultimately force me to change the car before the end of 2025.

If I coulda got a MCT6 at the advertised price of €250 I woulda done that but Mechanic24 looking for an additional €300 is, frankly, taking the piss.

Anyway, I haven't done anything yet... bar pushing the sealing appointment back. I've got till the end of the year to get a meter sorted!

My heep will have to be replaced December 2027 so I just need a bare standard meter that I can get 3 years out of.

I actually have a spare MCT05+ meter here if you want it, it’s untested mind yours for €foc

I haven’t done anything about getting a new meter yet myself.

[Rat Catcher]

Thanks for the offer but I reckon I'll go for the mirror option to avoid pressure to change the car any earlier than absolutely necessary. I might have an option of a little used Alberen mirror meter in the pipeline which I guess would save a few notes depending on the installation fee.

[Panel]

Therein lies the catch 22, I bought a Semitron mirror meter and printer off adverts the other day for €80, bargain.

Until I did me sums

€80 for a new second hand meter & printer
€250 fitout fee
€150 for the updated fare

€480 in total for a second hand meter that might be wanked.

Or €550 for a new meter and printer with a 2 year warranty that cost an additional €70 over a second hand one.

[silverbullet]

Thanks for the offer but I reckon I'll go for the mirror option to avoid pressure to change the car any earlier than absolutely necessary. I might have an option of a little used Alberen mirror meter in the pipeline which I guess would save a few notes depending on the installation fee.

Ask tony, he's not driving a cab anymore. it would be a shame to see the meter going a-begging.

[Rat Catcher]

If I were you I'd install it myself and see what they want to programme it, Panel. You might need to find an installation manual online but the user manual for the Alberen shows the wiring diagram for that model - there's probably not a lot of difference between that and the Semitron. Once you figure out how to attach the yoke to the mirror there's not a lot to the rest of it. You've got 4 wires*: +, -, Hunger and pulse which are all pretty self explanatory. If you have a 12v power supply (e.g. car battery charger) bench test it first i.e. connect the + and - (provided you can identify them!). You can then find the hunger with a meter - it reverses polarity i.e. measures +12v in For Hire mode and -12V in hired mode. The wire that's left over is the pulse wire. Then you just need to find the pulse wire going to your current meter (shouldn't be too difficult) and connect it all up (hunger goes to roof sign +). If you get to there and it's working you'll probably find the K factor is wrong i.e. it's not measuring distance correctly. AFAIK you can't adjust the K factor without programming equipment so you'd need the installer to fix that while programming the new rate. At the end of the day what have you got to lose if it doesn't work?

* plus a seperate printer cable which (on the Alberen) is plug and play.

[Panel]

If I were you I'd install it myself and see what they want to programme it, Panel. You might need to find an installation manual online but the user manual for the Alberen shows the wiring diagram for that model - there's probably not a lot of difference between that and the Semitron. Once you figure out how to attach the yoke to the mirror there's not a lot to the rest of it. You've got 4 wires*: +, -, Hunger and pulse which are all pretty self explanatory. If you have a 12v power supply (e.g. car battery charger) bench test it first i.e. connect the + and - (provided you can identify them!). You can then find the hunger with a meter - it reverses polarity i.e. measures +12v in For Hire mode and -12V in hired mode. The wire that's left over is the pulse wire. Then you just need to find the pulse wire going to your current meter (shouldn't be too difficult) and connect it all up (hunger goes to roof sign +). If you get to there and it's working you'll probably find the K factor is wrong i.e. it's not measuring distance correctly. AFAIK you can't adjust the K factor without programming equipment so you'd need the installer to fix that while programming the new rate. At the end of the day what have you got to lose if it doesn't work?

* plus a seperate printer cable which (on the Alberen) is plug and play.

Very true nothing to loose, but I’d imagine the installer would get arsey when he realises that I installed it myself (they’d have to change the plate and reg number on the meter too)

[Belker]

Rescheduled the meter seal appointment for 22nd Jan.

Do you have to cancel and book again when you get a new TTI form i.e. is the appointment specific to the TTI form?

I dunno that, I'll be ringing them myself tomorrow (Mon) to make sure they have my nua TTI form fer my reseal appointment next Thursday, which was booked with my old TTI form last October.

I expect no worries, but if any I can reschedule fer Free on Monday.
I'll let you know how I get on tomorrow.

@ Stephen, I didn't garner a whole lot of imfo on this today.

My meter installer told me last week that he had emailed both me and the reseal crowd the nua TTI form, but I never got that email.

Rang him again this morning he assured me that he had sent the email, so I rang the reseal crowd to confirm that they had the new TTI form fer my appointment next Thursday, but while they had my appointment they could not confirm if they had the new TTI form or not ??

I'll let ya know how I get on next Thursday.

[Rat Catcher]

True enough, Panel. They're obviously going to charge something to set the K factor and (what I didn't think of!) the plate/reg number on the printer. Neither are particularly time-consuming but they seem to charge c.€1,800/hour for programming hence there still mightn't be a lot of difference in total cost... but at least you'd know it's installed properly!

I got the (now useless) TTI form for the Hale by email from NSAI, Ken. If you haven't got one I guess it's possible that the installer entered your email address incorrectly on the form he submits to NSAI?

[Belker]

....  I got the (now useless) TTI form for the Hale by email from NSAI, Ken. If you haven't got one I guess it's possible that the installer entered your email address incorrectly on the form he submits to NSAI?

I know but there is no way to confirm if'n NSAI got his email or not ??

So it's a 'Fingers crossed' job heading fer reseal on Thursday.

[Rat Catcher]

I woulda thought they'd be able to tell you on the phone... seems crazy that they can't.

[Belker]

I woulda thought they'd be able to tell you on the phone... seems crazy that they can't.

The lady at suitability confirmed yesterday that they had my updated TTI form.

[silverbullet]

If I were you I'd install it myself and see what they want to programme it, Panel. You might need to find an installation manual online but the user manual for the Alberen shows the wiring diagram for that model - there's probably not a lot of difference between that and the Semitron. Once you figure out how to attach the yoke to the mirror there's not a lot to the rest of it. You've got 4 wires*: +, -, Hunger and pulse which are all pretty self explanatory. If you have a 12v power supply (e.g. car battery charger) bench test it first i.e. connect the + and - (provided you can identify them!). You can then find the hunger with a meter - it reverses polarity i.e. measures +12v in For Hire mode and -12V in hired mode. The wire that's left over is the pulse wire. Then you just need to find the pulse wire going to your current meter (shouldn't be too difficult) and connect it all up (hunger goes to roof sign +). If you get to there and it's working you'll probably find the K factor is wrong i.e. it's not measuring distance correctly. AFAIK you can't adjust the K factor without programming equipment so you'd need the installer to fix that while programming the new rate. At the end of the day what have you got to lose if it doesn't work?

* plus a seperate printer cable which (on the Alberen) is plug and play.

Very true nothing to loose, but I’d imagine the installer would get arsey when he realises that I installed it myself (they’d have to change the plate and reg number on the meter too)

Cartel?

[Rat Catcher]

I as up above in Dublin on Tuesday so I dropped into Mechanic 24 at c.15:23 with no appointment... Left less than an hour later €550 (400 on top of the 150 I'd already paid for the useless reprogramming of the MCT5) lighter and a new Alberen mirror meter and printer. To be fair, they actually done a pretty good and neat job and the air vents fit back properly now that the dashboard meter is gone. It was a (descendant of a) Chinese immigrant who done the fitting... one oughtn't generalise but clearly the right men to fit the stuff they make, I guess. In any event he was an extremely pleasant man as was the Paddy who showed me how it works and took the money. In fact, a somewhat unexpected pleasant experience overall... but then why wouldn't it be with the rates they charge!

[Rat Catcher]

Oh... I got the new TTI form by electronic mail from NSAI on Tuesday evening so M24 were obviously quite efficient with the paperwork too.

[Belker]

I as up above in Dublin on Tuesday so I dropped into Mechanic 24 at c.15:23 with no appointment... Left less than an hour later €550 (400 on top of the 150 I'd already paid for the useless reprogramming of the MCT5) lighter and a new Alberen mirror meter and printer. To be fair, they actually done a pretty good and neat job and the air vents fit back properly now that the dashboard meter is gone. It was a (descendant of a) Chinese immigrant who done the fitting... one oughtn't generalise but clearly the right men to fit the stuff they make, I guess. In any event he was an extremely pleasant man as was the Paddy who showed me how it works and took the money. In fact, a somewhat unexpected pleasant experience overall... but then why wouldn't it be with the rates they charge!

Did they take the already paid €150 off the €550 ?
As in was the total cost to you €550 or €700 ?

PS. Practise lifting the cover on the printer, it's like riding a bike, simple when ya get used to it.