TPMS Sensors when RV is stored

RobWNY wrote:
Soon it will be time to winterize up here in the Northeast and I store my 5th wheel outside in the elements. So I was wondering if I should remove my TPMS sensors from the valve stems and keep them in our home for the winter. I guess they have small batteries in them. Will this extend the battery life or should I not worry about removing them? I have the EEZ TPMS system.

It certainly wont hurt to bring them in where's it's warm.
I keep waiting for the manufacturers of these systems to start using the same technology modern cars use and stop using batteries.

Every TPMS sensor in the world uses lithium batteries and they all store just fine. All of them have a sleep mode to conserve power use as well.

If you have the valve stem cap style, it wont hurt to bring them in. But you'll need to mark their locations or re-pair them when you mount them again in Spring.

I leave mine on. There's bigger things to worry about when closing up shop for winter.

And heck, if you have the cap style, you should really replace the lithium coin batteries every year regardless. They are cheap and easy to replace.

RinconVTR wrote:
Every TPMS sensor in the world uses lithium batteries and they all store just fine. All of them have a sleep mode to conserve power use as well.

If you have the valve stem cap style, it wont hurt to bring them in. But you'll need to mark their locations or re-pair them when you mount them again in Spring.

I leave mine on. There's bigger things to worry about when closing up shop for winter.

And heck, if you have the cap style, you should really replace the lithium coin batteries every year regardless. They are cheap and easy to replace.

Interesting, mine that I use on my TT don't use lithium batterys and when I bought the system I didn't see that option.
BTW, Modern cars and trucks do not use batteries at all for their sensors.

I take my TST sensors off every year before the trailer goes back in storage. With no pressure the sensors don't transmit. Most of my sensor batteries are at least 5 years old. I've had to replace 2 out of 6 so far. Works for me.

My TST uses alkaline button type batteries. And they turn on when pressurized. And don’t have a sleep mode that I am aware of. Any time I turn on the receiver the pressures pop up shortly afterward whether the trailer moves or not. I don’t think the receiver can send a signal to wake up the sensors.

I take them off during the winter to conserve battery. Each sensor has a numbered sticker so I know where to replace them. Takes a couple minutes.

BB_TX wrote:
My TST uses alkaline button type batteries. And they turn on when pressurized. And don’t have a sleep mode that I am aware of. Any time I turn on the receiver the pressures pop up shortly afterward whether the trailer moves or not. I don’t think the receiver can send a signal to wake up the sensors.

I take them off during the winter to conserve battery. Each sensor has a numbered sticker so I know where to replace them. Takes a couple minutes.

This is correct for our TST 507 sensors and is how I do it.

ScottG wrote:

I keep waiting for the manufacturers of these systems to start using the same technology modern cars use and stop using batteries.

Kinda doubt we will ever see that on TT's and FW's. Manufactures still don't want to switch to disc brakes let alone computer controlled ABS.

"Indirect TPMS works with your car’s Antilock Braking System’s (ABS) wheel speed sensors. If a tire’s pressure is low, it will roll at a different wheel speed than the other tires. This information is detected by your car’s computer system, which triggers the dashboard indicator light."

Hondavalk wrote:

ScottG wrote:

I keep waiting for the manufacturers of these systems to start using the same technology modern cars use and stop using batteries.

Kinda doubt we will ever see that on TT's and FW's. Manufactures still don't want to switch to disc brakes let alone computer controlled ABS.

"Indirect TPMS works with your car’s Antilock Braking System’s (ABS) wheel speed sensors. If a tire’s pressure is low, it will roll at a different wheel speed than the other tires. This information is detected by your car’s computer system, which triggers the dashboard indicator light."

I haven't heard of that system but I do know there are actual sensors inside the newer crop of vehicles that have no batteries. The system is seamless but you can tell if your car is equipped with them. With the new sensors, adjusting the air pressure will not show a change on the dash until the tire rolls a bit.
In the case of our FCA product, the car had to roll about 20 feet to register the pressure change. At that point it is very accurate though.

ScottG wrote:
It certainly wont hurt to bring them in where's it's warm.
I keep waiting for the manufacturers of these systems to start using the same technology modern cars use and stop using batteries.

Scott, almost every car uses a lithium battery with an expected life of 7-8 years. I have a set of '06 wheels that has 1 or more sensors that have insufficient battery reserve to operate. My '07 wheels are getting new tires next spring, and I'm going to replace all the sensors.

I'm not aware of any car that's currently using "batteryless" technology.

I will be putting my FW in storage in November and I am planning to remove my TPMS sensors from the valve stems. My reason is just to feel safer about having the sensors in the Spring when it is time to start camping again. I have not experienced any issues with theft where I store my FW, but it never hurts to be cautious and it takes less than 30 minutes to remove them.