Coin [credit card] operated electric meter

[marty]

Any body know where to buy a coin operated electric meter? Like the coin operated air compressors I see at gas stations. One 15A outlet would be fine. Think 25¢ for a 1/2 hour would be fair?

 

[DCB-BLDC]

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[dnmun]

i am thinking fair will depend on the capital outlay required to offer the charging service.

for one kWh, i pay 11 cents, if i supplied current in the form of 355V DC at 20A then i would charge for the power supply by amortizing the cost of the charger and equipment over time. that would add about 5-10 cents i expect. otherwise the 240V/20A service for the onboard 5kW charger would just be cost plus. 2%-5%

the formalities of creating authentication and billing should be simple. i would like for google to make the billing services free and sell links to spots near the charging spot where people can go hang out while the car charges.

it's coming.

 

[marty]

Try XCP or CoinCo

DCB-BLDC,
Thanks for those companies. I sent emails to:
xcp.com
coinco.com
electricmeters.co.uk
euro-meter.eu

 

[DCB-BLDC]

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[marty]

Try XCP or CoinCo

DCB-BLDC,
Thanks for those companies. I sent emails to:
xcp.com
coinco.com
electricmeters.co.uk
euro-meter.eu

XCP and CoinCo make the changer
You may need a circuit with so electronics
I could help out with that if you need me to.
Have designed interface boards for these changer before.

DCB-BLDC,
My thoughts on just about everything is that it is usually easier and cheaper to buy stuff then build stuff. But if this Coin operated electric meter that takes US coins don't exist? Guess you will have to build one?

Here is EURO COIN ELECTRIC METER FOR RENTAL & PRIVATE PROPERTY
http://www.euro-meter.eu/

They don't make one for US coins. Voltage is different too. I asked.

DCB-BLDC, Roughly what do you think it would cost for materials for a coin operated electric meter? Like the coin operated air compressors I see at gas stations. One 15A outlet would be fine. Please design it for indoors. Are coin taking machines cheaper then bill taking machines?

 

[DCB-BLDC]

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[jag]

In Europe, most campgrounds have electric heating on their coin operated showers. It is possible to buy units that control the showers.

This can be programmed to delivers between 0 and 99min of 16A:

http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/101585096/PayMatic_AD2400_Coin_or_Token_operated.html

 

[marty]

Marty,
Can you give me an idea of how you want it to work.
The coin changers basically just accept coins.
The can trigger a relay that will activate the power for a predetermined amount of time.
Could be very simple or mildly complicated depending on what exactly you want.
Thanks
David

David,
Insert 25¢ get a 1/2 hour of electricity. Insert 50¢ get 1 hour of electricity. Insert $1.00 get 2 hours of electricity. Insert $12.00 get 24 hours of electricity. Like the coin operated air compressors I see at gas stations. One 15A outlet would be fine. Please design it for indoors.

Please note that the labor to build one prototype electricity vending machine would be WAY more then I would even think of paying. Think it might be easier to buy one of those European coin boxes for switching electrical appliances and modify it to accept US coins or bills and 110V AC.

If Electric Vehicles ever catch on? I can imagine coin operated charging stations in parking lots, like parking meters.

 

[dnmun]

i don't think coin operated will be a big deal.

i expect it will be all controlled just like a credit transaction with a card swiped on the front panel and authentication using common techniques, or just by entering your access code to record the amount of charge collected and applied to your bill.

here in oregon i am trying to get PGE to allow charging at away spots for EVs but charged back to the EV owner's residential account through the rf data links in the new meters.

 

[el_walto]

Most coin slot devices like slot machines can programmed by entering a programming mode and pumping a few coins through it. They use weight, shape, and metal content.

 

[marty]

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Looks like DCB-BLDC has left us? Wonder what causes a man to replace some helpful posts with a period? Thanks for sharing your knowledge and I wish you all the best. Bye-bye.

 

[marty]

i don't think coin operated will be a big deal.

i expect it will be all controlled just like a credit transaction with a card swiped on the front panel and authentication using common techniques, or just by entering your access code to record the amount of charge collected and applied to your bill.

here in oregon i am trying to get PGE to allow charging at away spots for EVs but charged back to the EV owner's residential account through the rf data links in the new meters.

dnmun,
Think you are right. My father used to have a gumball machine vending business. Driving around in a truck collecting heavy bags of coins was way too much like work.

Here are my thoughts on Coin [credit card] operated electric meter. I am renting low cost apartments to people. It is very common for people to set up accounts for gas and electricity and simply not pay the bills. Utilities then get shut off. Tenants have many imaginative ideas to get utilities turned on again, the most common is to just find a different person with a social security number to get utilities turned on.

A simpler idea might be for the landlord to put utilities in his name and install pre-pay gas and electric meters. Sell electricity by the kilowatt. Natural gas seems to be measured in CCF or 100 cubic feet.

Anyone want to go into the pre-pay gas and electric meter business? I got a merchant credit card machine for my http://sukkahs.com/ business. It communicates through the telephone line. I love sucking money out of plastic cards.