FAQ's

1. Who is the manufacturer for the valve caps?

The manufacturer is a US-based company that has been contracted for improving the performance of many well known products including the Boeing 727 aircraft. The manufacturing of the valve cap is split between China and America. Contracts are in place to ensure quality control and minimisation of counterfeit products.
# How long has the product been on the market?

The revolutionary air alert valve cap was in development and testing stage for over two years before it was launched onto the market in 2004. They are currently in mass production for the US and UK market.

2. What is the current availability of the product?

The tyre pressure alert valve cap is manufactured in mass production. There is sufficient stock. The lead time for large orders is 8 -10 weeks.

3. What is the RRP / SRP?

The retail price will vary based on the retailer, shipping cost from the factory to retailer and custom and import duties. The suggested retail for a general passenger vehicle pack of 4 is £29.99 including VAT.

4. What material is the valve cap made from?

The Valve Caps are made of Stainless Steel with a polycarbonate lens. The passenger versions have a reinforced nylon thread and the commercial versions have a brass thread..

5. Is there a risk of the valve cap being stolen once its placed on the tyre?

We recognise that this product may be liable to theft due to its flashing feature. However, this risk is minimal and can be associated with any non-standard flashing or glowing valve cap.

An anti-theft version is available consisting of a pre-installed rotating stainless steel sleeve and key.

6. A valve cap that alerts for a drop in pressure of only 4 psi may be too sensitive for the type of vehicles I am responsible for. Are there any other versions available?

Heavy duty valve caps which will flash when the pressure drops 8 psi are available. These are more suitable for commercial use. The recommended pressure range is 20 – 150 psi. The commercial versions can handle pressure spikes up to 200 psi above calibration pressure.

7. What is the policy on faulty goods and returns?

The valve cap comes with a one year manufacturer’s warranty. All valve caps are quality checked before dispatch therefore the percentage of defective goods is extremely low, if not zero. All details on returning any faulty goods are provided on the back of the pack.

8. Is the valve cap CE compliant?

The valve cap does not fall under any of the EU directives and as such it doesn’t require a CE mark.

9. What is the battery made from?

Alkaline manganese which is a non hazardous substance, therefore it doesn’t pose any environmental or hazardous waste disposal problems.

10. Is the flashing light legal in this country?

Yes. It is in accordance with the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations as it acts as a special warning for low tyre pressure.

11. How does the tyre pressure alert valve cap compare to other products on the market?

The only tyre pressure monitoring system which could be considered to be in direct competition with the tyre pressure alert valve cap is the Accu-pressure safety caps or digital dashboard mounted devices. Testing shows that such devices are surprisingly inaccurate and unreliable compared to the tyre pressure alert valve cap. In addition, they are not universal therefore retailers need to stock a large quantity of different types of valve caps for different psi.

In comparison, the digital dashboard mounted devices are significantly more expensive and are priced in the several hundred pound price bracket.

12. Is there a demand for tyre pressure monitoring devices?

Tyre pressure has become an important issue in today's automotive industry. In the UK, it is against the law to drive with over or under inflated tyres yet the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that there are on average 10 deaths on UK roads every day caused by the sudden failure of under-inflated tyres.

They also estimate that over 10,000 injuries and fatalities could be prevented by monitoring tyre pressures.

This emerging market demand is being fuelled by new legislation in the US that requires a warning system in new motor vehicles to indicate to the driver when a tyre is significantly under-inflated. This rule is now in force.

13. Is exclusivity available on the product?

This is a completely new product in the UK. Brandnetics Ltd is the only authorised agent. We are only able to guarantee exclusivity on minimum volumes ordered each month.

14. How will the goods be delivered?

They will be delivered directly to your distribution depot.

15. Will they work with valve extensions?

The valve caps are under constant pressure as they monitor the pressure inside the tyres. A valve extension can be used but MUST be airtight when fitted to the valve.

16. How much do I save if I install Air Alert Valve Cap?

The installation of Air Alert Valve Cap will reduce both fuel and tyre costs. Having under inflated tyres or even only one under inflated tyre means that your fuel consumption will be increased. Under inflated tyres or only one under inflated tyre will mean that the tread of the tyre is worn down faster and therefore, your life span on your tyres is reduced. Another important factor is that under inflated tyres are dangerous and can lead to blow outs therefore, from a safety point of view Air Alert Valve Cap can and may save lives. Research shows that 80% of moving vehicles have one or more tyre that has an average 25% loss in pressure. Using these figures, it means that each vehicle is using an average of £150 more per year on fuel than it should be with the correct tyre pressure on all tyres.

17. Do I need to purchase different Air Alert Valve Caps for different tyre pressures?

There are two versions. One we recommend for use for tyres with 10- 50 psi which is for passenger vehicles and SUVs and will start flashing for a 4 psi pressure drop. The other Version is designed especially with the heavier vehicles in mind and is recommended for pressures from 20 psi to 150 psi. and this version will require a 8 psi drop before it starts flashing

18. How easy is it to install the valve cap?

Installation of the valve cap on the valve stem is very straightforward. No special tools, knowledge or skills are required to install or monitor. Since it is self-calibrating no calibration needs to be done by a professional installer. A valve cap can be installed in just a few seconds. It should not materially affect the wheel balance but we recommend that you get your tyres balanced with the cap on, more so on motorbikes.

19. How long does the valve cap last?

The life span of the valve cap basically depends on of the battery shelf life. 2 to 3 years of standby time and the valve cap can blink for approximately 3 weeks. Like with all warning devices, it is strongly recommended that the valve cap is checked periodically to ensure that it is working. It is also recommended to change it simultaneously with the valve stem when replacing the tyres or at least every other year.

* Please check that it will not interfere with any other part eg the brakes.

Recently a large Haulier purchased this device to try and said - "MPG’s increased from 9.53 to 9.84, the product showed any air loss in the tyre, we had a slow puncture on one of the tyres and the product highlighted this, which saved us a breakdown / call out. Overall the product does what it says on the label "Air Alert". - Nov'09