Meter Box Door Replacement

[Joswhaha]

Howdy y’all,
I am thinking of converting the covers on my meter boxes to a rotary knob style. The current units are not working as well as I would like. Is there a preferred vendor for these or should I have a stainless door fabricated and install the components myself? Or maybe someone has a way to make the existing doors less confusing and operate smoother for customers.

 

[slash007]

I replaced those exact doors with Ginsan push button doors. Love them. Doug Empie <dempie@ginsan.com> can help.

 

[Joswhaha]

I replaced those exact doors with Ginsan push button doors. Love them. Doug Empie <dempie@ginsan.com> can help.

Thanks for the feedback. Did they come with timers and coin acceptors? Or is everything optional?

 

[slash007]

Everything optional, you get what you need. I've bought full sets and also just the door, then wired in my old components.

 

[MEP001]

Your doors are Coleman. You can order replacement doors that take a rotary switch, wire them yourself, and put your timers and acceptors on them and save about $1,000 per door.

 

[Joswhaha]

Sweet, I did email ginsan about this are there any other popular distributors? Also, do I need a bill acceptor? If I get a new timer and coin acceptor which work and last the best?

 

[MEP001]

I would not recommend bill acceptors, especially with those boxes. They're a target for break-in, and there's no security with the two cam locks. For about half the cost of bill acceptors you can add Cryptopay credit card swipers.

Coleman will sell you blank doors for a rotary switch.

 

[Greg Pack]

I agree with MEP coleman ten position doors and card swipe would be a simple replacement if you don't want to reinvent the wheel. I would also consider replacing those timers with dixmor LED6 timers.

 

[Joswhaha]

Do y’all think rotary switch or the push buttons are a better set up?

 

[MEP001]

Rotary, the Electroswitch brand last for me up to ten years. Pushbuttons get beat up too easily, the systems are expensive, and there's always some sort of controller that is another failure point.

 

[Greg Pack]

I like the rotary for reliability

 

[slash007]

I had rotary for years. Worked fine, but I would have to constantly check them to make sure they were still smooth and easy to turn. Once they got hard to turn, I would spray them with something to loosen them up and that bought me some time before replacement. They were right in the middle of the bays though, so constant water contact. I remodeled and moved my boxes to the ends and changed to push buttons. In 5 years, only replaced 2 buttons. I am worried about needing to replace control boards at some point, but so far so good. I would imagine that had I had rotary knobs in this same location, they probably would have lasted longer. Both options work, I personally like the look of the buttons and not having to cycle through functions.

 

[Joswhaha]

So it looks like either a rotary knob set up or push button set up with coin acceptor and cryptopay is about $2500 each. I am considering going with the push buttons because I think it looks a little more luxurious but I still am not sure because it sounds like rotary may be more durable. The man at ginsan ,I think, said 80% of what they sell have push buttons.

 

[MEP001]

So it looks like either a rotary knob set up or push button set up with coin acceptor and cryptopay is about $2500 each.

You can order doors from Coleman for about $150 each, reuse your coin acceptors, drill three holes and mount card readers for $400 each, rotary switches are about $70, decals another $50, and you will need new timers and brackets for about $300 apiece if you run count-up. Wiring is easier than you'd expect. I've done hundreds of them and could provide you with a detailed diagram.

 

[jack954]

i pulled out my bill acceptors and push buttons and changed to rotary. i have watched someone bang on the push button with a key because the soap didn’t work (if they would have dropped in 1 more quarter it would have). so because they weren’t smart enough to put the correct amount in I had a damaged push button board. although rotaries are dated, they are solid and it doesn’t take much effort to turn one compared to pressing a button. no brainer for me

 

[Joswhaha]

Ok then, sounds like I should go rotary and build my own! Now to figure out what I need to order. Doors from Coleman, dixmor 6? or 7? timers and cryptopay from kleenrite. Electroswitch rotary switches from ? , I need ad least one coin acceptor, what brand and from whom? Is that everything I would need to convert these?

 

[MEP001]

Dixmor LED 6 plus the Coleman retrofit trays will perfectly replace your old ones.

If you're not using any tokens, I'd recommend Sensortrons or Slugbuster P-47.

You can get everything from Kleen-Rite in one order to save shipping, just ask them to ship the order complete.

 

[DavidM]

I think I go against the majority here, but I prefer the pushbuttons. They have been reliable in our washes and I prefer the look and impression it gives the customer.
Reliability and durability may be a factor of the brand you choose. We have been using Ginsan.
However, you probably can't build it yourself as easily with buttons

David

 

[jack954]

i have 3 sensortrons and 9 P-47’s that i just stopped using thursday because i switched to tokens that i can sell to you on the cheap. private message me if you are interested. i also have 4 brand new sensortrons w/o the frames.

 

[MEP001]

I think I go against the majority here, but I prefer the pushbuttons. They have been reliable in our washes and I prefer the look and impression it gives the customer.

I definitely like the whole idea of pushbuttons (In fact, if I had the perfect wash I'd do a nice touchscreen), but in real life rotary switches at most washes will hold up better against customers.