Half Pint Vendor frustrations!

[Bubbles Galore]

Hey guys,

I have been having an intermittent problem with my new vendor that is driving me absolutely bonkers! The vendor faces directly west, so in the afternoon, it essentially gets non-stop sun (if it's shining). It seems like during these sunny afternoons, the sensit led strips that allow the shurvend to be so reliable, aren't being so reliable.

For example, I could drop a dollar bill in there and have a wet towel vended, as the motor turn to begin the vend, it accepts the dollar and shows the product as being vended. Has anyone experienced this?

I have talked to Jim and he is sending me a couple of new sensit sensors, but I am not sure that is the problem, even though I hope it is.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Bill Manke]

Hey guys,

I have been having an intermittent problem with my new vendor that is driving me absolutely bonkers! The vendor faces directly west, so in the afternoon, it essentially gets non-stop sun (if it's shining). It seems like during these sunny afternoons, the sensit led strips that allow the shurvend to be so reliable, aren't being so reliable.

For example, I could drop a dollar bill in there and have a wet towel vended, as the motor turn to begin the vend, it accepts the dollar and shows the product as being vended. Has anyone experienced this?

I have talked to Jim and he is sending me a couple of new sensit sensors, but I am not sure that is the problem, even though I hope it is.

Thanks in advance!

I have a Mega Vendor that was doing the same thing changed sensors several times with no luck. Finally I put a strip of window tint down low where the sun was hitting on the front glass. It is low enough that it doesn't affect the view. Try to see what time the sun is affecting it then look and see if you can shadow the sun coming in with tint.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

I was wondering if something like that would help. I will try out the new sensors, but I am thinking something like window tint will be my best chance to fix the problem. Once you tinted the glass, did that problem ever come back?

 

[Waxman]

sounds like a good solution.

they make a couple kinds of tint film; some for residential goes on the outside of the glass, some for auto. goes on inside.

if you get a good quality film, it can have good reflectivity (high metallic content) yet be see-through. good luck!

 

[Whale of a Wash]

We have the same problem with door sensors in winter when sun is really low, and put a small 2" hose on the sensor thats in the light. I am guessing you wiped off the sensor from any dust. I would also check the positioning of the sensor to make sure it is getting 100% of the light it gives out. Some how one of mine got moved a little and became intermittent. It has worked flawless since. I have no idea which side is the receiver, but maybe a little sun visor you could make would help, along with the tint. It may also go away in a couple weeks as the sun will shine on a different spot.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

WoaW: can you explain your 2" hose comment? I would prefer to not have to do the tint if possible, but in the end, it has to be functioning or I'm p*ssing off a lot of customers.

 

[Bill Manke]

Put a little bit bigger piece in than you think you need just because the sun shifts from winter to summer.

 

[soapy]

Over the years I have had many problems on equipment where sun chines directly into photo eyes. It ranges from bill acceptors to automatics. If you can shade the photo eyes so sun does not shine directly into them you can generally stop the problems.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

I bought some window tint last night from the auto parts store and plan on putting it up tonight. I will put a 6" strip along the bottom and hopefully that will alleviate any of these issues I'm having. Last night, I tested it with the new sensit boards that Jim sent me and it still was acting the same way, so I am fairly confident that this is an issue related to the afternoon sun.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

Here is a picture of the vendor with a 6" strip of window tint on it. From the tests I ran today, it seems as though this may have fixed the problem. Honestly, I think that I am only going to have these types of problems for about 30-45 days a years. But obviously, that is far too many. *crosses fingers*

 

[MEP001]

Wow, that's definitely getting some direct sunlight. It's no wonder the sensors aren't working right.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

Yes it is. Every now and again, I get the same type of problem with my Mars bills acceptor in my changer. I actually just ordered a different mask from capital vending that will hopefully eliminate that problem also. Oh well...what are you going to do?

 

[Bubbles Galore]

The problem has returned...

I don't know if I just farted around with it long enough last year that the earth's rotation took care of the issue, but the problem has returned in full force.

Even with the strip of tint, I am still having issues...does anyone have a better idea?

 

[Whale of a Wash]

So the sun is back one year later. No great ideas here except having some sort of banner made, and put it on a frame to block alot of the sun out of completely, and promoting something at the wash, and position it 5 feet from vendor unless this is the noon sun. I suppose one could bypass the sensors and cheat just a few for the month

 

[MEP001]

Did you ever try something like a short piece of PVC pipe over the sensor to block the sunlight?

 

[Waxman]

How bout an awning over the vendor?

 

[MEP001]

Did you see the picture?

The awning would almost have to reach the ground.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

With the way the shurvend is constructed, there really isn't a way to easily place anything over the sensors. It's driving me nuts because I've marketed and touted it as a foolproof system (which it is as long as its not sunny). I might try and remove the tint and put up a vinyl decal, but that still leaves me with about 2 hours where its exposed. That will also completely block my bottom row of product...

 

[Waxman]

Hmmm. That's a tough one.

Surprised Uncle Sam doesn't have an answer or idea to help.

 

[pitzerwm]

Do you have any room to put a "shade" where you were standing, so that it cast a shadow on the front of the vendor.