Engineering Category: Logic-Encryption Contact IC Card
Prepaid Utility Meter Card
SLE4442 / FM4442 Compatible · ISO 7816 Contact Interface
A password-protected contact card for prepaid water, electricity and gas meters. Built-in security logic guards stored credit against tampering, while staying low-cost and ready for mass issuance.
- 🔒Password-Protected
Memory - 🔁Rewritable
Stored Credit - 🌍Global Meter
Standard - 💧Water / Power /
Gas Ready
What Is a Prepaid Utility Meter Card?
A prepaid utility meter card is a logic-encryption contact IC card used to carry prepaid credit for water, electricity and gas meters. Built on the Infineon SLE4442 and China-made FM4442 chip, it adds password protection and an error counter on top of EEPROM storage, so stored credit is guarded against casual tampering — without the cost or complexity of a full CPU card.
It is the global standard for utility prepayment and a direct, pin-compatible replacement for SLE4442. Cards are read through standard ISO/IEC 7816 contacts, work in existing meter readers, and are ready for high-volume issuance. For the full international ↔ China chip mapping, see the chip selection & cross-reference table below.
Where Prepaid Meter Cards Fit Best
- Prepaid water, electricity and gas metering for utilities and housing
- Pay-as-you-go billing where credit is loaded before consumption
- Vending and top-up points that recharge meter cards over the counter
- Systems needing tamper-resistant stored credit without payment-scheme certification
- High-volume rollouts replacing token or coin-based meter payment
Why Choose CedaGlo Meter Cards
Tamper-Resistant Credit
Password and error-counter logic protect stored value against casual misuse and over-writing.
Drop-In SLE4442 Replacement
Pin- and command-compatible with SLE4442, so it works in existing meter readers and systems.
Low Cost at Scale
Affordable logic-encryption chip ideal for utility-scale, high-volume card programs.
Proven Global Standard
The most widely deployed contact chip for prepaid metering worldwide.
Key Features
- 3-byte programmable password protects write access
- Error counter blocks repeated wrong-password attempts
- Guards stored credit against casual tampering
- 256-byte EEPROM, ≥100,000 write cycles
- ≥10 years data retention for long card life
- Stable contact read/write in meter terminals
- SLE4442-compatible — drop-in with existing readers
- China-made FM4442 as direct alternative
- Ready for high-volume utility issuance
Technical Specifications
| Chip Type | Logic-Encryption (SLE4442 / FM4442) | Write Endurance | ≥ 100,000 cycles |
| Memory Capacity | 256 bytes EEPROM | Data Retention | ≥ 10 years |
| Security | 3-byte password + error counter | Operating Temperature | 0 °C to 70 °C |
| Protection Memory | 32-bit protection memory | Card Size | CR80, 85.60 × 53.98 mm |
| Interface | ISO/IEC 7816 contact | Thickness | 0.76 mm |
| Chip Compatibility | Infineon SLE4442 ↔ Fudan FM4442 | Material | PVC / PET / ABS optional |
| Standard | ISO/IEC 7816 | Finish Options | Glossy / Matte / Frosted |
Volume Pricing
| Quantity | Unit Price (USD / pc) |
|---|---|
| 100 – 499 pcs | From US$0.21 |
| 500 – 999 pcs | From US$0.20 |
| 1,000 – 1,999 pcs | From US$0.18 |
| 2,000+ pcs | Contact us for volume pricing |
MOQ: 1 piece. Blank 4442-type meter cards are kept in stock for samples, a single custom piece is made from US$50 per order, and volume pricing begins at 100 pcs.
Typical specification for an SLE4442 / FM4442 logic-encryption card. Final price depends on chip, card material, printing and order quantity — contact us for an exact quote. Custom materials and personalization options are available.
Contact Card Chip Selection & Cross-Reference
Full reference of contact & dual-interface IC card chips we supply, with international ↔ China cross-references. This Prepaid Utility Meter Card uses an SLE4442 / FM4442 logic-encryption chip (highlighted). Memory and logic-encryption China parts are pin- and command-compatible drop-in replacements; CPU cards are functional equivalents.
| Category | Brand | Origin | Part Numbers | Interface | Cross-Reference (Intl. ↔ China) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memory | Microchip (ex-Atmel) | US | AT24C01 / AT24C02 / AT24C04 / AT24C08 / AT24C16 / AT24C32 / AT24C64 / AT24C128 / AT24C256 / AT24C512 | Contact | ↔ FM24C / GT24C |
| Memory | STMicroelectronics | EU | M24C01 / M24C02 / M24C04 / M24C08 / M24C16 / M24C32 / M24C64 | Contact | — |
| Memory | onsemi | US | CAT24C01 / CAT24C02 / CAT24C04 / CAT24C16 / CAT24C32 / CAT24C64 / CAT24C128 / CAT24C256 / CAT24C512 | Contact | — |
| Memory | Fudan / FMSH | CN | FM24C01 / FM24C02 / FM24C04 / FM24C08 / FM24C16 / FM24C32 / FM24C64 / FM24C128 / FM24C256 | Contact | ↔ Microchip AT24C (pin-compatible) |
| Memory | Giantec | CN | GT24C01 / GT24C02 / GT24C04 / GT24C08 / GT24C16 / GT24C32 / GT24C64 / GT24C128 / GT24C256 / GT24C512 | Contact | ↔ Microchip AT24C (pin-compatible) |
| Logic-Encryption | Infineon | EU | SLE4406 / SLE5536 | Contact | ↔ Fudan FM4406 |
| Logic-Encryption | Infineon | EU | SLE4418 / SLE5518 | Contact | ↔ Fudan FM4418 |
| Logic-Encryption | Infineon | EU | SLE4428 / SLE5528 | Contact | ↔ Fudan FM4428 / FM5528 |
| Logic-Encryption | Infineon | EU | SLE4432 / SLE5532 | Contact | ↔ Fudan FM4432 |
| Logic-Encryption | Infineon | EU | SLE4442 / SLE5542 | Contact | ↔ Fudan FM4442 / FM5542 |
| Logic-Encryption | Microchip | US | AT88SC0104C / 0204C / 0404C / 0808C / 1616C / 3216C / 6416C / 12816C / 25616C (CryptoMemory) | Contact | — |
| Logic-Encryption | Fudan / FMSH | CN | FM4406 / FM4418 / FM4428 / FM4432 / FM4442 / FM5528 / FM5542 | Contact | ↔ Infineon SLE44xx / SLE55xx |
| CPU | Infineon | EU | SLE78CF1M0P / SLE78CF1M2P (contact) · SLE78CLFX40xxP (dual) | Contact / Dual | — |
| CPU | NXP | EU | P60D024 / P60D080 / P60D144 / P60D145 (SmartMX2) · P71D321 / P71D352 (SmartMX3) | Dual | — |
| CPU | STMicroelectronics | EU | ST33J2M0 / ST33G1M2 / ST33K1M5 (ARM SecurCore) | Contact / Dual | — |
| CPU | Fudan / FMSH | CN | FM1216 / FM1232 / FM1280 | Contact / Dual | ↔ Infineon / NXP / ST |
| CPU | Huada / HED | CN | CIU98328F / CIU98428F (contact) · CIU9872B / CIU9872B_01 (dual) · CIU98M50 (SIM) | Contact / Dual | ↔ Infineon / NXP / ST |
| CPU | Unigroup Tongxin | CN | THD86 / THD88 / THD89 · THC20F08AD / THC80F09 (SIM) | Contact / Dual | ↔ Infineon / NXP / ST |
| CPU | Datang | CN | DMT-CFN2HG6 (contact) · DMT-CBS-CE3D (dual) | Contact / Dual | ↔ Infineon / NXP / ST |
China CPU cards embed international algorithms (DES/3DES/RSA/ECC/AES) plus Chinese SM1/SM2/SM3/SM4. Product-level payment & ID certifications are handled per project. Part availability and exact specs — contact us before design-in.
Best-Fit Applications
Prepaid Electricity Card
- Loads kWh credit for prepaid power meters
- Tamper-resistant stored balance
- Works in standard meter readers
Prepaid Water Card
- Carries prepaid credit for water meters
- Reliable contact read in meter readers
- Durable for daily insert-and-read use
Prepaid Gas Card
- Stores prepaid balance for gas meters
- Password-protected against tampering
- Stable performance in field conditions
Top-Up / Vending Card
- Recharged at utility counters and kiosks
- Fast contact write for credit reload
- Ready for high-volume issuance
Frequently Asked Questions
Which chip is used in your prepaid utility meter cards?
They are built on the Infineon SLE4442 and the pin-compatible China-made FM4442. Both provide 256 bytes of EEPROM, a 3-byte programmable password and an error counter, accessed over the ISO/IEC 7816 contact interface.
Are these cards compatible with existing SLE4442 meter readers?
Yes. SLE4442 and FM4442 are pin- and command-compatible, so the cards work as drop-in replacements in existing meter readers and prepayment systems without hardware changes.
How does the card protect stored credit?
Write access is locked behind a 3-byte password, and an error counter blocks repeated wrong-password attempts. This guards prepaid credit against casual tampering with logic-level protection; for full cryptographic security, choose a CPU card.
Do prepaid meter cards need payment-scheme certification?
No. As a closed-loop utility prepayment card, it does not connect to banking networks, so no EMVCo or UnionPay certification is required. If you need cryptographic security or banking acceptance, a CPU card is the better choice.
What is the MOQ for Prepaid Utility Meter Card orders, and how does volume pricing work?
The MOQ is 1 piece. Blank 4442-type meter cards ship as samples, and one custom piece costs from US$50 per order to cover setup and materials. From 100 pcs, unit prices run from US$0.21 down to US$0.18, set by chip, meter-vendor artwork, numbering and encoding of initial data.
Does CedaGlo offer OEM/ODM for Prepaid Utility Meter Card orders, and how long does production take?
Yes. In our Shenzhen plant we set the chip, meter-vendor artwork, numbering and encoding of your initial data per order, including private label, and expect approximately 7 days for Prepaid Utility Meter Card samples and approximately 2 weeks for a 10,000-piece order.
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View DetailsNeed prepaid meter cards for your utility project?
We support card printing, numbering, chip personalization and project-based customization for water, power and gas prepayment. Tell us your chip, quantity and finish — we'll quote fast.