Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: arthill on 06 January 2009, 18:20:13

Title: Alarm Query ??
Post by: arthill on 06 January 2009, 18:20:13
Last week Alarm started sounding for no apparent reason, even locking and unlocking car didn't make any difference even at one stage left car unlocked and it still went off, then after several hours and loss of sleep it stopped, I got reading next day it seemed fine. I believe there is a seperate battery for alarm system, can anyone tell me where it is located, and if it could be the problem??

 HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL ::) ::)
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: TheBoy on 06 January 2009, 18:21:35
Was it horn (check bonnet switch) or power sounder (power sounder faulty)?
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: arthill on 06 January 2009, 18:26:01
it started off as sireen then later the power sounder, Ive had no bother since.(touch wood)
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: benbrunt on 06 January 2009, 18:45:14
Sounds exactly like when my power sounder battery went tits up. Disconnected it and alarm system was spot on again.
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: blue_dream on 06 January 2009, 18:51:46
check the main car battery voltage, also the right amps, if the battery is old they can drop in volts overnight causing the alarm to go of, like the interior light going on. :)
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: arthill on 06 January 2009, 19:37:48
Thank for replies, checked main battery level next day and was normal, which made me wonder if a secondary battery could be low or does it self charge, reguarding benbrunt's experience what was outcome mate, and where is powersounder and battery located. :(
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: RobG on 06 January 2009, 22:55:38
Quote
Thank for replies, checked main battery level next day and was normal, which made me wonder if a secondary battery could be low or does it self charge, reguarding benbrunt's experience what was outcome mate, and where is powersounder and battery located. :(
Under driver`s side scuttle. Sealed unit. Remove and discard. :y
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: SteveMJ on 07 January 2009, 12:54:16
My sounder was giving a little 'chirp' when I turned the car's ignition off.  I changed the power sounder (got one via OOF), now I've returned to the car to see the hazards flashing but no alarm.

Is this

a) power sounder causing the alarm to trigger?
b) power sounder's knackered battery making the sounder to seem faulty?

I've cut my old power sounder inhalf and could replace the batteries, would this return it to functional again?

Steve
(nor sure if I've hijacked this thread)
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: tink11 on 07 January 2009, 13:09:33
I have this problem too and would appreciate some help
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: omegod on 08 January 2009, 09:50:46
No, just remove the powersounder, I doubt anyone is going to go to the trouble of messing about with the battery in an attempt to nick an omega these days.

Took mine out at the weekend and much quieter life!  :)
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: Merlindriver on 15 January 2009, 01:56:39
Confused!  Isn't the power sounder the alarm, and if it's diconnected presumably there will be no audio deterrent to a light fingered scrote rifling through the car after breaking a window.

I have an interest as my "alarm" is playing up - leaving the car for about 15 minutes and it starts to sound, but not every time  >:(
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: SteveMJ on 15 January 2009, 09:25:59
I have now replaced the batteries in my power sounder and am waiting to re-fit to my Omega - targeted for this evening.  I took some photos and if this rxercise is successful will probably post them up.

Steve
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: Andy B on 15 January 2009, 11:41:18
Quote
.....
I have an interest as my "alarm" is playing up - leaving the car for about 15 minutes and it starts to sound, but not every time  >:(

Bonnet switch is the usually culprit. The bracket gets bent over and the switch barely makes contact with the closed bonnet, bonnet cools/warms and moves slightly nad your alarm goes off. Just disconnect it as a test. If all is quiet ..... it's your bonnet switch!  :y
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: Andy B on 15 January 2009, 11:42:39
Quote
I have now replaced the batteries in my power sounder and am waiting to re-fit to my Omega - targeted for this evening.  I took some photos and if this rxercise is successful will probably post them up.

Steve

Sat with baited breath. ;)
The alarm sounder is about the only Omega related problem I've not had  ........................ yet! ::)  :y  :y
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: IJH 1 on 15 January 2009, 13:23:47
This is the same problem I had with my sounder. Removed sounder from car (cut it open to see if batteries could be change,) then pinched wife's nail file and cleaned connectors on sounder (corroded), sprayed wiring connector block with some spray de-watering (borrowed from work) (Only lightly) dry it off.Taped up sounder refitted to car, connected wiring back to sounder, one little bleep.Left car alone for about an hour.Tested by leaving wife in car,locked car and asked her to start moving about to trip sensors. alarm went of as it should. Problem fixed and have never had a problem since. Sounder seems to be working fine and still alarms when it should.Problem fixed.
Warning, when you take of wiring plug from sounder will alarm for @5 minutes. VERY LOUD> Pull plug and run.
Might be of some help.
Ijh
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: SteveMJ on 16 January 2009, 07:52:46
I re-fitted the power sounder last night (the one with replaced batteries) apart from the ear-splitting noise when it was re-connected it all seems OK.  :y

Would people like me to post up some photographs?  It will have to be in a week or so as I'm away.
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: Andy B on 16 January 2009, 10:32:33
Quote
I re-fitted the power sounder last night (the one with replaced batteries) apart from the ear-splitting noise when it was re-connected it all seems OK.  :y

Would people like me to post up some photographs?  It will have to be in a week or so as I'm away.

Yes please Steve. :y :y
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: Merlindriver on 16 January 2009, 10:40:20
Quote
Quote
.....
I have an interest as my "alarm" is playing up - leaving the car for about 15 minutes and it starts to sound, but not every time  >:(

Bonnet switch is the usually culprit. The bracket gets bent over and the switch barely makes contact with the closed bonnet, bonnet cools/warms and moves slightly nad your alarm goes off. Just disconnect it as a test. If all is quiet ..... it's your bonnet switch!  :y

It's not that because once it has sounded I can't turn it off.  It seems to sound for a while, stop and leave the hazards flashing and then sound again.  Disarming turns off the hazards but the sounder still goes off.  If I start the engine it sometimes stops but othervise it stops at random.   >:(
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: Andy B on 16 January 2009, 10:56:51
Quote
.....
It's not that because once it has sounded I can't turn it off.  It seems to sound for a while, stop and leave the hazards flashing and then sound again.  Disarming turns off the hazards but the sounder still goes off.  If I start the engine it sometimes stops but othervise it stops at random.   >:(

Could be the batteries in the power sounder have leaked then. Disconnect power sounder (under driver's side of scuttle) and see what happens.  :y
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: Merlindriver on 16 January 2009, 12:10:24
Quote
Quote
.....
It's not that because once it has sounded I can't turn it off.  It seems to sound for a while, stop and leave the hazards flashing and then sound again.  Disarming turns off the hazards but the sounder still goes off.  If I start the engine it sometimes stops but othervise it stops at random.   >:(
Could be the batteries in the power sounder have leaked then. Disconnect power sounder (under driver's side of scuttle) and see what happens.  :y
I'll give it a go.  However, if I disconnect the battery won't the radio lose its code?  I have a code on a card that came with the car, but the manual doesn't tell me how to resttore it.  The radio is a CDC2013 with multi changer and satnav - the manual just says if it shows "Safe" contact a dealer!  [smiley=undecided.gif]
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: RobG on 16 January 2009, 12:13:52
Quote
Quote
Quote
.....
It's not that because once it has sounded I can't turn it off.  It seems to sound for a while, stop and leave the hazards flashing and then sound again.  Disarming turns off the hazards but the sounder still goes off.  If I start the engine it sometimes stops but othervise it stops at random.   >:(
Could be the batteries in the power sounder have leaked then. Disconnect power sounder (under driver's side of scuttle) and see what happens.  :y
I'll give it a go.  However, if I disconnect the battery won't the radio lose its code?  I have a code on a card that came with the car, but the manual doesn't tell me how to resttore it.  The radio is a CDC2013 with multi changer and satnav - the manual just says if it shows "Safe" contact a dealer!  [smiley=undecided.gif]
You only need to disconnect the power sounder, not the car battery :y
Here;http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1220198611
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: Merlindriver on 16 January 2009, 16:11:59
Brilliant - a job for tomorrow.  Looking forward to seeing the pics of how SteveMJ replaced the battery in the sounder.
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: SteveMJ on 16 January 2009, 17:30:39
Here are the photos.

Note the batteries are similar to the original (slightly higher capacity) and the board footprint is very close to the original too - enough that they fit in the same holes.

(http://img34.picoodle.com/img/img34/3/1/16/t_Sounderoverm_06c4b03.jpg) (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/1/16/f_Sounderoverm_06c4b03.jpg&srv=img34)

(http://img34.picoodle.com/img/img34/3/1/16/t_Circuitboarm_cf9a16f.jpg) (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/1/16/f_Circuitboarm_cf9a16f.jpg&srv=img34)

(http://img34.picoodle.com/img/img34/3/1/16/t_withnewbattm_bdfd100.jpg) (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/1/16/f_withnewbattm_bdfd100.jpg&srv=img34)

(http://img26.picoodle.com/img/img26/3/1/16/t_Sounderpartm_d84269a.jpg) (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/1/16/f_Sounderpartm_d84269a.jpg&srv=img26)

I've a couple of extra sets of batteries here.  Fiddliest part is cutting and re-joining the case - not a very satisfactory 'weld' with a soldering iron.  It just about 'does'.




Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: Merlindriver on 16 January 2009, 18:26:36
Where did you source the batteries from?
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: SteveMJ on 16 January 2009, 23:33:30
CPC
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: Merlindriver on 17 January 2009, 10:13:40
Quote
CPC

Before I commit, is this (http://cpc.farnell.com/varta/3-v150h/battery-ni-mh-mempac-pcb-3-6v/dp/BT00152) the one (or rather 2) I need?
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: SteveMJ on 17 January 2009, 12:00:02
That's what I bought and fitted - the incumbant cells have 4 terminals the replacements have 3.  However you can bend the terminals (by about a mm or so) to allow fitting.

I could replace the batteries on the board if anyone wants this done (I'm away from tonight for a while so cannot respond until next week).

Note, the photos I posted link to larger ones.

Steve
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: Merlindriver on 17 January 2009, 14:23:25
Quote
That's what I bought and fitted - the incumbant cells have 4 terminals the replacements have 3.  However you can bend the terminals (by about a mm or so) to allow fitting.

I could replace the batteries on the board if anyone wants this done (I'm away from tonight for a while so cannot respond until next week).

Note, the photos I posted link to larger ones.

Steve

How come they have 4 or 3 terminals, I'd have thought a battery would just have 2 - a +ve and a -ve.
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: SteveMJ on 17 January 2009, 17:30:42
2 electrical terminals; with extra termnal to solder, this is to spread the mechanical load and to avoid incorrect fitting in a suitably designed circuit board.
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: Merlindriver on 17 January 2009, 17:50:31
Quote
2 electrical terminals; with extra termnal to solder, this is to spread the mechanical load and to avoid incorrect fitting in a suitably designed circuit board.
Gotcha - as it happens I took the sounder off today and the plug was quite damp. So have dried it off and reassembled so I'll see if that does the trick.  It seems odd that the RHS scuttle drain grommet thingy just empties into the void where the sounder and horn are.
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: SteveMJ on 26 January 2009, 12:56:08
I'm now back from my week away and have no problems with my alarm.

So, if anyone want stheir batteries replaced I would be agreeable to do this.

Contact me.

Regards

Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: Entwood on 26 January 2009, 21:29:18
I could be very, very interested as I have a powersounder in the garage, removed for lots of beeps on switch on .. then a load of spurious alarms .... so I'm guessing the batteries have died ... I supoose you'd only find out if they've leaked on disassemble ???

Keep meaning to go to the stealers and order a new one ... but if you think you can fix it .......    :)
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: Merlindriver on 26 January 2009, 23:27:45
Well despite drying off the plug my power sounder is still playing up.  Have taken it off and taped up the plug and no problems - but no alarm of course.  The movement detector just sets off the indicators now with no noise but at least the indicators aren't going off on their own!  Having taken the power sounder apart the battery voltages are as near as dammit 3.6V, as advertised for 3-cell MiMh, so I suspect it's may not be the batteries.
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: SteveMJ on 27 January 2009, 08:28:20
That was the same symptoms as mine.  I also tried charging and monitoring the old batteries; they were about 3.3V rising to 3.6V after charging and stayed like that for a day or more (I didn't keep detailed records).

Asking a different question: How long would you expect the batteries to last?  5 years, 10 years, 15 years?  Well mine were at least 8 years old so I thought that it would be reasonable to expect they had reached their designed lifetime.

However the battery replacement has resolved my problem, so it seems a reasonable conclusion that they were at fault.

As offered before "I could replace the batteries on the board if anyone wants this done"
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: Merlindriver on 27 January 2009, 19:46:41
Quote
That was the same symptoms as mine.  I also tried charging and monitoring the old batteries; they were about 3.3V rising to 3.6V after charging and stayed like that for a day or more (I didn't keep detailed records).

Asking a different question: How long would you expect the batteries to last?  5 years, 10 years, 15 years?  Well mine were at least 8 years old so I thought that it would be reasonable to expect they had reached their designed lifetime.

However the battery replacement has resolved my problem, so it seems a reasonable conclusion that they were at fault.

As offered before "I could replace the batteries on the board if anyone wants this done"

If NiMh are like NiCd batteries they last as long as they last.  I have had battery packs on my model aircraft fail within a year - others are still going strong after 10 years.  

I'd be interested in the battery replacement to see if the problem goes away - I looked at the board but the soldering looks a bit intricate for me to do.  Maybe you could PM me with the cost.

Ta, Dick
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: Entwood on 01 February 2009, 00:34:22
Quote
That was the same symptoms as mine.  I also tried charging and monitoring the old batteries; they were about 3.3V rising to 3.6V after charging and stayed like that for a day or more (I didn't keep detailed records).

Asking a different question: How long would you expect the batteries to last?  5 years, 10 years, 15 years?  Well mine were at least 8 years old so I thought that it would be reasonable to expect they had reached their designed lifetime.

However the battery replacement has resolved my problem, so it seems a reasonable conclusion that they were at fault.

As offered before "I could replace the batteries on the board if anyone wants this done"


No answer to my PM ??? did you get it ???
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: SteveMJ on 01 February 2009, 00:46:17
I'm sorry guys; PC crashed and I spent my Saturday re-building sotware installation.  Just got email up and running (I assume I can send).  Off to bed as its late.

Will respond tomorrow.

S
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: Entwood on 01 February 2009, 00:52:00
No probs .. these things happen ...  unfortunately ... speak soon  :)
Title: Re: Alarm Query ??
Post by: SteveMJ on 01 February 2009, 23:05:09
Personal messages sent.

A very hectic week at work last week.  Capped off by PC crashing on Friday late afternoon.  So a s/w re-build on Saturday -what a PITA.  I had loads of stuff I'd rather be doing (and needed to do) than re-building the software.  :(

Sorry for not replying earlier.