Sigma Alarm/Immobiliser Issue. (1 Viewer)

[PeteH]

Hi

The Sigma S30, Fitted O/E by Brownhills, for the first owners?. Has a few "quirks" but was (I thought) reasonably bullet proof. However last week I inadvertently opened a locker whilst the system was "Set", which SHOULD have set it away?. Nothing happened!. I did some "elimination" checks, reset tried again etc; still no alarm. This included the "hab" door too. The interior sensors work OK.

Having spoken to Cobra, who agent them, the likely hood is that one or more of the magnetic switches has failed.

As there must by a substantial number of these about (Brownhills where fitting them to many of their sales over a No Of Years apparently?) I wonder if anyone else has had this experience and effected a solution?. Before I start ripping switches out etc;

 

[SandraL]

I had sigma on a 2005 autocruise. The reed switch on a locker door failed. I replaced it and all ok. They are not specials. I used a changeover type reed, cant remember if i needed the make or break contact. Easy to test reed switch using multimeter on ohms after you have isolated it from the system.

 

[PeteH]

Di

I had sigma on a 2005 autocruise. The reed switch on a locker door failed. I replaced it and all ok. They are not specials. I used a changeover type reed, cant remember if i needed the make or break contact. Easy to test reed switch using multimeter on ohms after you have isolated it from the system.

Did the system Fail to alarm?, OR did it constantly Trigger?. Because mine will not "Arm up" I suspect the system is wired NC. And is closed by the closing the lockers and "Arming Process", assuming the system finds no "loop" it fails to arm the alarm.?

What puzzles me is IF that is the case, the alarm should not set, but should I would have assumed, give an audible or visual warning?.

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[SandraL]

Di


Did the system Fail to alarm?, OR did it constantly Trigger?. Because mine will not "Arm up" I suspect the system is wired NC. And is closed by the closing the lockers and "Arming Process", assuming the system finds no "loop" it fails to arm the alarm.

What puzzles me is IF that is the case, the alarm should not set, but should I would have assumed, give an audible or visual warning?.

Sorry, cant remember. I was a few years ago.............

 

[PeteH]

Sorry, cant remember. I was a few years ago.............

Ok Thanks.

 

[Reallyretired]

I have a sigma alarm and if I try to arm it with a locker or door open it bleeps loudly.

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[PeteH]

I have a sigma alarm and if I try to arm it with a locker or door open it bleeps loudly.

Yes, that is what I suspect mine "should" do, but doesn't.

 

[Masman]

The magnetic door closes can be purchased from anyone who sells alarms. And will be probably be a bit cheaper than Brownhills

 

[Rapido925M]

The magnetic door closes can be purchased from anyone who sells alarms. And will be probably be a bit cheaper than Brownhills

I had switches fail a couple of times and got replacements at Maplins (other retailers are available). I bought changeover types and I can't remember if it is NC or NO. I did make an adaptation to make them easier to fit but I can't remember what I did (they are still in situ so I could go and look it up when it stops raining if you want me to).

Unfortunately, the whole system packed up when I arrived home at 1.30am after a long drive back from the south coast, thus waking up many in the street. Brownhills charged me £80ish to tell me that the ECU was kaput. Vanbitz replaced the whole system for approx £550 (and they offer a FUN discount).

Gordon

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[PeteH]

I suspect that where I "in the market" for a System, I would do the Vanbitz Route. Both my R-V`s had "strikeback" on them. But at the moment if the "loop" can be restored then it will be more that adequate for current needs. And the M-H is parked behind Locked gates under 24/7 CCTV, uploaded to the "Cloud".

 

[Nik]

Just had my Sigma system replaced with a 'Growler' plus a MetaTrak immobiliser by @eddievanbitz. Much easier to use than the Sigma and a great job was done by Eddie and his team.

 

[Just smiffy]

I have a growler fitted and a reed switch has gone on one of the lockers, I've sourced a supplier of the same make maxhunt and will replace it myself, it's easy to do and costs about £2.50 ....

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[PeteH]

No Argument with that, although we did have some "fun" with "spurious" alarms which was corrected, and eventually put down to the actions of one or more rodents, having found some obscure wiring with evidence of having been part of the "Food Chain"

 

[eddie]

I have a growler fitted and a reed switch has gone on one of the lockers, I've sourced a supplier of the same make maxhunt and will replace it myself, it's easy to do and costs about £2.50 ....

Probably not worth it LOL If we did the Growler for you, our original customer, you'll have a lifetime warranty

We only charge £2.99 for a contact anyway

 

[Just smiffy]

Probably not worth it LOL If we did the Growler for you, our original customer, you'll have a lifetime warranty

We only charge £2.99 for a contact anyway

I'm not the original customer, so no warranty or service.....

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[Wagoneer]

I think you'll find that the reed switch on the Sigma is NO (normally open) and are widely available. That's what my Cobra system uses.

I had Eddie's Strikeback on my previous van and the contacts were normally closed NC (to enable continuous monitoring of the system). These are far more difficult to source.

 

[eddie]

You can transfer all the records and documentation over into your name. We need to see a copy of the V5 document in your name and we make a one off charge of £20.00

Once transferred we will access your records and can send you if you require, free of charge, new insurance documentation in your name, replacement operation instructions and be able to give you free telephone assistance, having access to the detailed installation notes complied at the time the Growler system was fitted.

Should you need relacements or spares in the future, replacements for lost radio keys for example, we will be able to replace these easily, without fuss as we know that your the legal owner of the motorhome.

Obviously we have to have some system setup, as if our customer "Mr & Mrs A" pays us to put a security system in their motorhome, it would be plainly stupid to provide "Mr & Mrs B" with replacement radio keys and technical information about Mr & Mrs A's system

But, if "Mr & Mrs B" have bought the motorhome and would like some future back up and support we have to have a system to prove they legally own the motorhome and can be assisted.

 

[cranky]

mine also has the S30 fitted by Brownhills I believe, all seems to work but I have no pin number for the keypad. googled a few times and come up with a couple of ideas from the Scooby forum but does anyone have a definitive method of changing the pin without knowing the original?

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[Just smiffy]

You can transfer all the records and documentation over into your name. We need to see a copy of the V5 document in your name and we make a one off charge of £20.00

Once transferred we will access your records and can send you if you require, free of charge, new insurance documentation in your name, replacement operation instructions and be able to give you free telephone assistance, having access to the detailed installation notes complied at the time the Growler system was fitted.

Should you need relacements or spares in the future, replacements for lost radio keys for example, we will be able to replace these easily, without fuss as we know that your the legal owner of the motorhome.

Obviously we have to have some system setup, as if our customer "Mr & Mrs A" pays us to put a security system in their motorhome, it would be plainly stupid to provide "Mr & Mrs B" with replacement radio keys and technical information about Mr & Mrs A's system

But, if "Mr & Mrs B" have bought the motorhome and would like some future back up and support we have to have a system to prove they legally own the motorhome and can be assisted.

Already done that and I wasn't impressed with the customer service experience I received I'm afraid....

 

[eddie]

Already done that and I wasn't impressed with the customer service experience I received I'm afraid....

What did you want that we couldn't do?

 

[PeteH]

OK, so I got round to Checking the "mag Switches", which appear to be functioning as per they should (open and close in "proximity" to the magnet). I am now faced with tracing the wiring for Breaks. But in order to do that I could do to know where Brownthings buried the control system. I ASSUME it is somewhere under, behind or beneath the dash, but before I go ripping large chunks of Motorhome out. Can anyone give me a clue as to where I would best be looking, to save me some time and busted fingers!. Maybe someone out there who has a Brownthings fitted system has seen theirs, as techies being notoriously well known for un-originality would be most likely to use the same place / space every time!

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[Rapido925M]

Mine was under the dashboard, in the space between the original Mercedes bulkhead and the Rapido fibreglass skin, just above the front nearside wheel.

HTH Gordon

 

[PeteH]

Mine was under the dashboard, in the space between the original Mercedes bulkhead and the Rapido fibreglass skin, just above the front nearside wheel.

HTH Gordon

Cheers, I suspect mine (fiat coach built, not "A" class) will be somewhere behind the Instrument panel. But wanted to see if anyone else had accessed theirs, and a clue to where Brownthings, habitually place them!. Before I start Ripping out acres of Dashboard!.

 

[Feltwell]

Late to the party Pete, but mine (on X244 Ducato coachbuilt) is under the instruments pod, where the speedometer etc lives. 4 torx screws and the whole pod lifts out, easy peasy.

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[Silver-Fox]

@PeteH You may well find they fitted the system with scotch locks.

Mine was originally fitted at Browns and I was less than impressed finding out how it was wired.
I found this out when I was fitting a tracker, needless to say its now soldered wires.

Might be worth checking the connections around the ignition key area.