Shit the bed :!

The proper way to wire a solenoid into an alarm is to use a 10a fused relay. Connect the relay trigger to a switch or to the alarm feature output, then connect the live of the solenoid to the output of the relay and wire up a relay as you usually would.

This way if there is too much current draw ect it wont damage the alarm circuitry and the fuse or relay should blow before the solenoid has a chance of burning/melting. Replacing a relay/fuse is cheaper than a solenoid.

just had a similar prob only instead of burning out my solenoid burnt out a channel on my alarm sounds like you best sticking a 5 pin relay in your circuit, dont ask me why as i aint too sure how they work but it fixed my prob you just need 2 lives and 1 neg plus the + wire to your solenoid and you can stick your button on either the live or the neg wire

like you said mate, take it to an alarm place and get them to sort it out :) that way if it buggers up again (within 1 year) then you can get it changed etc :thumbs:

however, it looks like it has been left on :( thats the only thing that would burn a solenoid out, unless it was dodgy in the first place :boggle:

I had a solenoid from autoeurope fitted for some time, prob about 4 or 5 months. It started well, but after a bit it started clicking insted of unlocking the boot first time round. It started getting worse, until a couple weeks ago when i just gave up. Last week it would do anything, and i eventually found the fuse had gone, i went thru 3 more fuses before i decided id take of the trim and open it myself to see whats going on. I took the trim of and it stunk of burning, so i presume ive burnt it out, and it looked like this: -







the plastic was all melted, my then my mate twated it with a hammer which is why its not connected to the base anymore. The bit that moves wont move anymore, and the whole thing, especially one of the terminals, is corroded.

What i want to know is why did this happen? (its connected to a non-locking push switch, so i couldnt have left it on)

Seeing as i have to get a new one, i migtht as well get it hooked up to my alarm (clifford 300) so i can open it from the fob. If i take this to an alarm place how much will they charge, and what solenoid will they use (do clifford make their own or will it be any old crap)?

cheers for anyhelp




[Edited on 18-04-2004 by corser]