A sudden alarm trigger can be so daunting. Especially when it is in the middle of the night. It’s not only loud enough to wake the entire neighbourhood, but it is also very embarrassing when it is your caravan that is making the loud sound.
Your caravan alarm can go off due to having a very low-charged or dead battery. However, it can also be a result of a bad wiring system, a broken key fob or an improperly set movement sensor.
An alarm framework is a fundamental part of your caravan. It is meant to protect your vehicle from any criminal activity.
However, not many people are aware of the factors that can set off their caravan alarms. Let’s continue reading to gain a better understanding of the issue.
Understanding Vehicle Alarm Systems
Your caravan alarm system consists of four components that trigger alarms. It has sensors installed, a keycode receiver, and a computer system, all connected to a loudspeaker, which sets the alarm off in case of an intruder. Caravan alarms monitor movement via a PIR or a perimeter detection.
The alarm system recognizes outside movement such as tilting, shaking, lifting, and towing. In any case, if any of the sensors installed suspect anything unusual, the alarm system goes off. If your alarm goes off, there are several methods you can use to turn off the alarm or reset the computer controlling it.
However, it is much more important to understand what causes a false alarm in the first place.
Reasons Your Caravan Alarm Keeps Going Off
Despite the fact that the system is designed to perform reliably, there are times when a false alert may occur, and here are the reasons why.
1. A bad wiring system within the control unit leads to false alarms. It sets the sensor controls on and off, triggering your alarm system.
2. Corroded or rusted battery terminals. If your batteries have corroded terminals, they can trigger the alert by sending a low battery signal to the framework.
3. A low car battery charge or a dead battery often leads to a control unit reboot, resulting in a false alarm. By using a voltmeter, check your battery’s condition.
4. Poorly installed alarm systems are often to blame for causing this issue.
5. If the door lock system is faulty, it can lead to sensors suspecting a door break.
6. Too much sensitivity in the shock sensors triggers alarms by setting off your alarm at even the slightest and softest bumps.
7. The hood is forced open due to a faulty sensor latch or poor hood connection. Thus, the sensors end up triggering a false alarm.
8. A faulty key fob can sometimes cause your alarm to go off. When faulty, the key fob would be unable to properly send signals to the receiver unit, resulting in a false alarm going off for no apparent reason.
9. Sunlight shines directly on the PIR via the roof light.
10. Frost heaters and severe temperature changes can trigger the alarm.
11. Accidentally pressing the panic alarm.
With that being said, there are numerous ways you can avoid your caravan giving off a false alarm. Let us further examine how you can help fix alarms in your caravan that go off for no apparent reason.
How To Avoid Caravan Alarm Going Off?
So your caravan alarm going off can be a really irritating issue. Thankfully, there are some things that you can do about it. If your caravan’s security alarm system is frequently switching on and off, try the following to fix it.
Poorly Installed Alarm System
If you have installed an alarm system on your caravan, check again to see if all the wires are connected properly to the control unit. Poor alarm system installation often leads to an alarm going off. Replacing the alarm may save you a lot of inspections, time, and money.
Battery Issues
When a trailer alarm goes off for no apparent reason, the most common problem is with the batteries. To resolve any battery-related issues, replace them with new ones.
An important function of a caravan’s alarm is to warn about low battery levels. The terminals within the battery should be clean to give optimal function and a long lifespan for your battery. This is not only good for all your control units and sensors, but for your caravan as well.
Corroded Or Rusted Wiring
Check if the wires have corroded or rusted. See if all the wires are connected properly to the system. A small spark due to rust or corrosion can set off an alarm. It is best to replace wires every year as they tend to wear out easily from high electrical use.
Get Help From A Professional Mechanic
Hire an expert to inspect your caravan and perform any necessary repairs. A professional might be able to figure out what’s causing the alarm to go off. Mechanics will also provide recommendations on how to stop the alert from sounding.
This also helps with a daily check-up for your caravan that keeps your vehicle healthy and security systems in check, so it doesn’t fail to go off in case of actual security issues.
Use The Key Fob To Lock
Always lock your doors manually using a key fob. Sometimes, using the remote locker doesn’t properly lock a car, leading to a false alarm. Your remote can also have infrared sensor issues, leading to your caravan being left unlocked and causing a false alarm to go off.
Your remote locking system also has a panic button. Make sure not to press it, causing the alarm to go off as well. It is always best to use your keys to lock your caravan for better assurance. Also, if your caravan is unlocked by the key, it sends signals to the alarm that it can stop the alarm.
Sensor Issues
Different caravans have different types of shock and movement sensors installed. Check if all sensors, such as a hood, doors, and windows, are working properly.
In case the electrical control unit creates an issue, it can send wrong signals to distinctive components, misleading the caravan alarm framework into considering that the vehicle’s security has been compromised.
If there are no signs of damage, disengaging and reconnecting the sensors may help in this regard.
Caravan Defects
Caravan sensory and alarm systems also go off for reasons such as defects. If your caravan has body issues such as a latched hood, bonnet, or doors, your alarm system is likely to give false alarms.
When a hood lock malfunctions, it can cause false alarms and have an adverse effect on your car’s control unit. Your caravan alarm screens your caravan doors, just as the hood lock and latch sensors, to ensure no one is breaking in. As a result, if your doors have a defect, your alarm system will falsely activate.
Dents or damaged caravan body parts might also be the reason that is causing an issue with sensory perception. Fix them to stop the alarm from going off.
Parking Under Direct Sunlight
Park your caravan under sheds to not let sunlight affect your caravan sensors. Disconnect the motion sensor that is set on top of the caravan.
When direct sunlight strikes the PIR on the roof of your caravan, it heats up the wires, causing the system to malfunction. As a result, a false alert is triggered.