door lock/relay

The unit is not sending enough power to trigger the relay. I purchased a relay to convert the positive power from my python 872 unit and it shows a peak of about 5 volts when i press the lock or unlock buttons. This doesn't seem to be enough to power the relay and convert the positive output to the ground i need to actuate my door lock.

I have a 2001 mitsubishi eclipse. when grounded the door lock and unlock wires actuate. when i use my multimeter and check the voltage from the unit it seems to show a peak of about 5v unless i am doing something wrong. just tapping into the wire from the system isn't enough.

how are you using your meter. if you connect the red lead to +12V and the black to the green wire from the python it should read  voltage then spike to 0V when you press the unlock button on the remote. If it isnt doing this I would say the python is bad

when i do that it shows nothing until i push the lock or unlock buttons. When i push the buttons it sends a pulse that seems to peak at about 5 volts. that would make perfect sense if the system needs a positive charge to actuate the locks but mine needs a ground so I assumed I could use a relay to convert to ground. the unit doesn't seem to give a strong enough signal to make the relay go though.

The unit is defective. It should put out a 500mA (-) pulse. If it does anything other than that its bad.

Im sorry i didn't notice how you said to use the multi meter to test. When i put the red lead to +12 volts and the black to the green or blue wire they both show 12 volts. when pushing the lock or unlock buttons there is nothing. it stays right at 12 volts.

the green wire should be a negative lock, and blue should be a negative unlock, they are + in the reverse order. You should not need a relay. If it is not putting out a high enough voltage then there is something wrong in the brain of the alarm and should be exchanged. Last case resort, you may have some success going to radioshack and purchasing a non typical multi pin spdt relay. I do not have a part number but they are 12 volt safe and have 8 pins and require a lower pull-in voltage than standard bosch style relays.

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Gary Sather

when i hook up the blue wire to my lock wire and the green to unlock i get no results. also when the blue is unlock and green is lock there is nothing. It seems that the blue wire is at a constant ground so there must be something wrong with the unit? Is there any way i can fix that or am i going to have to get a replacement?

how often do you guys see faulty units like that?

There would be ways around it but honestly, not worth the trouble. If under warranty just get the brain exchanged. Once something like that is wrong who knows how many false alarms it may cause once it is all hooked up. Python is a DEI product and even though I have used them for 12 years and they are my leading brand and always have been, they are producing more off the shelf defective units every day. I can say though IF you got it online from SONIC or somewhere like it, then even though they don't tell you they are NOT an authorized dealer and are only selling refurbished product.


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Gary Sather

I purchased it on amazon. the rest of the unit seems to work fine so it sounds like i just got a faulty unit. I will see if I can get it replaced and if not i have considered using a transistor to power a relay to ultimately convert the +5v I can get from the unit to a ground. Not sure if that is the best idea so it will for sure be a last resort. thanks for your help. PDX Custmz looks like a pretty cool place. keep on keeping on