Alarm Brain Smells Like Burnt Plastic

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Security and Convenience
Forum Discription: Car Alarms, Keyless Entries, Remote Starters, Immobilizer Bypasses, Sensors, Door Locks, Window Modules, Heated Mirrors, Heated Seats, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=55447
Printed Date: May 03, 2025 at 6:37 PM

Topic: Alarm Brain Smells Like Burnt Plastic

Posted By: tony407
Subject: Alarm Brain Smells Like Burnt Plastic
Date Posted: May 09, 2005 at 8:13 PM

I recently purchased two Alpine SEC-150R security systems via eBay, both from different sellers. I just recieved the second one today and as soon as I opened the box I could smell something like burnt plastic. The smell was coming from inside the alarm brain. I opened it up and everything appears normal. I compared it to the guts inside the other brain and they're identical. Both alarms have never been installed...at least from their outward appearances.

Anyway, is this a sure bet that the brain is fried or am I being overly paranoid? I won't be able to hook it up right away, so if I'm going to try and get a refund I'd like to do it now, otherwise it'll be several weeks before I find out if it actually works or not.

Tony

Replies:

Posted By: Drewt
Date Posted: May 09, 2005 at 8:33 PM

try it now. May be a fried transistor or other componet, may not. Have you ever smelled burnt electronics, voice coils, etc??

-Drew

Posted By: tony407
Date Posted: May 09, 2005 at 10:02 PM

Drewt] wrote:

ry it now. May be a fried transistor or other componet, may not. Have you ever smelled burnt electronics, voice coils, etc??

-Drew

Well, for starters I'm home sick as a dog right now and then I have to go out of town...so It'll probably be at least a week before I even get started on it. Yes, I've smelled burnt electronics before. I suppose there's a chance it's nothing, but it didn't get that smell on its own.

Tony

Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: May 09, 2005 at 10:19 PM

Ask the seller what it is & they may be able to tell you. Otherwise you have 90 days before feedback is taken away from you on the transaction. You also only have 30 days to claim for any eBay insurance on Pay Pal purchases.

-------------
Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA

Posted By: auex
Date Posted: May 09, 2005 at 10:29 PM

Test it now. Do it with a drill battery if you have to. It is simple to bench test an alarm.

-------------
Certified Security Specialist
Always check info with a digital multimeter.
I promise to be good.
Tell Darwin I sent you.

I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.

Posted By: tony407
Date Posted: May 09, 2005 at 11:46 PM

auex]T wrote:

st it now. Do it with a drill battery if you have to. It is simple to bench test an alarm.

Well I used my 14.4 cordless drill battery to hook up the positive and negative leads and also the siren. The only sounds I can get it to make is a barely audible siren sound for about 2-3 seconds when I first put power to the brain. I used my other brain and got similar results. I tried hooking up the RADAR sensor so I could try arming or disarming but nothing works...probably due to the fact that I really don't know what I'm doing. (same results with both brains).

Other than the power, ground, valet switch, LED, and siren, what else do I need to connect it to in order to bench test it? Sorry for being so ignorant, but this is my first attempt at installing an alarm.

Tony