Obsessive Test Bench

Believe it or not, not all of my time is spent with my head buried under car dash boards tinkering with wires. Before that happens I have to be happy that the system I am going to install is good enough to sell and will do the job as claimed.

I thought it would be cool to give everyone a glimpse behind the scenes here and an insight into some the little jobs that get done, especially on rainy days when jobs get postponed due to a lack of cover!

Welcome to the Obsessive Test Bench where alarms get reviewed and customised for some of the more extreme jobs.

It is also where remote controls get repaired, alarms get pre-wired before installation (siren cables often need extending for example) and circuits get made up and tested.

Remote Repairs

Remote controls often fail with age but often can be saved by simply replacing the button (switch) on the circuit board.

Why do they fail?

Well apart from over use, there seems to be an illogical instinct in most people that makes them press the remote harder when the battery is flat. The subconscious belief is that pressing the remote harder will magically make the remote work again. The reality is it will crush the switch and damage it!

The are some remote controls where the switch can be replaced which works out much cheaper then purchasing a whole new remote, but it is a fiddly job and not the sort of thing that I like to do out on the road.

It’s also worth noting that I can get new remote cases. Most of the remote controls featured on the remote page can be repaired or replaced.