Swift alarm activation
i received an email from Swift several weeks ago warning me that some alarm systems they had fitted had been set to the highest level of sensitivity and were giving false activations. I checked it and in fact was set to the least sensitive so assume the dealer changed it idurimg PDI. However, I activated the text messaging service via Swift Command and I find they that the alarm is activating most days whilst in storage, at all different times of the day.
Does anyone have any obvious areas to look at? I am trying to avoid taking the van back to the supplying dealer as it takes half a day in total, and quite frankly I am sick and tired of taking the thing in for warranty repair work for a van that is now a year old with quality control and build from Swift that is disgraceful
Thanks in anticipation
Comments
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What make / model of alarm do you have? It may not only be fitted to Swift caravans. I have a Lunar with a Sargent Stinger 310 alarm fitted which also frequently keeps going off for no apparent reason, even having had three replacement units because of false triggering.
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When our Swift is in storage I make sure the alarm is set to trigger when it is tilted and NOT when something is detected in the 'van as this can be triggered easily by insects, dust breaking the sensor etc. I know that the CAMH insurance does state to have the alarm fully set when in storage but cannot see any reason why setting it to tilt function only is a disadvantage - it still flashes to show it is set to warn off any thieves. I haven't had the alarm go off when set in this mode but have had it trtiggered when in full set mode. Your booklet should be able to tell you how to set it in tilt mode only.
Hope this helps.
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Many instances on Swift Talk of faulty alarms including ours. Phone Sargent who will send you a new alarm which will take less than 15 minutes to change. Make sure the inside has a red control panel.
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Same here new alarm fitted with red board, been in about 1 month with no alarms.
Story is the problem is due to temperature changes, new board cures this. apparently a certain Vin range is known to be affected.
Deal direct with Sargent via their technical line, took me around 30 mins to fit mine.
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Unfortunately, although Sargent said the red PCB panel will cure the problem it hasn't done in my case. The latest (third) replacement has triggered twice now for no reason and this has the red PCB.
Sargent have been very helpful and responsive, (if only all caravan related companies were this good!), but I'm losing faith in the alarm model if not in Sargent.
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There were three beeps when I stopped the alarm from sounding. Three beeps indicate that the alarm was triggered by the tilt alarm. This is strange as the caravan was parked up, stored, at the side of the house with all four corner steadies down and no wind or anything else that could affect it.
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The stinger 310 isn't the best of alarms. I bought my 2013 Coachman nearly 2 yrs ago with a 310 alarm that turned out to be faulty, Sargent were very good to deal with and repaired it. It's to be hoped though that Sargent don't start making car alarms.
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Apart from adjusting sensitivity I can only assume yet another unit is required. I think at this stage my confidence in the alarm would be very low.
The one I had on the Unicorn was very reliable over 6 years, tilt was good as it did detect if I removed a wheel or tilted up via the jockey wheel, the swift one doesn't appear to be as sensitive, yet is problematic.
Makes one wonder if Sargent have the necessary skills to produce a reliable alarm, or their PCB supply/maker is using sub standard materials.
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I have a problem with my motorhome alarm but the Company that fitted it have a mobile call-out. Perhaps Sargent do the same?
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Correction. I had in my mind that three beeps was the tilt alarm causing the triggering but on re-reading the handbook this is the PIR that has activated the alarm, not the tilt.
This was still a puzzle as to why it went off as there was no-one in the caravan on the last two occasions. What has just occurred to me is that I was working at the front of the caravan at the time and that the door into the washroom was open. Looking through the front windows of the 'van I can see a reflection of the PIR in the washroom mirror. Would this be sufficient to trigger it? I have now closed the door and also made sure that no direct sunlight can strike the PIR and will see if it goes off again.
If the mirror is the cause it may be a similar reason for others affected. Watch this space for results. Hopefully I won't need to write again.
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one of the main reasons for alarms going of is the sun. the PIR picks up body heat so when the sun moves across anything in line of sight it sees a heat source and sets of the alarm. I think the sergeant system can turn of the PIR via the remote control so the rest of the system will still be activated. worth a try to turn it of and see if this is the reason for activation.
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I've had several issues with the Sargent Command. My leisure battery ran flat due to me using the battery isolate switch on the Fiat Ducato unit.
The solar panel will charge the vehicle battery for four hours before switching to charging the leisure battery (design specification). In the winter months when there could be less than four hours sunshine the leisure battery may never be charged up hence a flat leisure battery.
Sargent were oblivious to this problem with the vehicle and it's configuration and were surprised when I told them about it. They wouldn't be making any changes to the system despite being advised of this serious issue, customer input is not welcome and on this occasion resented.
This caused me to lose total connectivity with the Sargent unit, Sargent thought it was because I stored my vehicle near an airport which conflicted with the telephone signal (an excuse?). Sargent assured me that the monitoring company could still contact the unit regardless of the flat leisure battery, though this was never proven.
Then a week ago (Sept 18) with many motorhomes being stolen, fitted with tracker units and not being subsequently recovered, I contacted Sargent regarding signal blocking and how they were dealing with this growing problem. Sargent responded by arrogantly stating that if "I was unsatisfied with Sargent Command tracker" then go and find another tracking company, clearly not helpful.
Sargent are also unable to add an alarm system that can link to the Sargent Command and notify you that there has been an attempted theft on the vehicle. This apparently is due to the duration of the alarm ring, a 20 second ring is the "industry norm" before switching off, Sargent Command needs a 30 second ring to trip the system and identify a theft attempt, but his causes other issues with the Sargent Command system. Sargent stated that they would not make any changes for one affected customer. Clearly other customers who have this system installed do not know about it.
I have had several false alarms with calls from the monitoring service which I don't mind at least someone is watching for any unauthorised movement. On two occassions these have been with legitimate key entry and after 30 minutes of driving ample time for a thief to find and disconnect the tracker or block the signal.
The bluetooth connectivity with the Sargent Command is sketchy at best it often takes several attempts to become connected. It also disconnects frequently making the use of the bluetooth connectivity frustrating.
In my experience Sargent as a company are not good to deal with, they appear to think that their system is flawless but are unwilling to take customers views into account. I have used the Command system for a year now and I am not impressed with it.
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I’ve ordered a brand new Swift Conqueror, will it have the alarm and tracker fitted as standard? Thanks
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Have you checked with your dealer and looked on the Swift website?
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I have found what was triggering mine. It was direct sunshine through the Heki onto the PIR. I've overcome this by having the bed slats pulled out about 3" to make sure the PIR is always shaded. So far, after several months, no problem except for once when I found the slats had been accidentally pushed completely back.
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