Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: humbucker on 12 September 2010, 08:41:02

Title: what is a powersounder
Post by: humbucker on 12 September 2010, 08:41:02
can't seem to find a comprehensive enough discussion in the archives to tell me in black and white terms what a powersounder is...
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: Gaffers on 12 September 2010, 08:45:23
bookmark this page:

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1259003779

And here is what you are looking for:

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1220198611

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1240077701
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: humbucker on 12 September 2010, 08:53:24
thanks gaffers, i looked at those earlier, and it tells me how to maintain a powersounder, but doesnt actually tell me what a powersounder is  :-?  what function does it perform? the name of the item is a bit ambiguous to work out...
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: Gaffers on 12 September 2010, 08:59:49
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thanks gaffers, i looked at those earlier, and it tells me how to maintain a powersounder, but doesnt actually tell me what a powersounder is  :-?  what function does it perform? the name of the item is a bit ambiguous to work out...

I dont want to exchange ignorance so all I can tell you is that it's part of the alarm system, some type of backup in case the battery is removed, and has been known to cause one or two miggies to spontaneously combust  :o

I think it's best to disconnect before it causes problems.
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: RobG on 12 September 2010, 09:16:00
Quote
Quote
thanks gaffers, i looked at those earlier, and it tells me how to maintain a powersounder, but doesnt actually tell me what a powersounder is  :-?  what function does it perform? the name of the item is a bit ambiguous to work out...

I dont want to exchange ignorance so all I can tell you is that it's part of the alarm system, some type of backup in case the battery is removed, and has been known to cause one or two miggies to spontaneously combust  :o

I think it's best to disconnect before it causes problems.
:y :y
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: humbucker on 12 September 2010, 09:23:54
so its advisable to ditch this thing? it really has caused omegas to burn out?!  :o
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: Iain on 12 September 2010, 10:10:03
The powersounder is a back up siren in case some wee chav manages to get your bonnet up and disconnect your battery to stop the 'horn' alarm sounding. On disconnection of the battery, 15 seconds later the powersounder will sound.

If a theif sets off your alarm it will sound the standard horn, if they then pop the bonnet and remove the lead on the battery, the horn will shut up,so effectively not the best line of defence,so the powersounder will then sound 15 secs later as a backup.It is hidden in the scuttle panel and will not shut up...no theif is going to hang around long enough to try and silence it.

A good idea in theory,but as it battery powered(to still sound without the cars battery) it has led to dead batteries later in the cars life,it has also led to leaking batteries and even been known to set itself on fire
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: humbucker on 12 September 2010, 10:12:27
i see... so a replacement battery is probably advisable if there isn't evidence of one recently. thanks for the advice chaps.
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: Brikhead on 12 September 2010, 10:21:05
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The powersounder is a back up siren in case some wee chav manages to get your bonnet up and disconnect your battery to stop the 'horn' alarm sounding. On disconnection of the battery, 15 seconds later the powersounder will sound.

If a theif sets off your alarm it will sound the standard horn, if they then pop the bonnet and remove the lead on the battery, the horn will shut up,so effectively not the best line of defence,so the powersounder will then sound 15 secs later as a backup.It is hidden in the scuttle panel and will not shut up...no theif is going to hang around long enough to try and silence it.

A good idea in theory,but as it battery powered(to still sound without the cars battery) it has led to dead batteries later in the cars life,it has also led to leaking batteries and even been known to set itself on fire

The power sounder should sound as soon as the alarm is triggered, you get the regular 'horn' sound and an electronic siren noise that both occur at the same time.
The power sounder will sound as soon as the battery is disconnected.
If you want to disconnect the battery without setting off the power sounder then you have to do it within 15 seconds of the ignition being switched off.
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: Brikhead on 12 September 2010, 10:23:39
Also, there are millions of different Vauxhall models all fitted with a power sounder, yet you don't see many old Vauxhalls burnt out at the side of the road, do you?
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: Iain on 12 September 2010, 10:25:09
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Also, there are millions of different Vauxhall models all fitted with a power sounder, yet you don't see many old Vauxhalls burnt out at the side of the road, do you?

No you dont,but it has happened,hence the reason i mentioned it
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: humbucker on 12 September 2010, 15:20:06
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If you want to disconnect the battery without setting off the power sounder then you have to do it within 15 seconds of the ignition being switched off.

?? how the hell do you disconnect the battery then the powersounder within 15 seconds?
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: dbug on 12 September 2010, 15:25:09
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Quote
If you want to disconnect the battery without setting off the power sounder then you have to do it within 15 seconds of the ignition being switched off.

?? how the hell do you disconnect the battery then the powersounder within 15 seconds?

You don't - just disconect the battery within 15 seconds of switching ignition off or powersounder will go off  :y
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: RobG on 12 September 2010, 15:31:25
Quote
Quote
The powersounder is a back up siren in case some wee chav manages to get your bonnet up and disconnect your battery to stop the 'horn' alarm sounding. On disconnection of the battery, 15 seconds later the powersounder will sound.

If a theif sets off your alarm it will sound the standard horn, if they then pop the bonnet and remove the lead on the battery, the horn will shut up,so effectively not the best line of defence,so the powersounder will then sound 15 secs later as a backup.It is hidden in the scuttle panel and will not shut up...no theif is going to hang around long enough to try and silence it.

A good idea in theory,but as it battery powered(to still sound without the cars battery) it has led to dead batteries later in the cars life,it has also led to leaking batteries and even been known to set itself on fire

The power sounder should sound as soon as the alarm is triggered, you get the regular 'horn' sound and an electronic siren noise that both occur at the same time.
The power sounder will sound as soon as the battery is disconnected.
If you want to disconnect the battery without setting off the power sounder then you have to do it within 15 seconds of the ignition being switched off.
Not on mine. If I activate the alarm intentionally the only audible warning is the actual alarm horn, and yes, I also have a perfectly functional powersounder
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: humbucker on 12 September 2010, 15:40:58
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The power sounder should sound as soon as the alarm is triggered, you get the regular 'horn' sound and an electronic siren noise that both occur at the same time.

i found this to be true on mine
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: humbucker on 12 September 2010, 15:42:33
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You don't - just disconect the battery within 15 seconds of switching ignition off or powersounder will go off  :y

wow, that sounds like some fast work... those vauxhall/opel design chaps really were designing this thing for daley thompson and co.

stupid question perhaps, but what's the story if your battery is dead and therefore iginition won't go on in the first place?
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: dragonlord on 12 September 2010, 15:56:17
Quote
The powersounder is a back up siren in case some wee chav manages to get your bonnet up and disconnect your battery to stop the 'horn' alarm sounding. On disconnection of the battery, 15 seconds later the powersounder will sound.

If a theif sets off your alarm it will sound the standard horn, if they then pop the bonnet and remove the lead on the battery, the horn will shut up,so effectively not the best line of defence,so the powersounder will then sound 15 secs later as a backup.It is hidden in the scuttle panel and will not shut up...no theif is going to hang around long enough to try and silence it.

A good idea in theory,but as it battery powered(to still sound without the cars battery) it has led to dead batteries later in the cars life,it has also led to leaking batteries and even been known to set itself on fire

Mine never worked like that
the horn never sounded with the alame ever since iv had it

and the horn is 100% tested working and fine

always the siren would sound when alam was set of and battery disconected

untill it the nicad died and the siren/power sounder packed up
Were any of the omega`s wire different ?

mines a 1999 3L elite

IM trying to found out what the pin outs are on the power sound/loom

so i can figer out how to wire a better nicad free siren to the alam

does anyone know what the pins are on the plug that gos to power sounder?

Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: Brikhead on 12 September 2010, 20:18:57
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Quote
wow, that sounds like some fast work... those vauxhall/opel design chaps really were designing this thing for daley thompson and co.

If you leave the ignition on and then disconnect the battery the power sounder doesn't go off, I wouldn't advise that though.
If I need to disconnect the battery on a car with a power sounder I slacken the battery lead, then turn on and off the ignition, and then walk round to the battery and pull off the lead.
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: CaptainZok on 12 September 2010, 20:25:22
Quote
Quote
The powersounder is a back up siren in case some wee chav manages to get your bonnet up and disconnect your battery to stop the 'horn' alarm sounding. On disconnection of the battery, 15 seconds later the powersounder will sound.

If a theif sets off your alarm it will sound the standard horn, if they then pop the bonnet and remove the lead on the battery, the horn will shut up,so effectively not the best line of defence,so the powersounder will then sound 15 secs later as a backup.It is hidden in the scuttle panel and will not shut up...no theif is going to hang around long enough to try and silence it.

A good idea in theory,but as it battery powered(to still sound without the cars battery) it has led to dead batteries later in the cars life,it has also led to leaking batteries and even been known to set itself on fire

Mine never worked like that
the horn never sounded with the alame ever since iv had it

and the horn is 100% tested working and fine

always the siren would sound when alam was set of and battery disconected

untill it the nicad died and the siren/power sounder packed up
Were any of the omega`s wire different ?

mines a 1999 3L elite

IM trying to found out what the pin outs are on the power sound/loom

so i can figer out how to wire a better nicad free siren to the alam

does anyone know what the pins are on the plug that gos to power sounder?

The whole point of the power sounder is to go off if the battery is disconnected so a nicad free siren isn't going to be possible unless you use some other form of rechargable power pack.
If you want to put a siren on the alarm just use the alarm horn connections. Or you could just replace/reconnect the alarm horn under the scuttle.
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: dragonlord on 13 September 2010, 06:38:47
you mis under stod me i think mine is wired different

as horn never went off when alarm did never has

but theres nothing wroung with horn and its working

i tested it
the power sounder use to sound with normal set off alarm and when you disconect the battery

since the power sounder dired last week
i get no alarm sound at all

alway when alam went off it was the siren only that sounded

thats the bit i couldent work out


im wondering if vx changed some of em
mine a 99 miniface lift

or there some fault with alam to horn wireing
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: CaptainZok on 13 September 2010, 08:00:16
You are checking the alarm horn under the scuttle and not the main horns under the bumper aren't you?
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: humbucker on 13 September 2010, 09:52:36
Quote
If I need to disconnect the battery on a car with a power sounder I slacken the battery lead, then turn on and off the ignition, and then walk round to the battery and pull off the lead.

what if the battery is dead already though, say a car has been standing for ages and battery has died, how do you work around that 'cos if the ignition won't go on in the first place i don't see how you can get this process to work. maybe i'm missing something. furthermore what if the car has no battery in it at all?  :-?
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: Andy B on 13 September 2010, 09:58:01
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.... furthermore what if the car has no battery in it at all?  :-?

then the powersounder ni-cad will eventually go flat .......  ::)
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: Chris_H on 13 September 2010, 12:14:58
Quote
you mis under stod me i think mine is wired different

as horn never went off when alarm did never has

but theres nothing wroung with horn and its working

i tested it
the power sounder use to sound with normal set off alarm and when you disconect the battery

since the power sounder dired last week
i get no alarm sound at all

alway when alam went off it was the siren only that sounded

thats the bit i couldent work out


im wondering if vx changed some of em
mine a 99 miniface lift

or there some fault with alam to horn wireing
I think I agree with you.  My 2000 3.0 Elite only sounds the powersounder (piezo-electric thing) even though there is an electro-magnetic horn attached.

I do have my old powersounder in bits on my desk if I can answer questions about it for you.
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: Osprey on 13 September 2010, 12:34:26
So, to be clear, the Omegas that have Thatcham approved alarms (all of them?) all have four horns:

Two everyday ones behind the front bumper, operated from the steering wheel.

One main alarm horn, under the scuttle by the driver's side wiper, which is powerd by the car battery when the anti theft alarm is triggered.

Finally a fourth horn, the power sounder, also under the scuttle next to the main alarm horn, which is powerd by its own internal battery when the anti theft alarm is triggered but also when the main battery is disconnected.  This internal battery is recharged from the main 12V system until, after ten years ish, it gets tired and beeps its own horn after you turn the ignition off to let you know it is also fed up with life.   ;)

Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: dragonlord on 13 September 2010, 17:16:27
Quote
Quote
you mis under stod me i think mine is wired different

as horn never went off when alarm did never has

but theres nothing wroung with horn and its working

i tested it
the power sounder use to sound with normal set off alarm and when you disconect the battery

since the power sounder dired last week
i get no alarm sound at all

alway when alam went off it was the siren only that sounded

thats the bit i couldent work out


im wondering if vx changed some of em
mine a 99 miniface lift

or there some fault with alam to horn wireing
I think I agree with you.  My 2000 3.0 Elite only sounds the powersounder (piezo-electric thing) even though there is an electro-magnetic horn attached.

I do have my old powersounder in bits on my desk if I can answer questions about it for you.

YEP Thats just as mine is chris
was all ways the same


and also my power sounder is poted filled with some rubber stuff to brim

iv seen others say theres are to

proberly vaxhall done that later to stop try to stop warter getting in

so there near inposible to take apart and fit new batts in

the reson im trying to find out is
i do computer and electronics

if a can find out what the pin outs are are on loom end

i could proberly knock up a better loader siren from somewhere and make a back up cuircut for it and relocate it some where else where it not prown to so much to warter damage

i just come back from scrap yard as they had a amga in and i needed a caliper glig pin as when i when to do the pad I notice some one has bent it before iv had the car

proberly try to push piston back while hanging on one pin with opening the bleed nipple

and while there i picked up the bracket with alrm horn and power sound on it
i will proberly need charging  befor i can find out if its ok

but that one is poted with the rubber compound as well

has any one be able to get the rubber crap out with out damaging the board on the poted ones


Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: dragonlord on 13 September 2010, 17:22:32
one other thing iv not had one iv took apart

but most are saying there nicads

if so it was a vaery bad idear on vx`s part becase of memory problem with nicad cells

im guessing that they are proberly Nickel-metal hydride cells not nicad as they do not suffer from short charge memory problem so much

but  that would be bad design

as the most sutable battery would have been a small sealed lead acid for back up

thhaswhy  most house alams use a sealed lead acid for back up beacause the constant chargeing in there design  makes nicads or Nickel-metal hydride cells unsutable for them.

I really would love to get my eyes on the alarm system  and power sounder schematic
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: aaronjb on 13 September 2010, 17:27:46
There are pictures here of some dismantled ones (at least ones people could take apart) - along with some very burnt ones..

Of the ones that were dismantled, I believe this is the type of battery (taken from another post) that was contained within:
http://www.watchbattery.co.uk/shop/products/BRVR-150H.shtml

(3.6v NiMH cell, x2)
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: dragonlord on 13 September 2010, 17:40:51
yes that Nickel Metal Hydride cells not nicad

incildently all cell packs are made up from 1.2v cells
soldered togeather with tags in serise to make the right voltage pack then heatshrinked in to a pack

in the above case its a 3.2volt pack made from 3x1.2v=3.6v as there two there proberly wired the two packs on board to then give 7.2v fully charrged it would give out about 8. somthing volts

as wireing them in paralel would only give 3.6v but with duble the current proberly not enought voltage to drive the siren

if you couldent get the pack you can buy indervigual cells and mack up your own packs

what vx shoud have done is used eather a 6v or 12v small sealed lead acid as there more sutable for constant trical chargeing thant other cells.
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: Chris_H on 13 September 2010, 22:15:17
This is my old powersounder pcb.  Just air in the plastic case and leaky batteries.
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac107/Chris_H3/Omega%20technical%20pictures/Electrics/IMGP4482.jpg)
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac107/Chris_H3/Omega%20technical%20pictures/Electrics/IMGP4481.jpg)
I suspect the four pins are two for power and two for balanced comms.  One day will stick the 'scope on it.

The big chip is an obsolete micro-controller.
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: dragonlord on 14 September 2010, 06:44:18
intresting and a diferent design to the poted ones
 
that mostly surface mounted componants

from what rubber crap i could dig out of one of the knackered one

I could see more olfationed componaints ie normal 1/4 wat size resistors and 3 leg transisters rather than

surface mounted stuff  and the back up cells are more
penlight battery size


ill be happy if i can just get the hour working with the alarm

as the local scrots dont go near it since its on cam and  and me the dog went after a couple that tried nicking the petrol late one night

the rottie left a nice reminder for one of them  to remember by
chomping a chunk of ass when were jumping back over my fence

Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: Brikhead on 14 September 2010, 12:37:38
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/brikheadphoto/Car%20sales/Om/pwrsndr.jpg)

I haven't noticed any of the 'rubber sealant' stuff on my power sounder, it works perfectly or could be taken apart and studied...
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1283293138
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: Kevin Wood on 14 September 2010, 14:08:49
Quote
I suspect the four pins are two for power and two for balanced comms.  One day will stick the 'scope on it.

The big chip is an obsolete micro-controller.

The four pins are +12v permanent, +12v ignition switched, ground, and a serial comms link to the main alarm / central locking ECU. :y

Kevin
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: dragonlord on 14 September 2010, 15:13:37
yep that makes sence should be easy

to work out witch is witch with a volt meter and conuity tester

last one left will be the com line

thanks  kevin that was what i wanted to know
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: robson on 14 September 2010, 15:36:35
Went to main dealer today new powersounder £61 plus vat
Title: Re: what is a powersounder
Post by: dragonlord on 14 September 2010, 16:50:51
well thats not as bad as i thort