e30 voltage drop needed for alarm
Moderator: martauto
- Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 49358
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Doesn't matter in the slightest. Each pin switch is two identical switches.
One wire is for interior light, other wire permits operation of electric windows with door open and ignition off.
For volt drop you want interior light.
Touch each wire in turn to earth, it will be the one that operates interior light.
For volt drop you want interior light.
Touch each wire in turn to earth, it will be the one that operates interior light.
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- Old Skooler
- Posts: 14020
- Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Canterbury
As Brian says, they are two identical pin switches, that when the door is open, connect the cable to body earth. So, it shouldn't matter which you use.
///M aurice
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
- Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 49358
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
If I had to choose between the two, I'd go for the part that works the windows. The inductive load presented by the relay tends to keep the contacts on that switch cleaner than the resistive load of the interior lights on the other switch does, so is marginally more reliable.
Brianmoooore wrote:If I had to choose between the two, I'd go for the part that works the windows. The inductive load presented by the relay tends to keep the contacts on that switch cleaner than the resistive load of the interior lights on the other switch does, so is marginally more reliable.
Questionable...lets split hairs... here goes,
Personally I'd pick the interior lights wire, reasons being:-
1. Every time you open a door there is a visual reminder of the voltdrop circuit actually working, ie your interior light will illuminate.
How many times do we use the windows function on the pin switch ?
Not many
In fact it raises questions many times on this forum re windows not working when door is opened.
2. The resistive load of the lights would draw more current, therefore ensuring contacts on the pin switch wouldn't oxidise as easily.
Relay coils draw very little current and in some instances coil operating contacts are gold flashed for reliability at low currents.
- Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 49358
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
The relay coil is energised every time the door is opened, so whether or not the windows are actually moved when the door is open is irrelevant.
There are many threads on here regarding the windows not working when the door is open, but the fault in most cases is either fuse 28 is blown (usually cigarette lighter related) or the plastic button on the door that operates the pin switch has fallen off. It is rarely the relevant section of the pin switch itself that is at fault, but it is quite common for the interior light side of this switch to become intermittent.
There are many threads on here regarding the windows not working when the door is open, but the fault in most cases is either fuse 28 is blown (usually cigarette lighter related) or the plastic button on the door that operates the pin switch has fallen off. It is rarely the relevant section of the pin switch itself that is at fault, but it is quite common for the interior light side of this switch to become intermittent.
Based on the above statements, how do you ensure the pin switch is working correctly every time you exit the car ?Brianmoooore wrote:The relay coil is energised every time the door is opened, so whether or not the windows are actually moved when the door is open is irrelevant.
or the plastic button on the door that operates the pin switch has fallen off.
Does one listen for the door relay energising ?
By connecting it to the interior lighting side, every time you open a door there is a visual reminder of the voltdrop circuit actually working, ie your interior light will illuminate.
This will clearly indicate whether a pin switch has fallen off or not.
If a pin switch falls off, there is other issues....maintenance or poor installation.