INTRODUCTION – RVs especially, motorhomes, are part vehicle and part home so a comprehensive Security system needs to have attributes of both. The vehicle needs to be protected using intrusion sensors, vehicle status sensors, and perhaps automatic door locking capability. The home also needs to be protected both while occupied and while not occupied. This article describes the step that an Rver can take to integrate two alarm systems to protect a motorhome. Any person familiar with 12vdc wiring can do this task easily.

VEHICLE – Select a high quality vehicle alarm system from JC Whitney or other local sources. Open Status Sensors are required for the main door, battery compartment and generator compartment. These can be pin type switches or magnetic switches and are normally open. I.E. when the door or compartment is open, the sensor must provide a ground to the alarm system. A calibrated shock sensor can be used, but needs to calibrated properly so as not to cause false alarms. Ignition status is measured by a +12vdc signal from the ignition circuit. Connect the battery and ground wires to the house battery, not the vehicle starting battery. A status light, usually a small led mounted near the main entry door, provides the first deterrent to intrusion. This light typically flashes on and off at a one second interval when the alarm system is “armed”. Most systems employ a mode switch for programming and a key fob transmitter arming and disarming. The selected alarm system needs to have at least one spare zone connection so that the Wireless House Alarm described below can be integrated into the system.

Good Vehicle alarm systems also include two Form C relays to control solenoids in the doors for locking and unlocking. A solenoid can be installed on almost any RV main door on the Dead Bolt. This allows automatic locking and unlocking to take place when the alarm is armed and disarmed. Wiring diagrams for these solenoids is included in the documentation for the alarm system. The solenoids are available from JC Whitney or local sources. It is also possible to add solenoid locks to truck compartments that will lock and unlock along with the front door. Alpine Electronics, Bull Dog and many others make very good vehicle alarm systems and are available from your local car alarm company or on the internet. A reference list is at the end of this article.

HOUSE – Several companies make wireless home sensors and provide a receiver base unit. DSI and Visonic are two such companies. The base unit operates from a 12vdc which should be the house battery in the motorhome. It receives the status transmissions from many sensors that can be located hundreds of feet away. To protect the house part of the motorhome several wireless sensors for entry, noise (glass breaking), fire and smoke, and movement. Each of this type of sensor is 9vdc battery powered and is mounted near the location of use. Opening sensors are magnetic switches or pin switches that sense the opening of window, trunks compartment doors and any other opening you would like to protect. I recommend opening sensors on the screens of the two windows in the bedroom so that you can be protected on hot nights when you want fresh air. I also recommend sensors on any storage compartment that has expensive stuff. Since these sensor are wireless transmitters, it is not necessary to snake wiring throughout the coach. A wireless smoke detector should be installed in the bedroom. Motions sensors can be added but care must be taken so as not to cause false alarms. The new motions sensors can be made to be pet smart, so that movement of a pet will not set it off. The last type of wireless sensor that can be used is one that listens for the sound of glass breaking. Small RV’s could use one, but large ones will require two. The Wireless system Receiver is hardwired into one or more of the “zones” of the Vehicle Alarm.

Integrating a vehicle and a house alarm can provide state of the art security for your coach when it is empty and when your are occupying it. Other options are usually possible, such as to use the second button on the vehicle alarm remote control to turn on the dock lights or a group of inside lights so that you can safely enter the coach when it is dark. The installation of this system will cost about $400 for the wireless house alarm components and $200 for the vehicle alarm. A competent installer will spend at least 4 hours on the installation adding another $200 to the cost.

A web link for Visonic, Ltd is http://www.visonic.com

If any of you attempt this, it would be nice if you submit a small article describing your experience here to RVers Online and this way we share knowledge.

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