Frequently Asked Questions

Easy one that!  Everyone in the trade knows just how good Van Bitz is, so they pay money to the search engine firms to be mentioned on the same page as Van Bitz!  If that doesn't tell you that you should be dealing with the organ grinder and not the monkeys, nothing will!

When the alarm system starts to give you warning tones on arming it means that the system has detected a fault.  The system should arm and disarm silently.

As these instructions are intended to be a guide to general fault finding to assist people, you will need to refer to your individual instruction book, to establish exactly what the alarm does to alert you to the fault (One beep, two beeps etc) You must realise that Van Bitz are the Country’s leading motorhome alarm installers and there are literally thousands of motorhomes driving around with Van Bitz systems on, each slightly different!

The most common fault is that the external accessory loop switch (AKA bike loop) is in the wrong position.  The number of times that Van Bitz have received calls suggesting that there is a fault which transpires that the loop switch has simply been pressed when cleaning, or a child has been fiddling or simply that the loop has been used around an “A” frame and once safely home the “A” frame  has been removed and stowed away, the loop unplugged but the override switch has not been used to turn the circuit off.  Please check the position of the loop switch before going any further than this.  It is normally a round black rocker switch. Normally either in the glove box area or the end of the dash board.  It should be in at the top when the loop is not used.

If the loop switch is correct the next most common problem is that a contact switch has gone down, or the magnet is no longer functioning or is out of alignment.

Has any work been carried out on the motorhome recently?  A door or locker door replaced?  If so was the switch and the magnet been replaced when the door was changed?

Do you have any problem at all, closing ANY of the protected lockers and doors?  Do you have to “lift” the gas locker door to get it to lock properly? If the answer is YES to any of these questions then we need to inspect very closely the door or locker and see how the problem could or is impacting on the installation of the switch. Remember that as doors and lockers get older, hinges drop and things don’t fit so well!

The switches are in two parts and are referred to as “contact switches” but they do not actually come into contact with each other. One part (normally on the frame of the door or locker) is a tiny switch and the second part is a housing for a magnet.  When the magnet comes into proximity with the switch the circuit is closed or opened depending on which type of switch is needed. If a door does not close easily perhaps the two parts of the switch are no longer in line or are now too far apart to operate correctly.

At this stage, without checking the records we don’t know the mix between Normally Open (N/O) and Normally Closed (N/C) installed on your motorhome.

N/C is a circuit that is always in touch with the alarm unit and the alarm will respond if that contact is broken.

N/O is a circuit that is NEVER in touch with the alarm and the alarm will respond should the N/O switch contacts the alarm.

The first test that we can carry out is to test that the fault is simply not caused by a faulty or misaligned magnet.

Look around the house for a magnet, the bigger (stronger) the better. With all the door and lockers closed, select a door or locker fitted with a contact switch to test.  Open that door, hold the magnet against the switch part (the part screwed to the frame) and arm the alarm. If it arms silently, count to 30 slowly and then remove the magnet.  The alarm should sound.  This means that you have been lucky and solved the problem first time.

If when you hold the magnet to the switch and arm the system there is still an audible tone emitted then that is not the fault.  Close the selected door correctly and move on to the next protected door or locker.

Should this not solve the problem once ALL the protected doors and lockers are tested, then the problem will most likely be on the switch side.

Go to each of the contacts in turn and remove the two screws that hold the white box onto the frame of the door (the white box on the door is the magnet remember)

Once the two screws are removed you will see two wires RED and YELLOW on screw terminals.  Undo the screw terminals and place the RED wire on the same terminal as the YELLOW wire.  (or vice a versa)

 Ensure that all the other doors and lockers are closed and arm the system.  The system should be silent.  If not continue to the next contact until the system arms with no warning tones. LEAVE THE SWITCH BY PASSED at this time.

Once you have established which is the faulty contact, try re-instating the other contacts in turn on the motor home, testing each time the YELLOW and RED wires are placed on their original terminals.

If the wires are BLUE and BLACK then this circuit will probably be normally open and the wires should be separated and insulated whilst the tests are under taken.  This would be a N/O circuit so the circuit must be broken for the alarm to function normally. Simply either remove the screws and leave the wires not connected whilst testing.

Remember when testing, that whilst you will get the warning tones to tell you that there is a faulty circuit, the system is designed to ignore that faulty circuit. 

Also remember that the alarm will not respond to a working sensor (the opening of a door for example) for thirty seconds (except by flashing the vehicle lights to acknowledge the sensor) This is not a fault!

So when arming the alarm, no fault detected (no beeps) opening any door after only fifteen  seconds will simply re start the thirty arming period. 

To test a sensor, ensure that you either can see the vehicle lights flash to correspond to the door opening (an assistant can be used here) or ensure that you wait 30 seconds (the LED flash changes remember if you can’t count that high) before opening an door.

Waiting thirty seconds will trigger the alarm, waiting fifteen seconds will simply flash the lights and you will either enable you to test another sensor or turn the system off without making any noise.

The bonnet most commonly has a tilt switch installed, and it is very uncommon for these to be faulty, but like anything, if abused can fail.

Remember, if it was installed by Van Bitz we will have notes on file to assist our customers.  If your not our customer (the system was installed on your motorhome when you bought it) and it was installed by Van Bitz you can pay us to transfer our installation notes and electronic records into you name.  The advantage of this is that we will then be able to access the installation notes to assist you with fault finding. Along with this we will be able to supply you spares and accessories for your system. 

We will need to see a copy of the V5 document so please don’t wait until it is an emergency then contact us. Our loyalty is to our customer, so if you need a replacement alarm fob for example and are not registered with us, please do not expect to be able to get one from us, what ever the reason.  Imagine the stupidity of paying us to install an alarm and then us supplying some one else with a key fob to turn the alarm off! 

Yes, We own Cornish Farm Touring Park which is within our grounds for your convenience, so in essence we have 60 over night pitches available 

http://www.cornishfarm.com

Congratulations!  you have bought a van, that without a doubt has the best motorhome alarm available installed!

Now, if it was installed by Van Bitz we will have notes on file to assist our customers.  If your not our customer (the system was installed on your motorhome when you bought it) and it was installed by Van Bitz you can pay us to transfer our installation notes and electronic records into you name.  The advantage of this is that we will then be able to access the installation notes to assist you with fault finding. Along with this we will be able to supply you spares and accessories for your system. 

We will need to see a copy of the V5 document so please don’t wait until it is an emergency then contact us. Our loyalty is to our customer, so if you need a replacement alarm fob for example and are not registered with us, please do not expect to be able to get one from us, what ever the reason.  Imagine the stupidity of paying us to install an alarm and then us supplying some one else with a key fob to turn the alarm off!

Some find our attitude difficult, but we simply will not, as a security company give details or supply spares to some one other that our registered customers.

If we didn't install the system, we will not no information whatsoever on what is fitted to your motorhome, so you will need to return the motorhome to the installing dealer.  If this causes you problems please give us a call and we can discuss what can be done to assist you.

Our customers are the most important thing to us.  If you buy a van that has a Strikeback system installed by Van Bitz we will have extensive installation information about the system. BUT PLEASE remember that our loyalty is to our customer not you!  You could be a thief!  If you wish technical assistance you will need to prove legal ownership.  So we require sight of the V5 document in your name and address.  We will then transfer the information that we hold into your name, and then we can offer technical assistance when you need it.  We charge £20 for this service towards our costs for record duplication.

When the alarm system starts to give you warning tones on arming it means that the system has detected a fault. 

As these instructions are intended to be a guide to general fault finding to assist people, you will need to refer to your individual instruction book, to establish exactly what the alarm does to alert you to the fault (One beep, two beeps etc)

The most common fault is that the external accessory loop switch (AKA bike loop) is in the wrong position.  The number of times that Van Bitz have received calls suggesting that there is a fault which transpires that the loop switch has simply been pressed when cleaning, or a child has been fiddling or simply that the loop has been used around an “A” frame and once safely home the “A” frame  has been removed and stowed away, the loop unplugged but the override switch has not been used to turn the circuit off.  Please check the position of the loop switch before going any further than this.

If the loop switch is correct the next most common problem is that a contact switch has gone down, or the magnet is no longer functioning or is out of alignment.

Has any work been carried out on the motorhome recently?  A door or locker door replaced?  If so was the switch and the magnet been replaced when the door was changed?

Do you have any problem at all, closing ANY of the protected lockers and doors?  Do you have to “lift” the gas locker door to get it to lock properly? If the answer is YES to any of these questions then we need to inspect very closely the door or locker and see how the problem could or is impacting on the installation of the switch.

The switches are in two parts and are referred to as “contact switches” but they do not actually come into contact with each other. One part (normally on the frame of the door or locker) is a tiny switch and the second part is a housing for a magnet.  When the magnet comes into proximity with the switch the circuit is closed or opened depending on which type of switch is needed.

At this stage, without checking the records we don’t know the mix between Normally Open (N/O) and Normally Closed (N/C) installed on your motorhome.

N/C is a circuit that is always in touch with the alarm unit and the alarm will respond if that contact is broken.

N/O is a circuit that is NEVER in touch with the alarm and the alarm will respond should the N/O switch contacts the alarm.

The first test that we can carry out is to test that the fault is simply not caused by a faulty or misaligned magnet.

Look around the house for a magnet, the bigger (stronger) the better. With all the door and lockers closed, select a door or locker fitted with a contact switch to test.  Open that door, hold the magnet against the switch part (the part screwed to the frame) and arm the alarm. If it arms silently, count to 30 slowly and then remove the magnet.  The alarm should sound.  This means that you have been lucky and solved the problem first time.

If when you hold the magnet to the switch and arm the system there is still an audible tone emitted then that is not the fault.  Close the selected door correctly and move on to the next protected door or locker.

Should this not solve the problem once ALL the protected doors and lockers are tested, then the problem will most likely be on the switch side.

Go to each of the contacts in turn and remove the two screws that hold the white box onto the frame of the door (the white box on the door is the magnet remember)

Once the two screws are removed you will see two wires RED and YELLOW on screw terminals.  Undo the screw terminals and place the RED wire on the same terminal as the YELLOW wire.  (or vice a versa)

 Ensure that all the other doors and lockers are closed and arm the system.  The system should be silent.  If not continue to the next contact until the system arms with no warning tones. LEAVE THE SWITCH BY PASSED at this time.

Once you have established which is the faulty contact, try re-instating the other contacts in turn on the motor home, testing each time the YELLOW and RED wires are placed on their original terminals.

If the wires are BLUE and BLACK then this circuit will probably be normally open and the wires should be separated and insulated whilst the tests are under taken.  This would be a N/O circuit so the circuit must be broken for the alarm to function normally. Simply either remove the screws and leave the wires not connected whilst testing.

Remember when testing, that whilst you will get the warning tones to tell you that there is a faulty circuit, the system is designed to ignore that faulty circuit. 

Also remember that the alarm will not respond to a working sensor (the opening of a door for example) for thirty seconds (except by flashing the vehicle lights to acknowledge the sensor) This is not a fault!

So when arming the alarm, no fault detected (no beeps) opening any door after only fifteen  seconds will simply re start the thirty arming period. 

To test a sensor, ensure that you either can see the vehicle lights flash to correspond to the door opening (an assistant can be used here) or ensure that you wait 30 seconds (the LED flash changes remember if you can’t count that high) before opening an door.

Waiting thirty seconds will trigger the alarm, waiting fifteen seconds will simply flash the lights and you will either enable you to test another sensor or turn the system off without making any noise.

The bonnet most commonly has a tilt switch installed, and it is very uncommon for these to be faulty, but like anything, if abused can fail.

Remember, if it was installed by Van Bitz we will have notes on file to assist our customers.  If your not our customer (the system was installed on your motorhome when you bought it) and it was installed by Van Bitz you can pay us to transfer our installation notes and electronic records into you name.  The advantage of this is that we will then be able to access the installation notes to assist you with fault finding. Along with this we will be able to supply you spares and accessories for your system. 

We will need to see a copy of the V5 document so please don’t wait until it is an emergency then contact us. Our loyalty is to our customer, so if you need a replacement alarm fob for example and are not registered with us, please do not expect to be able to get one from us, what ever the reason.  Imagine the stupidity of paying us to install an alarm and then us supplying some one else with a key fob to turn the alarm off!  

The IP address in a fixed public address

Yes, it is possible to connect a WiFi router to the modem SAT-NET® to provide Internet access to multiple computers.

Virtually anywhere within the inner ring allthough coverage can depend on a number of external factors.

A slightly more detailed map from IPcopter the service providers below.