Miata Mailing List: March 1994, Message #39
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   From: GOZUMM@JEFLIN.TJU.EDU
Subject: RE: FIXTOP TWO
   Date: Wed, 2 Mar 1994 19:58:42 -0500

On this:
<<
On the subject of alarms and thieves generally, I tend to follow the line of
least reistance: instead of remembering to open the glove compartment and box
between the seats, I just leave the door unlocked. Some neightbor kids opened
the door last year and the alarm sent them running. Adn that way I don't have
to worry about a slashed top.
<<

I fully agree.

Thats a great idea though, and I follow the logic completely.  The
trick is to make sure the theif, usually an idiot, would rather
just smash the glass , cut the roof, rther than try the door first
to see its unlocked, then all hell breaks loose (from our pockets
that is).

So, finding the right deterrent to prevent even that from happening
is the biggie.  I have some ideas.

Usuing the pressure sensitive switch from RShack,
install same on each seat, run wires from the BACK of backrest
underneath mats to main alarm control, connect to ACCESOREIES
area.  The switch looks like a small plastic ballon or whoopie
cushion, blue in color i believe. Problem is, its ugly, and it
would note be a good tdeterrent if it were not completely user invisible
(ie., no additional task to do to turn it on.)  Effecitvely is looks
like a blue whoopie cushion on your seat, which you sit on
unless you take it off during driving.  Its appearnace also
 the darkness offers
some camouflage.

The second simple method is install a mercury tilt switch, also
from radio shack.  It should be carefully mounted underneath the
seats so that sitting on em trips the switch by changing the
angle of its mount such as to make contact.  Becuase of its size
(quite small) and nature of the seating angle, this is tricky.
You then run the wires to the accesories connector of the
alarm just like the whoopie cushion.

The third simple switch consists of either a Hall effect or
inductive switch, used in alarm systems for home.
These are like the mercury switch but more sensitive.

But the big deterrent comes when I get my laser to work.
It flashes a big red dot acrross the car interiors, only
with the top up, and this is the best deterrent I can think
off.

Any ideas (BTW, the other ideas are other methods to
trip the alarm from within the car, they aren't deterrents !
at that level, the thief is already in the carm having
smashe dthe glass etc.,)
 
---------------------------------------------------
Marvin E. Gozum, MD
Chief, Medical Informatics
Chief, Medical Consults at Wills Eye Hospital
Division of Internal Medicine
Department of Medicine
Jefferson Medical College
1025 Walnut St. Philadelphia, PA 19107
voice: 215-955-8907