I've got a issue. People like to walk up and take a gander when my car's parked with the top down. I like when they do, but too often I've watched as they lean into the side of the car with belt buckles, coat zippers and the like. Saw one kid lean against it and slide back and forth! If he'd not had on a sweatshirt I woulda been 'keyed'.

I realize with the loud interior and parking with the top down I'm creating a 'attractive nuisance' as the lawyers would say. I.E. asking for it. But I'd like to leave the top down and have people ogle but protect it a bit too.

I'd like to have a system that would softly chirp when someone gets REALLY close to the car as I know some alarms do. My preference would to NOT have a full blown alarm as part of that though. I don't want to create a nuisance and have onlookers setting it off, just something to help people be aware not to lean on it. Perhaps be good in parking lots too. Even though I do park way out usually. Some jalopy always wants to buddy up even when I park way out

I found directed electronics www.directedstore.com has a couple items. One is a 'field disturbance sensor' 508D. It uses a RF field and is supposed to function as a 'Level 1' zone or 'warn away' sensor. They also have a 'voice system' 516U. It's able to work with a alarm or warn away input. It appears that it could would work with the sensor above without a alarm system being attached.

So, any alarm literate folks here? Where do these RF field sensors get mounted that they detect people around the car? Do they need line of sight through the glass? Or is it a capacitance thing through the body sheetmetal?

Or anyone know of a system to do this? Or a alarm system where 'warn away' can be active but with the 'full alarm' off?

Hope some others have done some digging in this area. If interest is shown I'll follow up here if I get something together.

Regards,
Mark

 

Tie a giant Rottweiler up in your car?

Sorry I couldn't resist. I have a dual stage alarm in the M Coupe that works well but it's not something that would help with what you are looking for. I'd be curious to learn how a warning could be set up to be sensitive enough to detect the movement of someone approaching the car and not go off from breezes or cars driving by etc.

Perhaps a sign in your car would help? (plus the big mean looking dog )

 

The ones that say, "Please step back. You are too close to the car" just cause people to come close, step back, come close and play around showing everyone what it does.

Earl

 

I've walked by some in a parking lot that did this, which got me assuming it was possible. And in my case, I don't care if it falses occasionally because it WON"T be tied into a alarm system that generates a full alarm going off as a next stage. The ones I've seen and am interested in are RF or microwave, and have a sensitivity or 'distance' setting. Other so called warn away systems just chirp on the first occurance of the car being bumped via the shock sensor.

So if they want to play with it a little that's OK

 

Mark, unfortuantely, you got two problems.

First, those little modules are usually sold as add-ons to real alarms. Try http://www.clifford.com. "Talking" alarms with a human voice were "cool" for awhile but have since gone the way of the Dodo and hula hoop.

The REAL problem with proximity alarms (or any Alarm) is "they" wont care. They will still get close, look in, whatever ... they are kids ... dont care. If its a thief, he/she wont care either because they KNOW nobody else cares. I came out of work the other day and in a big parking lot, sure enuff an alarm was going off. Do you think even ONE person stopped and looked? Nope ... car alarms are ubiquitous ... like cell phones ... no one cares

Second problem is "People like to walk up and take a gander when my car's parked with the top down. I like when they do,
..." yet you want "protection". I'm not sure you can have your cake and eat it too. If you desire "ogling" but just "dont touch", I'm not sure anything will help because I really believe any chirping ... whatever and the kids will set it off just to hear it chirp. I read the human voice alarm market went dead because kids would throw ***** at the cars just to hear the car "talk".

This isn't like your ogling a "human being" and no better not to touch ... rather, its car ... "they", they masses, probably just wont care.

I know this isn't an answer, just an opinion

 

 

I try to close up the roof whenever I leave the MINI... it is difficult to do especially when you are in a hurry and are stepping away for only a few minutes.

...or at the very least, roll up all your windows. Maybe that will help minimize potential scratches from onlookers.

 

A laminated sign that says "Do not touch this car unless you are naked" may work.

Actually, I always put my top up when leaving the car - after someone left a soiled diaper on my driver's seat in my Miata.

But there is a sensor somewhere in the car that can read how bad you have to use the bathroom. The worse it is, the slower the top takes to close...

 

eeewww... gross...

 

Went through this discussion years ago after someone tied their dog to my Vespa while they went in to shop at a grocery.
Attractive Nusiance applies to swimming pools in a backyard and the like - and mainly absolves children.
The discussion then quickly turned to people who would come out to find people sitting on their Gold Wings. Just because it's parked in the open does not give anybody the right to get on or in.
Having said all that, I don't know what you can really do. If you catch them causing damage you can prosecute, just as jou can if somebody opens their door into you. I think a "Step Back From The Car" alarm would actually invite - particularly kids - to throw things at it to see what triggers the alarm.

Peter
In Denver
Who has fewer people looking at his MCSC as they get more common.

 

... on why it won't work. I respect everyones opinion and that's the truth.

None the less, I believe it will help and I'm not trying to debate whether the kids will throw stuff at it etc.

I'd like try and get his thread back on track of a technical discussion with someone who's worked with these type of components.