I installed a Python 900 this weekend in my 92 Si along with a 520T battery backup module. Got it all buttoned up yesterday and the alarm was working great. I armed it when I left the car yesterday (about 5PM) and checked before I went to bed and the LED was still happily blinking (lights up the whole garage with a sunroof ).

Anyway, as I went to disarm this morning to go to work, I got the "out of range" beeps from the remote. Thinking that was weird, I looked in the car -- the LED wasn't blinking. So, I'm thinking "Crap, I pinched something when I was putting back panels and it drained the car battery". I didn't know why the 520T wouldn't have alarmed, as the remote still indicated that the car was armed. So, I went to open the door, expecting an earful and got nothing.

I checked the car's battery voltage -- 12.76. OK, went to start the car, started up fine. So... the alarm is just plain dead.

Now, the 520T is connected exactly as it should be:

Red: constant 12v @ fuse panel
Black: same ground lug as alarm brain
Grey: alarm brain constant 12v input (red)
Blue: alarm brain hood pin (-) trigger
Battery harness: connected to backup battery

After work tonight, I'm going to take the 520T out of the loop and see if the alarm works (huge pain in the *** because of where I mounted the alarm so I didn't feel like doing it this morning), but I was just wondering -- is that a symptom of a dead backup battery, or is the 520T module kaput?

One more thing: when I armed last night, I got the extra chirp and the remote indicated that the hood was open (connected to 520T). I figured the backup battery might be low since it was brand new and needed to be charged and dismissed it.

Has anyone with a 520T seen this before?

 

Update: it's so simple I wanted to punch myself.

Checked in the fusebox (why didn't I check this earlier?) and there was no %$#@$ fuse in the slot that protects that option connector. Threw in a fuse and the siren went crazy. So.... i'm an idiot for not checking for current at that connector before going forward with the install.

Also explains the bypass chirp since the from the alarm's POV there was no car battery at all. Once again, human error trumps all equipment problems.

lame...

 

I have seen plenty of problems with the 520t. And they allways come from ebay Those units that are 15 buxs are that price for a reason

 

The 520T sux and the battery usually is empty of acid. You can still use the module that comes with it, but I would recommend going and buying a larger capacity sealed battery.

You can look for home alarm backup batteries they work great. Your alarm will last much longer on one of these then the piece of crap that comes with the 520t.

 

Yeah, it's like a 0.7Ah battery. When I installed the alarm, I installed the connector on a really lightweight 4Ah battery that I had lying around from another project. That's unfortunately why it took me 2 days to figure out that I didn't have a fuse in the panel instead of a few hours.

 

I've never had a problem with the module on any of the 20 or so cars I did on the side last year, or on either of my own two cars. I got them all from Ebay for around $35. It's been in my Civic for 2 years now. Drained it down a couple of times when I wasn't using my car, the battery would go dead. It recharged itself each time and is still kicking. The other module I had in a Si that I sold a few months ago. No problems.

My roommate installs home alarms for a living and can get those batteries, but I don't want something so huge and heavy in my car since I don't feel it's necessary. Maybe if I was going on a trip for several months.

 

Yeah, I actually got my 520T on Amazon, paid $24 new from one of those outside sellers that sell via Amazon's website. You never really know when you order from those places if you're actually going to get something back, but there was no way in hell I was paying more than double that for it at Circuit City.

The battery I put in is actually an old Yuasa battery originally for use in electric solenoid door locks for commercial building security. It's a little guy, it's AGM so it can be mounted any which way without leaking or failing, and it weighs less than 2 lbs.