Discussion
Does anyone know if the tracker fobs lose their association with the car when the batteries run out? ie if new batteries are put in, does the fob need recoding to the car again?
Stopped bothering getting the fobs replaced when the batteries run out, but decided to take one apart last night to see if I could change the batteries myself.
It wasn't! Bloody stupid design. But I think it might be possible to adapt the form factor of the tags to effectively make them fit on a key ring (or at least in your pocket really easily) either by changing the type of battery used (and at the same time making them user replaceable) or maybe even by adapting it so it can be plugged into a 12V socket when needed...
But this will only work if the circuitry remembers its pairing with the car under loss (ad reinstatement) of power.
Does anyone know the scoop?
Stopped bothering getting the fobs replaced when the batteries run out, but decided to take one apart last night to see if I could change the batteries myself.
It wasn't! Bloody stupid design. But I think it might be possible to adapt the form factor of the tags to effectively make them fit on a key ring (or at least in your pocket really easily) either by changing the type of battery used (and at the same time making them user replaceable) or maybe even by adapting it so it can be plugged into a 12V socket when needed...
But this will only work if the circuitry remembers its pairing with the car under loss (ad reinstatement) of power.
Does anyone know the scoop?
Funny that.
I pulled one apart a few weeks ago with the same thought in mind.
I then spent a little while trying to find a welded array of 4 x 3volt batterys to no avail.
At the end of the day it wasn't worth dicking with as I use a mobile!
To answer your question. I don't know whether it loses its personality when the power drains away.
I pulled one apart a few weeks ago with the same thought in mind.
I then spent a little while trying to find a welded array of 4 x 3volt batterys to no avail.
At the end of the day it wasn't worth dicking with as I use a mobile!
To answer your question. I don't know whether it loses its personality when the power drains away.
peterr96 said:
...
I then spent a little while trying to find a welded array of 4 x 3volt batterys to no avail....
They're just standard cells wired together (albeit with metal tags "glued" on). I just need to confirm with my schoolboy physics whether they're wired together to give a higher capacity 3V array or 12V.I then spent a little while trying to find a welded array of 4 x 3volt batterys to no avail....
I also use my phone, but thought it'd be interesting to see whether I could do something a bit neater.
Highrisedrifter said:
Ooh Murph, I'd be interested in finding this out too. The tracker tags are HEE-UGE and I'd love to get it adapted to something smaller.
I haven't paired my mobile as it spends most of its life switched off due to not being able to have it on at work.
The circuit board is about the size of a small matchbox in plan view, and a couple of mm deep. So changing it would be easy, IF it remembers its state.I haven't paired my mobile as it spends most of its life switched off due to not being able to have it on at work.
It really annoys me when makers of stuff like this use std cells but do not make them user replaceable. It would have been just as straightforward to design it this way than how they did.
(For those thinking I'm dissing Aston again, I'm not. I don't think they designed these bits. It's just another piece of poorly thought out electronics they decided to buy
).Murph7355 said:
They're just standard cells wired together (albeit with metal tags "glued" on). I just need to confirm with my schoolboy physics whether they're wired together to give a higher capacity 3V array or 12V.
Tinkering I think they're actually wired to give a higher capacity 6V charge.Murph7355 said:
They're just standard cells wired together (albeit with metal tags "glued" on). I just need to confirm with my schoolboy physics whether they're wired together to give a higher capacity 3V array or 12V.
I also use my phone, but thought it'd be interesting to see whether I could do something a bit neater.
I can save you the effort there.I also use my phone, but thought it'd be interesting to see whether I could do something a bit neater.
They're wired in series to create 12volts
They're Varta 2450 (24mm diameter, 5mm thick and 3 volts a piece Li-Mn).
The cells are connected by welded tags and then wrapped up in a protective plastic film.
You can get individual cells easily (ebay for eg) but a "battery" of 4 in the same arrangement I have not located.
I'm afraid you can't solder direct to the battery cases. They're welded using some kind of spot weld.
Good luck!
peterr96 said:
I can save you the effort there.
They're wired in series to create 12volts
They're Varta 2450 (24mm diameter, 5mm thick and 3 volts a piece Li-Mn).
The cells are connected by welded tags and then wrapped up in a protective plastic film.
You can get individual cells easily (ebay for eg) but a "battery" of 4 in the same arrangement I have not located.
I'm afraid you can't solder direct to the battery cases. They're welded using some kind of spot weld.
Good luck!
Are you sure they're welded in series?They're wired in series to create 12volts
They're Varta 2450 (24mm diameter, 5mm thick and 3 volts a piece Li-Mn).
The cells are connected by welded tags and then wrapped up in a protective plastic film.
You can get individual cells easily (ebay for eg) but a "battery" of 4 in the same arrangement I have not located.
I'm afraid you can't solder direct to the battery cases. They're welded using some kind of spot weld.
Good luck!
The way the tabs are looks like 2 pairs in series and the pairs in parallel.
Murph7355 said:
Are you sure they're welded in series?
The way the tabs are looks like 2 pairs in series and the pairs in parallel.
Be my guest and rip one apart.The way the tabs are looks like 2 pairs in series and the pairs in parallel.
Unless I'd had a pint too many (not impossible) I recall that the cells are flipped over side to side, +ve cell to -ve cell right through.
I don't have one in front of me but IIRC it's series right the way through
peterr96 said:
Be my guest and rip one apart.
Unless I'd had a pint too many (not impossible) I recall that the cells are flipped over side to side, +ve cell to -ve cell right through.
I don't have one in front of me but IIRC it's series right the way through
Already did (bits all over the table Unless I'd had a pint too many (not impossible) I recall that the cells are flipped over side to side, +ve cell to -ve cell right through.
I don't have one in front of me but IIRC it's series right the way through
).I'm pretty sure it was + to - in two pairs, and then + to +, - to - between pairs. Anyway, will have a play
Jockman said:
Make the most of it sMurph...your tinkering days will soon be over
Mrs sMurph is oop North at her baby shower (don't ask!) this weekend.
A dozen mates are coming round for bacon and sausage sarnies, a bit of a hoon and some tyre kicking. Then I feel a bit of an afternoon nap with the rugby will be in order.
Tomorrow will be a lie in, feed the cat and then a gentle meander to the pub with a few more mates to watch England take on the French and sink a pint or ten.
And then next week, all that stops as I have to be on call for a mad dash to the hospital.
BingoBob said:
... buying a new one every year does, for all sorts of reasons.
The booklet clearly states that batteries last 3 years Bob - you being supplied with used ones ??I'm with Mako - my iPhone4S is my tag, and I just phone Eurowatch to put it in Service Mode if the Dealer has the car
Jockman said:
The booklet clearly states that batteries last 3 years Bob - you being supplied with used ones ??
I'm with Mako - my iPhone4S is my tag, and I just phone Eurowatch to put it in Service Mode if the Dealer has the car
My dealer said they last a year... Wouldn't surprise me at all if he was fobbing me off with cast-offs!I'm with Mako - my iPhone4S is my tag, and I just phone Eurowatch to put it in Service Mode if the Dealer has the car
I will get the iphone sorted out. Is it just a question of calling them up / downloading an app?
Aston Martin Tracking User Guidebook sayeth unto me...
"Your system includes 2 Driver Recognition Tags that are ready to use...The battery in each is designed to last for 3 years and when they begin to run out this will be detected automatically by the Aston Martin Tracking Service Centre which will contact you to replace them. More tags can be ordered from your dealer at any time if required."
Ever had the phone call ?? Thought Not.
Your Tags have never run out
"Your system includes 2 Driver Recognition Tags that are ready to use...The battery in each is designed to last for 3 years and when they begin to run out this will be detected automatically by the Aston Martin Tracking Service Centre which will contact you to replace them. More tags can be ordered from your dealer at any time if required."
Ever had the phone call ?? Thought Not.
Your Tags have never run out
BingoBob said:
My dealer said they last a year... Wouldn't surprise me at all if he was fobbing me off with cast-offs!
I will get the iphone sorted out. Is it just a question of calling them up / downloading an app?
Information can be found here...I will get the iphone sorted out. Is it just a question of calling them up / downloading an app?
https://secure.eurowatchcentral.com/astonmartin/ar...
Although the dealer just told me to phone Eurowatch and they just talked me through it in about 3 mins!
No use for the tags now!
BingoBob said:
Did you manage to get the casing apart without destroying it? If so, how? Is it bonded together or clipped?
The size doesn't bother me, but buying a new one every year does, for all sorts of reasons.
I got it apart without ruining it visually using a knife blade and leveraging it open. However, I don't believe it's designed to be separated as a couple of the internal "posts" that connect the two halves together broke. I think they're glued - I doubt it will go back together without gluing, but I took it apart to see if I could use a better case etc. The size doesn't bother me, but buying a new one every year does, for all sorts of reasons.
I started from the bottom and worked around the edge. It was the posts at the top which snapped. These also hold the circuit board in place.
The batteries are in the lower part of the fob and the circuitry under the badge.
Even when you open it, the batteries are not readily user replaceable. As Peter notes, there are 4 cells with "welded" tabs joining the batteries together and the wires to the circuit board are also attached in the same way.
The whole lot is then shrink wrapped in blue plastic.
It's a truly, truly stupid and wasteful design. Even designed like this the frickin things don't fit in your wallet etc, so why design it in such a moronic way - you know the batteries will run out in 1-3yrs (I've never had a call either), so just screw the halves together. Or put a battery flap in it and treat your customers with a bit of respect rather than as mugs/cash cows.
I'm no tree hugger, but this is such a dumb arsed way to make something the company doing it should be punitively penalised with a recycling tax. (You can probably tell at this point that I think the design is poor
).iPhone - am paired up. Have been for years. But you then have to ensure you have an iPhone charger in the car. And the phone needs to stay with the car if someone else (the wife; the servicing agent; etc) uses it. A decent solution, but not perfect.
It would have been a piece of piss, looking at the circuitry, to either build it into the alarm key fob or, if they couldn't be arsed with that challenge, at least a key ring fob.
Are Aston still using these?
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