Cheap Alarm for caravan

Other Club members may be interested in an inexpensive alarm I built with parts from the internet. It consists of a motion sensor a receiver/transmitter, which is fitted with a sim card. When disturbed the motion sensor activates and the receiver then sends a message to your mobile phone. My message just says “caravan alarm”. This has been fitted to my van for a year now and has been very reliable.

It needs its own 12 volt power source, I use a motor cycle battery, the alarm must be activated once every two months to keep the sim card alive, I just shake the motion sensor and wait for the text message. The sim card is topped up the usual way and has cost me less that £10-00 for the year. The whole thing fits in a box the size of an ice cream tub and is hid in the front bed box of the van. Using the caravan battery is a no no as if this is stolen or disconnected the alarm is dead.

When away from the caravan the alarm is tested by phoning the number on the sim card and if it rings all is well, if “this phone is switched off” message is received it could be the battery is low and needs a charge. Charge lasts three months.

The lot was purchased from E-Bay it comes with all the wiring and aerial and good instructions. It is called GSM Remote Alarm Unit and motion sensor. With a few other bits such as wires and a switch and the box to put it in the cost was under £100, it is very simple to fit. Best of all no monitoring costs and it is silent.