Has anyone heard of or used the ravelco security system? It is not an alarm, but a device designed to prevent the rig from being started(in fact, nothing that is wired into it will get power). seems fairly straight forward, and reasonable in cost(200 for the unit, 400 installed).

 

I looked through Ravelco's webpage www.ravelco.com
I find their product to be extremely overpriced. I fail to see what their $400 device can do that a $3 well installed hidden kill switch(s) can't. Good places to splice kill switches are the wires going to the fuel pump and/or the starter relay. These are the same splice sites that Revelco uses. Search this board for how-to instructions or you may have to ask a mechanic.

If you creatively hide a kill switch, it will be practically "invisible." In contrast, the "plug" of the Ravelco sticks out like a sore thumb. The big limitation of the Ravelco is that a thief can quite easily find the splice point under the hood by following its rather conspicous "armored steel cable."

Most importantly, as with a kill switch, the Ravelco alone will do absolutely NOTHING to DETER a thief from breaking into your car to steal its contents or alert you that your car has been messed with. A well-installed paging alarm will accomplish this.

I noticed they said on their webpage that alarms can easily be defeated with cheap code grabbers. I think this is B.S. because alarms today use rolling codes technology which makes their vulnerablity to code grabbing extremely low.

You can get both get a well-installed alarm and kill switch for under $400. Nearly all alarm systems will electronically disrupt the starter wire so you may not even need a separate kill switch.

 

a $5 bosch relay and a $5 socket wired into the fuel pump or starter circuit in the same manner as a kill switch.

You can use any switch to activate the relay.
From a pushbutton to the turnsignal, dimmer switch or whatever you can dream up.


send me the 1/2 the difference you save over that ravelco thingy. LOL

 

I looked at them and also posted on this website about 4 months ago. I was thinking of putting it on my new 06 F350, but I didn't.

The main reason I didn't is that they claim to have been around for 30 years, yet no one I have talked to has ever heard of them. I have never seen one installed. I would think someone would have it locally or heard about it.

The second reason is the plug looks a little bulky to keep it in your pocket. Also it looks like it would break easy. I think it would be inconvienient also.

Lastly I think it looks hideous on the dash

 

There are many good security systems with remote start and diesel compatable for less money.
Check out the bottom one it has all the bells and wistles.
http://www.discountpowerparts.com/On...e_starters.htm

Not just a kill for the same money. Kill switches work good too.