How to improve the IR plip?

Sturdybloke · Post by **Sturdybloke** » 25 Mar 2006, 18:51

Its nice to have a Citroen that needs no mechanical (

But for how long?) work doing to it. But The other day got me thinking, as it was raining and I was taking a brisk run across the compound back to the car I noticed that the range of the remote locking plip is not that good. So, the next day in the dry I was testing the range of the remote locking. The best I could get was 15' or closer from behind the car. Is it due to the location of where Citroen put the reciever in the ceiling? Or is it the plip itself, or a combination of the two. Is there any way of "pepping up" the output of the plip by changing the IR LED in it. I have had a scout about on the Maplins website but the LEDs that they sell dont say the range they operate upto. Or is there no way of improving the output of it?

You can tell when you have to much time on your hands when you start complaining about the output of remotes.........

PowerLee · Post by **PowerLee** » 25 Mar 2006, 18:56

You could always upgrade the car to an RF plip

reblack68 · Post by **reblack68** » 25 Mar 2006, 19:12

I think 15' is a pretty good range for an IR plip, I can't see you improving that by much. I did find that new batteries made mine work a bit better.

Sturdybloke · Post by **Sturdybloke** » 25 Mar 2006, 19:21

Is it even possible to upgrade it to RF?

wheeler · Post by **wheeler** » 26 Mar 2006, 23:41

Sturdybloke wrote:Is it even possible to upgrade it to RF?

there are loads of aftermarket kits available to do this or even an aftermarket alarm with central locking output.

406 V6 · Post by **406 V6** » 27 Mar 2006, 16:50

You could solder another IR LED in parallel with the existing one, that ought to increase the range, but also the battery drain...

Homer · Post by **Homer** » 28 Mar 2006, 14:12

I always found they were worse in the rain.

How about turning the reciever upside down and putting the plastic bubble outside the car?