Forced Ignition - How It Works
People ask us to explain how the Forced Ignition system works. We could use all of the high tech jargon but let’s keep it simple ...
Almost everyone has used a cordless phone at some point.
Say you are talking on the cordless phone and head outside to check the mail – as you get further away from your house, you start getting static on the line.
Suddenly, when you get too far away from your house, the phone goes completely dead, because the signal between the cordless phone and the base station in your house is lost.
Basically, the Forced Ignition system works the same way as the cordless phone ...
How Forced Ignition Protects Your Vehicle
Forced Ignition Main Unit & Remote
The Forced Ignition system consists of two parts ...
- the main immobilizer unit, which is mounted in your vehicle, and
- a small remote unit (the size of a car alarm remote) which you keep on you.
You can keep the remote unit in your pocket, in a wallet, or anywhere on you. See the photo below to get an idea of how small the remote is - it's a perfect size.
If your vehicle is stolen or carjacked, when it moves more than about a quarter mile away from you, the remote in your pocket and the main Forced Ignition unit in your vehicle can't talk to each other, and your vehicle stops automatically.
So if your vehicle is stolen or carjacked, Forced Ignition automatically disables your vehicle.
Your vehicle stops and cannot be restarted by the car thief or carjacker.
Once you recover your vehicle, the main Forced Ignition unit in your vehicle senses that you are now close enough for the remote and the main immobilzer unit in the vehicle to talk to each other, and your vehicle can then be started as normal by you.
The video below demonstrates how Forced Ignition works. Turn up your volume and click on the movie below to play it ...
Forced Ignition - how it works movie preview
More technical details
The reflector worn by the driver is very small and easy to conceal - its just 47mm high x 30mm wide x 10mm thick (1.8" high x 1.2" wide x 0.4" thick).
The main control unit which is installed into the vehicle is also very compact. It is just 67 mm high x 57 mm wide x 13 mm thick (2.65" high x 2.25" wide x 0.5" thick). It's small size is a huge advantage when compared to larger systems as it makes the main control unit easier to conceal within the vehicle and therefore harder for a would-be thief to find.
Forced Ignition Main Control Unit & Reflector With A US Quarter Coin For Scale
The main control box receives a unique encrypted code from the reflector using a 128-bit encryption algorithm, which distinguishes the signal from any other source and prevents security breach.
Once the main control computer gets a predetermined distance from the reflector it triggers a series of relay actions resulting in primary fuel or ignition system disconnect. When the reflector is back within range of the vehicle, the system resets itself automatically.
In simpler terms –the main control box and the reflector communicate using radio signals. Each signal is calculated to determine the distance between the vehicle and the reflector. If the distance is greater than that allowed, then the ignition or fuel supply is disabled. There is no damage to the vehicle and once the reflector and the vehicle are back within range of one another, the system resets itself automatically and the vehicle can be driven as normal.
Forced Ignition can also be installed in a specific way to provided "3 point" immobilisation of the starter motor, fuel pump and ignition coil as required by some insurance companies. See the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page for more information.
The effect – If the vehicle is driven out of radio range of the authorized driver wearing the reflector (i.e. stolen or carjacked), the effect is like the vehicle ran out of gas. The driver still has safe control over steering and brakes but the vehicle will not start back up until the radios are back within range of one another.
If the vehicle is in park and the authorized driver wearing the reflector leaves the radio perimeter, the vehicle will remain running until movement is detected. A motion sensor installed on the Forced Ignition System achieves this function. An example would be starting the vehicle up in the mornings to warm up. The driver is inside the house but the vehicle is warming up, the vehicle is protected from any unauthorized use. In case of attempted use of the vehicle by anyone other than the authorized driver, the vehicle will be disabled until the radios are back within range of one another.
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