Just read and wonder how primitive it is:
Installation of the Ravelco Anti-theft device is fairly simple, and can be completed in less than one hour for most applications.
Equipment Needed for Installation:
- Electric Drill
- Drill Bit, 1/2″ (13mm)
- 1-1/8″ (29mm) hole saw (optional for in-dash mount)
- Wire crimping tool and electrical connectors for wire splices, ground eyelet
- Electrical tape, wire (zip) ties
- Black RTV or Petroleum based Body Tar sealant
- Automotive Wire Loom / Flex Tubing (optional)
- Sheet metal screws
- Wiring diagram for installation vehicle
- Screw driver
- Channel locks or large pliers
Installation:
Before you start your installation, there are some important things to observe. All of the wires that come out of the rear of the Ravelco are black. This is so that a thief cannot match color-coding to bypass the unit. There are a total of five wires. The shortest wire is a ground wire. It is critical that this wire is attached to the body of the vehicle for the Ravelco to work properly. You will observe two longer wires with white tabs on the end, and two wires without these tabs. DO NOT remove the tabs from the wires until the installation is complete, those two wires are a matched set.
- Determine if you want to mount your Ravelco under the automobile dash or in the automobile dash. Under dash is easier, but in dash is less obvious and slightly more secure. With either installation, the armored cable will prevent any thief from getting to the critical wiring.
- In Dash: Determine the location of the installation, paying special attention to the wiring and supports behind the proposed location. You will be using the Hole Saw to cut a hole in your dash, so make sure that you have the correct location. Before installing through dash, remove rear mounting nut and then remove the "L" bracket used for under dash mounting. Thread wires and armored cable through the hole previously cut in the dash, and then reinstall rear mounting nut over wires and armored cable from under the dash. Tighten the rear mounting nut with a pair of channel locks or a large pair of pliers.
- Under Dash: Pick a location that will not interfere with your entering or exiting the vehicle, or will not interfere with normal operation of the vehicle. Some installations are done in the glove box to hide the Ravelco from casual view. To hang the Ravelco, remove the "L" bracket (step 2) and use the holes in the attached bracket as a template for drilling two small holes to attach with sheet metal screws. Reinstall the Ravelco in the mounting bracket.
- From your installation location in the vehicle, visualize a straight line back to the firewall. This is the path that your armored cable will travel. You will need to drill a hole in the firewall with the 1/2″ (13mm) drill bit to feed the armored cable through. Make sure to pick a location that you can reach with the drill while the bit is attached. Also be aware of anything that might be on the outside of the firewall, in the engine compartment.
- After mounting your Ravelco, and drilling your hole in the firewall, carefully run the wires and armored cable through the hole. The easiest way to secure the cable is to use a wire tie on the outside of the firewall, installing it after you pull the cable snug. Wrapping the cable in electrical tape, or using a hose clamp can also accomplish this. My personal preference is the wire tie, as it is easier to remove if necessary. After securing the cable, use Black RTV or body tar to seal around the cable to stop any moisture from getting inside the vehicle.
The Ravelco is a system interrupt device, which means that it will cut two critical circuits needed for vehicle operation. The identification of the correct wires to interrupt is critical. These circuits can be anything that is low current, preferably something that is disabling. Suggestions are: Fuel injection control (as long as it is not the CPU power), fuel control from the fuel pump, ignition control (hot lead to distributor), and starter.
You must identify the wires to two of these circuits, and then follow the wires back into the wiring harness after splitting the harness. The reason for tracing the wire back into the harness is so that the splice connections that you make can be easily hidden from casual observation.
From experience, the two easiest to find are usually the fuel injection power, and the ignition power lines. It's important to trace and splice into the hot wires, and not the ground wires. Some circuits will ground from the connection as well as a wire, so splicing into the ground wire is not as secure.
Once you have identified the correct wire, you will need to cut it, and splice the long black wires into the circuit. Use either the wires with or without the white tabs, but don't mix them. Then identify the second wire to be cut and repeat the process with the other long black wire pair.
That's all there is to it, the Ravelco is active, and the vehicle should not start without the plug installed in the socket.
The last step is to hide your work. Do this by hiding the spliced wires back in the original wire loom. Wrap any exposed wire and the reinforced cable in electrical tape so that it looks like any other wiring circuit under the hood. If you want to, purchase a length of wire loom from the auto parts store, and hide the reinforced cable and wires coming from the firewall with this to make it look like the rest of the wiring in the car.