Alarm System

Last updated: November 22, 2023

Summary

The Cybertruck is equipped with an alarm system which monitors for any unwanted entry into the vehicle and alerts the user if any such instance is detected.

The alarm system is activated 60 seconds after the vehicle is locked and checks the status of the door, front trunk, and tailgate latches. If any intrusion is detected, the alarm system is activated, causing the horn to sound once every second and turn signals to flash.

Specifications

The alarm functionality can be disabled by the user under Settings > Safety and Security > Security Alarm

The alarm is partially armed when the vehicle is parked and locked using the key card, phone, or Walk Away Lock. The alarm will then transition to fully armed after one minute if no unlock request is received.

The alarm is disarmed when the vehicle is unlocked (with key card or phone).

If armed, the alarm is triggered when any door, front trunk, or tailgate is opened.

Note

The alarm is not triggered if the front trunk or tailgate is opened by an authorized entry (e.g., from Tesla phone application).

If the alarm is triggered, the Pedestrian Warning Speaker will sound the horn once every second, and the turn signals will flash.

If triggered, the alarm can be disabled by unlocking the vehicle via an authenticated device. If none are detected, the alarm will be disabled after being activated for 30 seconds and will re-activate after one minute, for a maximum of 10 activation cycles.

The following components make up the alarm system:

• Vehicle Controller Security (VCSEC)
• Vehicle Controller Door (VCDOOR)
• Vehicle Controller Left (VCLEFT)
• Vehicle Controller Rear (VCREAR)
• User Interface (UI)
• Pedestrian Warning Speaker (PWS)

Alarm system power and communication overview

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Operation

Important

VCSEC micro-controller is located on the left vehicle controller board.

The Security Vehicle Controller (VCSEC) continuously monitors the status of all latches (front/rear doors and front/rear trunks). When any of the latches are opened while the vehicle is locked, the alarm is triggered.

While activated, the Pedestrian Warning Speaker sounds the horn once every second and the turn signals flashes.

Wiring and Communication

VCSEC is the master control unit of the alarm and receives the latch's status from:

• VCLEFT for the front trunk.
• VCDOOR for the different door latches (e.g., VCDOORFL for the Front Left door)
  • Door latch status is reported by VCDOOR on the left or right BDY CAN bus (based on controller side) to the corresponding side vehicle controller.
• VCREAR for the tailgate.

If any latch signals report that a closure is open while the alarm is armed, VCSEC will send a message to the User Interface (UI), which controls the Pedestrian Warning Speaker to sound the horn and to VCLEFT and VCRIGHT to flash the turn signals.

Serviceability

Alarm Triggers

The alarm triggers are reported by VCSEC alert VCSEC_a133_alarmTriggered. For each trigger, the reason is reported by an alert payload signal VCSEC_a133_alarmTriggerReason, which can take the following values:

Signal value	Description
5 ALARM_TRIGGER_REASON_REAR_TRUNK	One of the tailgate latch was opened while the vehicle was locked
4 ALARM_TRIGGER_REASON_FRONT_TRUNK	The front trunk latch was opened while the vehicle was locked
3 ALARM_TRIGGER_REASON_REAR_PASSENGER_DOOR	The Rear Right door latch was opened while the vehicle was locked
2 ALARM_TRIGGER_REASON_REAR_DRIVER_DOOR	The Rear Left door latch was opened while the vehicle was locked
1 ALARM_TRIGGER_REASON_FRONT_PASSENGER_DOOR	The Front Right door latch was opened while the vehicle was locked
0 ALARM_TRIGGER_REASON_FRONT_DRIVER_DOOR	The Front Left door latch was opened while the vehicle was locked

Alarm States

The alarm state can be determined from the signal VCSEC_alarmStatus. The signal value is determined by VCSEC according to the table below.

Signal value	Description
15 ALARM_STATUS_SNA	When VEH Can bus is asleep.
7 ALARM_STATUS_DEFAULT
6 ALARM_STATUS_IMMINENT	If the alarm is armed and triggered, it will wait 1 second in this status to receive an authentication request. If no request is received within the time window, the alarm status will change to ALARM_STATUS_TRIGGERED_FLASH_ACTIVE.
5 ALARM_STATUS_TRIGGERED_FLASH_INACTIVE	The alarm will wait 10 seconds in this state before entering ALARM_TRIGGERED_FLASH_ACTIVE again. If an unlock request is received while in this state, the alarm goes to ALARM_STATUS_DISARMED
4 ALARM_STATUS_ERROR
3 ALARM_STATUS_TRIGGERED_FLASH_ACTIVE	The alarm is active, horn sounding and turn signals flashing. If the alarm remains active for 30 seconds, its status will change to ALARM_TRIGGERED_FLASH_INACTIVE.
2 ALARM_STATUS_PARTIAL_ARMED	The vehicle is locked, and the alarm initializes. After 1 minute, the alarm status will change to ALARM_STATUS_ARMED.
1 ALARM_STATUS_ARMED	The alarm is enabled and monitoring the vehicle environment.
0 ALARM_STATUS_DISARMED	The alarm is disabled. Either the vehicle is unlocked, or the alarm functionality is disabled by the user.

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