Home Alarm Battery needs replacing... - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

mapleyther · 2009-01-21, 11:03 PM

Hi

I have an alarm system for which the battery needs replacing. I have been quoted an exorbitant price by a subcontractor of the monitoring company, for what I suspect will be 5 mins work ($160 including call out charge and labour). Is there a way to do this myself or at least find a cheaper option?

I live in Toronto.

martin

e268 · 2009-01-21, 11:09 PM

I replaced mine once. Take a look at your user manual and see what voltage the battery is, or look at the actual battery itself, and see what voltage it has. Go to The Source web site where they used to have these battery (sealed lead acid). It would be about $20. You just pull the old one out and put the new one in.

Dog Byte · 2009-01-21, 11:48 PM

Interstate Batteries sells more than auto batteries and they have a Web site too. A typical 12V lead acid alarm battery is around $20.

99semaj · 2009-01-22, 12:24 AM

Odds are that it's a 12V 4Ah gel cell. You're best bet it to simply disconnect it by pulling the leads off (won't hurt the alarm panel) and taking it into a place like Interstate. They will likely also dispose of the old one for you.

Like others said, $20 should be an easy price to find. Anyone with any buying power at all (i.e. 20 foot containers at a time) can make a handsome margin at that price.

57 · 2009-01-22, 01:02 AM

Crosstown Battery in Toronto is another inexpensive source of batteries. 21 Musgrave St. (416) 691-2712. They recycle.

PlaceHolder · 2009-01-22, 07:44 AM

Co-worker once told me about a similar story. Alarm company wanted too much for a simple replacement... but they actually told him he could do it himself much cheaper. I believe he said he found a replacement battery at Home Depot (but we live in a small town, so few options... TO should have many other options.) He said it was a very easy replacement... but didn't mention how he disposed of the old battery.

rosenqui · 2009-01-22, 08:30 AM

I get mine at Total Battery in Ottawa. Just disconnect your old one and take it with you to a specialty shop like that; they'll almost certainly have a match in stock.

Ditto for most user-replaceable UPS batteries - they're much the same as alarm batteries.

TECHNOKID · 2009-01-22, 10:44 AM

One thing you have to do is make sure you let the monitoring company you are doing this. Some panel have tamper switch and as soon as you open the panel, it will go to alarm. Acquire your battery first and as you mentioned it takes approx. 5 mins to do.

JohnnyG · 2009-01-22, 11:32 AM

I was specifically told that I could NOT do it myself as it would invalidate my monitoring contract! This was with ADT.

Naturally, I went to BEAM vacuum dealer in Mississauga that also sold DSC alarm systems and bought and installed the battery myself. 5 minutes work and a fraction of the price. ADT was none the wiser.

Larry · 2009-01-22, 11:45 AM

When faced with a similar situation, I decided to look at changing to a new alarm company. I found one that would change all the equipment in my home for less than I was quoted to change the battery, and the monthly monitoring would be less to.

I then call my current alarm company to cancel my service - they offered to change my battery for free, and lowered my monthly fee.

Worth a shot.

JohnnyG · 2009-01-22, 11:58 AM

Nicely done, Larry! Only problem is, the battery in these things seems to have a habit of failing right in the middle of a service contract period!

greenhome · 2009-01-22, 12:16 PM

If you are going down the route of changing the system, go to a new sub division and get some #'s (i.e. off a lamp post). They are usually quite aggressive with pricing and are flexible on the monitoring fees. (often cheaper than what you might be paying now)

kcolero · 2009-01-22, 04:01 PM

Maybe this should be obvious, but don't you need a key (which I don't believe that I have) to open an alarm panel to access the battery?

Rouge21 · 2009-01-22, 04:06 PM

Our alarm panel (monitored system) is in our front hall closet behind some coats. The cover is secured by a couple of screws.

notsure · 2009-01-22, 06:32 PM

My alarm company pays for the batteries.

I bought the system outright, they installed it, I pay a monthly fee for service (~$11 or $12 I think) and they pay for any needed repairs/battery changes.

I really can't complain at all.

2009-01-21, 11:03 PM	#1
mapleyther Rookie Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1	Home Alarm Battery needs replacing... Hi I have an alarm system for which the battery needs replacing. I have been quoted an exorbitant price by a subcontractor of the monitoring company, for what I suspect will be 5 mins work ($160 including call out charge and labour). Is there a way to do this myself or at least find a cheaper option? I live in Toronto. martin

2009-01-21, 11:09 PM	#2
e268 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Toronto, Rogers 8300HD,Sony KDE42XBR950, Posts: 1,022	I replaced mine once. Take a look at your user manual and see what voltage the battery is, or look at the actual battery itself, and see what voltage it has. Go to The Source web site where they used to have these battery (sealed lead acid). It would be about $20. You just pull the old one out and put the new one in. __________________ Yammy RXV2400 & CDC815, Celestion DL8 fr Mission 73Ci ctr Sansui rear Velodyne CHT8, Vaio TT180, i7-920@3.8Ghz

2009-01-22, 01:02 AM	#5
57 Moderator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Toronto, Rogers, 8300HD, eHDD, Panasonic TCP65S1, Denon AVR4310Ci; 8300HD, eHDD & Sony KDL40W3000 Posts: 50,301	Crosstown Battery in Toronto is another inexpensive source of batteries. 21 Musgrave St. (416) 691-2712. They recycle. __________________ 57's Home Theatre (Latest equipment & photos) 57's Optimization Services (Home Theatre Optimization)

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2009-01-21, 11:48 PM	#3
Dog Byte Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Langley, BC Posts: 863	Interstate Batteries sells more than auto batteries and they have a Web site too. A typical 12V lead acid alarm battery is around $20.

2009-01-22, 12:24 AM	#4
99semaj Veteran Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: /dev/null Posts: 2,667	Odds are that it's a 12V 4Ah gel cell. You're best bet it to simply disconnect it by pulling the leads off (won't hurt the alarm panel) and taking it into a place like Interstate. They will likely also dispose of the old one for you. Like others said, $20 should be an easy price to find. Anyone with any buying power at all (i.e. 20 foot containers at a time) can make a handsome margin at that price.

2009-01-22, 07:44 AM	#6
PlaceHolder Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 248	Co-worker once told me about a similar story. Alarm company wanted too much for a simple replacement... but they actually told him he could do it himself much cheaper. I believe he said he found a replacement battery at Home Depot (but we live in a small town, so few options... TO should have many other options.) He said it was a very easy replacement... but didn't mention how he disposed of the old battery.

2009-01-22, 08:30 AM	#7
rosenqui Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Kanata, Ontario. Posts: 385	I get mine at Total Battery in Ottawa. Just disconnect your old one and take it with you to a specialty shop like that; they'll almost certainly have a match in stock. Ditto for most user-replaceable UPS batteries - they're much the same as alarm batteries.

2009-01-22, 10:44 AM	#8
TECHNOKID Veteran Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Gatineau Posts: 2,944	One thing you have to do is make sure you let the monitoring company you are doing this. Some panel have tamper switch and as soon as you open the panel, it will go to alarm. Acquire your battery first and as you mentioned it takes approx. 5 mins to do.

2009-01-22, 11:32 AM	#9
JohnnyG Veteran Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: North York, Ontario Posts: 10,407	I was specifically told that I could NOT do it myself as it would invalidate my monitoring contract! This was with ADT. Naturally, I went to BEAM vacuum dealer in Mississauga that also sold DSC alarm systems and bought and installed the battery myself. 5 minutes work and a fraction of the price. ADT was none the wiser.

2009-01-22, 11:45 AM	#10
Larry Veteran Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ottawa, Ontario (Rogers) Posts: 1,521	When faced with a similar situation, I decided to look at changing to a new alarm company. I found one that would change all the equipment in my home for less than I was quoted to change the battery, and the monthly monitoring would be less to. I then call my current alarm company to cancel my service - they offered to change my battery for free, and lowered my monthly fee. Worth a shot.

2009-01-22, 11:58 AM	#11
JohnnyG Veteran Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: North York, Ontario Posts: 10,407	Nicely done, Larry! Only problem is, the battery in these things seems to have a habit of failing right in the middle of a service contract period!

2009-01-22, 12:16 PM	#12
greenhome Rookie Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 2	If you are going down the route of changing the system, go to a new sub division and get some #'s (i.e. off a lamp post). They are usually quite aggressive with pricing and are flexible on the monitoring fees. (often cheaper than what you might be paying now)

2009-01-22, 04:01 PM	#13
kcolero Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 5	Maybe this should be obvious, but don't you need a key (which I don't believe that I have) to open an alarm panel to access the battery?

2009-01-22, 04:06 PM	#14
Rouge21 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Vinegar Hill, Rogers, Sony KDS50A2000, Samsung LNT4061, SA8300, PS3, TT GO730 Posts: 421	Our alarm panel (monitored system) is in our front hall closet behind some coats. The cover is secured by a couple of screws.

2009-01-22, 06:32 PM	#15
notsure Veteran Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ottawa, ON; OTA, XBMC, ATV Posts: 1,604	My alarm company pays for the batteries. I bought the system outright, they installed it, I pay a monthly fee for service (~$11 or $12 I think) and they pay for any needed repairs/battery changes. I really can't complain at all.