Home Alarm Battery needs replacing...

[TECHNOKID]

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?

As previously mentioned, home alarm systems don,t require a key and only have a screw a the top and one at the bottom. The only alarm systems that would use key are commercial (stores etc...) and other public buildings. The key to open them can be acquired at a provider and will work on most alarm systems locks are they are met to be used by just about any service technicians. Those panels are typically the ones that would use tamper switch (thus the need to let the alarm company you will be working on the system).

[Mikebreton]

As previously mentioned, home alarm systems don,t require a key and only have a screw a the top and one at the bottom.

Thats not always nessessarily true. The System intergration company that i work for, all our alarm panels commerical or residental we put cam locks on them.

bought and installed the battery myself. 5 minutes work and a fraction of the price. ADT was none the wiser.

sometimes the company will know, they would get a battery trouble from the panel, so they would know something happened.

I know when i'm in a bind and need batteries fast i goto interstate for batteries.. .they will have them there... depending on your system you'd need a 12v7ah

[JohnnyG]

Yup, it was actually ADT that called to tell me my panel was reporting a weak battery condition. But when I replaced the battery myself - against their wishes - they never called and never mentioned it again.

[TECHNOKID]

The System intergration company that i work for, all our alarm panels commerical or residental we put cam locks on them.

Some ways to keep clients out of the panel? or Do you provide client with a key? If the panel is a service contract (rental of some sort) fine since it belongs to the company. However, if client owns the panel I sure hope they are provided with the key. If otherwise, I would definitely not go for this! NO company controls MY equipment for their benefit sake!

Bet when I replaced the battery myself - against their wishes - they never called and never mentioned it again.

The problem with those companies is their greed and they sure express it if you want to do it your self. The big $$$ are made on service calls (IE: Possibly 1 hr service call charge to start + 1 hr minimum usually to replace the battery + battery with a hefty mark-up!). Their fees are usually somewhere in the area of 75$ an hour (if not more) during working hours while the poor technician's wage is in the area of possibly 15 - 22$ an hour if lucky!

My advice, don't panic and make sure you check what the potential problem could be before calling these people! Doing so can save you a bundle! Most people will panic and not take the time to think and simply give the go for a service call and wind up with hefty tab to pay for their visit. Please don't panic but think instead!!

[Rick]

Our panel in the place we used to live in had a key, but we had the key. We replaced the battery ourselves (bought it at Crosstown, mentioned earlier). Very easy and cheap. If the alarm company won't let you do it yourself, switch companies!!

[bulldogatl]

I've done this before and it worked fine in my previous house but now, I screwed something up. I replaced the battery in my brinks security system (as it indicated low battery and I got the hourly beeps). So I put the new battery in and my displays are totally dead. If I hit a key on the pad, it beeps, but no LCD display. Door chimes, etc don't work either. I tried another battery and the same thing happens. The wires are connected to the right color. Any suggestions? I tried unplugging and replugging the transformer. No luck either.
HELP!! =)

[txv]

Perhaps you shorted the leads - check the fuses on the board.

[bbyro5960]

Got a call from my monitoring service and was told that my battery is low and I have to replace it. They want to send their technician in which I know they will charge me more and the service so I decided to go to Electronic store and bought a new battery(same volt but not the same manufacturer). After replacing the battery, I still get the same sound in my alarm system which is, beep every now and then. Any idea what is the problem with my alarm system.

[57]

What's the make/model of your system? Are any of your sensors wireless? If so, then it could have been a sensor battery and not the main backup battery. Does the display indicate which battery is the problem? Who is your monitoring service? The more information the better. It's not only the Voltage that needs to be the same on the backup battery. Perhaps you purchased an incorrect replacement? They are usually rated in terms of Amp-Hours, not just Volts.

[bbyro5960]

I jump the gun. the alarm system is ok now. Just waited for 10 minutes and everything is fine. Thank you very much for the early response.

[jayoldschool]

I'm having a problem as well. I had the low battery warning, and the company called me to tell me. So, I replaced the battery and the panels are still dead. I suspect that the transformer plug has failed, and did not charge the battery. Any thoughts for me?

[99semaj]

Make / Model known? Also, by panels I assume you mean the keypads.

Should be easy to tell if the transformer is dead. A simple voltmeter should measure between 16.5 - 18 VAC. If you don't have a voltmeter, the heatsink should be warm/hot to the touch inside the panel enclosure. The heatsink is usually a large chunk of metal, although some newer panels and older Paradox panels used switching power supplies that didn't have them.

[57]

Make sure there's power at the transformer plug outlet - easily tested with a test light, or if the transformer itself is a bit warm. It could also be some circuitry, not just the transformer itself. Could perhaps be a poor connection of some sort.

The unit should (probably) have performed for a while properly on the battery when you replaced it, so perhaps something else is amiss.

[jayoldschool]

Definitely the transformer. Checked the outlet with a light - good. Checked the new battery - 12.8V. Transformer, cold. Checked the transformer terminals, zero volts. A new transformer is on the way.

DSC keypads, btw. Yes, it functioned with the trouble light on telling me the battery was failing. Of course, the real problem is that the transformer failed, and wasn't charging the battery. So, I wasted my cash on a battery when the real problem was the transformer. I'll request a couple months of service to cover my battery cost...

[Eljaca]

Just noticed JohnnyG's post about ADT not allowing to do his own replacement...when mine went a couple months ago, they called me with a quote and were going to have a technician out to replace it. I asked if it was something I could do myself and they said sure - in fact they sent me the battery at no cost and it came with instalation instructions...call the 1-800 number - tell them the password and ask for a 10 minute window of downtime - call back once installed to perform a test. It was simple, fast and easy...no problems. That said, that's just about the only positive experiance I've had with them....but that's another story...