What is the purpose of an alarm battery in a security system?
Security systems have to draw their power from somewhere. As a complex system of electronic devices, that much should be obvious. When your wired security system is being installed, the service technician will typically take care of the power. Wired security systems use AC power. This power is run through wiring from a transformer to an alarm panel, transmitting power to the security system as a whole. Having your security system wired up and powered properly is the most important step when having your security system installed for the first time – but what if there’s a blackout? If your system isn’t getting power from the grid, what happens then? We’ve seen in countless films and heard horror stories that crafty criminals can find ways to cut power to a building in order to shut down the security system.
Frightening as this may sound, it’s thankfully completely fiction. Modern day security systems come equipped with alarm batteries for this exact purpose: an alternative means of providing power to your security system, a failsafe. All security systems come with alarm batteries in order to ensure that in the event of an outage – whether a blackout or intentional tampering – your security system will continue to operate as normal, meaning your home will still be guarded and monitored.
How does an alarm battery work?
Alarm batteries function as one would expect a battery to work: a device that contains energy that can be converted to electricity to power electronic devices. Alarm batteries are present in all systems, wireless and wired. Wireless systems have a smaller battery pack, while wired systems have larger batteries that almost resemble a A major benefit that comes from alarm batteries is in the simplicity of their maintenance. When your alarm panel is running on AC power on a normal day, your alarm battery is being charged passively from the AC power already being provided to your panel.
In the event of an outage, the alarm battery will seamlessly provide power to your security system, with no need to manually activate the battery. Alarm batteries can last anywhere between 4 and 24 hours, depending on manufacturers specifications. The battery should not be relied on for power, and during normal operations, should be drawing power directly from the transformer. It’s important to remember that alarm batteries do not last forever. A time will eventually come that the battery will not hold a charge like it used to. The average alarm battery lasts roughly 3 to 5 years. In the event you find your battery is not holding a charge, it’s important to have it replaced by a professional. Monitoring battery health in the later years of the battery is crucial to ensuring your house does not lose protection in the event of an outage. It’s widely recommended to use lithium batteries over alkaline batteries; despite the higher cost of lithium batteries, their longevity will end up saving you more money over the lifetime of your security system.
What does a low battery warning mean?
When the text “low battery warning” appears on your alarm keypad, you may be wondering what exactly went wrong. What had happened that could cause the battery to suddenly be low on power? When you see a low battery warning on your alarm, it could mean a variety of things. The most common meaning of a low battery warning is just that – your security system has been running on battery power for an extended period of time, and the battery is low. Because of this common cause of the warning, it’s often recommended to wait up to 24 hours to see if this warning goes away on its own. If after this time the warning has gone away, that means your battery has successfully recharged in the interim, and there is no need for concern. If your battery hasn’t charged in this time, however, then that likely means it is time to replace it. There may be a physical issue with the battery, or the battery has simply reached an age where it cannot maintain a charge. Regardless of reason a battery needs to be changed, you can count on the trained technicians at Cunningham Security to find the correct battery for your system and install it for you.
Why alarm batteries are necessary for a security system
When it comes to protecting your home, you never want to leave anything to chance. You lock your doors and safeguard those locks with door and window sensors. So why not safeguard your safeguards? This is the conceit for the existence of alarm batteries in your security system. Blackouts can occur at any time – rain and snow can take out power lines, heat waves can overload a power grid, and accidents can always happen with electricity. One way or another, we all experience power outages from time to time. Criminals know this, and would love nothing more than to take advantage of these outages to burglarize buildings they know no longer have power going to the security system. Thanks to alarm batteries, however, we have peace of mind in these events, knowing that our security systems will continue to run properly while we wait for the power to return.
Additionally, the alarm battery grants us plenty of convenience when it comes to our security systems. We all know the pain of having to reset our clocks when the power goes out. The presence of a battery means you won’t have to reset anything on your alarm system in the event of an outage; service will continue uninhibited. It’s crucial that you keep your alarm batteries charged and in good condition. A low battery warning may seem like something you can ignore until that fateful night the power goes out. As with anything, your local service technicians at Cunningham Security can provide alarm battery service to ensure that your battery keeps it charge and charges properly.
