Accenta 8 problems - alarm sounds during power cut and power / day keypad lights not on

[mawt25]

Hi,

 

I have an Accenta 8 alarm that was installed by the previous house owners. We haven't used the alarm in years and recently when we had a couple of power cuts the alarm sounded (it wasn't set to be on). When the power returned the alarm stoped but the keypad isn't operating properly - their is light behind the number keys but neither the 'power' nor the 'day' leds are lit up.

 

I have read around this (and other) forums to try to work out what to do and it sounds like it may be that the battery in the main box is faulty and could possibly have damaged other parts of the system? The alarm hasn't been serviced in many years.

 

One thing I have read to try is to 'power down and back up' the system to see if the power / day leds light again. Is this something worth trying? If so, do I have to get into the alarm box or can I just turn off the power from our RCD / fuse box to the alarm and wait a while then turn it back on?

 

If I want to replace the battery what do I need to do? Presumably turn off the power (again at the RCD / fuse box?) and open the main alarm box? I assume that will set off the tamper alarm? How do I silence that alarm if the keypad isn't working?

 

Sorry if these are daft questions! The basic point is, the alarm sounds during a power cut (even though it's unset) and the keypad doesn't work so it can't be silenced. The keypad isn't showing the day / power leds lit even when mains power is restored.

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated - I think our neighbours are getting a little fed up with the alarm going off during power cuts!

 

Many thanks,

Martin

 

[Jim Randle]

Hi Martin, Some batteries have a recommended three year life. Some have five years. This is definitely a battery problem. You will need to power the panel down from the fused spur, if the is one :). Disconnect the battery and power up from the fused spur again. While the panel is powered down the external sounder will be activated (If you have a self actuating external sounder with a battery that is not flat as well).The panel should recover at that point. You will then need a new battery. If the panel is trying to charge a dead flat battery, it may have blown one of the internal panel fuses . If it has defaulted itself, the default user code is [EDITED]. The keypad may not respond if there are any tamper faults.....Or ring a local alarm company  Jim.  Rutland & Belvoir Ltd.

Edited August 2, 2016 by datadiffusion
No codes in public, please

[mawt25]

Thanks Jim, I'll give that a go and see what happens!

[Richard Bee]

I have the identical problem which started yesterday when my supplier switched the supply off to change the meter - alarm sounded as expected.  The difference is that our alarm was in use every day and night and working right up to the morning the guy turned off the power.  I don't understand how this can be the battery.  Today I followed your instructions and once I had worked out that the tamper light shows with the lid off the alarm CPU (as Accenta call it) I got it working with no battery.  As the batter showed a voltage of 11.55V when disconnected I thought I would try reconnecting it.  It all works OK.  I know 11.55 is less than 12V but I think my meter under-reads anyway (e.g. new 1.5 V cells read 1.3 - 1.4V).  Please let me know whether you still think this is a battery problem (and why?).  The battery is 20 years old so that might be reason to change it.  I used to mend electrical appliances so understand electrics - but have no knowledge about alarms!!

Thanks

Richard

[james.wilson]

you might have the only fully functioning 20yr old lead acid battery but i doubt it. should be changed at 5 yr max

8 minutes ago, Richard Bee said:

I have the identical problem which started yesterday when my supplier switched the supply off to change the meter - alarm sounded as expected

Intruder alarms shouldnt sound when the power goes off

[sixwheeledbeast]

Yep common misconception that power cuts should make the external alarm activate.

It actually means the system hasn't been serviced and isn't working correctly.

[PeterJames]

On 12/11/2019 at 16:27, Richard Bee said:

I have the identical problem which started yesterday when my supplier switched the supply off to change the meter - alarm sounded as expected.  The difference is that our alarm was in use every day and night and working right up to the morning the guy turned off the power.  I don't understand how this can be the battery.  Today I followed your instructions and once I had worked out that the tamper light shows with the lid off the alarm CPU (as Accenta call it) I got it working with no battery.  As the batter showed a voltage of 11.55V when disconnected I thought I would try reconnecting it.  It all works OK.  I know 11.55 is less than 12V but I think my meter under-reads anyway (e.g. new 1.5 V cells read 1.3 - 1.4V).  Please let me know whether you still think this is a battery problem (and why?).  The battery is 20 years old so that might be reason to change it.  I used to mend electrical appliances so understand electrics - but have no knowledge about alarms!!

Thanks

Richard

Unless the power was off for 10 hours or more the external sounder should not activate. The Battery should be changed every four years. The battery in the control panel should keep the panel working when the mains is off in other words you should be able to set the alarm in a power cut. If you are unsure if your meter is reading correctly check it against the 12v in the panel it should read 13.5 or there abouts. Try changing the battery in the meter that is the usual reason for low readings.