When Should I Replace the Battery in My Alarm?

[Eugene's DIY Den]

It's an HKC SW-1070 I installed at the end of 2019. I know, it's not a DIY alarm. During a recent power cut, it ran the system for 10 hours no problem The panel isn't complaining about any issues (maybe it doesn't do this, but there's a battery test in the engineering menu. I presume that does a load test).

Edited February 4 by Eugene's DIY Den
Clarifying something.

[PeterJames]

Hi,

The battery should be replaced every four years. This is the manufacturers expected lifetime guidelines. I have known batteries to continue to hold good life long after four years, but accredited installers have to follow the manufactures guidelines. 

 

The performance of the battery is effected by many things, the quality of the electricity more spikes and fluctuations will reduce the life of the battery. The quality of the charging system (HKC is generally good) power cuts discharging and charging the battery will reduce its life.

 

The size of the battery should reflect the current pulled from the system.

 

 

  

[sixwheeledbeast]

Yuasa rate NP batteries as 5 year service life for use within alarm systems, other manufacturers maybe different.

From experience you could get 10 years from a Yuasa one but it's best to swap before it's deteriorating.

[al-yeti]

17 hours ago, Eugene's DIY Den said:

It's an HKC SW-1070 I installed at the end of 2019. I know, it's not a DIY alarm. During a recent power cut, it ran the system for 10 hours no problem The panel isn't complaining about any issues (maybe it doesn't do this, but there's a battery test in the engineering menu. I presume that does a load test).

As above

 

But battery can sometimes prematurely die , might be example in a loft where I seen them die quicker , or sometimes boiler room and so on 

 

Yes load test , try it 

But you might be running all wireless aswell?

[MrHappy]

Every fire years in an intruder alarm

Every 4 years in a fire alarm

 

Unless they fail earlier...

[Eugene's DIY Den]

On 05/02/2025 at 11:37, al-yeti said:

As above

 

But battery can sometimes prematurely die , might be example in a loft where I seen them die quicker , or sometimes boiler room and so on 

 

Yes load test , try it 

But you might be running all wireless aswell?

Mostly wired, but two wireless sensors. Can an ageing battery generate false alarms? Also the sound from my external sounder sounds "scratchy", like there a bad connection. Does that sounder run off the onboard battery and is the variable sound quality and volume likely a symptom of a failing battery?

[james.wilson]

No probably a failing piezo. 

Not replacing your main battery will lead to control panel failure

[Eugene's DIY Den]

19 hours ago, james.wilson said:

No probably a failing piezo. 

Not replacing your main battery will lead to control panel failure

How does that happen? If the battery fails and vents? I think that happened with my old panel because the terminals corroded as though they got sprayed with something. Or is it due to the battery pulling too much current during the float charge and ageing the charge circuitry, while it should only be taking  a trickle.

[PeterJames]

51 minutes ago, Eugene's DIY Den said:

How does that happen? If the battery fails and vents? I think that happened with my old panel because the terminals corroded as though they got sprayed with something. Or is it due to the battery pulling too much current during the float charge and ageing the charge circuitry, while it should only be taking  a trickle.

It puts more load on the psu it pulls more current than the psu is designed to provide, and eventually burns out the charging circuit