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Maintaining Your System
Taking Care of Your System
The components of your security system are designed to be as free of
maintenance as possible. However, there are some things you can do to make
sure that your system is in reliable working condition.
1. Test your system weekly.
2. Test the system after any alarm occurs (see TESTING THE SYSTEM).
Replacing Batteries in Wireless Sensors
Wireless sensors
may not have
been used in your
security system
Each wireless sensor in your system has a 9-volt or 3-volt battery. The system
detects a low battery in any wireless sensor, including smoke detectors, the
optional personal emergency transmitter, and the optional portable wireless
keypad. (A low battery in a portable wireless keypad is detected as soon as
one of its keys is pressed, and the keypad will display 00.)
Alkaline batteries provide a minimum of 1 year of operation, and in most
units and applications, provide 2–4 years of service. Actual battery life will
depend on the environment in which the sensor is used, the number of signals
that the transmitter in the sensor has had to send, and the specific type of
sensor. Factors such as humidity, high or low temperatures or large swings
in temperature, may all lead to the reduction of actual battery life in an
installation.
If you have a low battery in a wireless sensor, a low battery message
is displayed on the keypad.
In addition, a battery-operated smoke detector with a low battery also emits
a single "chirp" sound once approximately every 20-30 seconds, identifying
itself as the smoke detector with the weak battery. If you do not replace a
smoke detector's low battery, the smoke detector may sound continuously, as
if there were a fire alarm.
NOTE: The low battery message comes on as a warning that battery
replacement in indicated sensor(s) is due within 30 days. In the meantime,
the sensor(s) causing the low battery indication is still fully operational.
IMPORTANT: Use only batteries recommended by your installer as
replacement.