Home Intruder Alarm “Missing Battery” - help please

BigDee2

Hi,

My home alarm system is the Scantronic 808 which was already installed when I bought my house and it is not maintained by any company.

The problem that occurred was as follows:-

- The house alarm was not in use, as the family were at home.
- The internal alarm went off and I silenced it with my access code.
- Then I saw a message on the keypad which unfortunately I did not note down.
- But the message on the keypad panel now says “Missing Battery”
- I have not used the alarm since this incident.


I had these links some time ago for the "User Guide" and "Installation and User guide (the second one does not work now, any ideas?):

http://www.alarmsbc.com/pdf/808_user.pdf
http://www.securitycentres.co.uk/Manuals/808.pdf


I'm unsure what I need to do to get the alarm system operational again.

In the past I had opened the Control Box but managed to clear the error using this Engineer Code, which worked (thanks to the help I got from MSE Forum):

0 - 7890-enter and the display said SYSTEM RST OK


Now, to try and clear existing error:

- I’m assuming that this message saying the battery power is low and hence the alarm system cannot detect it?
- If the battery needs replacing, what do I need to do?
- Where’s the best place to get a new battery?
- Is it a job I can do safely? Due to mains connections within the Control Box.
- Does the alarm system need to be powered off to change the battery?
- If its anything else, what do I do?


Ideally, I would like to system back to normal but without erasing my access code.

Thanks a lot.
Regards

philbostavros

Hi

First, check that the battery leads are connected securely - some years back, my alarm didn't hold up during a power cut and I found that one of the terminal connectors had corroded.

The battery is on the low voltage side so it should be safe to work on but if you have any doubt, switch it off first. I changed mine with the power on so as to avoid setting the thing off and annoying the neighbours (make sure battery leads do not touch each other)

Unless previous owner/alarm engineer has noted the date battery fitted, would be worth replacing anyway - they're not usually very expensive and available from most electrical wholesalers e.g. CEF.

In theory, you shouldn't lose your existing codes but you will have to suck it and see. Most systems have a "factory settings restore" facility so if you have any spurious problems, you may have to do this.

Just make sure that you connect the battery the right way round (positive/negative leads the same as the one you remove).

Good luck.

BigDee2

Hi,

Thanks for your advice and information.

The battery is at least 7 years old, so this may be an opportunity for me to replace it.

Does this procedure look OK?:

- Open up the Control Box cover.
- When the alarm sounds, disable/silence it using my access code
- Check that the battery leads are connected securely
- The mains power to Control Box can remain on
- Note the battery position (maybe even take a photo) and remove it
- Note whats on the battery label (power rating, etc)
- I have a CEF locally, so I can get an exact replacement from them.
- Insert new battery and connect it up ensuring that the battery leads do not touch each other and connect it the right way round (positive/negative leads)
- Put the cover back on the Control Box
- Punch in my access code
- If it needs an Engineer Code (which has worked previously), enter this 0 - 7890-enter
- Hopefully the display will go to SYSTEM RST OK.
- Alarm system should hopefully be back to normal
- If this fails, any ideas?

Please amend the above, if any of it is incorrect.

I was wondering......is there a battery in the Alarm Box outside the house?

Regards.

BigDee2

UPDATE: I just had another look at the keypad display and the error message says BATTERY MISSING and not MISSING BATTERY.

Paul_the_Painter

It's one of those jobs that is easier done than said! Got the battery for mine from Maplin - about £15 ish. I have no doubt that a call out and new battery would be well over £100 - if not £200.
Only found out when I switched off the power to fit a light.
Cover off - silence alarm - unplug cables whack a bit of tape over the ends - pop down maplins with battery - walked in and strangly it was right next to the door next to till (normally like a rummage) - went home - plugged battery back in - put cover back - job done.

BigDee2

Hi again,

I've made progress....

- I opened up the Control Box cover
- When the alarm sounded, I silenced it using my access code
- The battery leads were connected securely and were not corroded
- I left the mains power ON to Control Box
- I took a photo of the battery position and then removed it and the connectors
- The connectors were then covered up with insulation tape, to avoid them touching
- The battery is labelled as: Yuasa NP2.8-12 12V,2.8Ah
- I contacted CEF, locally, and they quoted me £23 +VAT, a bit pricey I thought
- I also called up Maplins but they said they did not have any of these batteries in stock
- So in the end I ordered one from Amazon for £12 inc. free delivery. A much better price

As soon as the new battery is installed, I'll update here.

bondy01

Going back to your last question in post 3 , yes some outside boxes have a battery in them. It sets the alarm off if the supply to the outside box is removed so if you take the mains off when the battery is disconnected it will go off if it is of that type. Quite often when the incoming mains electric fails (rare these days) you will hear alarms going off locally as their internal battery is faulty.

BigDee2

Hi bondy01

Thanks for your useful feedback on the battery for the outside box.

Regards.

BigDee2

An update....(now that I have the new battery):-

- I connected the new battery up ensuring that the leads were the right way round.
- I connected up the earth connection to the Control Box lid.
- I put the cover back on the Control Box, ensuring that the I heard the micro-switch click.
- Then I secured the lid on the control box with the two screws.
- I punched in my access code but it still gave the message BATTERY MISSING on the display panel.
- It showed the time briefly, then changed to CALL ENGINEER and went back to BATTERY MISSING.
- Wasn't sure what to do next, so I just tried the Engineer Code (0-7890-ENTER).
- I then got the SYSTEM RST OK message and the time was back on the display.
- There are no error messages now.

Hopefully this has worked and the alarm system is back to normal.

Just FYI.....I measured the voltage of the batteries on a multimeter for comparison:

Old battery: 9.87v
New battery: 12.85v

I'll keep an eye on the system and monitor how it goes.

One final question....how do I dispose of the old battery?

Regards.

Paul_the_Painter

Take the old battery down to the local tip - sorry refuse site - sorry now "Community recycling centre" (at least in Milton Keynes) they have a specific area for them

AndysDad

BigDee2 wrote: »

An update....(now that I have the new battery):-

- I connected the new battery up ensuring that the leads were the right way round.
- I connected up the earth connection to the Control Box lid.
- I put the cover back on the Control Box, ensuring that the I heard the micro-switch click.
- Then I secured the lid on the control box with the two screws.
- I punched in my access code but it still gave the message BATTERY MISSING on the display panel.
- It showed the time briefly, then changed to CALL ENGINEER and went back to BATTERY MISSING.
- Wasn't sure what to do next, so I just tried the Engineer Code (0-7890-ENTER).
- I then got the SYSTEM RST OK message and the time was back on the display.
- There are no error messages now.

Hopefully this has worked and the alarm system is back to normal.

Just FYI.....I measured the voltage of the batteries on a multimeter for comparison:

Old battery: 9.87v
New battery: 12.85v

I'll keep an eye on the system and monitor how it goes.

One final question....how do I dispose of the old battery?

Regards.

Almost all the shops that sell batteries have to take the old ones back now.Most shops have a box on the counter to re-cycle your old batteries.