Systems Testing
Most emergency service calls are due to phone line, battery or power interruptions. In all of these cases, the alarm system will notify you of the problem by beeping and flashing lights. It is annoying, but it is necessary that you know what is going on.
Most Common Trouble Conditions:
A/C fail: This means that your system isn't getting power from its normal source, a power outlet.
It could be that:
the power to the building is out,
an electrical breaker has tripped,
a GFI outlet has tripped,
the transformer has gone bad,
the system took a power surge,
or the charging circuit has gone bad
(or a number of other possibilities).
You need to restore power to the system if possible.
Check the circuit breaker/fuse box. Flip circuits that are tripped or replace fuse as needed.
Check ground fault interrupt outlets and reset them with button in the middle marked reset.
Find the system's transformer and make sure it is plugged in. If it is and none of the circuits are bad or ground fault interrupt are tripped you can see if another appliance will work in that outlet. If not, try running an extension cord to power the system transformer temporarily until the outlet gets fixed.
If you can't restore the power, you'll want to silence the trouble and wait for the power to be fixed. If that won't work, you may want to disconnect power to the system. To do this you have to unplug the transformer AND open the alarm panel box and disconnect the battery. You only have to disconnect one wire to the battery to kill it.
Ground fault interrupt outlets are installed commonly in basements, bathrooms and kitchens. If ANY GFI in the building trips and your alarm happens to be plugged into another GFI on the same circuit it could cause the A/C fail indicator to show up. The system will operate for hours, sometimes days, on its back-up battery.
Low battery: The battery power is decreasing (not dead). The battery may recharge in a day or two. This is a condition to be aware of, but not an emergency. You can still operate your system normally after clearing the trouble by viewing or resetting it. If the battery does not recharge within two days, call us to get your battery changed.
