I recently have had low battery issues on a glass break sensor and now the smoke detector SMKT2-345. I have replaced batteries, restarted the panel, check connections and still get the low battery warning. It wasn’t a big issue with the glass break but now the smoke alarm warning beeps every 12 hours or so.
I do see two sensors reporting low on ADC. A status update request shows the same, so the panel has not yet received an updated signal from the sensors.
A few things to check:
Take a look at the date on the batteries that were used, if it is at or near end of life, try a new set of batteries.
The sensors will need to send out a signal for the panel to recognize they no longer have a low battery. Typically this will coincide with supervision checks, but there may be a reason this isn’t working. Have you tested both of these sensors since replacing the batteries?
Try testing the sensors to force a signal to the panel. (make sure to call the central station to put account on test before setting off the smoke detector)
If the panel receives a signal from the sensors, the battery error should clear if they are no longer low.
recently have had low battery issues on a glass break sensor and now the smoke detector SMKT2-345. I have replaced batteries, restarted the panel, check connections and still get the low battery warning.
I just replaced the batteries in my smkt2. I cannot speak for the glass break (as i do not use them), but regarding the smoke detector, to clear the low battery trouble (after you replace the batteries) all you have to do is hold the test button until the detector beeps.
Trouble when then clear.
I tried testing the glass break and the panel receives the signal. I also restarted the system and the error message has returned. Can I silence the reoccurring beeping notification until I resolve the issue?
Are you able to test the voltage on the batteries? Were these batteries just recently purchased or are they older? Have you tried another new set of batteries or have you checked the date on the ones used?
The panel trouble alert can only be temporarily stopped by acknowledging. You should be able to delay the trouble alert resounding though using Q47 in programming. Set the delay to 1-7 days. (I do not recommend doing this, but it can be done)
I replaced the batteries with brand new ones.I measured a voltage of 3.05 VDC on both batteries for the glass brake sensor. When I replaced the batteries in the smoke detector I did push the test button.
3.05 actually is fairly low for a new battery. Unwrapped CR123As sitting on a test shelf here for a few years are about 3.27, for example.
What is the date code on these batteries? I would recommend trying a different set of batteries and send a signal from the detector. Any change?
The batteries are 3V batteries, so how can 3.05V be low? I would think that I would have to buy a lot of batteries to get the ones that measure higher. What voltage is considered low by the system? Can that threshold be changed? If 3.05V is low, where do I purchase 3V batteries that measure high enough to not trigger the low battery threshold warning?
I checked for a date code on the battery but couldn’t find it.
Date code on a CR123A battery would be likely written out horizontally with the battery laying flat on its side, typically a four digit mmyy or six digit mmyyyy number depending on the manufacturer.
Technically the SMKT2 should not report low battery until 2.7VDC according to specs (voltage under load) but given that no status update or signal from the sensor has removed the low battery alert, there may be something else going on. It’s best to rule out the obvious first, especially if the batteries which were used to replace both devices were from the same pack. 3.05 is not too low in and of itself, but typical voltage levels for a brand new battery will be higher.
Just to verify, were both batteries swapped in each of these detectors?
I installed both the glass break and the smoke detector with brand new batteries. Is there a source for batteries that measure higher like you have described. I do not want to purchase new batteries again and it not work. I cannot return a 3V battery that measure 3V.
I do not want to purchase new batteries again and it not work. I cannot return a 3V battery that measure 3V.
The issue here may be similar to certain Z-wave devices.
I recall certain devices showing low battery at roughly 30% acceptable charge, and when replaced, won’t get rid of low battery unless the voltage is above 60-70% acceptable charge.
We are suggesting to replace the batteries due to a few factors:
- Battery replacement and low battery signals work in a very simple way and the alerts do not typically indicate anything other than face value.
- The expected typical voltage from a brand new battery is higher than the rated voltage. Any CR123A should likely register higher until depletion from extended usage occurs.
- It’s always best to test the obvious first.
Moving beyond that, there are some things to check:
-
SMKT2 is an older model of detector, and if it has been installed for a few years or more, it would be good to check and make sure no dust or corrosion build-up has occurred. If the battery terminals in the smoke or glass-break look dirty, try scraping them clean to get a better connection with the batteries.
-
If just one of the batteries is lower than the other, this can cause problems. If you tested all the batteries, this may not apply, but it is a reason why in any battery operated device all batteries should be replaced at the same time.
-
If the sensors themselves show zero reason for indicating low battery still, power down the panel, unplug the battery, and remove and re-seat the transceiver brick. Make sure the pins are lined up properly. Remove the Alarm.com module (or carefully disconnect the antenna) to make sure the panel has no communication with Alarm.com to remove the back-end from the equation entirely. Let the panel remain unpowered for 5-10 minutes before powering back up.
When the panel powers up, it will be a clean slate, no low batteries, no alerts. At that time, tamper the glass break. Does the panel report both a tamper and a low battery around the same time?
After another 10 minutes or so, power the panel down and reattach the module/antenna. (always make sure the panel is completely powered down to perform physical work on it.)
Thanks for the advise. I did check the smoke detector and glass break for connection and corrosion issues. I found not dirt or corrosion.
I have rebooted the system and it takes around an hour to indicate a low battery issue. Usually the glass break first then the smoke detector later.
One more issue I can’t resolve is the smoke alarm low battery notification. I have Q47 changed to 7 days but it still sounds. This is driving me nuts. Is there something else I can do to stop that notification until the issue is resolved?
I will try your latest suggestion to reseat the connections.
I have rebooted the system and it takes around an hour to indicate a low battery issue. Usually the glass break first then the smoke detector later.
Unless you tamper or otherwise send a signal from the detector, yes, it will be roughly an hour because that is the supervision cycle for the sensor. The sensor must send a signal to the panel for the panel to register low battery.
It’s important in the above test to tamper the sensors and make sure signals are sent to the panel, otherwise you would need to wait until the next supervisory signal.
One more issue I can’t resolve is the smoke alarm low battery notification. I have Q47 changed to 7 days but it still sounds. This is driving me nuts. Is there something else I can do to stop that notification until the issue is resolved?
What sounds an alert, the panel, the smoke detector, or both?
The warning alert is only from the panel. The panel beeps until you acknowledge it.
I performed the hard shut down and reseated the boards as instructed. Still getting the low battery warning on both the glass break and smoke detector.
So I bought more batteries and the measured 3.25V and installed them in the smoke detector. Reset the system and am still getting the low battery warning.
This should rule out the batteries.
I cannot get the low battery warning to stop sounding so I have changed the status of the smoke alarm to not used so I don’t hear the low battery warning.
What should I do next to fix this issue? Delete the sensors the reinstall them? If so, please provide detailed instructions.
Can you recall waiting 30 seconds after removing the batteries from the Smoke before you put the new/fresh batteries in?
The SMKT2 states on the product, iirc, that you must wait 30 seconds before putting the new batteries in. Otherwise, this can cause the panel to report low battery. Looks like one of our other posters mentioned this earlier.
Should you wish to delete and re-add the sensors these may be helpful:
How to learn in a 2GIG Glassbreak Detector into a Go!Control Panel
This post here should help you with installation of the 2GIG SMKT2
I removed the batteries from the smoke detector for about 2-3 minutes and then reinstalled. I haven’t received a low battery warning from the smoke detector since.
I tried the same same trick with the glass break but I still get the low battery warning. Any other suggestions?
That’s good to hear regarding the SMKT2. I can see that it is no longer reporting low battery (at the time of this writing).
As for the glassbreak, did you attempt to delete and re-add the sensor? Any change in battery status after?
I have not tried to remove it from the system. How do you do that?
Here is a video on How to Remove a Security Sensor from Your 2GIG Go!Control Panel
Thanks. I just ran into this problem with my smoke detector as well. Will leave the replacement batteries out for a couple of minutes and reinstall.