About a week ago one of my PG9929 PowerG key fobs stopped working. The red light would come on when pressing a button, but nothing further. The other identical key fob continued to work correctly with my Qolsys IQ4NS panel. Both had worked flawlessly for the 2 years I’ve had the panel.
I decided to try removing and re-enrolling the problem fob. I used the IQInstaller app, to delete the problematic key fob from Security Sensors. Then I used auto-learn mode to add it back to the system. I struggled to get auto-learn to recognize it, but after some trial and error I got it added back by long pressing the * button. Now it works correctly again.
My panel is on software version 4.6.1-ADCS 12.32.13.
Today my second PG9929 failed in the same way.
I’m reaching out for help before trying the same process to fix it. I’d like to understand what has gone wrong, and whether this might affect other PowerG sensors (like doors etc).
The first key fob had the issue about a week ago. Its battery was about 1 year old. As mentioned, I got it working again by removing it and re-enrolling into the system.
The second key fob has a battery that is about 2 years old, and has failed in exactly the same way: Pressing a button makes the red light come on with a single beep, but no further sequence.
I now tried putting a new battery into this second key fob, and it changed the behavior: When I press a button (e.g. arm stay) it beeps once, and then blinks yellow for several seconds. The manual says if the battery is low then the yellow led blinks for 2 seconds.
I replaced the battery again with another new one - and it did the same thing. Then I changed back the original battery, and it continues to beep and blink yellow. I’m confused. I can’t believe I have 2 new “dead” batteries - and the light had never blinked yellow before the key fob stopped working yesterday.
When sending a command via the keyfob, the LED lights RED and you get a single error tone, this indicates the command was not received.
When I press a button (e.g. arm stay) it beeps once, and then blinks yellow for several seconds. The manual says if the battery is low then the yellow led blinks for 2 seconds.
Correct, If the LED blinks yellow for 2 seconds, this indicates low battery. The PG9929 uses a single CR2032 3V battery. If you have a battery tester, I would check the new batteries to ensure they are reporting 3V charge, the package they come in should have a printed date code as well to ensure they are still expected to be good.
If you take the battery you know works from the first keyfob and plug it into the second keyfob, does that second keyfob function?
Once thing you can try if the unit is still showing the low battery LED:
Open the fob and removed the battery. With the battery out, press and hold any button for 10–15 seconds to drain any residual voltage. Wait a full minute, then insert a fresh, high-quality CR2032 battery.
If possible, test the voltage of the new battery with a multimeter to ensure it is at least 3V
If the issue persists, delete the fob and re-enroll it.
I have struck out with everything I’ve tried so far:
I tried the battery draining, and used a new CR2032 that tested as 3.02V (the old one tested 2.95V). Behavior did not change.
I deleted the key fob from the panel, and tried to re-enroll it. I could not get it enrolled.
After putting the panel in Autolearn mode, I hold the [*] button down. After about 5 seconds it beeps, and a red led lights briefly. I continue to hold the button down, and after another 5 seconds the yellow led lights up, at which point I release the button. I tried this several times with no success.
I rebooted the panel, and took the battery out of the key fob. left it overnight. This morning I tried again - but no change in behavior. I could not get the key fob to re-enroll.
I had previously bought another key fob as a spare, so I got it out of storage and checked that it worked. I then deleted it from the system, and successfully re-enrolled it. It works correctly.
So now I suspect the problem key fob has, in fact, broken. But I’d like to get it working if possible, so would appreciate any suggestions.
Is the PG9929 still throwing the low battery error, even with the 3.02V battery?
IF not, try learning it in manually. Instead of Auto-Learn, select Add Sensor. On the back of the fob is a 7-digit number XXX-XXXX. Enter that into the Sensor ID field when pairing. Afterwards, test the system by arming/disarming with the fob. Does it function?
If the PG9929 is not enrolling after you drained residual voltage as well as attempting multiple fresh batteries, then that keyfob is experiencing hardware failure and needs to be replaced.
The key fob continued to blink the yellow led when pressing arming buttons - even with a brand new battery measuring 3.1 volts.
I added it manually, using the Sensor ID, and that was successful.
The key fob now works correctly again - even with the original battery.
In summary, I remain confused by the failures of 2 key fobs within a week of each other. Both corrected by deleting and re-adding to the panel. The one was able to auto-learn; and the other had to be added manually before it worked again.
I am not showing anything in history that would indicate an issue from any key fobs associated with the panel and the issue presented with the yellow LED indicates a low battery issue.
I’ve reached out to Qolsys to see if they have any additional information and I will follow up as soon as I have heard back.