Maintaining your system – First Alert FA1220CV User Manual
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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 64.)
Alkaline batteries provide a minimum of 1 year of operation, and in most units and applications,
provide 2–4 years of service (4-7 years in units using 3 volt lithium batteries). 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.
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