Home alarm systems... help

**placidfemme** · 23rd October 2010, 20:07

Hey.. I've been in this house since April and every morning at 7.30am the stupid home alarm starts beeping and doesn't stop until someone (usually me) just pushing buttons randomly until it stops.

I've googled the model (Spectra 1686H) and all I can figure out is that one problem is a low backup battery. However I cannot find reference anywhere as to where this dumb ass battery is, or even what type of battery it is.

We dont even use the alarm cause the last tenants never left the code... so now we just have to deal with this dumb beeping, which pisses me off cause its right outside my room.

Does anyone know where I can find the battery or even BETTER how to disable the fucking thing?

Chur

**wynw** · 23rd October 2010, 20:19

try having a look in your ceiling, white box approx 8 inches sqare, will more than likely have a 12v battery with push on terminals

**JimO** · 23rd October 2010, 20:20

why not ask your landlord to sort it for you

**steve_t** · 23rd October 2010, 20:27

Yeah, the landlord should sort it but if you find the white box with "Paradox" alarms on it, there will be a 12V 7.2Ah sealed lead acid battery in there to replace

Here's an example of a replacement battery
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living...-325663839.htm

**Virago** · 23rd October 2010, 20:31

The battery is not in the keypad. There will be a control box somewhere (in a cupboard or in the roof) which will have 12V sealed lead-acid battery in it - typically a 7AH battery. It's likely to be that one.

If the system has an external siren / light assembly, it will also have a battery installed - typically 12V/1.2AH.

Be aware that opening any of the boxes will likely trigger a "tamper" alarm, making the system scream its tits off - if you don't have a code you might be a little frustrated...

To kill it off, you'll need to trace and disconnect the mains power going into the control box, then open the box and disconnect the battery. Then probably the same with the outside siren.

**Berries** · 23rd October 2010, 21:11

Tell me about it. The keypad would occasionally (every month or so) beep and a random selection of numbers would turn it off. Then once the numbers wouldn't turn it off, and we were told about the low battery. Found the white box in the attic at about half seven at night so shot to the supermarkets/Warehouse/petrol stations to get a replacement. No joy, even from BP who distributed the particular brand. Put up with the beeping all night then got a sparkie to cut the wires the next morning. All good.

Half four in the morning two or three months later an internal siren we didn't know about goes off. I thought the fucking Germans were coming. Only solution was to turn off the mains and go back to bed. First thing in the morning the sparkie was back round to chop the wire to the siren. Which cut the phone and broadband but that's another story.

My tip. If you can't get the code and want the alarm explain the situation to the installation company and get new codes - you're in Jafaland so I'd go with that option. Failing that get the landlord to disconnect it, but FFS, make sure they do a proper job.

**Usarka** · 23rd October 2010, 21:20

+1 for the landlord.

It's their problem, tell them it's interrupting your sleep and you need it fixed immediately. If they aren't interested tell them you'll get a sparky in to disconnect it and take the money off the rent. Or even bettter tell the hitler land baron to fix it because you rented the place with an alarm and all you have is a morning beeping box, and if he's too busy counting his gold then get a specialised alarm dude in and get him to wire up some extra features.

Facists. Then blow the place up with some dynamite (or if you can't get any dynamite buy 18 boxes of roman candles because they are on sale soon). Kick the cat, knock over the neighbours letterbox, and spew in the fishpond.

**mashman** · 23rd October 2010, 21:20

This may not be the problem, but ours started beeping for a couple of days (started at night grrr, drove me fookin insane). Punched a combination in to ascertain the fault (t'was in the troubleshooting guide) and it'd stop for the day... It turned out to be something to do with the phone line.