Anyone know anything about home alarms? Namely back up batteries?

[Rob®]

Ours started beeping a week ago. Looked into it, gives me a low battery code. Easy enough. Break out the meter, battery shows a full 13.6 volts. Hmmm. Reset alarm, do another system check. Same code. Check the output from the charger leads, tests at 13.9-14.x volts. Recheck battery, still 13.6. Reset alarm again, same thing.

So I unplugged the battery for a few days to see if it would drain completely. Just checked it, has 12.9 volts still. So to me, the battery checks out fine. It's a battery from 2005, so 7 years old. I've been reading that they have an average lifespan of about 4-5 years, but it still tests good, so I'm not entirely sure it's the problem. A replacement is only like $15 shipped, but if that's not the problem, then I'm still exactly where I am right now. Just with a new back up battery.

Ideas? Suggestions?

And also, please don't rob me. Thanks.

[sammm]

Are the connections clean? I'm guessing this isn't monitored, so you can't call ADT or whoever owns it?

PS
What's your address?

[Rob®]

Yes, all connections are spotless. Not monitored, but set every night (the beeping keypad is far enough away we can't hear it in the bedroom). When we bought the house it was monitored by Ranger, so we did a year of that. But then they tried to nearly triple the monthly fee, so we didn't renew (plus I worked from home and our neighborhood is safe enough). Ranger is the company that the original home owners had install the system when the house was built, so I'm assuming they "own" it. But seeing that they seemed greedy last I dealt with them, I'm not too excited about having them charge me a $100 service fee to replace a $15 battery, you know?

And it's my Florida house :looksaround:

[shortshift]

When I had a similar problem, I took the system's advice and changed the battery. Ever since, all has been well. At $15, changing out the battery isn't much of a gamble.

[Rob®]

Yup, that's what I ended up doing. Battery was delivered today while I was at class, so I'm putting it in as soon as I finish watering the plants.