Drop in Lithium battery replacement for alarm system

Hi guys,
So I thought about adding a small solar panel and charge controller to my alarm's battery. That way it doesn't get discharged as much during load-shedding and it will probably charge faster in between load-shedding, prolonging the battery's life. However, I still want to be able to charge the battery with the alarm's built-in charger.

Can I do this with a normal PWM solar charge controller? Won't I damage the built-in charger if the voltage coming out of the PWM charger is higher than the alarm's charger?
 
deweyzeph said:
So as I'm sure you guys know, load shedding hits the standard 12v 7Ah lead-acid batteries that you normally use with an alarm system or gate motor pretty hard. I'm going through one battery every 3 months at this stage. I've recently started reading about a drop-in lithium ion replacement that works just as well (apparently) and doesn't require any special charger replacement. This is the one I've got my eye on:

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Does anyone have any experience with replacing their alarm battery with a lithium ion equivalent? Any good?
Click to expand...
I'm going to be buying this exact battery today to hook up to a DSC Power832, as well as following the advice on this thread for setting the charge rate and cut off point, thank you everyone for that!

I'll let you know how everything goes, my current lead acids aren't getting passed 3 months when the loadshedding sessions pick up as well.
 
deweyzeph said:
As it happens I've got a 30VA transformer (Spectrum) for my Paradox. Do you think I could safely set the charge current to 700mA with that?
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Honestly with the relatively cheap price of a replacement 40 or 50VA it is really isn't worth the chance it might damage something more expensive on your alarm:
www.alarmtec.co.za

Transformer 16Vac 40VA

16Vac 40VATransformer can be used for most alarm systems and panels requiring 16Vac, 18Vac output for CADDX panelsSpecifications:Fuse Protected with filterSafety Isolation TransformerOffers the fol...
www.alarmtec.co.za www.alarmtec.co.za
 
Lupus said:
www.electromannsa.com

Hoselect LifePo4 LA127 Lithium 7.2ah 12.8v Rechargeable Battery

Hoselect LifePo4 LA127 Lithium 7.2ah 12.8v Rechargeable Battery (10004149) LifePo4 Lithium Battery Voltage: 12.8v Capacity: 7.2ah Max Charge Voltage: 14.6v Low Cut Off Voltage: 10v Max Charge Current: 7.2Amp Max Discharge Current: 7.2Amp Build-in BMS (Battery management System) Used in UPS, Gate...
www.electromannsa.com www.electromannsa.com
But you'll need type F2 to F1 converters
Click to expand...

First thing I do with gate motors or alarm panels is cut off those stupid old style 3/16s terminal connectors and crimp on proper 1/4 inch (F2) so normal 12v 7aH batteries will work.
 
hilton said:
First thing I do with gate motors or alarm panels is cut off those stupid old style 3/16s terminal connectors and crimp on proper 1/4 inch (F2) so normal 12v 7aH batteries will work.
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Normal?? F1 I've been able to get without an issue, a few places still the F2 terminals, so normal for me would be the F1. My alarm, electric fence and gate use F1 and most shops selling 12v 7ah have those.
 
I suppose from a consumer perspective it would be normal but I buy UPS batteries and they all have the stronger tabs so that's what I use. I think it's only SA that still faf around with the smaller tabs so I'm suspecting someone in China saw an opportunity to sell the cheaper stuff to the SA market.
 
Alrighty, I've got the battery, just gonna wait a little with my last old one and get the recommended transformer in the meantime + adjust the inputs needed afterwards.
 
Communica sells a rechargeable gel battery with a small solar panel.
 
Geoff.D said:
It does not matter how you look at the problem.
The trickle chargers typically included in alarm systems and gate system just cannot handle continuous LS events.
You will kill that expensive lithium battery almost as often.

The problem is all these systems allow the batteries to discharge to 10.7 Volt before they cut out. Repeat that a few times and the battery is shot.
The ONLY answer is to adjust the the cut off voltage in the alarm system to 11.3 volt minimum. And get a charger able to properly charge the battery at a much higher rate than the typical trickle charge rate provided for.
Don't fool yourself that the drop in lithium's are going to give you the advertised long life, built in BMS regardless.
Click to expand...
Where or how do I change the cutoff rate?
 
The maximum charge current on a Paradox panel is 700mA. You must have a 50VA transformer

Provided there are no more than 2 LCD keypads, 6 assorted detectors and one external receiver, this can manage 2 x 150 minute power interruptions a day. Anything above this, an external 1.5 amp charger with its own 50VA transformer will be needed. Connect this to the existing battery via a 5 amp blocking diode so no reverse voltage reaches the external charger

I’m using this setup with a 26 a/h battery and it’s still ok after 5 years. At AC off, the alarm sees 13.4V, after 150 mins it is 12.3V. I have a radio transmitter, an IP150 and 3 x 40m outdoor beams as well as 6 PIR detectors inside and 1 outside

Its a lead-acid battery.
 
Crumbl0x said:
Alrighty, I've got the battery, just gonna wait a little with my last old one and get the recommended transformer in the meantime + adjust the inputs needed afterwards.
Click to expand...
What news ? I have a Power 832 that needs a replacement battery, so any suggestions / war stories appreciated.
 
rrh said:
What news ? I have a Power 832 that needs a replacement battery, so any suggestions / war stories appreciated.
Click to expand...
Oh whoops!

I had my transformer replaced (about a good time too, it started to scorch the housing on the side), but there doesn't seem to be a way to adjust the 832 that I could find or read up on, so the battery is still waiting to be deployed lol

I'm only now saving up to replace it with a Paradox system that can also link up with the new remote radios I have on the garage, from which I can easily use babyware to set the recommended amps and whatnot. Another SLA was burned through in the meantime though
 
I have come to the conclusion that the DSC system - which continues to give excellent service - is being deliberately 'constrained', which is (in some ways) making it less suited to the South African market <sigh>

I guess my next decision is along the lines of "just how unsuited is it really" ?
 
Crumbl0x said:
Oh whoops!

I had my transformer replaced (about a good time too, it started to scorch the housing on the side), but there doesn't seem to be a way to adjust the 832 that I could find or read up on, so the battery is still waiting to be deployed lol

I'm only now saving up to replace it with a Paradox system that can also link up with the new remote radios I have on the garage, from which I can easily use babyware to set the recommended amps and whatnot. Another SLA was burned through in the meantime though
Click to expand...
I had a technician in to quote on the changes that I require. I also did some further investigation, and discovered I owe DSC an apology.

The charge rate can be set using the First International Option Code #7: setting this to 'ON' will select the high current battery charge rate of 700mA, which is recommended for 7 and 14 Ahr batteries. The default is 'OFF' (400mA), and which is only recommended for 4 Ahr batteries.

Given that I have never seen a technician check/change the charge rate since the day I switched to higher capacity batteries, my guess is that there are a lot of woefully under-charged batteries out there, mine amongst them.

The PC 5010 is also able to be programmed for three zone types: stay, away & night, This, so I was told by the local distributors, was not possible ...

Hope this helps ...
 
rrh said:
Anyone have any thoughts on a Uniross 12V 7AH LiFePO4 ?

Not the capacity of the Blue Nova, but also not the price :)
Click to expand...

The really expensive Blue Nova 8AH?

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Uniross is a known good brand, should work fine.
 
rrh said:
I had a technician in to quote on the changes that I require. I also did some further investigation, and discovered I owe DSC an apology.

The charge rate can be set using the First International Option Code #7: setting this to 'ON' will select the high current battery charge rate of 700mA, which is recommended for 7 and 14 Ahr batteries. The default is 'OFF' (400mA), and which is only recommended for 4 Ahr batteries.

Given that I have never seen a technician check/change the charge rate since the day I switched to higher capacity batteries, my guess is that there are a lot of woefully under-charged batteries out there, mine amongst them.

The PC 5010 is also able to be programmed for three zone types: stay, away & night, This, so I was told by the local distributors, was not possible ...

Hope this helps ...
Click to expand...
Indeed, it's a great help! and lol @ that story. It's really difficult to find some apt info for these products.

I also read the international code input somewhere on the forum but I can't for the life of me figure out how to enter this sequence on the admin pad. I'll take another gander later on though, depending on what will happen, but thank you again for taking the time!
 
Nice find. Just set mine , programming section 701 First International Option Code #7,
so on my DSC the sequence to enter is:
*8 (to get to programming
XXXX - the installer code - check for the default installer code for your alarm
701
7 if not already displayed i.e if displayed 7 is set to on, if 7 not displayed it is off (default)
 
supersunbird said:
The really expensive Blue Nova 8AH?

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Uniross is a known good brand, should work fine.
Click to expand...
Have asked TA if they know when the batteries will be back in stock.
 
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