DSC Alarm weird load-shedding behavior

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neoprema

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My DSC alarm is doing strange things.

It's a DSC 1864 with a DSC Wireless Expander + OLARM, ADT Radio and 2 Panels. There are 28 zones of which 20 are wireless.

Its connected to 2 x 7.2ah 12V batteries in parallel.

For the last 2 nights, everytime we have load-shedding the system is fine until about 1.5h in and then suddenly the alarm siren goes off for 30 seconds and it sends a tamper alarm to ADT. I go to the panels and they're frozen - they won't accept any keypad input and the remote FOB's can't arm or disarm. The OLARM also can't do control the panel.

It stays in this state until AC power is restored and then it logs a "Battery Low" condition and works perfectly after that.

But I've tested both batteries right after it happened - and one had 13.1V and one 12.5V - both seem fine?

Any idea what could cause it? Once AC is restored it works perfectly again.
 
Check battery voltage while power out
But im thinking battery showing 12.5v after loadsheding is on its way out
 
Def battery issue. Getting same conditions but not on initial loadshed only from second onwards if there is not enough time to fully load batteries(also 2 in parallel)
 
The voltage of the batteries are dropping too low and opening the MOSFETs on the radio / zone input from one of the sensors.

You dont cut corners when it comes to security of your family. Replace your two lead batteries with one of these and thank me later: https://leroymerlin.co.za/lithium-iron-phosphate-13v-22ah-280wh-battery

If you are uncomfortable cutting wires and crimping the necessary lugs, you'll need to ask a friend. Make sure it is done properly
 
agentrfr said:
The voltage of the batteries are dropping too low and opening the MOSFETs on the radio / zone input from one of the sensors.

You dont cut corners when it comes to security of your family. Replace your two lead batteries with one of these and thank me later: https://leroymerlin.co.za/lithium-iron-phosphate-13v-22ah-280wh-battery

If you are uncomfortable cutting wires and crimping the necessary lugs, you'll need to ask a friend. Make sure it is done properly
Click to expand...
How will the DSC charge that? Its charger is expecting a gel battery not the ability to manage a lipo?
 
neoprema said:
How will the DSC charge that? Its charger is expecting a gel battery not the ability to manage a lipo?
Click to expand...
4 cell LiFe is drop-in replacement for 12V lead acid

LiFe reaches full capacity at 3.65V per cell (14.6V total), but tolerant up to 4V per cell (16V total). The lead charger is expecting to do a constant current charge to ~14.8V and then go into float charging mode. By then you're already 100% capacity of the LiFe cells. If there is ever a problem, the BMS inside of the LiFe battery will kick in
 
agentrfr said:
4 cell LiFe is drop-in replacement for 12V lead acid

LiFe reaches full capacity at 3.65V per cell (14.6V total), but tolerant up to 4V per cell (16V total). The lead charger is expecting to do a constant current charge to ~14.8V and then go into float charging mode. By then you're already 100% capacity of the LiFe cells. If there is ever a problem, the BMS inside of the LiFe battery will kick in
Click to expand...
Very interesting didn't know that. Thanks!
 
neoprema said:
Very interesting didn't know that. Thanks!
Click to expand...
To be clear, the BMS that comes with the LiFe battery will do the cell balancing internally. As far as the 12V charger circuit is concerned, it is a normal lead acid battery with 0 current draw at float voltage
 
While i wait for the battery to arrive the stupid thing was up to it's tricks again.
Power went off and 1 hour later the alarm sounds and wakes up the neighborhood. Panel is frozen.

OLARM reports:
Area 1 Alarm
Fire Panic
Panic
Panic (again)
Fire Panic
Device offline.
 
There should be a setting for silent alarm, alternatively take off one of the siren wires on the board.
 
My ids die during loadshedding, it got like 3 settings, if the alarm is in check everything expect my room, when the power restore, the siren goes off. when in check only outside, when the power comes back, it is okay.
 
neoprema said:
While i wait for the battery to arrive the stupid thing was up to it's tricks again.
Power went off and 1 hour later the alarm sounds and wakes up the neighborhood. Panel is frozen.

OLARM reports:
Area 1 Alarm
Fire Panic
Panic
Panic (again)
Fire Panic
Device offline.
Click to expand...

Keep us posted how that lipo battery performs
 
neoprema said:
My DSC alarm is doing strange things.

It's a DSC 1864 with a DSC Wireless Expander + OLARM, ADT Radio and 2 Panels. There are 28 zones of which 20 are wireless.

Its connected to 2 x 7.2ah 12V batteries in parallel.

For the last 2 nights, everytime we have load-shedding the system is fine until about 1.5h in and then suddenly the alarm siren goes off for 30 seconds and it sends a tamper alarm to ADT. I go to the panels and they're frozen - they won't accept any keypad input and the remote FOB's can't arm or disarm. The OLARM also can't do control the panel.

It stays in this state until AC power is restored and then it logs a "Battery Low" condition and works perfectly after that.

But I've tested both batteries right after it happened - and one had 13.1V and one 12.5V - both seem fine?

Any idea what could cause it? Once AC is restored it works perfectly again.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a battery issue to me. The battery just like your car battery tests fine but it may be failing under load. Very probable if older than 3 years.
 
Louis72 said:
Sounds like a battery issue to me. The battery just like your car battery tests fine but it may be failing under load. Very probable if older than 3 years.
Click to expand...
It was - new battery and now its fine during load shedding. Just weird how it handles it - one would imagine a "Power too low, shutting down.." message and then it turns off. Not sound the alarm, call all the cavalry and then freeze up lol.
 
neoprema said:
It was - new battery and now its fine during load shedding. Just weird how it handles it - one would imagine a "Power too low, shutting down.." message and then it turns off. Not sound the alarm, call all the cavalry and then freeze up lol.
Click to expand...
Any problems installing the battery ? I also have a DSC with a battery that needs replacing ,,, <sigh>
 
rrh said:
Any problems installing the battery ? I also have a DSC with a battery that needs replacing ,,, <sigh>
Click to expand...
Ok just to clarify - i didn't get the Li Ion. Because i knew i was planning on going solar soon and didn't think it was necessary as the system won't be powered down much at all going forward.

I bought this one : https://www.alarmtec.co.za/batteries/forbatt-12volt-12ah-battery-p-2664.html?sort=9d

And so far it hasn't even nearly gone low during a 2.5h load shedding. And its keeping a lot running including the Olarm.
 
My parents DSC alarm battery is also on its way out, again! I see the built-in charger is only 400mA so takes about 16 hours to charge the battery. Constant loadshedding never allows the LA battery to fully charge.

Thinking of running a long ac cable from their Mecer 720 inverter trolley and plugging in the alarm transformer. Anybody know if the modified sine inverter will have hassles with the transformer?
 
Gazbal said:
My parents DSC alarm battery is also on its way out, again! I see the built-in charger is only 400mA so takes about 16 hours to charge the battery. Constant loadshedding never allows the LA battery to fully charge.

Thinking of running a long ac cable from their Mecer 720 inverter trolley and plugging in the alarm transformer. Anybody know if the modified sine inverter will have hassles with the transformer?
Click to expand...
Our alarm seems happy with dirty generator power, so i don't think it will have an issue on the Mecer?
 
neoprema said:
It was - new battery and now its fine during load shedding. Just weird how it handles it - one would imagine a "Power too low, shutting down.." message and then it turns off. Not sound the alarm, call all the cavalry and then freeze up lol.
Click to expand...
It is rather strange. Had an 1864 years ago in 2012 and its behaviour was to just blank out at 9.5volts.

Granted that battery was healthy and would gradually run down for hours.

It could also be that other sensors on the system that don’t operate reliably up to 9.5v and it is triggering the alarm panel?
In otherwords they start acting funky before the panel does?
 
Gazbal said:
My parents DSC alarm battery is also on its way out, again! I see the built-in charger is only 400mA so takes about 16 hours to charge the battery. Constant loadshedding never allows the LA battery to fully charge.

Thinking of running a long ac cable from their Mecer 720 inverter trolley and plugging in the alarm transformer. Anybody know if the modified sine inverter will have hassles with the transformer?
Click to expand...
What model is it?

If one single battery is installed they advised 400mA and if 2 where installed 700mA. But the default is 400mA.

Remember these systems where made in Canada they dont have loadshedding all day like us:ROFL:

The charger setting was in “701 First International Option codes” in the programming menu.
 
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