The Lemon Fool

Does anyone know if there is any other reason that that a control panel (ADT) would emit a triple chirp every minute - apart from a failing battery?

Wiring problem, fluctuating mains power supply, room sensor problem, door sensor problem, or a bunch of spiders on the ceiling running around and having a laugh at your expense. But I'd expect most of these to leave some sort of an error message on the control panel.

A new system battery would be the first thing to try. In my experience, they last five years max.

BJ

A new system battery would be the first thing to try. In my experience, they last five years max.

I replaced the battery pack (comprised of four rechargeable AA batteries) and all was well for a few months, so either something else is wrong or the battery has failed.

We inherited the system and do not subscribe to the service, just happy to have the deterrent of an alarm on the house which has a couple of lights showing, so looks like it's working (I hope).

bruncher wrote:I replaced the battery pack (comprised of four rechargeable AA batteries) and all was well for a few months.

That'll be four rechargeable AA batteries plus an always-on DC supply from a transformer? I'd be quite impressed if they were able to run the whole system for a few months under their own steam?

I might easily be out of date, though. Our system is coming up for its quarter century, and it uses a 12 volt lead acid battery like this: https://www.screwfix.com/p/sealed-lead- ... -1ah/20080. Old-school, but golly, it's reliable.

If your batteries are indeed being fed by a constant DC supply, perhaps check the output?

BJ

If your batteries are indeed being fed by a constant DC supply, perhaps check the output?

Of the batteries?

bungeejumper wrote: I'd expect most of these to leave some sort of an error message on the control panel.

This.

Regarding batteries, all our batteries are changed out every year as part of the maintenance contract. Apparently it's less hassle for the company than having call-outs.

Maybe the charging circuitry has failed so that the AA cells, once expired cause the alarm to chirp? Just a thought. C.

csearle wrote:Maybe the charging circuitry has failed so that the AA cells, once expired cause the alarm to chirp? Just a thought. C.

Thanks for this. Is there an easy way to check this? Could the battery have run for three months without charging?

I would also like to re-check the spec of the battery required for this unit, but apparently I have to be registered security personnel in order to download the manual from Visonic's download center.

The ebay seller says his battery is only for visonic powermax express not for the powermaster old alarm panel which he says I have. He says I will have to check with ADT which battery I need. I'm not convinced - is he telling me he's only selling car batteries for Ford cars and if I put it in a Vauxhall then he isn't responsible if it subsequently fails?

The new battery is identical to the old one, otherwise I wouldn't have installed it, but I have disposed of the old one so no longer have the evidence. It worked for three months so I couldn't see any reason to keep it.

I'm thinking that if the charging circuitry had failed then the battery pack will be discharged. So you can verify this by removing it and measuring the voltage at its "terminals". If it is recharging properly it will have about 4.8V across them. If the recharging is not working the battery pack will be discharged and measure near zero Volts.

Chris

bungeejumper wrote:
A new system battery would be the first thing to try.

I'm surprised no-one else has said there is a far more obvious thing to try before this. RTFM! But then we are mostly blokes on here innit.

Download it if lost in the mists of time, and look up "Three chirps" in the error code chart. Far quicker than randomly trying stuff in the hope of hitting on the fault...

Whether the battery pack could have run for three months without discharging is a function of how often the alarm had to run off the battery pack (as opposed to running off the mains), the amount of current the alarm system consumes, and the capacity of the battery pack. Unless you know these things it is tricky to say. C.

Mike4 wrote:

bungeejumper wrote:
A new system battery would be the first thing to try.

I'm surprised no-one else has said there is a far more obvious thing to try before this. RTFM! But then we are mostly blokes on here innit.

Download it if lost in the mists of time, and look up "Three chirps" in the error code chart. Far quicker than randomly trying stuff in the hope of hitting on the fault...

Haven't got a manual and visonic won't let anyone have one if they're nor registered security personnel. I would buy another battery, but want a manual to check which spec is correct.

bruncher wrote:Haven't got a manual and visonic won't let anyone have one if they're nor registered security personnel. I would buy another battery, but want a manual to check which spec is correct.

Is it the Powermaster 10?
https://data2.manualslib.com/pdf2/39/38 ... 4c5cc7b9f1

If the alarm is worth anything it is worth getting it properly serviced. Call ADT and get their man to come and check it over.

Dod

If you go to Youtube and search for 'ADT alarm chirping' you will likely be able to identify one that looks like yours and may find some more specific help.

RC

ReformedCharacter wrote:If you go to Youtube and search for 'ADT alarm chirping' you will likely be able to identify one that looks like yours and may find some more specific help.

RC

Excellent suggestion. I do the occasional youtube video about narrow things like this to do with boilers and I'm always surprised at the feedback I get. Here's one feedback I received an hour or so ago about how to reset the thermostat on a Gledhill Pulsacoil 2000:

"Thanks Mike, the reset fixed mine too!"

I bet there is a video or two about the three chirps on the burglar alarm. The OP is very unlikely to be the only one looking for this error. Youtube is turning into a really good resource for answers to what at first sight seem like esoteric faults. Few faults are as rare as each individual sufferer imagines.

We have a DIY Yale alarm system and I had to change the control panel after approx 10 years. The accessories run off AA and AAA batteries but the panel is connected to the mains, one cable going to the telephone socket.

The only times we have similar problems are during power cuts, batteries running low in the door/window contacts and PIRS, and the panel itself.

The menu in the panel should say where the problem is. However, we had a few cases where the batteries in certain PIRS were so low that it set off the beeping but the panel couldn't indicate which one.


Steve

Visonic seem to be very effective in keeping information about their systems out of the public domain. I have tried Youtube, Amazon and elsewhere. Still following one or two leads but nothing definite yet.

At this point all I want to know is the correct spec of the replacement battery for this panel.

I am not sure which are the essential identifiers, so I'm quoting everything:

GSM 350_V2

Model: GE350_ATS4

P/N: 90_204029

IC: 1467C-GE864

bruncher wrote:Visonic seem to be very effective in keeping information about their systems out of the public domain. I have tried Youtube, Amazon and elsewhere. Still following one or two leads but nothing definite yet.

At this point all I want to know is the correct spec of the replacement battery for this panel.

I am not sure which are the essential identifiers, so I'm quoting everything:

GSM 350_V2

Model: GE350_ATS4

P/N: 90_204029

IC: 1467C-GE864

Any use here? https://www.justanswer.com/home-securit ... ghout.html Your model number came up with this. Answer given is wrong voltage battery replaced but not sure that's your problem. However this is a lead to start with.