I have a First Alert FA260 alarm system and I do
In the bottom of the cabinet, you’ll see the backup battery, connected
to the main board by a red and a black wire. Normally these wires have
connectors that plug onto the battery posts. Take a look at those
connections, which should be tight and clean. If you see an accumulation
of chalky gray powder around the terminals, you may have to replace the
connectors as well. That’ll depend on whether the old connector #after
cleaning with an old toothbrush# is in good enough condition to re-use.
The next step is to find the battery specifications. Look at the hookup
diagram on the inside of the cover. You’ll usually find the
specifications there. If the diagram is missing or does not have the
specs, you can get them off the old battery itself. Here’s what you’ll
need.
There are three parts to the specification: voltage, capacity, and battery type.
The voltage is the easiest, and most alarm panels use 12 volt batteries.
The capacity will be listed in either ampere hours #abbreviated aH# or milliampere hours #abbreviated maH#.
The battery type refers to the chemical composition of the battery. It’s
important to select the correct type because the charging circuit is
designed for that type. The common types are Nickle Cadmium #NICAD#,
Sealed Lead Acid #SLA#, and Gel Cell #GC).
With this information in hand, you can shop the Internet for a
replacement. Perform a Google search for “alarm battery” or “DIY
alarms.” You’ll get several vendors, each with a means to drill down to
batteries. You’ll find several different brands as well. You don’t have
to get the same brand that you had, but the specifications need to
match. Voltage and type must be an exact match. The capacity can vary a
bit. For example, if you have a 4 aH battery, a 4.5 aH battery will be
fine. Just keep in mind that the higher the capacity, the larger the
battery’s dimensions will be. While there’s usually plenty of space in
the cabinet, getting an 8 aH battery to replace one that’s 4 aH will
probable not fit in the cabinet.
Once you get the battery, replacement is as easy as unplugging the old
one, and plugging in the new one. It will begin to charge immediately,
and any trouble condition should clear within a few minutes.