HKC SW main unit

dahamsta

I'm getting an RF LOW BATT on my HKC alarm, I think a SecureWave.

I've changed batteries on sensors before and I'm pretty sure the panel told me which one it was, how do I track this one down?

altor

dahamsta wrote: »

I'm getting an RF LOW BATT on my HKC alarm, I think a SecureWave.

I've changed batteries on sensors before and I'm pretty sure the panel told me which one it was, how do I track this one down?

When arming the system does it not tell you the zone with the low battery?

KoolKid

On a Securewave? :eek:
How long is it installed?

altor

Have you got a keyfob on the system?

dahamsta

altor wrote: »

When arming the system does it not tell you the zone with the low battery?

Nope, like I said it says "RF LOW BATT".

KoolKid wrote: »

On a Securewave? :eek:
How long is it installed?

About a year and a half. The engineer is grand, I was just hoping to fix it myself.

altor wrote: »

Have you got a keyfob on the system?

Nope.

KoolKid

dahamsta wrote: »

About a year and a half. The engineer is grand, I was just hoping to fix it myself.

You really shouldn't be getting low battery after such a short time. I'd be looking for a free replacement.

altor

Unless you can check the logs then you will need the engineer to change the battery.

dahamsta

He gave me 4 batteries a while back. How do I check the logs? Engineer login?

altor

You will need the engineer code. Go into the service menu, yes, scroll to log menu, yes, scroll to view log, yes.

dahamsta

Thanks. Engineer says the software needs to be upgraded, mine has an early revision.

altor

Your welcome,

That should sort it for you.

bswee365

altor wrote: »

Have you got a keyfob on the system?

Hi, I was also getting RF Low Batt, No specification as to which zone. I replaced all batteries in the window shock sensors. The Doors are connected to mains (No batteries in those). I'm still getting RF Low Batt intermittently.

However I DO have a keyfob. Would this report a low batt to the system?
If this IS the problem, and I replace the battery in it, will the fob have to be re-linked to system?

If this isn't the problem, could it be a problem with back up battery for entire system OR is there a battery in the outside bell box? Thanks for any advice.

(Fob in use for about 16 months)

bswee365

On a different note, I noticed the following thread re Deleting a number from my GSM dialler: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=69617656

I have a very old number that needs to be deleted as that number has since been assigned to a stranger who is now getting my alarm notifications!

Does this require an engineer visit? The above-mentioned thread lead me to believe that the user was able to delete/amend as necessary? Shame to bring an engineer out just to delete a number!

The people who have that old number must be trying to reply to the texts (possibly trying to get them to stop or find out what it's about) and this itself is confusing the alarm system as those texts are not in a recognisable format.

dahamsta

Can't answer those questions, just wanted to add to the thread for reference that the error /was/ caused by a dead/dying battery in an RF unit I had forgotten about. It wasn't being reported correctly because of the software bug. If you do have to get an engineer out, I'd suggest asking him to update it for you.

altor

bswee365 wrote: »

Hi, I was also getting RF Low Batt, No specification as to which zone. I replaced all batteries in the window shock sensors. The Doors are connected to mains (No batteries in those). I'm still getting RF Low Batt intermittently.

However I DO have a keyfob. Would this report a low batt to the system?
If this IS the problem, and I replace the battery in it, will the fob have to be re-linked to system?

If this isn't the problem, could it be a problem with back up battery for entire system OR is there a battery in the outside bell box? Thanks for any advice.

(Fob in use for about 16 months)

The battery in the fob would need to be replaced. Once the battery is replaced it will clear the low battery message, no need for any reset.

altor

bswee365 wrote: »

On a different note, I noticed the following thread re Deleting a number from my GSM dialler: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=69617656

I have a very old number that needs to be deleted as that number has since been assigned to a stranger who is now getting my alarm notifications!

Does this require an engineer visit? The above-mentioned thread lead me to believe that the user was able to delete/amend as necessary? Shame to bring an engineer out just to delete a number!

The people who have that old number must be trying to reply to the texts (possibly trying to get them to stop or find out what it's about) and this itself is confusing the alarm system as those texts are not in a recognisable format.

To change the numbers you will need engineer access to the alarm system.
People who have there engineer code can change any setting in there panel.
If you do get an engineer out you can ask him to reset the engineer code to something you know for doing things like this.

altor

dahamsta wrote: »

Can't answer those questions, just wanted to add to the thread for reference that the error /was/ caused by a dead/dying battery in an RF unit I had forgotten about. It wasn't being reported correctly because of the software bug. If you do have to get an engineer out, I'd suggest asking him to update it for you.

When the low battery appears on the system the alarm will indicate what the low battery is. If the system is armed and then disarmed the low battery is logged in the log. Only with engineer access to the system can you tell what the low battery is.

dahamsta

Perhaps with other systems, but this system normally tells you which zone needs a battery. On this occasion the zone wasn't reported because of a software fault, as I mentioned earlier in the thread.

altor

dahamsta wrote: »

Perhaps with other systems, but this system normally tells you which zone needs a battery. On this occasion the zone wasn't reported because of a software fault, as I mentioned earlier in the thread.

This is not correct dahamsta, the system will only indicate this until the alarm is armed and disarmed. Then it will be logged in the log, only accessible by engineer mode. It is the way HKC have set up the system.

dahamsta

The system has indicated low batteries in two different zones on previous occasions. Perhaps you think I was imagining this? :rolleyes:

altor

dahamsta wrote: »

The system has indicated low batteries in two different zones on previous occasions. Perhaps you think I was imagining this? :rolleyes:

It may have indicated the low battery but then went into the log. Like your first post says
That is how the system is designed to work by HKC.

dahamsta

It may have gone into the log, but it was also indicated on the panel. Now will you go way and waste someone else's time with this circular nonsense?

Thunderbird2

Are you sure it's a secure wave and not an 8/12 with a quick bridge installed? ??From your first post you said you weren't sure ... A 10/70 would tell you exactly what sensor had a low batt the 8/12 with quick bridge wouldn't
. Does it have a blue or green backlit display? :rolleyes:

altor

dahamsta wrote: »

It may have gone into the log, but it was also indicated on the panel. Now will you go way and waste someone else's time with this circular nonsense?

Just explaining how the system works, if you don't want to know then someone else might be interested. That is what this forum is all about.

bswee365

I went to get the new battery for the fob in a jewellers. They tested original battery and said it was absolutely fine, full of power. Could it be the backup battery at all (in the main unit)?
All window shock sensor batteries have been replaced.
The front & back door sensors are powered off the mains.
It seems like the hall sounder is also mains powered, as is the hall motion sensor - I don't see any batteries in these units.
That leaves: The Main Alarm system box, the GSM dialler and the outdoor bellbox. Any batteries in these hardware items that could be causing the problem? Thanks so much.

KoolKid

So is it just your fob that's not working?

altor

It could be any device that is powered by a battery. You will need engineer access to the alarm log to determine what has the low battery.

bswee365

KoolKid wrote: »

So is it just your fob that's not working?

The fob works fine, I was just trying to isolate what is causing the low batt warning. I'm just getting an "RF Low Batt" warning but it's not telling me which area/sensor.

Altor, thanks for your help, I was hoping to avoid getting an engineer out for what I thought might be a trivial/simple problem. I guess I'll have to give him a call

altor

Sorry I could not help more. The system will give an indication of the low battery, whatever it is but then it only logs the device in the log and says RF low battery on the keypad. That is how the system works. I would get the engineer to set up a engineer code for you if you are going to be replacing batteries yourself, always handy to have.

dahamsta

Trial and error worked for me when the abovementioned zone didn't identify itself on the panel, no engineer code required. Just popped out the battery, entered my own code to halt the tamper alarm, installed the new battery and halted the tamper again, and pretty soon the error went away and I had my dodgy battery. Shouldn't take long unless you have a very big house.

KoolKid

Am I reading this right?
The panel doesn't tell the end user where the low battery is?

altor

It does tell them what has the low battery but then goes into the log once the system has being armed and disarmed. The only way to find out the low battery at this point is to check the log.

KoolKid

So is this a user log our does it require enginer access.

altor

It requires Engineer access once it goes into the log.

KoolKid

So the user had no way of seeing what battery is low? ?
A user with full access should be able to view this sort of information.

david85

User are not allowed to use quick codes. User must also be set as manager to view log events otherwise just alarm events will occur. Having only briefly Glancing through pages may i suggest if user has tried everything maybe a saab battery problem or have problem be sorted already????

bswee365

dahamsta wrote: »

Trial and error worked for me when the abovementioned zone didn't identify itself on the panel, no engineer code required. Just popped out the battery, entered my own code to halt the tamper alarm, installed the new battery and halted the tamper again, and pretty soon the error went away and I had my dodgy battery. Shouldn't take long unless you have a very big house.

Thanks Dahamsta, the frustrating thing is that I replaced every conceivable battery!

KoolKid

Bad design that the user cant see this.

altor

KoolKid wrote: »

So the user had no way of seeing what battery is low? ?
A user with full access should be able to view this sort of information.

Yes they can through the manager menu if it is set up, view engineer log.

KoolKid

Ahh, gotcha.
I was thinking it wouldn't be right for a user not to be able to access this.

altor

That is only if the manager menu is set up for them.

KoolKid

Which it should be ...

Sean Mullen

bswee365 wrote: »

Thanks Dahamsta, the frustrating thing is that I replaced every conceivable battery!

try this.. open the panel cover.. there will be a small white sticker on the pcb. if the version number is lower than 1.4 it needs a software upgrade. the rf low battery is the fob. you can try removing the battery when you are within range of the panel and see if that clears it but it will only clear it for a matter of time before it will go again. i have upgraded a number of alarms in the past six months due to the keyfobs.

dahamsta

For the record, my engineer assumed it was the fob when I told him the error message. I don't have a fob.

Sean Mullen

ok open one of your pirs and check the version number there. if its version 1.0 it needs to either have a software upgrade or replaced. the pirs with version 1 are draining the batteries very quick.

dahamsta

Mine's working fine now, someone else was asking about the fob. My setup was upgraded a couple of weeks ago. Brought a HKC guy with him an' all.

kittyboodublin

dahamsta wrote: »

I'm getting an RF LOW BATT on my HKC alarm, I think a SecureWave.

I've changed batteries on sensors before and I'm pretty sure the panel told me which one it was, how do I track this one down?

Here is the solution, we have a hkc alarm and engineer code access. In engineer mode, Service menu / end tools menu/ rf device status / rf zone status

When in rf device status scan all devices in all menus zones, points, saab, etc. Scan everything just in case not in a zone or something. It only takes a minute.

This scans all devices in real time as no errors in the log menu for low battery. Turned out to be the external saab not a keyfob as some here would suggest. Took us all of 5 minutes to do and replacing the battery is simple now I know which one.


Hope this helps..

altor

kittyboodublin wrote: »

Here is the solution, we have a hkc alarm and engineer code access. In engineer mode, Service menu / end tools menu/ rf device status / rf zone status

When in rf device status scan all devices in all menus zones, points, saab, etc. Scan everything just in case not in a zone or something. It only takes a minute.

This scans all devices in real time as no errors in the log menu for low battery. Turned out to be the external saab not a keyfob as some here would suggest. Took us all of 5 minutes to do and replacing the battery is simple now I know which one.


Hope this helps..

Another thing to mention with the external bell is there is now an option to add a second battery pack which will keep the LEDs going for 36 months.
This I have seen on loads of systems set up with the LEDs on is the main cause for the low battery in the first place. With only one battery pack with LEDs on, it only lasts up to 6 months.

nudger

Getting Z10 low bat rcv b on my panel, replaced the battery once about 18 months ago, the alarm is 7 years old.
Is this a low battery in a contact or one of the main batteries.

altor

nudger wrote: »

Getting Z10 low bat rcv b on my panel, replaced the battery once about 18 months ago, the alarm is 7 years old.
Is this a low battery in a contact or one of the main batteries.

7 Years old?
If that's a mistake then it is relating to the device installed on zone 10.

nudger

altor wrote: »

7 Years old?
If that's a mistake then it is relating to the device installed on zone 10.

Sorry Altor don't know what you mean.

The Alarm is working fine but noticed the low bat on the panel yesterday.
It is 7 years old, wireless, monitored (eircom landline), never serviced, I replaced a 123a battery in a strobe once and a 12v main battery 18 months ago.
There are 2 box's with leds and circle aerials, don't know if that helps any?