Smoke alarm alarm

[Bert Coules]

I have a mains smoke alarm with a 9v battery backup. It started to beep: regular beeps at roughly ten second intervals for something like a minute, then a long silence before it started again.

According to the manual this is the battery-low warning, so I took off the cover, removed the battery - and then discovered that I didn't have a replacement.

I replaced the body of the unit without the battery - and it's still beeping. Not regularly this time but seemingly at random: beep... beep beep beep... beep beep. Again this is for about a minute at a time. There's nothing in the manual about this and it seems too irregular for a built-in "no battery present" warning (and if there was one, I imagine the instructions would mention it).

I don't want to turn the alarm off overnight but I think I might have to.

Has anyone else encountered this or something similar?

Thanks.

[ARW]

The unit checks the voltage of the battery and bleeps when the voltage is low.

Replacing the unit to mains power without a battery will show as low voltage and as there is no reference at all to 9V has probably confused the PCB.

You need a battery.

[Bert Coules]

Oh, I accept that - I just hoped the unit would be (silently) operational overnight without one.

Many thanks for the explanation.

[charles]

Could you not "borrow" one from something else?

[Bert Coules]

One oddity in the manual is a stern warning that any replacement battery must be not only the right specification, which is of course correct, but also the right *make* because anything could cause damage.

Could the manufacturer have done a sneaky deal with Duracell, I wonder?

[ARW]

Make and model

[Bert Coules]

It seems to be by Ei Electronics of Shannon in Ireland, though the manual also gives contact details for Aico Ltd in Oswestry.

The model is Ei141RC.

The (strongly) recommended battery a Duracell MN1604 Energizer 9 V.

[Theo]

That could be code for 'don't use a zinc carbon from Poundland'.

Theo

[ARW]

They are called Ei because they are made in the Emerald Isles

[Fredxx]

But an 9V alkaline from Poundland would be a good equivalent to the manufacturer's preference.

[Brian Gaff (Sofa]

So what is stopping you getting the right battery and putting it in? Brian

[Brian Gaff (Sofa]

Can you not raid one from something else. I'm assuming a pp3 is the battery. Lots of el chepo radios use those still. Brian

[Bert Coules]

Yesterday, the fact that I didn't have one. Today, only my reluctance to go into a shop, however briefly.

I have however ordered one as part of my grocery shopping and it will be delivered tomorrow.

[Bert Coules]

You don't think Duracell are up to much? Why is that?

[Fred]

I had the spare for my Fluke 19 split before I got to use it.

[Bert Coules]

That is poor, but is it common?

[Fredxx]

I didn't actually say that, did I?

Why don't you think Kodak and Polaroid 9V alkaline batteries are up to much?

[Bert Coules]

Apologies if I misunderstood.

Are you saying then that despite the general impression, the bargain-basement Poundland product is in reality not inferior to any of the branded ones?

[ARW]

Called into a sandwich shop today in Doncaster and everyone (staff and customers) looked at me like I had the plague because I was the only one wearing a face mask.

:-). Job sorted

[Fredxx]

There have been a few comparisons made over the years of different makes of alkaline AA batteries including those sold in Poundland. This is one I found in a quick search:

Value for money goes to the alternative named makes one might find in Poundland.