X10 Community Forum
🛡Home Security => Problems and Troubleshooting => Topic started by: Jeff M on May 17, 2011, 11:14:00 AM
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I am getting annoying low battery warnings with a few of my DS10A (older door sensor). I am using rechargable NiMh batteries, which seem to be slightly larger in diameter than standard AA batteries. I know the problem is not the batteries since I swapped them with a fresh set. I am thinking that the battery contacts on the sensor is a problem. Anyone else having this problem with these sensors?
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I wouldn't use NiMh batteries in the DS10A. These batteries have a beginning-of-life (BOL) voltage of 1.2V. Alkaline batteries have a BOL voltage of 1.5V. So the DS10A is starting off with a lower voltage of 2.4V instead of 3.0V. This is probably not a good idea.
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I am using NiMh cells in my DS12A sensors without any problems. Perhaps the older DS10A are more sensitive to voltage levels.
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I am using NiMh cells in my DS12A sensors without any problems. Perhaps the older DS10A are more sensitive to voltage levels.
How often do you recharge?
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I had low battery warnings just a few weeks after installing the system at my girlfriends house. I installed all freshly recharged cells last weekend, and one of the sensors reported a low battery this morning. At my house, I am using the DS12A sensors with the same brand of battery (except the DS12A use AAA instead of AA) and I have not had to replace the batteries, and it has been a few months at least since I installed the system.
So in other words, the low battery warning appeared well before I should have had to recharge the batteries.
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Thanks!
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The X10 door sensors draw very little current. NiMh batteries have relatively high leakage with self-discharge rates of 0.5% to 1% per day. So I wouldn't think this would be a good application for NiMh batteries. Only my opinion. Use whatever works for you.
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I use the low self-discharge NiMh for this very reason.
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Thanks for the advice to use standard alkaline AA batteries instead of rechargeable. The DS10A just do not have a tolorance for the lower voltage of NiMh batteries. About how long do AA alkaline batteries last in these sensors?
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Not sure. I don't keep track of it. I think the quiescent current is probably in the microamps, however I have never measured it. The higher current draw is when the device has to transmit and flash the LED. So it's dependent on how often you open your door.
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Thanks for the advice to use standard alkaline AA batteries instead of rechargeable. The DS10A just do not have a tolorance for the lower voltage of NiMh batteries. About how long do AA alkaline batteries last in these sensors?
I've used regular alkaline aa bateries in all my ds10s.
I get on average 2 years though I've had some go three. it depends on how often they are tripped.
One point to note, I even use these at the cottage and even with no heat in the winter months they still last 2 years. ;)
Maybe I'm just lucky! ::) :'
>!
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Two years? Really? I'm impressed. I hate the thought of using disposable batteries, but two years life is more than reasonable. It's difficult being green! I was able to use one of my extra DS12A sensors for my girlfriends front door, and they get along with NiMh batteries just fine. Her windows with the DS10A sensors hardly get opened so battery life should not be a problem.
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I'm not suggesting one depend on a two year life span especially for well used openings.
I try to change the important openings once a year.
I also had tried rechargeables but figured recharging every month or two (my experience) off set the benefits.
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One last question and then this topic is over. When I replace the batteries in a sensor, the Low Battery message still shows on the console. I had to clear memory and register the sensors over again. What is the proper way to clear this message after replacing batteries?
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Which console are we talking about?
I think a re-register is the only way with a DS7000
>!
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SC1200
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Have you tried removing the sensor from the zone it was assigned to and then adding it back to the same zone number?
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I could only find in the manual how to clear memory of all zones. How do you clear only a specific zone?
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Page 14 of users manual "Removing Door/Window Sensor".
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Thanks! I think I kept missing it because it was under the installation section.
By the way, two of the sensors that I replace the NiMh batteries with alkalines showed low battery again this morning. This is getting very frustrating.
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i had this problem awhile back tried replace sensor/battery/clear mem from console/removed sensor from console and installed new did not help but when i replaced new console never have problem again. I really don't konw what cause it.
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That is not what I wanted to hear. Is it difficult to get X10 to replace the console under warranty?
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That is not what I wanted to hear. Is it difficult to get X10 to replace the console under warranty?
You should not have a problem. X10 has a pretty liberal return policy.
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That is not what I wanted to hear. Is it difficult to get X10 to replace the console under warranty?
yep, mine still under warranty.
just call them up to get the RMA do not send without RMA.. they will instruct you how to proceed.
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Help me understand this. On my friends SC1200 console, two of the four installed DS10A sensors would always show low battery. The other two DS10A sensors were ok. I replaced them with two unused DS10A sensors, and all is well. Ok, I thought I had a couple of defective sensors. I took them home (along with the batteries that were in them) and registered on my SC1200 console. After over a week, I have not gotten the low battery warning from these sensors. Any explanation or insights as to why they show low battery on one console, but not on mine?
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Help me understand this. On my friends SC1200 console, two of the four installed DS10A sensors would always show low battery. The other two DS10A sensors were ok. I replaced them with two unused DS10A sensors, and all is well. Ok, I thought I had a couple of defective sensors. I took them home (along with the batteries that were in them) and registered on my SC1200 console. After over a week, I have not gotten the low battery warning from these sensors. Any explanation or insights as to why they show low battery on one console, but not on mine?
mine got the same problem replaced new SC1200 fixed problem maybe has something to do with the console.