Alarm goes off when disconnected from mains

[DJM]

I have a Watchman alarm (see picture) which has not been on a maintenance contract since we moved in a few years ago. Have been planning to replace, but just not got to it yet.

Anyway, having some electrical work done and need to turn off power. But when main switch is turned off, the alarm rings even with the key set to off. Turn power back on and it stops.

I have no instructions for the alarm so have no idea why or how to stop it. As the power will be off for at least 5 hours whilst the electrical work is being done, i can't leave the alarm ringing that long.

Any ideas?

 

[Steve]

Change the battery. Its inside the panel.

 

[DJM]

Opening the panel sets the alsrm off as well.
Any idea what battery I will need or how I can check?
Is it an easy change or does it require soldering?

Anybody know where I can get an instruction manual for this alarm?

 

[breezer]

i doubt you will get a manual for it.

is very simple and very very old

it has "pots" inside for adjusting the bell duration, exit and entry times.

as for the battery, it has spade connectors (pull the lead off) get a new battery in maplins (take old one with you)

 

[DJM]

Thanks,
I have opened up and found the battery type.

I presume that I wont need any specific routine to return to working state.

That is, I simply

1) open front (get deafened by tamper alarm)
2) Remove old battery (pull off spade connectors remembering polarity)
3) Insert new battery (connect spade connectors as per remembered polarity)
4) Close front cover
5) turn switch to off to stop tamper alarm
6) hey presto works agian

 

[saxondale]

Thanks,
I have opened up and found the battery type.

I presume that I wont need any specific routine to return to working state.

That is, I simply

1) open front (get deafened by tamper alarm)
2) Remove old battery (pull off spade connectors remembering polarity)
3) Insert new battery (connect spade connectors as per remembered polarity)
4) Close front cover
5) turn switch to off to stop tamper alarm
6) hey presto works agian

give it 24hrs for the battery to charge then disconnect the mains again temporarily to test the battery curcuit is ok

 

[breezer]

the battery leads are coloured black (usually) and red, the battery terminals are also coded black and red

 

[Steve]

Should we have a sticky on what to do if your alarm sounds when mains power is removed?

 

[DJM]

Thanks for all the help.

Should really have looked a little closer before asking the silly questions, but all done now. New battery installed, and had to turn off power anyway to complete other tasks and alarm didn't sound.

When I removed the old battery it had an install date of October 1992 so it's done pretty well considering Power Sonic's website says they have an expected 5 year life.