Many people that own an AD alarm system wonder what happens when the power goes out. ADT alarm systems are great to protect your house or property from theft and fire.
What happens with this protection when there’s a power outage caused by a power grid failure or storm? Does the ADT alarm system work when the power is interrupted?
When the power goes out, the ADT alarm will automatically use the built-in backup battery and be fully functional. If there’s no power, you are still protected. However, the backup battery will keep the system powered just for 6-12 hours only.
If the power outage lasts longer than that, the alarm system will eventually turn off. So, be sure that the ADT alarm system will continue to work even if there’s no power. For more details read the next section.
Does the ADT alarm work if the power is interrupted?
If the power goes out, either from a heavy storm, a power grid issue, or anything else, the ADT system will continue to work properly. It is designed with a power outage in mind and it will be functional in any situation.
Let’s say the power in your house or business is interrupted. In this case, the ADT alarm system will automatically revert to the built-in battery backup unit.
It will draw power from this battery and the system will continue to function properly for a few hours or even a whole. Even if there’s a break-in, the system will dial the central station and get the police notified.
Keep in mind, the battery needs to be checked and serviced according to ADT regulations. If there’s a problem with it, you’ll get a notification on the ADT panel and you need to address it right away.
How to update the ADT Alarm backup battery?
By default, the ADT alarm system comes with a backup battery designed to power the system if there’s any power interruption. The homeowner has to periodically check the battery status and ensure that it’s not discharged.
When the battery is low or has some particular issues, the system will display a notification on the panel or just start to beep. Check the alarm panel for any error messages or alerts.
Changing the battery is easy, although it’s recommended to read the owner’s manual or check the ADT’s website for instructions. Different systems use different procedures, the most common one is as follows:
- Put the system in test mode. This way the central station won’t be notified if the system is triggered.
- Open up the panel and locate the battery. Usually, it looks like a black box with two connectors (black and white) on top.
- Remove the old battery. Tip: take a picture before disconnecting it to document the wiring.
- Connected the replacement battery and re-do the wiring the same as the original.
- Close the panel.
- Disable the test mode on the panel. Arm the system and any battery-related notifications should disappear.
It takes 48 hours for the new battery to be fully charged and integrated. During this time, the system may continue to show “battery low” messages on the screen. Disregard them and recheck after 48 hours. If the message continues to be displayed on the screen, you may need to contact ADT for further assistance.
What to do with the ADT alarm system when the power comes back on?
If the power outage lasts just a few minutes, there’s no need to do anything. However, if the power interruption lasts for a few hours and the backup battery is depleted, you need to reset the alarm system.
To reset the ADT alarm panel is easy:
- Enter your master code.
- Press the “Off” button twice.
If this doesn’t work for your system, check the owner’s manual for more instructions. Some panels use other key combinations and steps for reset.
Once the system is reset, everything will be back online and work properly. Check the panel’s screen and ensure no error messages are listed there.
Conclusion
Power outages on your house of business will not bring the ADT alarm system offline. The system is designed with a built-in backup battery that powers the whole system when the power goes out.
Rest assured, the system will function and you will be protected even when the power is disconnected. Keep in mind the backup battery is supposed to work just for a few hours only.
Additionally, maintain your alarm system and fix any issues that you may have with the backup battery such as the battery being low or expired. Any battery errors on the alarm panel need to be addressed as soon as possible.
