Alarm Battery Longevity (AH-Actual)

G

gmelton1966

Member
Location
Goldsboro, NC
Occupation
FIre Alarm Technician
Hi,

I've been installing alarm batteries for forty years. For the past twenty five years, our company has relied on intelligent battery test equipment to ensure the that our customers are getting good batteries in all their equipment and that we are getting more testing data then just voltage readings. We use Powersonic PS1270-F1 and PS12180-NB as the standard go to batteries. They would usually last five years in most cases, except in extreme heat. That usually cuts the life of the battery by a year or two. Starting in 2022, our Power Sonic 7ah batteries were testing at 4.0-4.3 ah right out of the box and once installed, under 4ah, one year later. They used to be 7ah-9ah right out of the box and may or may not test under 4.4 ah after five years, but we replace them due to the age. 7ah batteries are supposed to be replaced at 4.4ah and under. We had similar issues with the 18ah as well, which have to be replaced at or under 11.7 ah or close to that. After pleading with our management, they are going to allow me to source out a better quality brand. ADI has multiple brands, like the well know Yuasa. Obviously Power Sonic batteries have changed in some form or fashion of origin, or manufacturing, etc. I am going to purchase some Duracell 12v 7ah and 12v 18ah batteries from Batteries Plus and test them right at the store. They are forty dollars each for the 7ah. If they read like they should I am going to install them at one of our customers properties, see how they do for the next several years. Does anyone out there that tests their batteries annually with something like the ACT intelligent battery tester, have any recommendations for good quality, long lasting alarm batteries?
 
Watching this thread... our fire vendors also generally use PS batteries, and if they're not meeting spec straight out of the box...
 
ModbusMan said:
Watching this thread... our fire vendors also generally use PS batteries, and if they're not meeting spec straight out of the box...
Click to expand...
One of the problems is that often the calculated size of the battery is pretty low, maybe 2.5 - 4Ah, where the panel will require a minimum of a 7Ah battery set. You could have an issue and never know it.
 
I'm not too worried about our sizes being low as all our vendors share their numbers with us and we then (usually) spec the next physical group (e.g. calcs show 10AH needed meaning 12 is required, but we'll install 18). But if PS batteries are barely at 50% out of the box, then even that's not enough anymore.
 
Guess the burglar alarm that I installed in my house over 20 years ago is running on borrowed battery time. Last year we lost power for 2 to 3 hours and was surprised that the original battery still works. Having trouble with the buttons ( does help for maybe 6 months if you take it apart and clean silicone membrane ). So being the touch screens are obsolete ( they have used ones for sale on the net but want close to $90 for a NOS unit ) going to replace the system.
 
gmelton1966 said:
Hi,

I've been installing alarm batteries for forty years. For the past twenty five years, our company has relied on intelligent battery test equipment to ensure the that our customers are getting good batteries in all their equipment and that we are getting more testing data then just voltage readings. We use Powersonic PS1270-F1 and PS12180-NB as the standard go to batteries. They would usually last five years in most cases, except in extreme heat. That usually cuts the life of the battery by a year or two. Starting in 2022, our Power Sonic 7ah batteries were testing at 4.0-4.3 ah right out of the box and once installed, under 4ah, one year later. They used to be 7ah-9ah right out of the box and may or may not test under 4.4 ah after five years, but we replace them due to the age. 7ah batteries are supposed to be replaced at 4.4ah and under. We had similar issues with the 18ah as well, which have to be replaced at or under 11.7 ah or close to that. After pleading with our management, they are going to allow me to source out a better quality brand. ADI has multiple brands, like the well know Yuasa. Obviously Power Sonic batteries have changed in some form or fashion of origin, or manufacturing, etc. I am going to purchase some Duracell 12v 7ah and 12v 18ah batteries from Batteries Plus and test them right at the store. They are forty dollars each for the 7ah. If they read like they should I am going to install them at one of our customers properties, see how they do for the next several years. Does anyone out there that tests their batteries annually with something like the ACT intelligent battery tester, have any recommendations for good quality, long lasting alarm batteries?
Click to expand...
Just an update.

I went to ADI in Raleigh and one Batteries Plus Store with my ACT battery tester. The majority of alarm batteries are either bad or on the threshold of being bad right out of the box. The only good battery at Batteries Plus was the 12V 7AH Duracell. The 18AH Duracell read 10 AH. All Power Sonic batteries are bad with the exception of a newer brighter white one. I read UltraTech, Hengli (better than most), Power Sonic, Yuasa, Duracell, and a few others. Overall,
gmelton1966 said:
Hi,

I've been installing alarm batteries for forty years. For the past twenty five years, our company has relied on intelligent battery test equipment to ensure the that our customers are getting good batteries in all their equipment and that we are getting more testing data then just voltage readings. We use Powersonic PS1270-F1 and PS12180-NB as the standard go to batteries. They would usually last five years in most cases, except in extreme heat. That usually cuts the life of the battery by a year or two. Starting in 2022, our Power Sonic 7ah batteries were testing at 4.0-4.3 ah right out of the box and once installed, under 4ah, one year later. They used to be 7ah-9ah right out of the box and may or may not test under 4.4 ah after five years, but we replace them due to the age. 7ah batteries are supposed to be replaced at 4.4ah and under. We had similar issues with the 18ah as well, which have to be replaced at or under 11.7 ah or close to that. After pleading with our management, they are going to allow me to source out a better quality brand. ADI has multiple brands, like the well know Yuasa. Obviously Power Sonic batteries have changed in some form or fashion of origin, or manufacturing, etc. I am going to purchase some Duracell 12v 7ah and 12v 18ah batteries from Batteries Plus and test them right at the store. They are forty dollars each for the 7ah. If they read like they should I am going to install them at one of our customers properties, see how they do for the next several years. Does anyone out there that tests their batteries annually with something like the ACT intelligent battery tester, have any recommendations for good quality, long lasting alarm batteries?
Click to expand...
I went to ADI in Raleigh and one Batteries Plus Store with my ACT battery tester. The majority of alarm batteries are either bad or on the threshold of being bad right out of the box. The only good battery at Batteries Plus was the 12V 7AH Duracell. The 18AH Duracell read 10 AH. All Power Sonic batteries at both locations are bad with the exception of a newer brighter white PS-1270 F1. It had different labeling. The best brand tested was Yuasa at ADI. Fellow technicians, unless you're testing your batteries with something similar to an ACT intelligent battery tester, you don't know what you're buying. I am going to nudge our management to switch to Yuasa for now.

One other note, makes me wonder about buying car batteries now.
 
gmelton1966 said:
Just an update.

I went to ADI in Raleigh and one Batteries Plus Store with my ACT battery tester. The majority of alarm batteries are either bad or on the threshold of being bad right out of the box. The only good battery at Batteries Plus was the 12V 7AH Duracell. The 18AH Duracell read 10 AH. All Power Sonic batteries are bad with the exception of a newer brighter white one. I read UltraTech, Hengli (better than most), Power Sonic, Yuasa, Duracell, and a few others. Overall,

I went to ADI in Raleigh and one Batteries Plus Store with my ACT battery tester. The majority of alarm batteries are either bad or on the threshold of being bad right out of the box. The only good battery at Batteries Plus was the 12V 7AH Duracell. The 18AH Duracell read 10 AH. All Power Sonic batteries at both locations are bad with the exception of a newer brighter white PS-1270 F1. It had different labeling. The best brand tested was Yuasa at ADI. Fellow technicians, unless you're testing your batteries with something similar to an ACT intelligent battery tester, you don't know what you're buying. I am going to nudge our management to switch to Yuasa for now.

One other note, makes me wonder about buying car batteries now.
Click to expand...
JCI made over halve the car batteries in Mexico and sold that division off a year or two ago. Wonder how strict corrupt mexico is with lead, acid & other hazardous waste. Our government warns their is no place in dirty mexico safe for Americans to drink the water. A great U tuber tester did extensive testing on maybe a dozen rechargeable batteries. Amazing how many exaggerated thier power levels by 15% or more. Hopefully FTC or other government agency would crack down on them.
 
garbo said:
JCI made over halve the car batteries in Mexico and sold that division off a year or two ago. Wonder how strict corrupt mexico is with lead, acid & other hazardous waste. Our government warns their is no place in dirty mexico safe for Americans to drink the water. A great U tuber tester did extensive testing on maybe a dozen rechargeable batteries. Amazing how many exaggerated thier power levels by 15% or more. Hopefully FTC or other government agency would crack down on them.
Click to expand...
The FTC and other watchdogs operate on the squeaky wheel principle. They have to get some threshold of complaints before they'll take action.
 
gmelton1966 said:
Just an update.

I went to ADI in Raleigh and one Batteries Plus Store with my ACT battery tester. The majority of alarm batteries are either bad or on the threshold of being bad right out of the box. The only good battery at Batteries Plus was the 12V 7AH Duracell. The 18AH Duracell read 10 AH. All Power Sonic batteries are bad with the exception of a newer brighter white one. I read UltraTech, Hengli (better than most), Power Sonic, Yuasa, Duracell, and a few others. Overall,

I went to ADI in Raleigh and one Batteries Plus Store with my ACT battery tester. The majority of alarm batteries are either bad or on the threshold of being bad right out of the box. The only good battery at Batteries Plus was the 12V 7AH Duracell. The 18AH Duracell read 10 AH. All Power Sonic batteries at both locations are bad with the exception of a newer brighter white PS-1270 F1. It had different labeling. The best brand tested was Yuasa at ADI. Fellow technicians, unless you're testing your batteries with something similar to an ACT intelligent battery tester, you don't know what you're buying. I am going to nudge our management to switch to Yuasa for now.

One other note, makes me wonder about buying car batteries now.
Click to expand...


Different battery types have different needs. Lithium battery will sustain accelerated permanent capacity loss if stored fully charged.

Lead batteries will sustain permanent damage if it is allowed to sit around NOT fully charged. Think of them like chips and snacks. They're not immediately perishable like fresh food, but they do have limited shelf life. Battery shops generally get the batteries in, and they sit on the shelf until sold. If you don't mind buying online, Gruber Power Services (also have eBay store) is a good place to buy this kind (VRLA/AGM) of battery. I believe they sell privately labeled Universal Battery.

They mostly sell to scooter and server backup power people. These types of battery will probably sit on the shelf for a long time at local Batteries Plus and such but Gruber turns their inventory fast. Check the date code and open circuit terminal voltage. The voltage on terminal at the time of receipt is a pretty good indication of how low it's been allowed to self-discharge. I have this canned tomato that says Best by Feb 2027 which is good for stocking up, but I would probably not stock up on something that was Best by March 2025.

As for in-service, it's the temperature as you said, but also the float voltage and abuse history. Emergency light that has a loose connection and drained down to zero, then noticed a few weeks later will never recover full capacity. A battery that sat around for an entire year after being produced, or sat in your warehouse or store shelf falls into that category.
 
Last edited:
LarryFine said:
How do you avoid that in a vehicle?

I always slow-charge new batteries (if at all possible.) AGM is my first choice.
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The fuel gauge shown in dash doesn't correspond to raw state of charge. For example, when you drive down to 0% in dash gauge, the battery is not literally drained to 0%.

Some cars also offer the setting to stop charging at 80% to reduce unnecessary wear, then you might charge it all the way up to 100% for road trips. Still, usage habit like setting it to charge to 100%, drive to church on Sunday using 5%, bring it home, charge it up to 100%, let it sit until next Sunday, then repeat is going to cause unnecessary wear on it.
 
I don't know of any fuel powered cars that use anything but lead acid, which must be stored fully charged. If a little lamp gets left on and you don't notice it for a few weeks, the battery may start the car after being fully charged, but permanent damage is done.
 
They're fairly popular in the motorcycle world, where some people care about cutting a few pounds.
 
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