ADT’s managing director for central region, Clive Humphrey, advised home and business owners to test their back-up battery packs to ensure that they are not caught out in the event of a power outage.
“Power outages can wreak havoc with alarm systems and the signals sent to your security company’s control room,” he said. “A faulty system can result in false activations which places strain on the security provider’s emergency resources.”
Humphrey said that all modern alarms should come with a back-up battery pack that self-activates when power is lost, however the duration of the battery life will depend on how many accessories are being run off the system, as well as the age of the battery.
“If you are unsure whether your system has a back-up battery pack please contact your security company to find out. It is important to know the life of your battery and what you should do in the event of a power failure,” he said.
Humphrey added that since winter is only a few months away, this is also a good opportunity to get your alarm systems tested even if your system includes a back-up battery pack.
“Testing your alarm is a simple procedure that can take less than five minutes,” he said. “Ideally it should be done as early as possible so that technicians can address any problems which may be found to pre-empt the load shedding months ahead.”
