Load-shedding: Understanding the affect on home security systems

Fidelity ADT warns homeowners to understand the impact load-shedding can have on a security system.

Sufficient battery back-ups and charging capacity can extend the uptime of alarm systems during load-shedding.

It is not ideal, though, for a battery to deal with continued bouts of power cuts, whether planned or unplanned.

“Batteries play a big part in your home’s security system, which includes your electric fence and the gate motor,” explained Fidelity ADT Group Head of Communications and Marketing Charnel Hattingh.

“Wireless security systems have batteries in the detectors that are unaffected by load-shedding, but the main control box still contains a backup battery that should not be neglected.

“When you check your backup batteries, make sure to look at everything.”

A battery has a finite lifespan and is affected by how often it discharges and charges up again. A battery that has gone through too many of these cycles deteriorates and might not charge sufficiently between load-shedding times.

This compromises the backup time of the battery should there be a power failure.

Hattingh said load-shedding stage one gives batteries enough recharging time, but any higher stage will start to cut into this time.

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Remember that other unrelated technical issues might affect a battery, which is why regular testing is critical.

No battery will last forever and will eventually need replacing.

She also urged people to pay attention to the text messages from their armed response company, especially relating to any potential low-battery warning signals.

Fixing these issues early on can take the pressure off monitoring systems when they are flooded by signals received during load-shedding.

Regular power cuts affect a range of technologies and communications systems, including alarm systems, that start to malfunction without adequate battery backup. Alarm systems that malfunction during load-shedding increase false alarm activations that affect the armed response companies’ ability to deal with genuine emergency signals.

Homeowners can help by taking ownership of their alarm system hardware to ensure it operates optimally during power cuts, especially as they seem to be happening more frequently.

“Your security system’s keypad can provide information about problems that need technical intervention.

“Search on the internet for a copy of the system’s user guide or ask your monitoring company to send you a copy,” she suggested.

UPS backup systems are handy to add to a home system, even though they are costly.

“When properly connected and used how they are intended to be, they can play a part in keeping you and your property safe.

“If you have any questions about your home security system and its battery backups, contact your armed response company as soon as possible.

“They will help you test it to see if any technical problems need urgent attention.”

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