Load shedding – check your security system’s back-up batteries
As 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.
SOUTH OF JOHANNESBURG – Eskom has declared an emergency due to the incessant and heavy rains over the past week which has left coal too wet to use at its coal fired generation plants.
This means a high and increasing risk of power outages nationwide.
ADT’s Managing Director for Central Region, Clive Humphrey, advises 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 cuts can wreak havoc with alarm systems and the signals sent to your security company’s control room. A faulty system can result in false activations which places strain on a security provider’s emergency resources.”
“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 you are running off the system, as well as the age of the battery,” says Humphrey.
“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.”
As 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. 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,” says Humphrey.
