ABAT Power Systems & Backup Power for Alarm Systems 3

Question 1

A burglar alarm panel is installed in a location subject to extended power outages. The customer requests 72-hour backup. Which solution is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Add an external battery cabinet with appropriately sized SLA batteries wired to the panel's battery terminals

Answer

Install a larger SLA battery inside the panel cabinet

Answer

Replace the panel with a battery-powered wireless system

Answer

Install a dedicated UPS rated for the panel's load

Question 2

What precaution must a technician take when replacing a sealed lead-acid battery in an operating alarm panel to avoid triggering a false alarm?

Accepted Answer

Place the panel in test mode or notify the central station before swapping the battery

Answer

Disconnect all zone wires before removing the battery

Answer

Remove the AC transformer first to de-energize the panel completely

Answer

Short the battery terminals together before removal

Question 3

When measuring DC voltage output from an alarm panel's auxiliary power terminals, a technician reads 11.8 V instead of the expected 13.8 V. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The panel's charging circuit has failed or the transformer voltage is too low

Answer

The battery has too much capacity for the charger to maintain voltage

Answer

The zone resistors are incorrect, causing a voltage drop

Answer

The keypad is drawing excessive current

Question 4

Which of the following is a correct practice when disposing of used sealed lead-acid alarm batteries?

Accepted Answer

Return them to a battery recycler or retailer that accepts lead-acid batteries

Answer

Place them in standard household trash

Answer

Store them indefinitely in the panel cabinet

Answer

Discharge them completely then dispose in a landfill

Question 5

A central station receives repeated 'AC Power Loss' signals from a site during business hours. After investigation, the technician finds the alarm panel transformer is plugged into a switched outlet controlled by a wall switch. What is the correct remedy?

Accepted Answer

Relocate the transformer to a dedicated, unswitched outlet or hardwire it to an unswitched circuit

Answer

Increase the battery capacity to compensate for frequent power losses

Answer

Program the panel to ignore AC loss signals

Answer

Install a UPS to bridge the switching intervals

Question 6

What effect does temperature have on a sealed lead-acid battery's available capacity in an alarm system?

Accepted Answer

High temperatures increase capacity and low temperatures decrease available capacity

Answer

Temperature has no effect on SLA battery capacity

Answer

Low temperatures increase capacity and high temperatures decrease capacity

Answer

Capacity only changes above 100°F

Question 7

An alarm system uses a 12 V, 7 Ah battery. After a complete AC power failure, the panel draws 600 mA in standby. How many hours of standby backup will this battery theoretically provide before dropping to the cut-off voltage?

Accepted Answer

About 11.7 hours

Answer

About 5.8 hours

Answer

About 8.6 hours

Answer

About 14.0 hours