AboutFred P. Wessells Expertise I can provide advice regarding most aspects of home and personal security & safety, as well as just about anything related to computer security. Lighting to locks to windows and more. I DO NOT WANT QUESTIONS ON ALARM SYSTEMS, other than common smoke/carbon monoxide detectors. This is not my area of expertise. How to keep from needing an alarm system is more in my area!
Experience I have worked in the industry for 18 years as a security officer, feature writer and editor for a national security magazine and as a security consultant.
Publications Security Technology & Design magazine, Access Control magazine, Locksmith Ledger magazine, several community newspapers and legal newsletters.
I have a low battery that keeps beeping, so I've unplugged the A/C until the battery drains. What I am wondering is can I still use the system on A/C only? If so, do I have to remove the battery completely once it's dead?
Thanks much!
Answer Ah...the joys of hardwired alarms. First, the answer to your question is "yes." The battery is there for backup in case the power goes out. Take the blasted thing out now. There's no reason to leave it in until the battery drains.
Unless you live in a backward state, such as Connecticut, that requires hardwired alarms, here's my suggestion. Cut the power to them at the circuit breaker. Tape over the breaker so the power cannot be turned back on. Take the hardwired detectors down and replace them with stand-alone battery-powered detectors: One Kidde combination CO/smoke detector and the others just plain old 9V-battery-operated smoke detectors. Put the combo detector near your furnace or near a vent upstairs, and the smoke detectors outside every bedroom but NOT near a bathroom.
Now, as to the alarm system, which I presume you have separately? Yes, you can run it off the AC only, but remember that here we're talking alarms--not detectors. If the power goes out, your alarm is worthless. That's a risk you have to consider. What would I do? Just replace the battery.
