731 Messages
Sudden Low Battery Warnings
One of my Entry Sensor batteries is low (the Base keeps announcing it). Fortunately, I have some CR-2032 Lithium 3V batteries on hand; however, the window the sensor is on is never opened. It is in my home office. Oddly, a sensor that never gets any use says it needs replacement when my front door (used multiple times per day) has no issues. I never had to change a single Entry Sensor Battery with SS2 (and neither did the person I gave it to). With one of the most significant Battery Life Expectancies (up to 10 years) and the lack of use, I am not sure why I suddenly have problems. Are other SS3 users experiencing this?
I am wondering if I will be wasting a battery. I am four years in, but it is not as though I have an ample supply of CR-2032s. Maybe I will remove and reinsert it before changing it.
Also, I could have sworn the Base Station warned me of the same thing with my Motion Sensor in the same room less than a week ago. But there is no message in the app (PC or phone) to know if I made a mistake (there was, but it is now gone). The only change in my office is a second battery backup UPS I added on September 24, 2022, that is closer to the sensors, but I have another one, have had it for a year and a half, and have had no issues (same brand and model). Besides, I do not think a UPS would cause interference – could it?
shiherlis
731 Messages
2 years ago
Unfortunately, I believe this is one of the questions lost in the "bumps." Is it possible that my UPS is causing this new issue? It seems highly unlikely, especially given that the two are the same model. I Googled the problem and saw nothing related to what I am experiencing. The original UPS is approximately 20 feet from the Motion and Entry Sensor, while the new one is about six feet.
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davey_d
Community Admin
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5.6K Messages
2 years ago
HI @shiherlis ,
I don't see how an external UPS should be able to affect how the Base Station is interpreting signals from the Sensors. I'm assuming that it doesn't send out any wireless signals itself. So unless the sensor was right on it, I'm not sure it it's the problem.
It's also odd that a sensor would run low on battery first, when it's rarely used. The Keypad for example is always talking to the Base Station, and may even send 'pings' multiple times to re-establish the connection - which is why interference and range issues might make the battery run out faster.
But the sensors just send simple check-ins regularly (on top of the signals for 'open' and 'closed'). And that doesn't use a lot of energy at all, which is how Entry Sensors can last for so long.
I'm thinking maybe the Base Station somehow is receiving or interpreting incorrect error signals. When was the last time you did a Base Station Reset? Clearing out the temporary memory might fix it.
Also, another firmware update is coming up soon (of course I'll post about it when it comes out). The stability fixes and optimizations in that update might be able to help.
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stewartv
1 Message
10 months ago
Check to see if the cold is making sensor think battery is low, i rarely use the one that gives me the most trouble as window frames and steel doors have no insulation
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tuningcourse
1 Message
9 months ago
I'm having the same issue with a low battery warning for a sensor. I removed the lithium battery and tested it with a multimeter and the battery is fully charged and operational. Conclusion: it must be the sensor that's malfunctioning. I'm going to see if Simply Safe can send me a replacement for free.
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