How to Replace an Alarm Battery

Residential Security Alarms

• 1

  Unplug the transformer from the wall outlet. Whether you have a separate control panel box or not, you do have a transformer. A transformer resembles a power cord with a square box for a plug.

• 2

  Loosen the screw that secures the control cabinet door to the cabinet with a Phillips-head screwdriver, if you have a control cabinet. Locate the battery, and lift it away from the cabinet so you can access the connection terminals. Loosen the thumbscrew connection to the black terminal on the battery, and pull the black cable away from the battery. Loosen the thumbscrew connecting the red cable to the battery, and remove the red cable. Pull the battery out of the cabinet.

• 3

  Set the new battery in front of the cabinet. Place the red cable over the "+" terminal, and tighten the thumbscrew to secure the cable. Attach the black cable to the "-" terminal on the battery. Tighten the thumbscrew to secure the cable to the battery. Set the battery inside the control cabinet. Close the cabinet door, and secure the door to the cabinet with the securing screw.

• 4

  Remove the faceplate off the alarm keypad. Some keypads have screws securing the faceplate, while other keypads simply unsnap from the keypad. Squeeze the ends of the battery retaining clip with your fingers, if you have a retaining clip. Pull the battery or battery pack away from the wire connector with your fingers. Install the new battery or battery pack into the wire connector until the connector snaps into place.

• 5

  Set the battery into its location within the keypad, and snap the retaining clip over the battery. Place the faceplate back over the keypad base. Secure the faceplate with the retaining screws or until it snaps into place. Plug the transformer back into the wall outlet.

Standard Smoke Detectors

• 6

  Find the battery compartment on your smoke detector. The cover is usually on the face of smoke detectors that do not plug into house wires. If you have a smoke detector that plugs into house wires, twist the smoke detector off its base and pull the wire connectors apart with your fingers. The battery cover is on the back of the smoke detector.

• 7

  Slide the battery cover off the detector with your thumb. Disconnect the battery from the wire connector. Install a new battery into the connector and position the battery into its holding location.

• 8

  Slide the battery cover over the smoke detector until the cover snaps into place. Reconnect the house wires to the smoke detector wire plugs, if your system plugs into the house wires. Position the detector over the base and twist to secure.