DS10 Battery Life

[jackpod]

I finally decided to redo my HS config from the ground up. There were remnants from 1.6 days, I reflashed my HT and in process of re-entering all my devices, events and scripts, I didn't copy anything from the old config.... anyway I decided that since I have had DS10a's in service for the better part of 6 years or so and did not keep a log of when/if the batteries were changed I decided to replace all the batteries as I am adding them. I decided to check the batteries instead of just dumping them and much to my surprise most of them still deflect a full scale reading on my battery tester. Most of them have never been changed

[rmasonjr]

Yeah, the battery life on those things are really good. I have some that are attached to doors with 20+ open/close cycles per day and I dont remember ever changing the batteries. I have others installed as leak detectors that almost never go off. I spritz the contact with water every once in a while and they all work great.

When the time comes to replace the batts, I think I'll write the date on the inside battery cover.

[Gogs]

.................. When the time comes to replace the batts, I think I'll write the date on the inside battery cover.

Why write the date on the battery cover when you have the facility to write notes in HS next to each device?

[langenet]

Gogs....

That's a brilliant idea!. I never thought of that - doing it now though.

Robert

[Steve Q]

Why write the date on the battery cover when you have the facility to write notes in HS next to each device?

This is a really great idea!! Trouble is, in 3 years when it comes time to replace the batteries, I will never remember to do it!

Steve Q

[Gogs]

OK Steve, trust you to complicate things.

Use a reminder program. I use one to remind me of Birthdays and things like that. It triggers when the house has been un-occupied to so long and changes to occupied.

Not sure I would like HS announcing "remember to change the drive batteries in 3 days".

If it is written on the inside of the battery lid what cunning way have you in mind for it to remind you.

There is however an easier way. Use DooMotion. It has the facility to monitor battery life time and alert you. It does not have to be a motion sensor to work with DooMotion. The Doc also wrote a cunning little script a long time ago, which I still use, which if it starts receiving A1 on/off will log that a sensor has a flat battery and check to see which motion sensor has not responded for a while and log that it suspects that sensor may be the one. I have found it 100% accurate, but, I deviate, as you are not talking about motion sensors - but should also work with anything as long as it is associated with DooMotion.

[rmasonjr]

Why write the date on the battery cover when you have the facility to write notes in HS next to each device?

Good idea! I always forget about the little icon next to the devices...

[TrOjAn]

I change mine each year... the ones with the normal batteries in, I do have external ds10`s with the really large batteries so they last forever

TrOjAn

[drozwood90]

rmasonjr,

Off topic, but are you using the Hobby Board sensors on the end of a DS10A?

I've hooked some of mine up, but they don't seem to want to trigger...

--Dan

[rmasonjr]

rmasonjr,

Off topic, but are you using the Hobby Board sensors on the end of a DS10A?

I've hooked some of mine up, but they don't seem to want to trigger...

--Dan

Yes - they work great for me. I do remember having to reverse the wires on a couple of the ones I soldered up, but they all work. I occasionally spritz water on them and they trigger fine. Try reversing the wires and see if that helps.

[langenet]

If you're talking about the leaf sensors, it doesn't matter which lead you have connected to whatever terminal. It's either open of closed.
I believe I've read that there are two versions of the leaf sensors - one with some protective coating (a varnish I think) and ones without.
Perhaps a light sanding with very fine sand paper or steal wool on the surface should help.

Rob