Micron Scorpion Z6-L alarm: Disable low battery siren

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dangergadget

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#251133 10-Jun-2019 13:29

Anyone have any top tips for disabling the battery low alarm/siren on a Micron Scorpion Z6-L?

We have an old (~2000 era) Micron Scorpion Z6-L home alarm - not sure who installed it and no stickers anywhere.

It has a massive flaw I would very much like to fix:

1) When the mains power dies it goes onto its 12V battery (good), but when the battery is low the inside household siren goes off - even if the alarm was disarmed at the time (BAD - I can't see why this would ever be a good idea - I just want the alarm to keep going normally until it can't anymore).

2) We think that entering the user code at this point doesn't work either (EVEN BADDER).

3) The battery is worn = 5 years old with a bit of corrosion coming out of the top of the "Sealed" battery, so in a middle-of-night power cut we have 2-3 minutes max to leave the house with toddler and baby, in the dark, to avoid the ear splitting siren, because it's that quick to register a battery low condition. (REALLY REALLY BAD - SO BAD).

I rang a few companies and got through to an alarm tech, and his best suggestion was to disconnect the battery so the alarm simply dies in a power cut. I've done that now and the alarm seems okay with that (flashing mains light to indicate battery low the whole time of course). However I would rather it carried on working normally during a power cut and without the battery low siren (plus I had already bought a new battery for it).

I've consulted an online manual for a similar alarm but couldn't find an obvious solution: https://a.hosk.in/51e17e.pdf

Anyone have any top tips for disabling the battery low alarm/siren on a Micron Scorpion Z6-L? Paging @petercad who had some good advice on another thread.

Many thanks

petercad

113 posts

Master Geek

#2255315 10-Jun-2019 14:46

Hi, honestly, it's a Micron.

The best fix is to euthanize it and save yourself many hassles

I'd replace with an Arrowhead, easy to program and use, and very cost effective

Just my opinion.......

gb67

44 posts

Geek

#2255470 10-Jun-2019 18:20

Change the Battery, problem solved. That is the only way it will keep working during a power outage. I have seen a battery that was too hot to hold, it had expired and dried out, glad it got changed before it did something nasty.

Safety first. Protect your family, go and buy a new 12v 7.2Ah SLA Battery at Jaycar $42.90.

dangergadget

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2255570 10-Jun-2019 21:18

Thanks guys.

@petercad yes not the first time I've heard Micron talked about that way. In it's defense it might be close to 20 years old now so it's had a good innings anyway if we do replace it soon. If we did get an Arrowhead is is possible to keep the sensors and wiring and simply replace the box and control panel? I'd never thought of that.

@gb67 yes I have a new battery for it already and could put it in right now, but it's not quite problem solved. We would still have the anxiety of the unknown run period on battery in the long overnight powercut in the coming years time. 18 hours? 6 hours? 1 hour? The only way to know is wait for the ear piercing siren. So one problem solved but the main one remains.

petercad

113 posts

Master Geek

#2255575 10-Jun-2019 21:23

@dangergadget - Yep, a common thing to do, but if it's approaching 20 years old, the only thing I'd keep is the wiring, renew everything else

Can get a good deal at your local JA Russell or Radcliffes Electrical, depending where you are and what contacts you have, and they'll come with a couple of sensors, wiring, sirens, panel, keypad and programming guide as well

PM if you want specific info