Why Does My Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F Show a Low Battery?

Your Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F shows a low battery because the unit is experiencing AC loss, or the battery is not receiving a proper charge or it is low on stored power. The IQ Hardwire 16-F cannot display AC loss. We advise connecting the backup battery before the unit's plug-in transformer.

The Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F is a wired to wireless converter for security systems that accept the 319.5 MHz wireless frequency, such as the 319.5 MHz Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus. Wired sensors are connected with the IQ Hardwire 16-F. The converter will then send wireless signals to the compatible alarm panel on behalf of the connected hardwired sensors. This allows the wired sensors to be used with an alarm system that otherwise wouldn't be able to support them. Up to 16 wired zones are available on the IQ Hardwire 16-F.

As the Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F is transmitting wireless signals, it requires electrical power. This power primarily comes from a plug-in transformer, but the unit also has a backup battery. The purpose of the backup battery is to keep the converter working in the event that there is a power outage, or if the plug-in transformer were to become unplugged. That way, the user can feel confident that their IQ Hardwire 16-F Wired to Wireless Converter will remain working in almost any situation. It could become a major security and/or life-safety risk if the IQ Hardwire 16-F Converter were to suddenly stop working. Please note that the included transformer used with the Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F is rated at 16VDC. A connecting wire also comes included. Remember to observe polarity when connecting the transformer. The wire with grey dashes on the included cable represents positive (+), and the wire without the grey dashes represents negative (-). You may also identify positive (+) as red, and negative (-) as black.

The Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F wants the user to be aware if the battery is low on power. That is why it will display a low battery condition if the battery needs to recharge, or if the battery is unable to store sufficient power and needs to be replaced. Remember that every battery has a limited useful life, which is typically three (3) to five (5) years. However, due to the design of the IQ Hardwire 16-F, a user may also find that removing the plug-in transformer that provides AC power may also cause a low battery condition to be displayed. For these users, they will likely find that removing AC power from the plug-in transformer causes the low battery condition to appear, and it then clears immediately upon restoring AC power. This has led to some confusion. Fortunately, this is normal behavior, and it does not mean that anything is wrong with your Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F Converter.

Alarm Grid has some basic steps to follow if you find that a wired to wireless converter module like the Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F has a low battery. First, make sure the plug-in transformer that provides primary AC power is properly connected and that its outlet is functioning correctly. The problem could be as simple as the transformer becoming unplugged accidentally, or maybe the outlet has been turned off at the circuit breaker. Second, make sure that the backup battery is properly connected. A disconnected or loose battery could easily be the culprit.

Third, keep in mind that it's possible that the backup battery is just low on power, and it needs time to recharge. This is often the case following an extended power outage, in which the unit relied on backup battery power for a long time. Try giving the backup battery some time to recharge with AC transformer power connected. Wait at least 24 hours. If the low battery condition does not clear, then you should replace the battery. This is most likely the situation if it has been at least three (3) to five (5) years since the last battery replacement. When you connect the new battery, give it 24 hours to charge with AC power connected, and make sure that the low battery condition clears. If a brand-new battery does not fix the problem, then you may want to try using a voltmeter to see if you can try troubleshooting the problem, or contact your monitoring provider for additional assistance. Alarm Grid customers may email us at support@alarmgrid.com if they are experiencing a low battery condition on a Qolsys IQ Hardwirie 16-F that they cannot clear even after replacing the battery. Remember that we can only provide this type of support for monitored customers of Alarm Grid. Our support hours run from 9am to 8pm ET M-F, so make sure to keep that in mind when contacting us.

There are also a few general tips you should keep in mind when using the Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F in particular. First, always remember to connect the backup battery before the plug-in transformer. This will prevent any false low battery conditions from occurring. Second, when using the Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F with a 319.5 MHz Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus or an original Qolsys IQ Panel 2, you should make sure that the system is on the latest available firmware version. More information on IQ Panel 2 Firmware is available here. Third, remember that a 4.5Ah to 5Ah battery is recommended, but you can use a larger 7Ah battery if needed. Make sure to consider the fact that a larger battery will take a longer time to charge if you are using one. Also note that if the plug-in transformer for the IQ Hardwire 16-F unit is connected using an extended, or extra long, wire, then it may take the battery a longer time than usual to charge. Additionally, if the connecting wire between the transformer and the converter is too long, then you may get a low battery condition resulting from AC power loss because insufficient electrical current is reaching the converter. It is recommended that you use the included wire that comes with the Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F to prevent this from happening.