Elk M1G still Low Battery after Replacing

[eccoleman]

I found a few threads already on this topic, but none of the situations matched mine, so I thought I would throw this out there to see if anyone can help:
 
After running a few years solid, my Elk battery began to give Low Battery warnings.  No sweat, so I ordered and just received a brand-new Elk 8Ah battery (original Elk brand, date code '121125').  I took out the old battery, voltage across the terminals was 10.5V so definitely shot.  I measured the new battery at 12.85V.  I installed the new battery and power-cycled the system, but Low Battery warning didn't go away.  Waited about 5 days thinking it might need to be charged a bit, yet it still shows Low Battery.
 
I re-measured the voltage at the battery terminals-- disconnected it was still 12.85V.  Voltage from the Elk battery leads is 12.30V with AC to the unit.  Same 12.30V is measured across the battery terminals when connected to the Elk.  I ran the 30 second battery test, and it hovered around 11.2V at 0.28mA.  After about 30 seconds the keypad displayed 14.1V at 0.25mA.  As a suggestion from the other threads, I checked the incoming power supply and it is a steady 19VAC.  
 
I suppose the 11.2V battery test reading explains the Low Battery warning, but why so low with a new battery?  Why is the voltage lower than the battery's?  And doesn't 12.85V seem a bit low for a brand-new battery?  Shouldn't it be closer to 13.5 or 14V? The Elk M1 itself works just fine in normal day-to-day use, I just can't get rid of the Low Battery warning.
 
Thanks much!
 
Erik Coleman
 

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

I think something is wrong with your charge voltage.  Just measured mine and it is 13.8 volts DC at the battery and input to the Elk is around 19 volts AC.
 
Sounds like a phone call to Elk is warranted as you already replaced the battery.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

My Elk ran fine for 5+ years on the original battery until I had lost power for a number of hours which deep discharged the battery. I had a low battery indication for several days after power was restored. I noticed the battery was getting hot to the touch. I suspect the deep discharge damaged the battery and picked up a replacement battery from Home Depot which solved the problem. I wonder of you got a bad battery or it was damaged during shipment? Check the date of manufacturer on you new battery. Also I think I had to power cycle my Elk to be rid of the low battery message.

 

[gatchel]

A lead acid battery is usually 2.1 volts per cell when fully charged (12.6 volts). Some say 2.15 vpc which would be 12.9 volts. 12.85 volts would be perfect for a new battery that is freshly charged and has been at rest off of a charger for a bit of time. Your new battery probably isn't bad. You would have to test it will a battery tester or put a load on the battery an measure the voltage under a small load. (2 -4 amps). I usually use a combination of automotive lights to test batteries depending on their capacity.

 

[Big517]

Just in case; You don't have any devices running off the panel that are shorted/violated do you? I had same problem after a beam device was tripped for a day. I thought the weather caused it to get out of line from receiver since elk said it was voilated. Turns out it was shorted and somehow discharged my battery. Wouldn't expect that on a violated zone. Weather was below freezing all week so i didnt go out to try and fix it.
I ended up getting over current errors after the low battery.

 

[eccoleman]

I did test the board once more with all zones disconnected and the charge voltage was still 12.3V.  So I took the suggestion of contacting Elk, and they definitely said the low charge voltage was a problem and to send it in.  
 
Off it went, and $50 later they told me a component near the power input had overheated and melted off the board, presumably due to excess current draw.  I'm not sure if it was due to a lightning strike that had occurred a few months back, but that incident had taken out a nearby DSL modem and wireless router (despite everything being on a surge suppressor).  The good news is they were able to replace the component and said everything tested normally now, so the board is on its way back!  I'll hopefully have it re-installed by the end of the week!
 
Thanks everyone for all the advice!