12V Alarm & Standby Batteries

A 12V sealed lead acid (SLA) or valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) battery is the standard standby power source for fire alarm control panels, intruder alarm panels, access control power supplies and emergency systems. This collection brings together 12V standby batteries in a wide range of capacities, from small 1.2Ah units for compact intruder panels up to large industrial blocks for voice alarm and emergency power supplies.

Leading brands in the range include Yuasa (NP, Yuvolt, REC and Yucel series) and Power Sonic, alongside Casil, Edwards, Honeywell, Ziton and Advanced. Many models are available in flame retardant versions, and some carry VdS-marked specifications.

How to choose a 12V alarm battery

Start with the manufacturer's panel or power supply documentation, which states the battery capacity and size the cabinet will accept. Check three things before ordering:

• Capacity (Ah): this must meet your standby calculation. For fire systems, BS 5839-1 requires the batteries to support the quiescent load for the standby period and then the alarm load, with allowance for battery ageing.
• Terminal type: F1 (4.8mm) and F2 (6.3mm) faston tabs are the most common on smaller batteries, while larger units use bolt or M5 terminals.
• Dimensions: the battery must physically fit the panel enclosure.

Where a panel needs 24V, two 12V batteries are wired in series, so use matching batteries of the same age and capacity.

Replacement

Standby batteries lose capacity over time, so they should be tested at routine service visits and replaced at the interval recommended by the battery and panel manufacturers. See also our wider batteries range, or browse fire alarm panels and intruder alarm panels and kits.