On 21 October 2020 I installed new batteries in my four Schlage locks
Today, one of them had dead batteries so just under four months

But what concerns me is that I use the ISY to monitor the reported battery levels.

On 31 December 2020 it reported 99%
08 January 2021 it reported 98%
08 February 2021 it Reported 98%

but then on 09 February 2021 it reported 0%

Today, I confirmed the batteries were dead.

 

Am I being unreasonable to expect better battery level reporting so I can prevent a dead battery?

Thanks,
Bill

The isy generally reports what it's being told. What kind of batteries are you using? Did your lock show signs of batteries wearing down such as built in alerts, slow motor, etc?

The reason I ask, is that there are things built into the lock to let you know the battery is going bad. If the lock didn't show any of those low battery symptoms, then the battery drained suddenly before the Isy or the unit itself could warn you of impending failure. 

Edited February 12, 20214 yr by lilyoyo1

The locks do not display 100% of usable life. It’s 100% of total voltage. For example 4 AA Batteries in series will register 100% until voltage is less than 6 volts. At 90% the voltage is 5.4 V. The usable voltage is somewhere around 60% for me and then it’s too low to move the bolt. But you’ll notice it slowing near the end. I have program the tells me below 65% and I replace rather than get a failure.

Good Alkaline batteries have a linear drop off. Lithium batteries go from hero to zero very rapidly but have a longer overall life. In other words they fail before you can be warned sometimes.

10 hours ago, lilyoyo1 said:

The isy generally reports what it's being told. What kind of batteries are you using? Did your lock show signs of batteries wearing down such as built in alerts, slow motor, etc?

The reason I ask, is that there are things built into the lock to let you know the battery is going bad. If the lock didn't show any of those low battery symptoms, then the battery drained suddenly before the Isy or the unit itself could warn you of impending failure. 

New Duracell Coppertop Alkaline were installed.

10 hours ago, hart2hart said:

The locks do not display 100% of usable life. It’s 100% of total voltage. For example 4 AA Batteries in series will register 100% until voltage is less than 6 volts. At 90% the voltage is 5.4 V. The usable voltage is somewhere around 60% for me and then it’s too low to move the bolt. But you’ll notice it slowing near the end. I have program the tells me below 65% and I replace rather than get a failure.

Good Alkaline batteries have a linear drop off. Lithium batteries go from hero to zero very rapidly but have a longer overall life. In other words they fail before you can be warned sometimes.

This was my understanding which is why I am concerned I went from 98% to 0%.

 

The other three locks, batteries also installed in October currently report:

100% - Front Lock (Just installed the new batteries)
97% - Garage Lock
98% - Basement Lock
96% - Shed Lock

I can understand the shed being lowest as that is the most exposed to Cold being unheated.
The front is the next most exposed to cold but behind a storm door and heated on the inside.

The other two are actually more protected.

51 minutes ago, WFP said:

This was my understanding which is why I am concerned I went from 98% to 0%.

 

The other three locks, batteries also installed in October currently report:

100% - Front Lock (Just installed the new batteries)
97% - Garage Lock
98% - Basement Lock
96% - Shed Lock

I can understand the shed being lowest as that is the most exposed to Cold being unheated.
The front is the next most exposed to cold but behind a storm door and heated on the inside.

The other two are actually more protected.

Did your lock give any indication of battery dying before hand?

This was my understanding which is why I am concerned I went from 98% to 0%.
 
The other three locks, batteries also installed in October currently report:
100% - Front Lock (Just installed the new batteries)
97% - Garage Lock
98% - Basement Lock
96% - Shed Lock
I can understand the shed being lowest as that is the most exposed to Cold being unheated.
The front is the next most exposed to cold but behind a storm door and heated on the inside.
The other two are actually more protected.

Sorry to repeat a bunch of stuff you were already aware of. I think they’re like mine and the batteries are inside - right so don’t think temp would be a factor. Do you still have the 4 batteries so you could test sit a multimeter ? I’ve had one of four go bad suddenly and since they are in series they fail instantly. It wasn’t a lock but same principle.

Of course it could be a bad lock. There were a few settings that impacted battery life but nothing like you describe.

55 minutes ago, lilyoyo1 said:

Did your lock give any indication of battery dying before hand?

Unfortunately, we don't regularly use the front door ourselves so did not notice the three "Red-X" alert.

21 minutes ago, hart2hart said:

Sorry to repeat a bunch of stuff you were already aware of. I think they’re like mine and the batteries are inside - right so don’t think temp would be a factor. Do you still have the 4 batteries so you could test sit a multimeter ? I’ve had one of four go bad suddenly and since they are in series they fail instantly. It wasn’t a lock but same principle.

Of course it could be a bad lock. There were a few settings that impacted battery life but nothing like you describe.

Good call on checking each battery...unfortunately, I threw them in my Battery Recycling tub...If there are only four AAs in there then I think I can check.