New BRK 7020BSLA or 7030BSLA End Of Life Trouble Beeps

New BRK 7020BSLA or 7030BSLA End Of Life Trouble Beeps

If you install a brand new 7020BSLA or 7030BSLA smoke detector, and hear trouble beeps shortly after being powered up via mains electricity (typically, this is 5 sharp 'chirps' or 'beeping 5 times' along with a flashing green LED), check the following.

To prevent these units from constantly discharging and draining their sealed battery while new in the packaging, BRK/First Alert have installed a small switch on the back of the unit on the top which needs to be turned "ON" before being powered up.  This switch prevents the battery draining prior to installation since the battery is sealed permanently inside the unit. 

Before you install the unit, you will need to slide this switch to the right, which is known as the 'installation position'.

If you do not move the switch to the correct position, the your detector will emit an end of life sequence of beeps as the unit will 'activate' without the battery being engaged. This can be fixed by  removing power, toggling the switch to the correct position, then re-applying power.

If you are still having trouble please contact support for further guidance.  You can reach BRK / First Alert Support at 1-800-323-9005

Let us know if we can assist further!

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