Applies to: All PLACE models (PL1AS, PL1K, PL1N, PL1G)
Power outages happen - storms, accidents, maintenance. When the lights go out, your PLACE device automatically switches to battery backup, keeping your essential safety protection running for at least 24 hours. No configuration needed, no buttons to press. It just works.
How Battery Backup Protects You
Your PLACE device runs on standard 120VAC household power under normal conditions, with two lithium AA batteries standing by as emergency backup. When AC power fails, the transition to battery power is automatic and immediate. You’ll notice the green LED turns off while the red LED continues its regular 15-second blink pattern - that’s how you know the device is running on battery backup.
During a power outage, all your essential safety detection continues without interruption and the device to device interconnection remains active. Smoke detection keeps monitoring (or heat detection in the Garage model). Carbon monoxide detection continues protecting you from this silent threat. If you have the Kitchen model, explosive gas detection stays active. The audio alarm horn will sound if there’s danger - though voice announcements like “Smoke detected” are disabled to preserve battery life, you’ll still hear the distinctive beep patterns that indicate the type of alarm. The device still measures temperature and humidity for internal calculations, but you won’t be able to see these readings in the app. You can still test the device manually using the test button.
What doesn’t work on battery power is anything requiring Wi-Fi or significant power consumption. The device can’t connect to the cloud, so you won’t see updates in your mobile app or receive push notifications. The camera and intercom stop working in Nursery and Garage models. VOC detection and air quality monitoring pause. Motion detection and the smart nightlight shut down to conserve battery power. If you rely on the white noise generator in the nursery, you’ll need an alternative during extended outages.
This prioritization makes sense - the battery backup focuses entirely on keeping you safe from life-threatening hazards like fire and carbon monoxide. Everything else can wait until power returns.
Understanding Battery Life and Maintenance
Your PLACE device uses two Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA (L91) batteries. This specific battery type matters - do not substitute with alkaline, rechargeable, or other branded batteries. The lithium batteries are designed to provide reliable emergency power and typically last 2+ years under normal conditions with occasional power outages.
You’ll know when batteries need replacing. The device gives you plenty of warning with an amber LED that blinks every 30-60 seconds, a single chirp sound, and a mobile app notification when the device is connected. Don’t ignore these warnings - replace the batteries immediately. Waiting for complete failure means losing your backup protection.
What You Need to Know About Battery Operation
PLACE devices are designed for continuous AC power, with batteries serving as emergency backup only. Running the device on batteries for extended periods drains them quickly - this isn’t a battery-powered device that happens to plug in, it’s an AC-powered device with battery backup for emergencies.
If you’re using a backup power system like a generator or inverter, be careful. PLACE devices are only compatible with true sine wave or pure sine wave inverters. UPS systems, square wave inverters, and quasi sine wave inverters will damage the device. If you’re unsure what type of inverter you have, check with the manufacturer before connecting your PLACE device.
The Garage model deserves special mention. It operates in extreme temperatures from -40°F to 135°F, and very cold conditions can affect battery performance. If you’re experiencing battery issues in a garage that gets extremely cold, this might be why - it’s a characteristic of all lithium batteries, not a defect.
Internet Outages vs. Power Outages
Here’s an important distinction that sometimes confuses people: internet outages and power outages are different situations with different impacts.
If your internet goes out but you still have AC power, all your safety detection and alarm functions continue working normally. You just won’t be able to check status in the mobile app or receive push notifications until internet service returns. The device keeps doing its job locally.
If AC power fails and the device switches to battery backup, cloud connectivity is completely disabled regardless of whether internet service is available. The device conserves battery power by shutting down the Wi-Fi radio and focusing entirely on local safety detection. You won’t get app notifications or remote monitoring until both AC power and Wi-Fi are restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I run my PLACE device on batteries full-time? A: No, batteries are emergency backup only. The device requires AC power for normal operation and full functionality.
Q: How do I know if my batteries are good? A: The system constantly monitors battery health and will alert you proactively when batteries need replacement (amber LED, chirp sound, app notification).
Q: What happens during extended power outages? A: Your device continues essential safety detection for at least 24 hours. After batteries deplete, all protection stops until AC power returns. For longer outages, consider a true sine wave generator backup.
Q: Can I use rechargeable batteries? A: No, use only Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA (L91) batteries. Other battery types or brands may not provide adequate backup power or could damage the device.
Q: Will my device work during internet outages? A: Yes, all safety detection and alarm functions continue without internet when you have AC power. On battery power, the device disables cloud connectivity to conserve power, but local safety detection continues.
Q: How long does it take to switch to battery power? A: The transition is automatic and immediate when AC power fails. There’s no interruption in safety monitoring.
Q: Why don’t I hear voice announcements during alarms on battery power? A: Voice announcements like “Smoke detected” are disabled during battery operation to preserve battery life. You’ll still hear the audio alarm horn with its distinctive beep patterns (3 beeps for smoke, 4 for CO, etc.) that indicate the type of alarm.
Q: Do I need to do anything special to prepare the battery backup? A: Just make sure you have fresh batteries installed. The automatic switchover takes care of everything else.
Need more help? Contact PLACE Support at 1-833-707-5223 or visit www.placehomesolutions.com
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