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Battery Light Red/Fault

David_W
Rising Star
Posts: 2,305
Thanks: 32
Registered: ‎19-07-2007

Battery Light Red/Fault

I have no idea why, but the battery pack which is plugged into the ONT shows a red light under Fault, Google suggests you need to change the batteries which doesn't seem right, it's not exactly old enough to wear the rechargeable batteries out.  I know the battery is really just for the ability to use a phone line in case of power outage where you use a Fibre phone, so can I just ignore it?
7 REPLIES 7
SpendLessTime
Hero
Posts: 3,000
Thanks: 892
Fixes: 86
Registered: ‎21-09-2009

Re: Battery Light Red/Fault

I know this might sound stupid but has the lead from the mains adaptor plug become loose at either the mains socket or the battery pack so giving an intermittent connection?
If not, I would log a fault as I have no idea of which type of batteries are in the pack and some of the chemicals involved in rechargeable batteries can become unstable under fault conditions.
I would also directly connect the  mains adaptor to the ONT while waiting for the battery pack to be sorted out. It is only a requirement for people who have FVA (Fibre Voice Access aka phone via the fibre) which is a BT Retail only product.
Ex - Plusnet Customer (2009 - 2023) now with BT
jim1985
Grafter
Posts: 35
Thanks: 2
Registered: ‎28-04-2015

Re: Battery Light Red/Fault

FWIW, the backup battery also keeps the data connection alive during a power outage, not just the FVA side of things.

I have had a couple of power outages since having FTTP installed and I can confirm 100% that my Internet access did not go down during the power outage
beeceegee
Pro
Posts: 625
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Fixes: 4
Registered: ‎27-11-2012

Re: Battery Light Red/Fault

Quote from: jim1985
FWIW, the backup battery also keeps the data connection alive during a power outage, not just the FVA side of things.

It's not supposed to keep the data connection alive, just the FVA (as per the ONT manual!) but it seems to for most people. When first installed we had big problems and initially suspected the battery backup so with the engineer's blessing we bypassed it and ran the ONT straight into my own UPS. Opening the battery unit revealed just a few rechargeable AAs, as I recall. At the moment the unit is back in the loop, but any problems I will take it out altogether again.
RobPN
Seasoned Hero
Posts: 5,236
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Registered: ‎17-05-2013

Re: Battery Light Red/Fault

Quote
.... Opening the battery unit revealed just a few rechargeable AAs, as I recall. ...

I just checked mine which is sat on a shelf still in its box.  It's an ECI type and the box contains 4 x AA NiMh cells.  The battery cover is removed by sliding the left portion of the front cover to the left.
Photo for comparison:
David_W
Rising Star
Posts: 2,305
Thanks: 32
Registered: ‎19-07-2007

Re: Battery Light Red/Fault

Mine is all plugged in properly, no lose connections.  I'm pretty sure that if there were a lose connection my Fibre would keep going down as the battery pack holds the power for the ONT.  Being less than a year old, I can't imagine the batteries are worn out, and yeah, as said, if we have a power cut it'll kill power to the ONT which may not be a "good thing".  Still got no idea if it's okay to Ignore or if a replacement should be sent out?  Though as it's BT gear would it need an engineer, that'll be interesting.
RobPN
Seasoned Hero
Posts: 5,236
Thanks: 2,758
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Registered: ‎17-05-2013

Re: Battery Light Red/Fault

I don't know about you, but I know what I'd do.  Assuming your unit is loaded with AA cells, I'd swap them for a known good set just to find out whether that solved the problem.  If so, being in possession of an 'intelligent' battery charger/analyser, out of curiosity I'd then test the removed cells.  Smiley
beeceegee
Pro
Posts: 625
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Registered: ‎27-11-2012

Re: Battery Light Red/Fault

Quote from: RobPN
Photo for comparison:

different one here...