Keep security working when the power is out
Electric gates, garage doors, smart locks and alarms can fail or lock you out in a power cut. Plan a manual way for each.
How
- Find the manual release on electric garage doors and learn to use it (ReadyNH). Do the same for electric gates.
- If you usually enter through the garage, keep a house key with you.
- Keep a mechanical key or manual override for every electronic or smart lock and safe (secure-22).
- Alarm standby batteries last hours, not days. One UK Grade 2 alarm power supply gives 12 hours of backup; the Grade 3 version gives 30 hours.
- Put the alarm panel and its communication link on the critical loads circuit (safety-18 and the power module).
- Use flashlights rather than candles to move around; candles can cause fires (ReadyNH).
- Add this to the blackout drill: open doors and gates by hand, check every lock with keys only, and time the alarm battery (secure-23).
Do these first
Sources
- Power outages. ReadyNH, New Hampshire Department of Safety, accessed 2026-11
- Alarm power supply product report (BS EN 50131-6 Grade 2 and Grade 3). PSI Magazine (UK), accessed 2026-11