If you run a Gent Xenex conventional panel, the 13270 series, the standby batteries are the one consumable you will replace on a schedule for the life of the system. This page tells you which Power-Sonic replacement battery matches each Xenex part number, based on what our product pages state, and covers the selection and safe-changeover points a competent person needs. It is a supply reference, not an installation manual: the panel commissioning and battery changeover procedure remain governed by the manufacturer's installation manual and the servicing regime in BS 5839-1.
Which Xenex panel takes which battery
Every 13270 panel is supplied less batteries: the standby cells are ordered separately. The table below maps each panel to the battery requirement printed on our own product page, and to the Power-Sonic flame-retardant SKU that our battery page names as the fit for that panel.
| Panel part no. | Panel | Battery requirement (as stated on our panel page) | Recommended replacement (our battery page) | Qty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13270-02LB | Xenex 2-zone conventional | "2 x 12 V, 2.1 Ah min"; battery supply "(sealed lead acid) 2-off 12V 2.1Ah - 3.4Ah" | 4015-502-YFR, Power Sonic 12V 2.1Ah Flame Retardant (page: "Used in Xenex 2&4 Zone panels…") | 2 |
| 13270-04LB | Xenex 4-zone conventional | "2 x 12 V, 2.1 Ah min" | 4015-502-YFR, Power Sonic 12V 2.1Ah Flame Retardant (page: "Used in Xenex 2&4 Zone panels…") | 2 |
| 13270-08LB | Xenex 8-zone conventional | "2 x 12 V, 3.4 Ah"; battery supply "2-off 12V 2.1Ah - 3.4Ah"; panel page cites spare battery code "4014-509-Y" | 4015-509-YFR, Power Sonic 12V 3.4Ah Flame Retardant (page: "Used in Xenex 8 zone…panels") | 2 |
Notes on the table, kept to what our pages actually say:
- All three panels take two 12 V batteries connected in series for a 24 V supply. The 2- and 4-zone panels specify 2.1 Ah minimum; the 8-zone specifies 3.4 Ah.
- The 2- and 4-zone panels take batteries from 2.1 Ah to 3.4 Ah each. The 3.4 Ah maximum is limited by the internal panel size.
- Our 4015-502-YFR and 4015-509-YFR batteries use F1 terminals.
Choosing a replacement battery (trade selection)
Three things decide a compliant standby battery for a conventional fire panel; only the first two are fixed by the panel itself:
- Voltage and configuration. Two 12 V cells connected in series for a 24 V supply. Do not substitute a single 24 V pack or mix cell types.
- Capacity (Ah) and standby time. The panel's Ah figure supports the standby-duration design practice in BS 5839-1, our panel pages state 72-hour standby followed by 30 minutes of alarm load for the 13270 range. Fitting a battery below the stated minimum (2.1 Ah on 2/4-zone, 3.4 Ah on 8-zone) shortens that standby window and can cause a power-supply fault flag; fitting the rated capacity restores the designed standby. Capacity falls as a lead-acid cell ages, which is why it is a scheduled replacement rather than a fit-and-forget part.
- Battery type and fire suitability. Our panel pages call for sealed lead-acid cells. We supply 4015-502-YFR and 4015-509-YFR as sealed lead-acid (SLA) batteries with flame-retardant (FR) cases.
Practical rule for the buyer: match the panel part number → Ah figure on the panel page → the Power-Sonic FR SKU our battery page pairs with it. Replace both cells as a matched pair from the same batch; never pair a new cell with an aged one on the same string.
Replacing the batteries: key points (not a procedure)
This is a competent-person task carried out under BS 5839-1 servicing. The panel manufacturer's installation manual is the controlling document for the actual sequence; the notes below are the supply-and-safety points that sit around it.
- Isolate first. Follow the manufacturer manual to place the panel in the correct state and remove mains before disconnecting cells. Do not work on a live charging circuit.
- Replace as a matched pair. Fit two new cells of the rated capacity from the same batch; do not re-use one old cell.
- Observe polarity and the inter-cell link. The two 12 V cells are connected in series for a 24 V supply; reconnect the inter-cell link and panel leads exactly as removed.
- Confirm terminal fit before you order. Our 4015-502-YFR and 4015-509-YFR batteries use F1 terminals.
- Date the cells and log the change against the service record so the next replacement interval is traceable.
- Recycle the old lead-acid cells through a licensed route.
- Do not treat this page as the changeover procedure, battery handling, disposal and re-commissioning follow the manufacturer manual and BS 5839-1.
Our 4015-502-YFR and 4015-509-YFR batteries have a five-year float service life.
FAQ
Are the 13270 panels supplied with batteries? No. All three panel pages state the panel is supplied less batteries: the two 12 V cells are ordered separately (see table).
Which battery does a Gent Xenex 4-zone (13270-04LB) take? Two 12 V, 2.1 Ah minimum sealed lead-acid cells per our panel page, the 4015-502-YFR 12 V 2.1 Ah Power-Sonic FR, whose page lists "Used in Xenex 2&4 Zone panels".
And the 8-zone (13270-08LB)? Two 12 V, 3.4 Ah cells, the 4015-509-YFR 12 V 3.4 Ah Power-Sonic FR, whose page lists "Used in Xenex 8 zone…panels".
How long will the panel run on standby? Our pages quote 72 hours standby followed by 30 minutes of alarm load on correctly rated, healthy batteries. That figure degrades as cells age, the reason for scheduled replacement.
Can I fit a higher-capacity battery for longer standby? The 2- and 4-zone panels take two 12 V batteries of 2.1–3.4 Ah each. The 3.4 Ah maximum is limited by the internal panel size.
What about the end-of-line resistor value, test mode or walk test? Sounder circuits use a 10 kΩ end-of-line resistor. Test mode A tests a zone without sounding the alarms; Test mode B gives two seconds of alarm.
