Risco Fault — Mains Power Failure

What Does This Error Mean?

A Power Fault on your Risco alarm panel means mains electricity to the panel has been lost. The system has switched to its internal backup battery. Your alarm remains active but will only last as long as the battery holds — typically 8–12 hours.

Affected Models

Risco LightSYS
Risco LightSYS Plus
Risco ProSYS Plus
Risco WisDom
Risco Agility

Common Causes

Mains power cut affecting your property or street
Circuit breaker for the alarm's dedicated circuit has tripped
Fuse in the alarm's power supply has blown
Wiring from the mains connection to the panel has been damaged

How to Fix It

Confirm whether you have a general power cut

Check lights and sockets. If everything is off, the power cut is external — wait for it to be restored.
Check the circuit breaker

Go to your consumer unit/fuse board and look for a tripped breaker labelled 'Alarm', 'Intruder', or 'Security'. Reset it if tripped.
Silence the keypad beeping

Enter your user code and press Disarm to acknowledge the fault and silence the audible alert. The fault condition will remain displayed but the beeping stops.
Monitor battery level

If the power cut is prolonged, watch for a low battery warning on the keypad. If battery drops to critical, your alarm may no longer be fully operational.

When to Call a Professional

If the fault persists after mains power is restored to the rest of your property.

Risco Power Fault

When your Risco alarm keypad shows a Power Fault (sometimes displayed as “AC Fail” or shown by a power icon), the panel has lost its mains electricity connection and is running on backup battery.

Immediate Priority: How Long Does the Battery Last?

Risco alarm panels run on a sealed lead-acid backup battery. A healthy battery in standby mode lasts 8–12 hours. However, if the battery is old or if the alarm is actively triggering (sirens running), this will drain much faster.

After Power Is Restored

The panel should automatically detect mains power returning and switch back to mains supply. The fault indicator will clear. If it does not, the panel’s internal power supply or transformer may have failed — contact your alarm installer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the Risco alarm siren still sound if power is off?

Yes — the panel runs on backup battery and all detection and alarm functions continue. The siren will still activate if a zone is triggered.

How long does a Risco panel run on battery backup?

A healthy battery typically provides 8–12 hours of standby. A battery more than 3–4 years old may provide significantly less.