Does SimpliSafe Work If the Power Goes Out?

My parents live in a place where the power goes out a lot, so they asked me to do some research to find out if SimpliSafe will still work when their power goes out.  

SimpliSafe will work for up to 24 hours if the power goes out because most of its products operate using batteries. The base station plugs into an outlet for power, but it has rechargeable batteries that automatically start working in the event of a power outage. 

An effective home security system needs to work even if the power goes out. Otherwise, your home would become vulnerable to intruders. To help, I have provided information about how SimpliSafe operates if the power goes out.

SimpliSafe Works in a Power Outage

SimpliSafe’s keypad, sensors, and most other devices are battery-operated. They come with batteries already installed, and for most products, the batteries can be replaced easily when needed. These products will continue to function normally during a power outage.

The base station plugs into the wall, but it is equipped with four rechargeable lithium batteries for backup power. If your power goes out, the base station will automatically switch to using the batteries for power.

These rechargeable batteries last up to 24 hours. When the power returns, the base station will automatically switch back to using electricity and will recharge the backup batteries.

Longer Power Outages

If a power outage lasts longer than 24 hours, the base station may lose power. When the base station loses power, SimpliSafe will not function. If your system was armed when the base station loses power, it will no longer be armed. None of the system components will function if they cannot communicate with the base station. 

If power outages are common in your area, I recommend purchasing additional rechargeable AA batteries.

If a power outage lasts more than a few hours, and your base station’s batteries die, you can replace them with new rechargeable batteries and continue to use your SimpliSafe system.

Additional Products

SimpliSafe offers two additional products which need to be plugged into a power source to operate: SimpliCam and Video Doorbell Pro.

SimpliCam plugs into your wall using a USB to AC adapter (wall plug). Therefore, if the power goes out, SimpliCam will stop working. To use SimpliCam during a power outage, you can plug it into an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS). The length of time this power supply will last varies depending on the product.

SimpliSafe’s Video Doorbell Pro is installed using your old doorbell’s wires which connect to a home or building’s electricity. The doorbell will not work if the power goes out.

WiFi Connection

If the power goes out, that means that WiFi will go out too. But, don’t worry! SimpliSafe uses a cellular network to communicate between products, so your system will continue to function if the WiFi goes out. 

You can connect your SimpliSafe system to WiFi, but this is optional for all products except the SimpliCam and Video Doorbell Pro. If your WiFi turns off for any reason, the SimpliCam and Video Doorbell Pro will not work. 

Battery-Operated Devices

It may be a good idea to keep spare batteries for all your SimpliSafe products in your home. This way if a battery dies, you can replace it immediately to avoid any lapses in protection. 

Click this link for videos on how to change the batteries in your various SimpliSafe devices. If you have the older Original SimpliSafe system, click here for directions on how to change the batteries.  

The table below provides detailed information about all of SimpliSafe’s battery-operated products.

Product:	Batteries:	Comments:
Base Station	4 AA NiMH Rechargeable 1.2V	Can last up to 5 years. Should not be replaced with non-rechargeable batteries.
Keypad	4 AA Alkaline	Lasts up to 1 year.
Smart Lock	4 AA Alkaline	Lasts up to 1 year.
105dB Extra Siren	4 AA Alkaline	Lasts up to 1 year.
Entry Sensor	1 CR2032 Lithium 3V	Lasts up to 10 years.
Motion Sensor	1 CR2032 Lithium 3V	Lasts up to 5 years.
Glassbreak Sensor	1 CR2032 Lithium 3V	Lasts up to 5 years.
Freeze Sensor	1 CR2032 Lithium 3V	Lasts up to 5 years.
Water Sensor	1 CR2032 Lithium 3V	Lasts up to 5 years.
Panic Button	1 CR2032 Lithium 3V	Lasts up to 5 years.
Key Fob	1 CR2032 Lithium 3V	Lasts up to 5 years.Cannot be replaced. Contact SimpliSafe customer service if your key fob battery dies.
Smoke Detector	1 CR123A Lithium 3V	Lasts up to 5 years.
Carbon Monoxide Detector	3 Energizer AA Ultimate Lithium 1.5V	Lasts up to 5 years. Can be purchased online, but SimpliSafe will also send you replacements for free.

If you have the Original SimpliSafe, your devices use different batteries. Click here to view the batteries that are required for the Original SimpliSafe products.