Battery charge levels for shipped Alarm.com battery-powered video devices
Alarm.com battery-powered video devices are expected to ship at less than 100% of their maximum charge capacity for safety and long-term battery health.
Summary of expectations
- Devices ship at >50% charge from the factory
- Actual received charge may be lower due to normal lithium-ion self-discharge
- Installation can typically proceed without pre-charging
- If the battery is below 20%, charge the device before installing
Relevant video devices
- ADC-V731B
- For more information on this device, see 4MP Indoor/Outdoor Battery Camera with Two-Way Audio and Integrated Spotlight (ADC-V731B).
What percentage should I expect?
Devices leave the manufacturing facility at greater than 50% state of charge. Typically, they will leave with around a 70% state of charge at the time of shipping. However, the charge level a dealer or customer observes upon receiving the device may be lower than that due to self-discharge, which is a normal characteristic of all lithium-ion batteries.
About self-discharge:
- All lithium-ion batteries slowly lose charge over time even when the device is powered off. This is called self-discharge and is a normal electrochemical process — it is not a defect.
- The time between manufacturing, warehousing, shipping, and final delivery to the installation site can span several weeks to a few months. During this window, self-discharge will gradually reduce the initial charge.
- The discharge rate is less than 0.5% per month. Therefore, it is expected that the battery packs will retain most of their charge upon delivery.
Why are batteries not shipped at 100%?
Alarm.com battery-powered video devices are intentionally not shipped at a full 100% charge. There are two primary reasons:
- Transport Safety & Regulatory Compliance — Lithium-ion batteries are classified as dangerous goods for transportation. International shipping regulations (IATA/UN 38.3) recommend or require that lithium-ion cells be shipped below a full state of charge to reduce the risk of thermal events during transit. Shipping at a partial charge is an industry-standard safety practice.
- Battery Longevity — Lithium-ion cells experience accelerated calendar aging when stored at very high states of charge. Storing and shipping batteries at a moderate charge level, rather than 100%, helps preserve long-term battery health and capacity. This is the same reason consumer electronics manufacturers and EV makers follow similar practices.
Will I need to charge the device before installation?
In most cases, no. The devices typically ship with enough charge to complete a standard installation, including initial setup, Wi-Fi pairing, and firmware updates.
Important: If the status LED indicates 20% state of charge or lower upon unboxing (i.e., the status LED is solid blue while it is not charging), it is recommended to charge the device before beginning installation to help ensure the process is completed without interruption. It is always advised to fully charge the battery immediately after installation.
If the battery is below 10%, you will not be able to begin installation until the charge level is above 10%.