topic Re: Batteries Draining Rapidly in Nest Protect in Nest Protect

Batteries Draining Rapidly in Nest Protect

rgaila — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 21:11:33 GMT

Disclaimer: This thread was migrated from our previous version of the Google Nest Community. You can continue to receive updates on your thread issue here or simply ask, browse or more in the new Google Nest Community.

Original Poster: JBryan

Hello!

Somehow your the response to my initial post went to my junk mail back in March! That post has been locked, so starting a new one here. Bummer.

HISTORY

Bought 4 new Nest Protects in Jan/Feb from Costco. No problem with 3 but after only a month installed, 1 complained of low battery. After I did not receive a response to my initial post here (so I thought), I ordered a new set of Lithium batteries in late March 2021, assuming it was just a bad set of batteries that came with my unit and that maybe you did not want to replace the batteries for me.

With the new batteries, everything went well until early AM on August 18. This Nest Protect began chirping, telling it had low batteries. In the middle of the night, I could barely think straight so I just removed the batteries so we could sleep.

After looking at the app just now, I reinserted the batteries and it checks out OK. Based on previous experience in Feb/March, I assume it will determine these batteries are low again in the next couple days. At this point, I do NOT think the batteries were the problem but instead there is either a bad sensor on this Nest Protect OR this Nest Protect has some other problem causing it to drain lithium batteries VERY quickly. Maybe this unit is bad? I have owned another Nest Protect since 2016 without a single battery problem and it's still going strong. So what's the deal with this one?

I will also answer your questions here (from your previous response) and include pics.

Is your Nest Protect wired or battery-powered? Battery ONLY, NOT wired.

What happens when a Safety Check is run? (a screenshot is needed) Once I reinserted the batteries, the Safety Check went fine. Again, I do not expect this to last long. (See attached screenshot of Safety Check before batteries reinserted.)

What error messages (if any) does the Nest app show? History of Error Messages shows the battery flagged low starting at 12:17AM, again at 2:51AM and twice more at 4:39AM & 4:59AM, all on August 18. I removed the batteries at 4:59AM. (See attached.)

Has the Protect chirped? Yes, as described above telling us the batteries are low.

Please send us a photo of the batteries you’re currently using so we could take a closer look. Included a photo of the original set of batteries that came with the Nest Protect (at left) and the replacement set we purchased in late March (at right).

NEXT STEPS

Please advise. The biggest reason I moved to Nest was because of the low maintenance, hassle free promise. The first Nest Protect I purchased in 2016 delivered on that promise but this one has not.

Sincerely,

Jason

Re: Batteries Draining Rapidly in Nest Protect

Nikko — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 14:41:54 GMT

I have exactly the same problem with a Protect unit that was manufactured in 2015. What is the solution please?

Re: Batteries Draining Rapidly in Nest Protect

Simpleton — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 03:46:38 GMT

rgaila,

Are you able to address my issue? Who/how do I connect with about this?

Jason

Re: Batteries Draining Rapidly in Nest Protect

Simpleton — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 03:48:31 GMT

If yours was manufactured in 2015, then your battery lasted roughly 6 years before it failed, right? Mine was manufactured in 2020 (I believe). So failure within the first month of use and then again after 6 months with a new set of batteries is not the same issue, is it?

Re: Batteries Draining Rapidly in Nest Protect

Nikko — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 11:18:58 GMT

The issue is identical - I put new batteries into the unit and within a couple of weeks they are dead. The date of manufacture may be different but the cause could be the same. Over the air updates maybe. Hence I am asking for help from Google, not from you.

Re: Batteries Draining Rapidly in Nest Protect

BoiGrrlWonder — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 17:10:44 GMT

I too have this issue with one of my Nest protects. One I haven't needed to change the battery at all (with all settings on), the second I have to change every 2 months (night reminder and path light settings off). Replaced with same batteries it came with. Please help!!!

Re: Batteries Draining Rapidly in Nest Protect

Np489271 — Sun, 10 Oct 2021 14:59:16 GMT

Same problem here. From a search of the threads it looks like this is a common issue, and the threads keep getting locked with the suggestion to use Energizer Lithium (with zero indication that was not being used). I've replaced the Nest Protect batteries (using Energizer Ultimate Lithium) at least 3 times this year so far. I was not expecting $20 upkeep in batteries every 3 months with this. Is there a known problem and solution?

Re: Batteries Draining Rapidly in Nest Protect

Themikey — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 19:22:23 GMT

That's all I can find also. People are using the correct batteries and Google / Nest keeps locking threads. To me this means it's a known or uknown problem and they refuse to address it. Nest has become trash to me.

Re: Batteries Draining Rapidly in Nest Protect

MTaylo — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 17:32:25 GMT

Same issue for me. I have 2 Nest Protects for the past approx 4 years. 1 of them has just gone through 1 battery replacement. The other started draining batteries in about 2 to 3 months early this year. Now it is draining new sets in days.

Re: Batteries Draining Rapidly in Nest Protect

Donlei — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 09:22:51 GMT

I am having the same exact issue. I have used the proper batteries and one of my Nest Protects is chirping after just a few weeks. This is one I have had since 2016, was fine up until a few months ago when I changed the batteries for the first time after several years, and now this. Google, what is the issue??

Re: Batteries Draining Rapidly in Nest Protect

Anonymous — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 16:24:14 GMT

I do have the exact same issue with one out of four units purchased in 2019. It got so bad that I now have that unit on a permanent USB power supply, which seems to work.
That whole picky thing about batteries is bollocks; it really doesn't matter if I throw Energizer or Duracells at it, that unit drains them in no time (to test, I put new Duracells in one of the other units, which is still using them trouble free).
The Energizers are relatively hard to get in Europe.

Is there a definite explanation for this phenomenon? Because I find a lot about this issue, but no technical explanation or solution.... 🙄

Re: Batteries Draining Rapidly in Nest Protect

MTaylo — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 00:39:00 GMT

There is obviously a quality issue that is affecting some of these units that are 2 or 3 years old. I guess it's up to us if we want to buy a new replacement or move away from the Nest smoke detectors. I've chosen the latter.

They are too expensive to have this issue.

Re: Batteries Draining Rapidly in Nest Protect

Lysophobic — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 23:16:12 GMT

Same here. The batteries started draining a few months ago (around September of last year like a lot of people in this group). Never had a problem before that and mine was bought a little over two years ago, same as some of the responses here. Sounds like an update issue that is causing the batteries to drain. I'm also suspecting that the batteries are fine because I put new ones in yesterday that are showing up in the app as low today.

Re: Batteries Draining Rapidly in Nest Protect

jjm123 — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 15:32:52 GMT

I have the same issue I have 2 products and 1 is always stating low batteries. I'm fed up. Are their other "smart" smoke detectors?

Re: Batteries Draining Rapidly in Nest Protect

JJ24JJ — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 16:36:09 GMT

I have the same problem - was great for many years on the same set of batteries, now i have to change all the batteries EVERY month. it's so terrible (and expensive) that I have to stop using the smoke detector and look for another solution. maybe Google/Nest wants us to buy the wired model and not use the battery version.

Re: Batteries Draining Rapidly in Nest Protect

cgray0629 — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 01:58:24 GMT

Its absolutely so frustrating! It seems quite coincidental that soon after the last couple of updates, all of a sudden everyone is experiencing the same issue. Doesn't make sense...they figure most people will go out and buy a newer generation nest protect. BS, in my opinion.

Re: Batteries Draining Rapidly in Nest Protect

Sype — Sun, 13 Feb 2022 23:34:54 GMT

Hi,

did you get any news from Nest?

I have the same problem with my 2020 unit.

thanks for any follow up/ news you can provide.

Sype

Re: Batteries Draining Rapidly in Nest Protect

Ton2 — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 13:46:13 GMT

I'm having the same issue. 1 Protect (out of four) is lacking as well. The battery runs out within a month. 😞

Any news from Nest? I would like to fix the problem if I knew what is causes it.

Thanks for reporting this issue. Hope Next can fix it.

Ton

Re: Batteries Draining Rapidly in Nest Protect

JJ24JJ — Sun, 27 Feb 2022 17:23:50 GMT

same problem. i'd like to just replace with a wired version to avoid the battery problem all together. is there anyone from google support that can help with this? please contact me.

Re: Batteries Draining Rapidly in Nest Protect

CDHEN123 — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 18:14:17 GMT

My batteries are draining too requiring replacement every month. Google support - please share what you intend to do about this problem?