It is an alarm to alert someone or something that the power is no longer working.
uses of power failure alarm
low cost
low cost
Power supplies don't fail. Idiot.
A home temperature alarm is useful in cold climates. If your heat is lost due to power failure, or furnace failure the alarm can alert you even if you are away form home so you can correct the issue before freezing can cause damage.
voltage drops on a weak battery can cause the alarm to trip. Whenever power is interrupted, even for a short time, the alarm will trigger. Sometimes not right away, but usually after the first drive after the power failure.
background/histor of lihgt alarm
figure it out
Use an intermediary relay that is specifically and only connected to a circuit from a two pole breaker in the distribution panel. Through the N.C. contact of the relay connect your DC alarm system. As long as the power is on the relay stays energized and the N.C. contacts stay open. If a power failure occurs the relay will drop out and close the N.C. contacts. This will close the circuit on the alarm system.
It would depend on the alarm, a steady alarm indicates an engine over heat. If the engine alarm is a series of beeps, this would indicate an oil pump / supply failure.
If in the cluster, it is the warning of a failure in the theft alarm / sentry key system.If on the rear, outside. It is a turn signal.If in the cluster, it is the warning of a failure in the theft alarm / sentry key system.If on the rear, outside. It is a turn signal.
Failure of safety critical systems can be catastrophic. like a fire alarm system in a building.