Brian H

If you are using a 2413S PLM and it is over two years old. It may have failed. In the Tools; Diagnostics Tab; PLM Info Status see if it is connected or in the safe mode. Also if the Link Database is empty that is another sign of a failed PLM.

I saw this on the Smarthome Forums. Near the end of the thread. A user found a fix for a back light that is out. Seems a current limiting resistor burns out and the backlight goes out. http://forum.smarthome.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12859

Before the ACT Solutions web site went down. The AF120 was on the "We still have some in inventory" list. When gone that is it. The great Uncle Phil's X10/A10 troubleshooting tutorials are also long gone.

Is there any known power line signal suckers or noise makers on the lines feeding the problem areas? Like Computer power supplies, UPS unit and small battery chargers to name a few. RF range can be effected by things like walls and metal between the two devices using RF. Insteon indicates 150' but with a no obstructions side note. Smarthome does sell a Dual Band Insteon Range Extender . Not sure if it would do anything i the top floor of the home. http://www.smarthome.com/insteon-2992-222-range-extender.html

The 2413S PLM does not supply any power through the RJ45 serial jack like the older 2412S did. So the external supply has to be used with a 2413S

The 2412S supplies unregulated 12 volts DC [closer to 18 volts DC] to the ISY controller. I believe the external power supply is 5 volts. Not 100% sure here but I believe the PLM supply and external supply go through a diode on their input. In that case the unregulated 12 volts from the PLM would back bias the diode for the external supply. To prevent a back feed into the external supply from the PLMs 12 volts. So it probably would do nothing.

The 2412S has a completely different power supply in it and the 2413S capacitor fix does not apply. It uses an older style AC Power Transformer power supply. I bought my latest 2413S from Amazon awhile back. Hardware 2.1 firmware 9E that I believe is still the latest.

The latest PLMs. Seem to have an RF issue with the RemoteLinc and RemoteLinc2. Try and get as far away from the PLM as possible. So another Dual Band module processes it when trying to add it back. My Remotelinc would not add back when it was close to the PLM but was added with no issues. When it was at the other end of the house near a Access Point.

Two of the capacitors from DigiKey may not last as long as the ones Smartlabs used or the replacements from Mouser. All of the originals and Mouser ones are 105C capacitors. Some of the DigiKey ones are 85C and will not last as long as a 105C one in the same circuit. As life is exponentially longer for each 10C below its maximum rating. The 10uf/50V and 10uf/16V are 85C capacitors. The two 10uf/50V [C7&C13] are in the 12 volt switching power supply and should be a Low Impedance or Low ESR rated capacitor. For use in switching power supplies. The original 10uf/35V ones used by Smartlabs where the not low impedance or ESR ones. The Fujucon RK is a general purpose cap. In the V2.1 I have C7 and C13 are now Fujicon RK 100uf/35V. The other three are still 100uf/25V,6.8uf/250V and 10uf/16V.

I have not see anything like that. There were a few of the older HUB modified to add the serial daughter board but it was in place of the original network board. Smatlabs is very secretive on new products until ready to sell them. So could be in the works. Teken found a few new PLMs listed in the drop down list of devices in the ISY firmware.

I have not been in a manufacturing environment in a long time. I vaguely remember some flux as being called No Clean.

Larry, If it is a 1.0 there was rework on the board. As they had to add the second 10uf/35 volt cap and small coil between the caps. So they are hanging off the main board and a fly wire to the back of the board. Would take more skill to replace the caps in it. Though someone has reported doing it in the PLM repair thread. The newer 1.5 has the artwork updated and all the capacitors we are talking about are now on the board and no parts hanging up unto the air.

All five of the caps we changed are through hole electrolytic type. No surface mounts involved. C7 and C13 the two 10uf/35 volt ones in the unregulated 12 volt supply. That I suspect. As mine had a less than 7 volt reading on the unregulated 12 volts that is more like 18 volts when running properly. It is a small switcher and the C7 and C13 where not rated for low ESR and switching supplies. The other three where also changed as a precaution. Six page thread on the 2413S PLM failures here. http://forum.universal-devices.com/topic/13866-repair-of-2413s-plm-when-the-power-supply-fails/ I have also had two 2443 Hardware 2.? Access Points fail also. They use the same base 2413 PLM board. With no serial daughter board. I replaced the five caps and both are now 100% functional again. Their 12 volts where also around 7 or less volts. Too low for the small 5 volt logic supply regulator to work.

Well if your last 2413S was a hardware 2.0 or above. It should have the updated capacitors in it and hopefully last longer. Only time will tell if the new capacitors corrected the issues.

UDI has developed their own PLM. Sticking point right now. SmartLabs is stalling on providing the promised Insteon power line and RF controller chips.

Well I missed that page in the manual. Thanks for waking me up.

Well the sales page points out a Dual Color Status LED but does not go into much detail. The Users and Quick Start Manuals are also very outdated on the sales site. So they are no help. Your observations sound logical.

New feature Diagnostic Indicator? I wounder if UDI was even told of this update and if the modules new feature will need changes in the ISY994i firmware?

You will find the same differences in RF frequencies for different locations in the world. Like Insteon RF and X10 RF frequencies are different for other locations of the world. That is one thing to remember if trying to use a device from another country with some modules for your country.

The V1.0 hardware needed the jumper wire, coil and capacitors hanging off the PCB. For better power supply operation. The revised art work PCB has the same components now mounted on the PCB with no fly wires or hanging parts. Check the specifications of the 2x 10uf 50 volt caps. I did not see them rated as having a low ESR to be used in a switching power supply. I did get the specification sheet for the cap and will give it a better look. Repair looks good in your photo. Not as easy to repair one with the rework from the factory as the PCB with all the components soldered onto the board.

The Sensor On LED is on the input not logic side. I can pull the Sensor Input low enough to have the LED light but not low enough to trigger the Sensor Input to trigger an On. 0.7 volts is around the unknown zone.

The 2443 Is an Insteon device. Used to couple the two incoming power lines and receive Insteon RF messages from Insteon RF only devices. It was used mostly before Dual Band was added to most present Insteon modules. It is now replaced by the 2992-222 Range Extender. You can leave them installed as they will add tot the Dual Band mesh. I have a pair in use myself. Though almost of my Insteon modules are the original I1 devices and I need the coupling in my system.

I have also seen different hardware revision Insteon Modules have a different default state. 2456S3 ApplianceLincs. Early and latest revisions defaulted to state they where in at power loss. Two hardware revisions 4.1 and 4.15 if memory serves me. Defaulted to Off even if it was On at power loss.

There are clamp on current sensors that can trigger an I/OLInc also. As shown in this thread. http://cocoontech.com/forums/topic/11423-how-to-monitor-the-status-of-your-washerdryerfurnace/

This one is also a Form C. So it has both a NC and NO contact to choose from. aartech.ca $19.95 CAD https://www.aartech.ca/odc-59b-amseco-garage-door-magnetic-contact-form-c.html