How to determine if PLM 2413S is working or not?

[taterb]

I just got a new (V2.0) PLM in to replace my failed old one and it is acting the same as the old one. when I followed the UD procedure to replace the PLM it failed and now the console is giving errors XML parse errors and such. 

 

With no ISY connection: and I don't get any LED activity on the PLM when I plug it in and when I tried the reset to factory procedure, still nothing. I tried the procedure to use a phase Bridge and still no indication of life. 

 

Is this a good test or is there a better indication? 

 

I had this express shipped from Amazon to me because my system is dead and has been dead 4 days so far. Do I have to do an RMA and ship it back and wait longer to get a replacement?

 

 

[Techman]

There should be a green led on the PLM when you plug it in, if not then either you don't have power to the receptacle or the PLM is defective. 

[LeeG]

It is unlikely that two PLMs have failed.  First, remove power from ISY and PLM.  Plug in PLM, wait 30 seconds and plug in ISY.  It is most important for the ISY to be unpowered until PLM has come up.

 

Does the Admin Console start now?

 

Check cable between ISY and PLM.  Be sure both ends are snapped into place before powering PLM and ISY.

[Brian H]

The Green LED should be On as pointed out.

Even if it is connected to an AC outlet and not connected to anything.

 

Try a different power outlet. Small chance the outlet you are using has no power on it.

 

If it will not power up to a Green LED anywhere in the home. It is most likely DOA. Though not too likely.

[taterb]

The power outlet works (I tried other things plugged in and they work). 

 

I followed the Replace Modem (PLM) procedure with the added wait time for the PLM LED to turn on and go green. No LED activity at all! when I started the admin console, It came up with the following errors:

 

First box to pop up has this error:

"Socket Open Failed janva.net.ConnectException:Connection refused: no further information"

 

Then in a box over the top of the first error I see this one:

"XML Parse Error http://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:56348/0/d.xml "

 

If I use the old PLM it acts the same way as above.

 

If I unplug the PLM and reboot the ISY and connect to the admin console again, it lets me log in, but is in safe mode saying PLM problem.

 

The new PLM has "2413S V2.0, 1444" on the label.

[LeeG]

Try a different serial cable between PLM and ISY. Power down ISY and PLM while changing cables. Power up PLM first, then ISY.

[taterb]

I'm not getting a LED at all on the PLM, even when it is isn't connected to the ISY 994i/IR Pro. even with no serial cable. 

 

I tried it with a new cable and it still generated the same errors.

 

I guess I'm one of the luck ones to have gotten a DOA  V2 PLM (I have seen some other comments about it taking a few tries to get a good one in other areas). 

 

For what these things cost, I would certainly think the QC would be better!. It will be next week before I can get another PLM shipped in, so my smart home is going to be stupid for over a week (assuming I get a working PLM then) and can recover the ISY setup. (Sorry, but yes, I'm not happy right now).

[stusviews]

Amazon will ship a replacement as soon as you request one. You can send the defective PLM back after you get the replacement.

[taterb]

Thanks, I have requested one and they are shipping it 2 day. I can send the old one back anytime in the next 30 days. I tried changing the caps  in the old unit that died(from the another topic here), but it didn't work. Still dead. After I get it working again, I guess I'll have to buy another PLM (and test it) so I will not be shutdown so long next time one dies. Kind of expensive insurance though.

[Brian H]

IMHO. There is no excuse for a DOA PLM being shipped. Smarthome seems to be cutting back on their products quality control again!

 

The UDI designed PLM is in the pipeline. So in the future we will have a well designed PLM.

 

I have also seen vague posts on a new Smarthome/Smartlabs PLM. In a HUB case. There is at least one European one is in Italy. As the beta tester was asking questions in the Insteon Forums.

[LeeG]

I would like some info from OP as to what was purchased. There is a PLM for $66.99 shipped from Amazon as well as a used version for $39.99 also shipped from Amazon. That is different from ordering from Smarthome through Amazon. Of course the PLM was produced by Smartlabs originally but "shipped from and sold by Amazon.com" adds some variability.

[Brian H]

"Shipped from and sold by Amazon.com"  does add some variables to the mix. Over some of the devices sold by Amazon and drop shipped from Smarthome.

 

I know I got a few of the last 2456S3 ApplianceLincs from Amazon after they where gone from Smarthome's site.

[taterb]

I bought the new PLM for $66.99 from Amazon. I don't buy used things unless they are <= half price and they are not critical so if they don't work or what ever, I'm not out much and/or can afford to get them fixed.

 

This PLM is a critical part of the ISY/Insteon setup in my house.  I'm really looking forward to the UDI PLM. 

 

I opened my original PLM up to do the cap replacements and the soldering and looks of the boards were like a beginners shop class in grade school built them! Big blobs of solder and flux all over the board! Like I said above, I really expected a lot better design and quality for the cost of these modules. I'm really starting to worry about the switches and such installed in the walls now. They will be harder to replace than the plugin modules like the PLM. 

 

I'm sorry for the negative comments.....

 

Bob

[Brian H]

If you had one of the oldest revision {1.0} 2413S. You would have seen some rework where they added a coil and capacitor to the unregulated 12 volts.

 

My 1.0 has two capacitors soldered to the PCB pads.  Sticking up from  the PCB and no insulating tubing over the caps leads.  A coil between them and a wire warp wire to the back side of the PCB.

[taterb]

My original unit was a V1.B PLM. I hope UDI hurries up with their PLM since I really don't have much confidence in the SmartHome/Smartlabs ones anymore.

[LeeG]

The UDI PLM will have the same firmware as the Smarthome PLM as it is based on a Smartlabs chip set with Smartlabs firmware. That is how Insteon works. The EZIComm PLM from Smartenit is built from Smartlabs chip set and firmware. UDI PLM may be more reliable hardware wise but since the cap issue has been resolved the Smarthome PLM may compete from a reliability perspective. The UDI PLM covers more voltage ranges but that makes no difference in US.

[Teken]

Another aspect is UDI is trying to get Smartlabs to allow them to have the ability to flash the EEPROM chips. The last I heard the UDI PLM is still waiting on resolution on the ALL ON / ALL OFF issue.

 

Because if both companies can not hammer out this specific issue it won't matter who you get the PLM from. Both will still be affected by this random issue which seems to elude many of us.

[LeeG]

If UDI is allowed to flash the EEPROM it will be with some level of PLM firmware provided by Smartlabs. UDI would not provide Insteon communication that UDI developed. It would mean that the UDI PLM could be upgraded in the field with later (or earlier) Smartlabs PLM firmware, not custom Insteon communication.

[taterb]

The ability to update the firmware would probably be good, but the hardware needs to be fixed first. 
 

I got the 2ed V2.0 PLM in this morning and it worked!!!!! . I need to ship the other one back Monday now. 

 

Thanks for the help from everyone....

 

Bob.

[Brian H]

Well the V2.0 is reported to have the updated capacitors in it.

The UDI PLM will be much more rugged hardware wise. Though it will still have the Smartlabs provided firmware.

[mountainman3520]

Well the V2.0 is reported to have the updated capacitors in it.

The UDI PLM will be much more rugged hardware wise. Though it will still have the Smartlabs provided firmware.

 

Drat!  I believe my SmartHome dual band PLM 2413S V1.6 1214 has died.  No LED on the side even when plugged into a life outlet with nothing plugged into the bottom interface connector.

 

Its been suffering from occasional periods of non-responsiveness for a few months, then coming back to life.  Now it seems completely dead and isn't recovering.

 

What's that status of the UDI PLM?  Is this still going to be released as a product?  If so, when?

[Brian H]

Hardware 1.6 would be a revision that has the power supply issues.

You probably have seen the rebuild thread here.

If not here it is:  http://forum.universal-devices.com/topic/13866-repair-of-2413s-plm-when-the-power-supply-fails/

 

I have seen no recent updates on the UDI PLM.

 

I suspect Smartlabs is still holding it up and may never provide the needed chips.

 

Smartlabs can't even supply the needed API for the Alarm Module to UDI. Let alone Insteon PLM chips.

 

Even if UDI does get the chips. It would take months of testing and getting the needed certifications. Before it could be released.

[mountainman3520]

Hardware 1.6 would be a revision that has the power supply issues.

You probably have seen the rebuild thread here.

If not here it is:  http://forum.universal-devices.com/topic/13866-repair-of-2413s-plm-when-the-power-supply-fails/

 

I have seen no recent updates on the UDI PLM.

 

I suspect Smartlabs is still holding it up and may never provide the needed chips.

 

Smartlabs can't even supply the needed API for the Alarm Module to UDI. Let alone Insteon PLM chips.

 

Even if UDI does get the chips. It would take months of testing and getting the needed certifications. Before it could be released.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

Sounds like I've got to just buy another Smartlabs PLM and hope it lasts.  I'll probably rebuild my dead unit to have a backup since its a big problem when these things die.  My sprinklers stop working, thermostats stop running their programs, etc etc.

 

Also sounds like you don't think very highly of the competence of Smartlabs.  Now that the other smarthouse standards are becoming more available, do you think I should install Insteon in the new home I'm building or go a different direction?

[mwester]

My opinion, for what it's worth:  Use Insteon for what they're good at, and if you're sticking with the ISY, then use z-wave (select devices carefully) for pretty much everything you can.

 

Now that the patent on "instant status" has expired (Lutron had that), more and more of the z-wave wall switches will have the ability to notify the ISY as soon as they're pressed -- so for me, as my Insteon switches fail, I'll be replacing them with z-wave.  I've already replaced my garage door opener Insteon IOLinc with a z-wave garage door device, and all my sensors (with one exception) are z-wave.

 

I'll keep my Insteon in the remote building - can't reach that from the house with z-wave.  So as devices in the remote building fail, I'll pull Insteon devices out of the house to replace them (and replace the ones in the house with z-wave.

 

I'm uncertain about the keypadlincs -- I think I'll keep those, at least until I find a z-wave scene controller that's anywhere close to as functional.

 

And I too have a pair of serial PLMs -- it's a crying shame when such an expensive device just can't be properly fixed by Not-So-SmartHome.  I think it was stusviews on this forum who noted that, effectively, the PLM is a two-year subscription rather than a purchase.

[paulbates]

The majority of my insteon devices last.  My original inlinelincs and lamplincs are approaching their 10th birthday. Most switch lincs and iolincs, not a problem either.  

 

Its those pesky PLMs, Motion Sensors, and the Keypads from ~2011.  The PLM is a serious problem because it "blinds" the ISY. I do as much as possible with Insteon on its own for that reason. Can't afford key lighting or the garage door not working because of a PLM, when I'm gone for the week.

 

And with the PLMs its the "not knowing when". There is no real way to anticipate when its going to bite you and take your HA system with it

 

Paul