keypads won't work after power outage

[iowaj]

Hi,

 

Our power was out today for a couple of hours, and when it came back up our 6 and 8 button keypads appear to have no power to them.   This happened once before and somehow I got them to work but don't remember how.  Seems odd that they would have all just suddenly died at the same time with the power outage.

 

Thanks for any assistance you can give!

[stusviews]

It's not the power outage, It's the surge when power is restored that causes failure. Pull out the set button for about 10 seconds, then push it in until it clicks into place. Do not push the set button all the way in.

 

You may want to invest in a whole house surge suppressor which will protect all electronics in your home.

[iowaj]

I have tried that but to no avail.  In addition, after finally getting the software to load, I am showing all red exclamation points beside all switches.  I am using the ISY994i system.  Never had this happen before.   We bought the home with this system, so I am not sure what to do.

[stusviews]

The red exclamation points indicate that communication between the ISY and device is lost. This will occur with any device that doesn't have power and/or the PLM cannot communicate with. Is the power LED on the PLM lit? What about the LEDs on the ISY?

[iowaj]

The red exclamation points indicate that communication between the ISY and device is lost. This will occur with any device that doesn't have power and/or the PLM cannot communicate with. Is the power LED on the PLM lit? What about the LEDs on the ISY?

The power LED on the PLM is on and there are no error lights on the ISY indicating any issues.  Any suggestions as to what to try first?

[paulbates]

You can try a factory reset of one of the keypads. It may not work, but easy to try and similar in technique to the procedure Stu had you try:

• Pull out the set button, wait for 10 seconds
• This time, push it all the way in and hold it
• After you hear a 'beep' let it go.
• Go the the admin console, right click on the switch and select 'restore device'
• Let the restore run, usually < 1 minute
• Retry the switch

Given your description, this most likely won't work, but will only take a few minutes to try and will obviously be better the buying replacement keypads if it works.  Give it a try on one and see what happens/

 

Paul

[stusviews]

Correction:

• Pull out the set button, wait for 10 seconds
• This time, push it all the way in and hold it
• After you hear a 'beep' let it go. Hold the set button all the way in until the beep stops. The load will turn on a couple of seconds after releasing the set button.
•  

[iowaj]

 

Correction:

• Pull out the set button, wait for 10 seconds
• This time, push it all the way in and hold it
• After you hear a 'beep' let it go. Hold the set button all the way in until the beep stops. The load will turn on a couple of seconds after releasing the set button.
•  

 

OK....success in getting the one keypad I tried to work using the above method.  However, I still have red exclamation points beside every switch so know the ISY is not communicating with the switches.  Given that, I don't believe restore will work.  What can I try to get the system communicating with switches?  Again, there are no error lights showing on the ISY and the PLM power light is on.

[stusviews]

Have you tried a quick reset or factory reset on those other devices?

[iowaj]

I have not and could use some instruction on how to do that.  We purchased the house with this system in place and we just don't mess with it very much until forced to.  Usually it ends up being long enough between times we have to deal with it that we have forgotten what we did before.

[stusviews]

See post #2 and post #7.

[iowaj]

Ah....I see what you are saying.  I did that with the one keypad switch to see what would happen and have the switch functioning for the main load.  But within the ISY software there is a red exclamation point beside every switch, including the keypad switch.  The ISY is not communication with the switches.  And it would take me quite awhile to try to reset 40+ switches. Do I need to do something to reset the ISY and try to get it communication with switches?

[stusviews]

Do the other switches function manually? If so, try Restore Devices. That may take awhile to complete. It's best to not use any device during that time.

[mwester]

Ah....I see what you are saying.  I did that with the one keypad switch to see what would happen and have the switch functioning for the main load.  But within the ISY software there is a red exclamation point beside every switch, including the keypad switch.  The ISY is not communication with the switches.  And it would take me quite awhile to try to reset 40+ switches. Do I need to do something to reset the ISY and try to get it communication with switches?

 

Hold on a second here.

 

I wonder if there are some assumptions being made incorrectly -- based on the original post, I suspect everyone is understanding that your keypads are not working, but assuming that all the other devices ARE working with the ISY.  This last post makes it seem as if it's not just your keypads that aren't working but 40+ switches that are ALSO not working -- but are there other devices that ARE working with the ISY?

 

I guess I'm now wondering if there's a much simpler explanation at hand -- if your ISY can't talk to ANY of 40+ devices, then it's pretty unlikely that 40+ devices all failed simultaneously.  The simpler explanation would be that your PLM (the box through which the ISY talks to all the devices) has failed.

 

Perhaps you can give a broader picture of exactly what is NOT working, and what IS working in your network - that would be really helpful right about now!

[iowaj]

All switches were working and ISY could communicate with them before power outage. When power was restored all switches are operational except for 3 keypads. These appeared to not even have power to them. Have since fixed one with reset in above post so it at least operates main light. However, the ISY is not communicating with ANY switches. The ISY has no error lights on it and the PLM power light is on. I have not tried a reset on ISY or PLM as we are unsure how to do that.

[paulbates]

"To reset the Power Line Modem to its original factory settings, unplug it from the wall outlet and wait 10 seconds. Press and hold its SET button, plug it back in, continue holding the SET button for 3 seconds and release. After several seconds, the Status LED will turn on, indicating a reset is complete."

 

Then, you'll need to use the the "Restore Modem" option from the File menu of the admin console. Do no use the Delete modem function.

 

Paul

[iowaj]

"To reset the Power Line Modem to its original factory settings, unplug it from the wall outlet and wait 10 seconds. Press and hold its SET button, plug it back in, continue holding the SET button for 3 seconds and release. After several seconds, the Status LED will turn on, indicating a reset is complete."

 

Then, you'll need to use the the "Restore Modem" option from the File menu of the admin console. Do no use the Delete modem function.

 

Paul

So how will this affect the programming and switches in ISY?  Will I have to restore all of those, too, or add them back in?

[paulbates]

So how will this affect the programming and switches in ISY?  Will I have to restore all of those, too, or add them back in?

 

You should not have to.  Your current PLM's address is programmed into those devices. If the power blip just caused the PLM to lose its memory, this will put it back. The process will go look and see if PLM's address is on the devices, as well as put the devices's addresses back in to the PLM 

 

Here are the possibilities

• The modem lost its memory, and the factory reset and 'restore modem' will put it back and you'll be working as before
  • However some devices may not come back, you'll see with a red !. Those might recover with a factory reset and 'restore device' (or they may be damaged beyond restore and have to be replaced)
• The modem may not respond to the restore modem, because its was damaged beyond repair and need to be replaced

The factory reset, restore modem / restore device procedures are how you discover the extent of the damage. The fact that some of your keypads were recovered via this procedure is encouraging. More might also recover.

 

Paul

[iowaj]

I attempted to restore the PLM.  It beeped at me as I plugged it back in with reset button pressed and power light came on instantly.  You mentioned it would be several seconds before the status light comes on so not sure if it truly reset or not.  I clicked on restore modem.  A progress window popped up and when it gets to about 7% the progress window just disappears so I am not sure if it just stopped or is continuing to restore and I can't see it.

Thoughts?

 

****  Found info on PLM that said to plug back in with button held till beeping stops so I did that.  This time it did appear to reset.  However, I still have had not luck with restore on the ISY software and the progress bar disappears so am not sure what it is doing.  Not sure what to do at this point. As for the keypads, I have only had success in getting power back to one, and it does operate the main light assigned to it but nothing that is programmed to rest of buttons.

[stusviews]

The PLM should be powered up before powering on the ISY.

[iowaj]

The PLM should be powered up before powering on the ISY.

??  I was just following the instructions above to reset the PLM.  So are you saying I need to power down the ISY, then unplug the PLM, reset it, and then power up the ISY?

 

Sorry.... I am most definitely a newbie with this!

[Techman]

??  I was just following the instructions above to reset the PLM.  So are you saying I need to power down the ISY, then unplug the PLM, reset it, and then power up the ISY?

 

Sorry.... I am most definitely a newbie with this!

 

Remove power from both the PLM & ISY. Power up the PLM, wait about 10 seconds and then power up the ISY.

No need to factory reset the PLM again.

[iowaj]

Thanks so much!  ISY is back up and communicating.  Still looks like I have lost 2 8 button key pads.  These are original to the house so I am guessing they must be 9 years old.  Probably a need to update them anyway, unfortunately.

[paulbates]

My Menard's  has the keypads in stock... its a check their stock, driveby and fix in a day if you have one nearby. If you include the cost of shipping from SH, its usually a little cheaper that way too. 

 

If they have 6 vs 8, its any easy swap of the keys and reprogramming of the keypad. 

[iowaj]

My Menard's  has the keypads in stock... its a check their stock, driveby and fix in a day if you have one nearby. If you include the cost of shipping from SH, its usually a little cheaper that way too. 

 

If they have 6 vs 8, its any easy swap of the keys and reprogramming of the keypad. 

I haven't had any luck getting 2 of my 8 button keypads operating again and am assuming they are shot. Hasn't been urgent to get these going yet and was waiting for SH Memorial Day Sale at 20% off so am now ready to order.   In addition to the keypads, I am getting some switches.  Does it matter if I purchase the dimmer or on/off switches?  I assume from what I read the dimmer switches have the function of on/off with the bonus of a dimmer.  I can get a 4 pack of dimmers, 2477D, or a 5 pack of on/off, 2477S, at a considerable savings compared to ordering individual switches.  I know I have 2 that are acting up and thought I'd order a pack to have some extras on hand. I don't need the dimmers in a couple of places but ordering by the pack is cheaper in the long run. Thoughts?