wireless devices quit communicating

[drw]

I have a number of triggerlinc (2421 v4.0) devices.  They have worked correctly for some time.

This morning none of them were able to communicate with the PLM (running v4.5.1).  Requesting a 'query' of a device gives no result.

 

I have many other devices (switchlincs, keypadlincs, appliancelincs, access points) that seem to be working okay.

 

I did put one of my triggerlincs into programming mode and did a restore.  The triggerlinc started working normally and was able to communicate with the PLM.  This is a short term solution but some of my wireless devices are water sensors located in the crawl space (and difficult to access).  I would like to understand how to fix this problem permanently.

 

Could this be a PLM going bad?

[Brian H]

Battery operated modules go into a power saving mode.

You can't query them as they will not respond.

How old is your PLM?

You can put one of them in the programming mode. Then do a Show device Link Table. Then do a compare to what the ISY knows that should be there.

[Techman]

 

 

Could this be a PLM going bad?

 

 What's the date code and version on your PLM. Is the green led on the PLM lit?

[drw]

It's a 2413S, rev2.0, 1425 (date code?).  Green led is lit.

 

I understand that wireless devices save power by transmitting only when there is a state change (something to report).  But why would all of the wireless devices stop working at the same time?  There are over a dozen of them, they can't all be bad simultaneously.  I have lots of Insteon dual band devices so the wireless network is probably good.  The PLM is the common point of failure.  It's like the PLM 'forgot' all of the wireless devices - a restore of a wireless device caused it to report to the ISY normally.  This has all been working for some time (years) and nothing has changed recently....well I take that back...I recently (2 weeks ago) updated the ISY to v4.5.1 firmware from v4.3.26.

[stusviews]

The PLM is about 2 years old. That's the common life span for older PLMs. It's probably due for a replacement.

[drw]

I have also discovered that my (wireless) mini-remotes have quit working....putting them in programming mode and doing a restore...seemed to fix them.  And my motion sensors (wireless) have quit reporting.  This is more wireless devices that have quit reporting their status changes.

 

I assume the date code 1425...means 2014 and week 25.  I thought more recent PLM units had the problem 'fixed' by using higher rated capacitors

[mwester]

There's no evidence that the capacitors are "higher rated" - just reports that they are higher capacity.  

[Brian H]

The hardware version 2.0 and above. Have 100uF capacitors in C7 and C13 position in place of the original 10uF ones.

My 2.1 has the same questionable brand capacitors in it that where in all the versions earlier versions.

We are now getting close to the two year mark for some of the above 2.0 models. We may now start getting a better idea on their useful life over the original useful life the earlier ones.

[Techman]

It's a 2413S, rev2.0, 1425 (date code?).  Green led is lit.

 

I understand that wireless devices save power by transmitting only when there is a state change (something to report).  But why would all of the wireless devices stop working at the same time?  There are over a dozen of them, they can't all be bad simultaneously.  I have lots of Insteon dual band devices so the wireless network is probably good.  The PLM is the common point of failure.  It's like the PLM 'forgot' all of the wireless devices - a restore of a wireless device caused it to report to the ISY normally.  This has all been working for some time (years) and nothing has changed recently....well I take that back...I recently (2 weeks ago) updated the ISY to v4.5.1 firmware from v4.3.26.

 

You can try a restore PLM which might give you a temporary fix but you'll still most likely need to replace it.

[drw]

I replaced the PLM with a new one marked v2.2 1629 in early November.  Everything worked correctly until today.

 

Wireless insteon devices (mostly door open/close 2421 triggerlinc) cannot report their status to the ISY.  I have reset the power to the PLM/ISY several times.  On one occasion I received the message "ISY is in safe mode...not communicating with the PLM"...after another power reset the ISY and PLM seem to be communicating...but wireless device status is not available to the ISY.

 

Is my PLM failing? (again)?

[Techman]

I replaced the PLM with a new one marked v2.2 1629 in early November.  Everything worked correctly until today.

 

Wireless insteon devices (mostly door open/close 2421 triggerlinc) cannot report their status to the ISY.  I have reset the power to the PLM/ISY several times.  On one occasion I received the message "ISY is in safe mode...not communicating with the PLM"...after another power reset the ISY and PLM seem to be communicating...but wireless device status is not available to the ISY.

 

Is my PLM failing? (again)?

 

If you're seeing the "Safe mode" message then that means that there's a communication problem between the ISY and the PLM.

 

First Check your cable connection between the PLM and ISY.

Remove power from both the ISY and the PLM, then power up the PLM and then the ISY (in that order)

Do a PLM link count.  If the count seems low then try doing a restore PLM

 

If the above doesn't resolve the problems then you may have a defective PLM

[drw]

Thank you for your help.

I had checked the cable between the ISY and PLM and it seemed fine.

I re-powered the ISY and PLM in your specified order.  No change.

The PLM link count was 0...no links were shown.  I did a restore PLM.  This is somewhat of a job because I have more than 15 wireless devices - some in difficult places to reach for putting them in program mode.  After doing the PLM restore, I had 340 links.  The system seems to be working normally...status of wireless devices is now registering at the PLM.

 

I have ordered another spare PLM.

[Techman]

Thank you for your help.

I had checked the cable between the ISY and PLM and it seemed fine.

I re-powered the ISY and PLM in your specified order.  No change.

The PLM link count was 0...no links were shown.  I did a restore PLM.  This is somewhat of a job because I have more than 15 wireless devices - some in difficult places to reach for putting them in program mode.  After doing the PLM restore, I had 340 links.  The system seems to be working normally...status of wireless devices is now registering at the PLM.

 

I have ordered another spare PLM.

 

When you restore wireless devices be sure to have only one wireless device in the linking mode at any one time otherwise the devices can get cross linked.. Once that device is out of linking you can then link the next wireless device.

 

If you have the ISY pro be sure to uncheck the "automatic writes to wireless devices" before you do a restore PLM. 

 

The PLM link count can vary somewhat depending on the ISY's activity. A zero count is not normal. Either your previous restore failed, or the PLM is failing.  Sounds like a good idea to have a spare close by.

[Brian H]

The latest PLM I got recently was a V2.3.

 

C7 and C13. are now 100uF/50V Fujicon capacitor. My V2.1 has 100uF/35V
Mounted parallel to the PCB and fastened with component glue.
Too large to fit in PCB Pads location vertically.
 

Also the serial interface IC on the serial daughter board has been changed.

It is now a TI brand MAX232EI. { My hardware 2.1 has a ST232 }.

The TI MAX232EI meets the IEC61000-4-2 ESD Protection Standards on the RS232 I/O Pins to the outside world.