Minder - Controller Communications Failure

Last night I had the Minder software running on one of my PCs.
The message "Controller Communications Failure" appeared in the logs.
Since then, I cannot connect to Minder Controller via either the Minder software or the CBus software.

The unit appears to be functioning correctly.
Scenarios are running etc.

I am connecting thru a DigiOne SP ethernet unit.

Does anyone know how I can reset the Communications Controller?

Martin

 

The term "Controller Communications Failure" means it has failed to communicate with the controller ie Minder. Not that there is a thing called a communications controller that has failed and needs to be reset.

I would bet it's your converter.

Try using hyperterminal and connect to the same port (with Minder software and C-Bus software not running) and see if anything is received from the controller (Minder).

 

Thankyou for that info.

Martin

 

I finally had some time to do some checking/testing.

I connected the Digi-One Sp unit to a serial cable (supplied with UPS) to a UPS. The software on the PC connects to the UPS and shows the data.

I connected the Digi-One SP unit to the original Serial cable (pass through cable that I use to connect to Minder) which was then connected to the UPS supplied serial cable which was then connected to the UPS. Once again, the software on the PC shows the data from the UPS.

I then again tried to connected the Digi-One SP to every serial cable I have to the Minder RS232 connection. The Minder software on the PC sends out to the Minder Unit but never gets anything back.

From this, I can determine the the Digi-One SP unit works and is not faulty. Also, I can determine that the original serial cable is not faulty as it works to the UPS.

I then took the laptop using a USB - RS232 adaptor to the Minder unit. Prior to getting the Digi-One this is what I used to connect to the Minder unit.
I connected the Laptop to the UPS via the USB=RS232 adapter and the software on the Laptop showed the UPS data.
I then connected the laptop to the Minder unit via the USB-RS232 adapter and started the Minder software on the Laptop.
No data was reveived from the Minder unit.

From this, it would seem that there is a problem with the RS232 interface on the Minder unit.

Does anyone have any ideas on how this can be fixed?

Martin

 

The most likely cause is a failure of either the RS232 driver or receiver chip on the minder. These are mounted in sockets and labelled MC1488 and MC1489 or similar on the chips. These chips are inexpensive and available from Dick smith. Replace these an see if the problem goes away

 

Thankyou, I will look and see if I can find them on the Minder first before I try to purchase some new ones.

 

Just a few quickies,

To replace those 2 ICs, do I have to remove power to the Minder unit?
If so, both the Mains and battery backup?

If I have to remove power and replace the units and they do not make a difference. How do I then reload and start the scenarios?

Martin

 

Yes you should totaly power down the system. With the batteries the one you need to disconnet is the large back-up battery. You do not need to take out the small battery on the main board that keeps all the programing.

When it comes back up it will reload and start back up. If it doesn't start it could be the memory back-up battery is dead too in which case you will have to force a reload, but clearly that will only work if your coms are now working, otherwise your system will be dead in the water.

 

Thanks Ashley.
I thought that me be the case.

I have the new ICs and I think I found where they go, above the RS232 port and under the added Telephone Card.

I will try it out on Thursday morning.

Just a thought, the system is 7-8 years old, should I changed the small battery first?

Marty

 

Hmmm it would be a good idea to change it, but I have a sneaking suspicion you need to power off to do that too (can someone confirm 100%). If you do that then you need to reload so you are in a catch 22.

In regards to the chips did you notice where they are in relation to the telephone card? Yep right under the surge supressor/lightning arrestor (which ever it is). I now know why those two chips are the only ones on the board in sockets.

I've found in 5 years that my driver chips have been cooked twice during bad thunder storms after lightning hit the Telstra RIM (thats the remote street exchanges now common in new areas). One time it took out the telephone card and another the whole RIM but not the card. I've been looking at some options for proper lightning protection but the feed into my house doesn't give me a really good place to put the 'proper' arrestor. Just hope the card doesn't go again, the last one was a second hand one from CIS after they decided the old card was uneconomical to repair. Being trained in electronics I had my doubts about that one, normally there are only a few sacrifical devices and each strike is the same so you just replace them first as a matter of course.

 

Big Tip

If your controller is 7-8 years old there is a good chance the on board back up battery is tired like me.

Haven't checked for a while but sure it is a CR2032 which you can get from Tricky Dickies or Jaycar for a few bucks.

Make sure your system is powered as normal and slip the new battery in. Then you should be able to power down the system without loosing the config.

Did this for a mate at his house a couple of months ago and had no problems. The fact you don't have the config file for this box is going to be a problem sooner or later though.

Good luck.

 

Thanks Phil.
I do have the config file so that is not a problem if the RS232 comms starts to work after replacing the chips.

Marty

 

Back on the tools Phil?

Sounds like new career move...

 

Not sure where I got the config file bit from (probably reading posts too quickly) anyway hope it's all sorted now.

 

Been on the tools for a longgggg time and don't forget I have a house full of everything that opens and shuts so the tools are not far away.

Didn't win the big lotto draw on the weekend so the only career move I am looking forward to is when I finally win something then I can get back to weekly golf. Then after a couple of years I can get my handicap down to about a third as good as yours...

 

Yey,

I powered off the unit and replaced the 2 RS232 ICs.
Powered it back on and now the Minder software on the PC communicates to the Minder unit.

Now, just one more slight problem.

Since the above, the PIRs show up RED instead of GREY in Minder and when I walk past any of them they do not seem to pick up movement.
That is, the little light on the PIR does not flash.
All PIRs are doing the same thing.

Do these have to be reset or something?

Thanks
Marty

 

Well, golly gosh.

I went to have another look to see wht the PIRs were not working.

I touched the RED cable to the large battery backup (as if to make sure it was pushed in), I heard a beep from the Smoke detector and noticed that the PIRs were now working.

When I restarted the Minder program, the logs at that time showed
AC Power Lost is OFF

So I gather it must have been on batteries.

Well, all is now OK.

Thankyou to everyone who offered advice, it was much appreciated.

Martin

 

Mate pleased it works. One thing though is your PIRs if used for security should be battery back as well. With minder there are two power 'supplies' for aux devices. Aux 1 is battery backed and Aux 2 ISNT. I would guess your PIRs are on Aux 2, so I would get them to Aux 1 ASAP. The max current on 1 is 0.5A and on 2 0.7A so you will have to check to make sure you don't overload Aux1.

Now do as I do and keep some of them driver chips spare in the chassis!!

 

I will check the AUX connections soon.

I will also get some more chips as spares soon as well.

I did not change the Lithium battery yet as it shows as 3.3V in the software.

I will also get a spare one to replace it.

Martin