New units channels 9-16 will not work

[toddmoon]

I recently purchased a third unit this year. I have it setup in my network and channels 1-8 work but 9-16 will not. When I go to the console and turn on all channels I can not get 9-16 to turn on.

When I go to the LOR configure hardware setup channels 1-8 are selectable but 9-16 are greyed out. What do I need to do to get this unit working properly.

[JBullard]

toddmoon wrote:

I recently purchased a third unit this year.

What model of unit? Did you check the fuse for 9 -16 ?

[toddmoon]

This is the pccbt16 and yes the fuse is good.

[JBullard]

toddmoon wrote:

This is the pccbt16 and yes the fuse is good.

Silly me,

Of course the fuse would be good, since the board is powered by the 9-16 side.

I don't understand why in the Hardware Utility those channels are greyed out.

[Dennis Cherry]

When you do a refresh, what is the unit description.

[toddmoon]

I have my show running right now so I am not able to run the hardware utility right now.

At first I thought maybe I had a bad unit but with channels 9-16 being grayed out I am wondering if it is a software issue. Hope so I do not want to have the send the unit back right now even with 8 channels not working the other 8 are helping run my mega tree right now.

[toddmoon]

When I go to my hardware utility and scan the system finds 1 unit 03 - CTB16PC VER 4.4O.

I have tried loading firmware CTB16PC_V4.30.lhx and CTB16PC_V4.32.lhx as well as CTB16PC_V4.02.lhx. I get a boot failure message on all attempts.

I have checked the fuses and the wiring. I am using 8 channels on 9 - 16. It is channels 1 - 8 that are not working for me. I have switched the fuses and switched the power hot leads to the two hot inputs all to no effect.

I can scan and find my unit and I have also tried unplugging the unit and pulling the jumper and powering backup for a minute and then reinstalling the jumper and powering back up. I still have the same problem channels 1 - 8 just do not work. :shock:

[JBullard]

toddmoon wrote:

When I go to my hardware utility and scan the system finds 1 unit 03 - CTB16PC VER 4.4O.

I have tried loading firmware CTB16PC_V4.30.lhx and CTB16PC_V4.32.lhx as well as CTB16PC_V4.02.lhx. I get a boot failure message on all attempts.

Thank goodness the boot loader refused to accept those other firmware versions, your board has a different microcontroller chip and must have firmware ver 4.40.

I have checked the fuses and the wiring. I am using 8 channels on 9 - 16. It is channels 1 - 8 that are not working for me. I have switched the fuses and switched the power hot leads to the two hot inputs all to no effect.

Did this change overnight? I thought we were trying to troubleshoot channels 9 - 16 ?

I can scan and find my unit and I have also tried unplugging the unit and pulling the jumper and powering backup for a minute and then reinstalling the jumper and powering back up. I still have the same problem channels 1 - 8 just do not work. :shock: In the Hardware Utility, are the channels 9 - 16 still greyed out as you reported last night?

This post raises all kind of new questions since the problem switched overnight from channels 9 - 16 not working to channels 1 - 8 not working now.

Are you sure the 120 v ac supply line that feeds channels 1-8 really has 120 v on it?

[toddmoon]

You know what happens when you get in a hurry?

I am using 8 channels and they are plugged into channels 9 - 16. I had not had time to trace things out. Trying to go back to the begging I realized that it is channels 1 -8 that are not working.

When I go to my hardware utility and scan the system finds 1 unit 03 - CTB16PC VER 4.4O.

I have tried loading firmware CTB16PC_V4.30.lhx and CTB16PC_V4.32.lhx as well as CTB16PC_V4.02.lhx. I get a boot failure message on all attempts.

I have checked the fuses and the wiring. I am using 8 channels on 9 - 16. It is channels 1 - 8 that are not working for me. I have switched the fuses and switched the power hot leads to the two hot inputs all to no effect.

I can scan and find my unit and I have also tried unplugging the unit and pulling the jumper and powering backup for a minute and then reinstalling the jumper and powering back up. I still have the same problem channels 1 - 8 just do not work. I have downloaded the file from the firmware site trying to reinstall CTB16PC_V4.30.lhx however I get a bootload file not valid for this controller. I have switched ethernet cables and the usb port.

Channels 9 - 16 are still greyed out. LOR support tells me this is normal and is not an issue with the controller. LOR thinks I may have a bad unit and have been having me try a couple of different things to rule out any other issues. I am hoping that this is software and not a hardware issue. I really do not want to be with out a unit right now.

[JBullard]

First of all, forget about trying to change the firmware. You have the ONLY FIRMWARE that will work with the microchip on that board. Any other firmware will render the whole board useless.

In the Hardware Utility, does channels 1 - 8 work? Are any of the channels greyed out like last night?

If the Hardware Utility will NOT control channels 1 - 8, and you have (with a volt meter) measured that channels 1 -8 are NOT getting 120 volts, then that side of the board has a physical problem.

You will probably need to call LOR support tomorrow. It does not sound like software but rather hardware to me.

[toddmoon]

I have been in contact with support via online today on Sunday. Support is leaning towards a hardware problem as well. I have been hoping that it was software but it does not look that way. Everything that they have had me try has not worked including installing the firmware file they emailed me.

Even in utility console I can not get the channels 1 - 8 to power up. 1 - 8 do not work in any mode.

Support has been very helpful unforunately it looks like this board has a problem.

[Max-Paul]

Todd,
Was this a kit that you put together? If so, please look at the two big chips that are the same size. Are both keyed to the same direction? Left or right? I dont have anything in front of me to reference to at this time. I am thinking that these are the ones that are soldered into the board. If the one chip is in backwards, it sure will keep that side from working.

[toddmoon]

This was a system that I just had to wire the plugs into. LOR support sent me a updated firmware file that the unit accepted.

This did not change anything channels 1 - 8 still do not work. I put a meter onto the two power inputs that read 120 VAC. I checked all 16 channels on the board and they all read 120 VAC. However on the power receptacle's 1 - 8 no power and 120 VAC reading on power cords 9 - 16.

Not sure what to do now. I do not want to lose another 8 channels right now waiting for another unit to replace this one. I may just have to wait until after Christmas.

[toddmoon]

Update on this unit. LOR has decided that the unit is indeed defective and is issuing me an RMA to exchange the unit.

Thanks to everyone who helped with advice on the unit. It is just a little frustrating to have a new unit show up and not work.

I had so many other projects going on and I did not take the time to really check it out after I go it. I just assumed it would work and did not realize it had issued until I actually tried to fire up my light show.

Once again thanks for the help.

[toddmoon]

Update on this unit. LOR has decided that the unit is indeed defective and is issuing me an RMA to exchange the unit.

Thanks to everyone who helped with advice on the unit. It is just a little frustrating to have a new unit show up and not work.

I had so many other projects going on and I did not take the time to really check it out after I go it. I just assumed it would work and did not realize it had issues until I actually tried to fire up my light show.

Once again thanks for the help.

[PaulXmas]

toddmoon wrote:

Update on this unit. LOR has decided that the unit is indeed defective and is issuing me an RMA to exchange the unit.

Thanks to everyone who helped with advice on the unit. It is just a little frustrating to have a new unit show up and not work.

I had so many other projects going on and I did not take the time to really check it out after I go it. I just assumed it would work and did not realize it had issued until I actually tried to fire up my light show.

Once again thanks for the help.

I buy the controllers where I have to connect the cables. After I assemble them I run them through the hardware Utility and mark my doggles with correct channel number(s). I will turn on channel 1 use a lamp to plug in each doggle until I find the one that lights up mark it 1 then move on to channel 2 ...

This way I am able test the controller and mark my dongles at the same time.