Pentair ScreenLogic

[JGP7229]

after a bad storm last night i believe our outside antenna may be done. We currently have this system (Pentair Screenlogic Interface & Wireless Connection Kit for EasyTouch & IntelliTouch Control Systems | EC-522104)

I’ve done ever system reboot/troubleshooting I can think of and what others have recommended. The outside receiver board will not turn green like it use to.

My question - I’ve noticed from previous posts the inside and outside receivers/antenna are connected and that you must replace both when this happens. Is that correct? Also to replace them is this the correct solution? (Pentair ScreenLogic2 High Powered Wireless Connection Kit)

I found what I believe is the same on amazon for much less (Pentair 520639 ScreenLogic Interface Kit Wireless Connection Almond https://a.co/d/gz3bWcG), hoping its the same.

Pic attached - the light is usually green, it was yellow now there’s nothing

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Jimrahbe]

JPG,

Looks good to me...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[JGP7229]

Jim thank you for the quick reply.

The outside transmitter/antenna now has no activity, no lights on (nothing constant or blinking). I’ve reset the inside protocol and router, the inside transmitter is just blinking PWR, nothing for the RX or TX. In the attached photo obit looks constant green but the PWR is blinking fast and the other two nothing.

Where I live our houses are close and checked the neighbors and his outside is green. Shouldn’t the outside antenna PWR light be a constant green?

Again I appreciate the help and trying everything before I need to pay $700 for a new system…

 

[JGP7229]

Ok I think I narrowed the now how to fix it…. The outside receiver is not getting power for some reason….

Everything else has power- any ideas to determine if it’s the source supplying the power (located inside the intellicenter) or if it’s an antenna broad issue?

 

[mknauss]

You show a protocol adapter that an IntelliCenter does not use. I assume your automation is IntelliTouch or EasyTouch?

The system is powered off the red and black wires of the RS485 connection.

 

[JGP7229]

Ahh yes my error, it’s the EasyTouch

 

[Jimrahbe]

Shouldn’t the outside antenna PWR light be a constant green?

jpg,

Yes the outside antenna gets its DC power from the EasyTouch on the black and red wires..

If the EasyTouch did not have this DC power then nothing on the RS-485 bus would work..

My guess is that either the wires connecting the ET to the antenna are not connected well, or the power supply inside the outside unit is bad, not allowing it to work.

If you have a voltmeter, test between the red and black wires and see if you have 15 Volts DC. Do NOT test the two center pins.. just test between the two outside pins (Red and black).

Let's see if Tom has any inputs.. Calling @ogdento

Thanks

Jim R.

 

[Dirk]

FWIW...

I returned that pair back to my pool guy and hard-wired my EasyTouch to my ScreenLogic interface. I didn't want an extra gizmo. I didn't want to deal with wireless. It works great, no drops, no troubleshooting issues. It just works. I ran a second hard-wire to an EasyTouch Indoor Control Panel, and actually use that more than I use ScreenLogic. It's great having the ET's controls inside, next to my thermostat. I can do anything I can do outside, and the LEDs give me instant feedback about what is running.

It wasn't fun, and required a couple trips into the attic, and some creative wire-running. But it was worth it, to me, anyway.

Full disclosure: there is a school of thought here that a wireless setup helps protect against lightning strike spikes. I suppose that could be true, but there are so many other paths for a spike that I doubt a wireless connection to my ET is going to prevent anything (at least at my house).

I know this is not what you asked, but if there is any way to get a wire between your ET and your SL, it's something to consider before you plunk down some big bucks for another wireless pair. The wire is readily available at your local hardware store, and dirt cheap (comparatively).

 

[Dirk]

This guy:

Amazon.com

I didn't pay anywhere near this amount, but I might, given how much I use it. It's probably in the ballpark of replacing your wireless system.

Again, not what you asked, just sharing experiences... You could use the money you'd save running wire, and buy this controller instead: you'd end up with a more reliable and more convenient setup.

 

[Jimrahbe]

LPG,

Hard wiring is one option..

But, If you live in an area that gets a lot of lightning, I would not do it.. unless you want to replace your EasyTouch, Protocol adapter, and half of of your WiFi network.. Like I did.

I used to work for a company called AMX. They built very high end entertainment control systems for people that had more money than they knew what to do with.. One of our product lines were remote amplifiers.. the basic idea was that you had a master system that would play music and it would be distributed throughout the property.. Initially we were getting back bad amplifiers that obviously took a lightning hit. We found that all the returned units, from many different properties, all had the same thing in common. They were all from outbuildings like pool houses, horse barns, garages, outside kitchens, etc. They were all directly connected via cables.. You could follow the cable input to the unit right up to the IC chips with holes or where the entire top of the chips were popped off.

I was dumb enough to not follow my own advice and hardwired my EasyTouch my network.. It worked great, right up to the point it didn't...

And the lightning did not even hit my house, it hit the house next to mine..

The option is your...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[JGP7229]

I appreciate all the help and ideas…it’s Sunday so go enjoy it…

I did test both the power at the antenna and the box, both have power. I’ll have someone come look at it before I jump in to replace it.

It’s on a schedule, it’s Southwest Florida so nothing urgent.

Thanks again

 

[ogdento]

That meter won't test current, but if you had another that could you could get an idea of the card has a short and it's drawing too much current.

These do have to be replaced as a set because of the unique code, unless you're handy with soldering and electronics - I did make a post on what you need to do to change the code on another board but it's not trivial.