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duTec I/O PLEXER Troubleshooting Guide

(excerpted from duTec I/O PLEXER Hardware Manual)

Hardware Error Codes:

When the I/O PLEXER is initially turned on, it goes through internal self test. If anything is not correct, the appropriate error code will flash on the sequential display. Try recycling power. If that does not resolve the error condition, please call duTec technical support, at 800-248-1632.

Troubleshooting:

Establishing communication is, without a doubt, the most difficult process encountered when installing an I/O PLEXER system. Every component int he system plays a key role in this function. The following steps should aid in troubleshooting an I/O PLEXER system:

1. Install the unit nearest to the Host computer. Connect the appropriate communication network, and set the unit address and baud rate to the desired values.
2. At the Host computer, run a terminal emulation program, such as WINDOWS^TM V3.x "Terminal" (usually found in the ACCESSORIES program group) or WINDOWS 95^TM "HyperTerminal" (usually found in the PROGRAMS - ACCESSORIES menu path.
3. Configure the terminal program for the appropriate comm-port, baud rate, 8 - databits, 1 - stopbit, no parity, handshake = hardware or none. Set the terminal preferences for "Local echo" so that the typed characters can be seen. Set the carriage return (CR) translation to add linefeed (CR/LF) to both the inbound and outbound transmissions. This will scroll each line sent, and received, rather than overwriting the previous for clarity.
4. Once the Host terminal software is configured; press the space bar and observe the lower left bar graph segment (marked Recv) on the first I/O PLEXER chassis.
   • If this LED flashes each time the space bar is pressed, then assume that the communication link TO the I/O PLEXER is O.K.
   • If not, verify the wiring, comm port, and modem link, if any. A typical problem here is wrong comm port, or incorrect wiring of the Host end of the link.
   • If the Recv LED is on constantly the RS-422/485 wiring is probably backward.
5. Once signal TO the I/O PLEXER is verified a valid instruction should be sent to the unit to initiate a response. Send an "Identify station Type" "F" instruction (See appendix C, C). Be sure to send the entire instruction within 10 sec., as the I/O PLEXER will ignore instructions that take too long to finish. If the instruction is to a valid address for this unit, and at the correct baud rate, the Trans. LED should flash immediately after the carriage return of the instruction is received.
6. If no response is received by the Host but the Trans LED flashes, check the receive wiring or the Host receiver.
7. Once a proper response is received at the Host, repeat the procedure for any additional I/O PLEXER to be added to the network.
8. When all chassis are checked out, the terminal software can be replaced with the actual Host software for this project.

MAGIC software utility:

The MAGIC software is provided as a tool to help the user become familiar with the I/O PLEXER instruction set. This program incorporates a menu-driver "step-by-step" approach to building any instruction. Once an instruction is developed, it may be sent to the I/O PLEXER. MAGIC will then report the I/O PLEXERs' response to that instruction, thus completing the Host-I/O PLEXER exchange. In addition to assisting in instruction development and transmission/response, MAGIC will also capture groups of instructions into macros to be sent automatically. These macros can be named and stored for future use, making them handy for system setup and Local Control Functions.

The software may be downloaded here; or if you received a manual, it can be found on 3.5" disk in the back of the manual.

To install this software, create a directory called MAGIC, and copy the contents of the diskette, or download, to that directory.

MAGIC will prompt the user for the communication port (it has been reported that COM3 and COM4 may not behave properly with MAGIC) of the Host computer, the baud rate, and the Master Control address of the I/O PLEXER. Once all this information has been entered, the user is ready to start building instructions, and sending them to the I/O PLEXER.

Note: The MAGIC software has not been revised for some time, and therefore has not been updated with some of the more recent features of the I/O PLEXER. This includes digital expanders 2 and 3.

duTec 6979 Wales Road Northwood, OH 43619

800-248-1632 Phone 419-666-4700 Phone 419-666-4702 Fax

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