Re: Actually On Topic Question

[ABLE1 <somebody@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 3/11/2023 10:20 PM, RTS wrote:
> On 3/11/2023 5:20 PM, ABLE1 wrote:
>> On 3/11/2023 5:32 PM, RTS wrote:
>>> On 3/11/2023 12:57 PM, ABLE1 wrote:
>>>> On 3/11/2023 1:08 PM, RTS wrote:
>>>>> On 3/11/2023 11:18 AM, ABLE1 wrote:
>>>>>> On 3/11/2023 10:44 AM, RTS wrote:
>>>>>>> On 3/10/2023 7:32 PM, ABLE1 wrote:
>>>>>>>> Hello Guys!!!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hope everyone is doing well.  As for me, I am still beating the
>>>>>>>> bushes.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I have a customer that has a Vista 20p with a Tuxedo Touch
>>>>>>>> Screen that
>>>>>>>> as been working just fine since I installed it 11 years ago and
>>>>>>>> it is
>>>>>>>> now constantly rebooting.  I have not been on site as of yet
>>>>>>>> but, the
>>>>>>>> customer has done some troubleshooting and said that the voltage
>>>>>>>> is holding steady at 13.2vdc while the touch screen reboots.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I briefly talked to Tech Support and asked if this was a known
>>>>>>>> issue.
>>>>>>>> I was told that it was not, but should check for a loose connection
>>>>>>>> and check the voltage.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Again, I have not been on site, but will be next week.  I thought I
>>>>>>>> would reach out here to see if there should be other things that
>>>>>>>> should be looked at before declaring the Touch Screen was scrap.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The docs say that the unit draws 270ma.
>>>>>>>> Presently I am not sure what power source it is connected.
>>>>>>>> I am thinking it would be the Aux + & -
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I would think if the Aux Power was the issue the voltage would not
>>>>>>>> be holding steady at 13.2vdc.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Anyone have any thoughts as to a solution or knowledge on this
>>>>>>>> issue??
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Les
>>>>>>> this may sound crazy,  but  look for "Cricket bits"
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> this time of year,  we use to have nutty behavior with remote
>>>>>>> processing unit, (keypads, expanders, remote relays)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> each time we found Crickets had eaten the insulation off the
>>>>>>> wires and moisture was causing high resistance shorts on the
>>>>>>> circuits..
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Never full time, mostly when the air moisture reach a point when
>>>>>>> droplets formed..
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> RTS
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi Rocky,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Not totally crazy!!  Just last week I had to disassemble an exterior
>>>>>> gate controller that had spider webs and stink bugs on the circuit
>>>>>> board and was causing the "Fire Input" terminals to short and locked
>>>>>> the gate open.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> As for this Ademco unit, that is something that is doubtful since
>>>>>> it is inside the house.  However, you are right it should be looked
>>>>>> at just to verify.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Les
>>>>>>
>>>>> We had a FBII 2-TÂ  in a small restaurant that started have odd
>>>>> alarms..
>>>>> when we opened the panel door, the PCB was covered in (what I
>>>>> called bug spit), a dark goo..
>>>>> After a complete cleaning with de-grease spray,  every thing went
>>>>> back to normal..
>>>>> with bugs, it pays to seal all access points to the electronics..
>>>>> paraffin (candle wax) coated, cotton balls tend to do the job,
>>>>> cheaply..
>>>>> BRK Electronics from Louisville, use to water proof their Glass
>>>>> Breakage
>>>>> detectors with that trick.. (paraffin)
>>>>> ..
>>>>> on another topic,  I noticed that Chinese capacitors tend to burst if
>>>>> the air temperature lingers around 30 degrees for to long..
>>>>> I guess they have some type of water based dielectric in their
>>>>> construction..
>>>>> ..
>>>>> Trick I've used to locate long wires that have had their insulation
>>>>> eaten away, was to open both ends of the run and apply a hefty
>>>>> voltage/current run through the wire..
>>>>> (load resistor at one end, voltage/current at other)
>>>>> (try not to exceed the limit of the copper size..  ;-)  )
>>>>> When the copper flexed with the load,  the short would show itself..
>>>>> If your handy with a "Megger", you can get close to the spot where the
>>>>> bad insulation is located..
>>>>> If not,  up the current and follow the smoke...   LOL
>>>>> ...
>>>>> RTS
>>>>>
>>>>> (don't you just love it when the copper turns a bluish tint...)
>>>>
>>>> Rocky,
>>>>
>>>> What I don't know is if the data pair of wires have an issue of some
>>>> kind would that cause the touch pad to reboot constantly??
>>>>
>>>> Or, what would cause the Tuxedow Touch Pad "if it did not have an
>>>> internal problem" to reboot repeatedly??
>>>>
>>>> Ruling out a repeated power loss!!
>>>>
>>>> I am trying to rule out all of the other possible issues before
>>>> I purchase a replacement Tuxedow and find that the same problem
>>>> happens after replacing the existing.
>>>>
>>>> I know this is not going to be easy................. but!!
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>>
>>>> Les
>>>>
>>> If you have a 12vdc pulse counter, hook it to the voltage supply,
>>> note the number and have homeowner check several times a day to see
>>> if the numbers are growing..
>>> If yes, you know what to do..
>>> If no,  well crying is not out of the question....
>>> RTS
>>
>>
>> Honestly Rocky I am really not sure what that will do.................
>> Besides drive me nuts!!!
>>
>> Since I don't have such a device, then I am OK!!!
>>
>> Les
>>
>>
> pulse counter,  one of those things that advance a number on a counter
> each time the voltage interrupts.
> they use them at entries with a photo beam to count customer entering or
> leaving..
> in your case, they would count a number each time the power blinks..
> which would cause the touch pad to reset...
> If the numbers grow, that would tell me that something was interrupting
> the supply voltage..
> (be it the wire, the power supply,
> or as I had happen somebody had wired into the fire power output.
> (which happened to cycle once each 24 hours)
> (It had been programed to remain on 24 hours, but somehow that
> programming was changed during a battery replacement)
> old systems have bugs that can appear at random with age..  :-)
> RTS



Rocky,

Ok, I get it.  Makes sense, but....................
In a limited mode the customer has already connected his DVM to the
power and watched a steady 13.2vdc while the Touch Pad was cycling.

Not 100% that it is not a power cycle issue that can't be seen in
this way but.................

Thanks for the clarification!!!

Les