RKE HELP

[markak]

No, I had a RKE before and when I connected the new PB4's and other modules it screwed up the head unit. So I had to get a new RKE Head Unit. Sent the old one to DA and they said it was fried. Funny thing is it was working before I hooked it up to the new PB4, for a day or 2 then it fried the head unit. DA said power surge, I had no power surge at my house,and or if it could be fixed, it was past the warranty. Now I'm having all this trouble trying to hook up PB4's. I never had any trouble with hooking up the PC4'sand other modules. What is the difference with PC4 and a PB4?

 

[n2585722]

The PB4 is a new remake of the PC4. It has a 600ma buss power supply instead of the 300ma the PC4 had. It also has snubbers on CH2 and CH3 so you can use low power pumps on those outputs. It no longer has the current readback. I assume it has a different controller chip so that is probably the reason for a different module name. That way the firmware doesn't get updated to the older PC4's and brick them in the process.

 

[markak]

Thanks n2585722. Can I Pm you?

 

[markak]

OK, this is what I have done. Plugged in head unit into each PB4, none of them show up on the head unit. I plugged each 1 at time into My Reef to see if any need updated. None needed updated but I reupdated them anyway. Then went back to My Reef to see if they would show up, well the didn't. Next thing was to see if Bus Cables were bad. Hooked up Head Unit to a PB4 to see if it powered up the head unit, found only 1 bad cable. Next was to use My Reef to see if PB4 shows up, so I hooked up a PB4, it showed up in My Reef, so next was to jump a bus cable to the next PB4, so 2 PB4's should have showed, but no the first PB4 disappeared and was replaced with a bunch of ?????. didn't matter what PB4 I hooked up it does the same. I'm at a loss what to do next. Any thing I haven't done or can try let me know. Sent an e-mail and phone call into DA, now its a waiting game in days or weeks to get an answer.

 

[n2585722]

myReef is in firmware update mode so more than one module is not suppose to be hooked up. Ok now hook and additional SL module with a PB4 powered. Make sure the SID is not hooked to the system at this point. If the head unit is not seeing either module let me know.

 

[markak]

Thanks, I updated each module separate one at a time not connected with anything, only the SID. Did what you said, PB4 or the SL2 don't show on the head unit, blank screen for in and out . SL2 blue light blinking and the green PB4 light blinking too.

 

[n2585722]

I think it is down to the RKE head unit. Have you done a reset to factory default on it yet?

 

[markak]

Sorry had a dog Vet emergency. Yes did that too. Also did a reupdate (3.2) on it. The Head Unit is new. Eric did send me a email, he is checking to see if I got another bad 10 ft bus cable.

 

[n2585722]

OK, I am trying something on mine and I will get back.

 

[markak]

Ok, Thank You

 

[markak]

I just tried plugging in the Head Unit into each PB4 one at a time and the Head Unit (powers up) but doesn't find any of them. Also tried plugging in a bus cable from a PB4 to the SLX then the Head Unit plugged into the SLX, power to the Head unit but doesn't find the SLX or the PB4.

 

[n2585722]

When you have the head unit hooked to myReef click on it like you are going to do a firmware update. There is a button to the right of the version file. Click on that and see if you have an earlier version for the head unit. The way it updates it will not rewrite if the version you are on is the same as the update version. It will only update the flash memory. It updates 3 banks of this in the second stage of the head unit update. If you have an earlier version you might try updating with that and then updating to 3.02 from that version. While it is on that version you can see if it sees one of the SL modules.

 

[n2585722]

Have to go. Got work early tomorrow. I wont be on as much the rest of the week. I will check when I can.

 

[markak]

Thank You for your help.

 

[markak]

update.... Did what the DA Forum said to do, now my SID won't work on my Laptop anymore. Here is what they said to do.

 

[n2585722]

Those are instructions for updating the head unit if you have issues updating the flash memory. This is where the display data and other items are stored. I have never tried that with a PB4. You will probably need to contact Eric a DA support and let him know. There may be an issue with one or more of the PB4's.

 

[markak]

Those are instructions for updating the head unit if you have issues updating the flash memory. This is where the display data and other items are stored. I have never tried that with a PB4. You will probably need to contact Eric a DA support and let him know. There may be an issue with one or more of the PB4's.

That's what I was trying to do, the head unit won't update the flash file, it comes up error. I did send Eric a email 2 days ago, still waiting on a reply. This waiting days to get support help is BS. My RKE has not been up and running in over 2 months. I'm about to box all this DA controller junk, and send it back to DA, and tell them I want my money back. This problem should have been solved already. LOUSY CUSTOMER SERVICE.

 

[n2585722]

OK, so if you unhook the SID form everything and hook it back to the computer what happens exactly? Is it not there at all or does it just say it is not myReef compatible?

 

[markak]

After trying to do an update on the head unit the way DA says to do it, now when I plug in the SID the computer windows USB device not recognized or has malfunctioned. Now I can't even use the SID to get to the RKE system. I tried the SID on another computer and does the same thing.