My experience with Simply Automated PIM (UCM-DB9)

spintop1

Member
Hi Folks

I wanted to share with you my experience with using the SA UCM-DB9 interfaced to the ELK M1. I commissioned the setup in the fall of 2008. I have a dozen or so UPB devices in use, mostly lighting. Until last week I have never had an issue with the setup. All loads are controlled by the ELK and commands are sent and received without fail, every time. I have two UPSs in the house and almost all lights are CFLs. I don't do any dimming of lights. I program the PIM (UCM-DB9) with UPStart using an old laptop with a DB9 serial port. Once programming of UPB devices is complete, I plug the same cable into the ELK M1 serial interface board. I use rules in the ELK to command the UPB devices.

Now to my story:

I came home from work and there were no lights on, first time ever. I went to the control panel and saw the Elk was fine but the PIM had no lights. I cannot say for sure what the initiating event may have been, but I do know there were some power problems in our area last week, hydro was having some regulation issues with bringing on another generator. This is the only thing I can think of that might have caused the failure.

I had never had any issues with it before so I called Ken at Simply Automated and he said the power supply in the module had failed (indicated by NO LIGHTS AT ALL). Ten seconds hadn't passed into the conversation and Ken offered to send me out another module FREE OF CHARGE. I have to say that I was very surprised with this gesture. I will be going back to them in the future for more UPB products.

The new module will be here next week.....takes a long time.... I'm in Canada Eh!!

Anyway, there you are....one satisfied Coocooner!!

Cheers!
Steve
 
I'm not very surprised by that at all. One of the best support providers in the world in my opinion.
 
concur. I had an issue with a UML a while back and they sent a new one right out, no questions asked.
 
I can also vouch for this - I won't go into details, but Ken at SA went so far above and beyond what I'd ever expect, they have a customer for life in me.
 
I received my replacement the unit. I plugged it in and on came the light at the usual time. This setup is very easy to work on. It's been such a long time that I forgot that the UPB devices maintained the setup and of course so did the Elk. All I had to do was replace the PIM. Most of you know this already, but for the newbies out there, I figured this might help them decide on install products.
 
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