newbie upb question

[dustin2471]

Hello All,

A while ago I replaced allot of my switches with SA 1140 UPB switches, the SA software detected them and identified them, about a month ago my laptop hard drive died, I replaced it and reinstalled the SA software now it doesnt pick up all the upb switches? Any ideas, I am about to install my HAI OPII and am now distracted by wanting to get this issue solved beofre starting another possible issue (installing the HAI).

Thank You,
dustin

 

[TurboSam]

I would try this:  
 
Have Upstart "Read all" of your currently-identifiable switches and save that file.  
 
Then, one at a time, put each of the the switches Upstart has not found or identified in setup mode and read that switch into Upstart since the switch should still have the internal configuration that previously existed (unless you have overwritten it) and save the file.  Once you do that to each switch, your Upstart file should be back to where it was in the old laptop.

 

[Desert_AIP]

You should be able to do a Network Discovery, under the Network menu item.
It should be able to read all the switches and their settings in.


You may get more responses if you change the typo in your thread title from spb to UPB.

 

[dustin2471]

Hi and thank you for the replies.
 
I have performed the read all and network discovery function and it did discover most of my switches, however not all of them.  I will try to discover them in setup mode and see if it recognizes them after that.  the existing programming is/was still on the switches so that made things easier for the most part, I did notice some of the programming was off a little?  Has anyone tried the phase coupler? and did it work?
 
Thank You,
Dustin

 

[Desert_AIP]

You need at least one phase coupler.

That may be why some are not reading into the network, if they are on the other phase.
In the mean time, you can swap the PIM to a circuit on the other phase and try the Network Discovery again.

You can add multiple SA couplers.

I use the breaker box and wire in versions and have a total of three.
Multiple couplers help boost the signal if you have attenuation problems, like an electric water heater.

 

[tmbrown97]

I didn't need a phase coupler in my last house, but this one I am currently running 4 of them... 3 wire-in right under the panel (didn't have the space for more than 1 in-panel one).  I noticed a jump in signal with the addition of each one testing in between, although the 4th one was almost no change; I just went overboard from the start.  I also tested with one in-panel vs. one wire-in and the single in-panel gave me a stronger signal; although by going separate and adding 3 I got a much bigger boost. The 4th is just a dryer plug-in version that's probably pretty unnecessary now.

 

[dustin2471]

Thank You all for the responses, I feel confident now that I need at least 1 probably two converters.  

 

[tmbrown97]

I would add one to each panel - main and sub, just for starters; if you have the room for in-panel ones they're pretty easy; otherwise you could do like I did and run a box for a wired-in as that was pretty simple and lets you add more if needed.
 
You can also totally test this theory before spending the money by moving your PIM to another circuit on the other phase and/or closer to the panel and retesting - if upstart finds the other half, then you have your answer.
 
Under the menus there's a Network Comm Test that will give you even more info about sigal of each device and let you run tests; those test results can also be converted and pulled up in Excel for further analysis.

 

[dustin2471]

Thank you all for your responses, I should be getting two phase couplers in the mail today or tomorrow?  I will do some testing and write the results before I install and then after I install one then the other just to see what the gain is? Again, Thank You!

 

[dustin2471]

I received the second phase coupler and installed it yesterday my signal strength definitely improved on most of my switches, still cant see the switch in the garage and actually my signal strength went down on a couple other switches?  I am keeping both of them installed as there is a benefit.  Thank You for all the responses, I really appreciate them.
 
Thank You,
Dustin

 

[Desert_AIP]

Is your garage light flourescent?
Does it make a difference in comms reliabiltity if you have that light on or not?
 
My overhead shop lights were very noisy, and I lost comms to the switches when the lights were on.
I had to wire in noise filters, and now they work great.

 

[dustin2471]

I do have a couple flourescents in the garage, but the switch in the garage is actually for the outside xmas lights, there is a relay that this switches on similar to a doorbell relay and that upb switch is the one I am not seeing in upstart.

 

[Desert_AIP]

Are you saying the power to the switch itself is controlled by a relay?

 

[dustin2471]

no the power is not controlled by the relay, it is a gfci circuit that when you switch the power on tyou can hear the relay "clunk" on, if the gfci pops then you have no power, works just fine for everything except for discovery?

 

[Desert_AIP]

If the switch is on the load side of the GFCI, the signal may not be getting across. 
Interesting.