Rain8Net+ outputs 24 VAC on RS-232 port!

AnthonyZ

AnthonyZ

Active Member
So I went to add my first Rain8 ever today to a client's HAI rig. Imagine my surprise when my fused 24VAC supply kept blowing fuses. I searched high and low for shorts before I finally found that the RS-232 port had AC voltage on it's pins. A couple had 13VAC but the bulk had 24 VAC. No pin was dry. WTF? So, I tried to call WGL and got a generic voice mail ("You have reached 210-___-____", very unprofessional). Emailed but received no response. Is WGL a "real" company or is it a guy in his garage? Anyone else ever seen similar?
 
Anthony;

WGL is indeed a 'real' company (I've met the owner who's initial's make up the name ;) ). I have faith they will indeed solve your problem when you get hold of them.

I'm not familiar with that particular model, but some use the RS-232 port to transfer 24 VAC power to other daisey changed modules. I'm wondering off hand if that is what you see. Are you seeing 24 VAC on the data pins (most likely 2, 3, and 5)?

Does the module keep blowing fuses with nothing else plugged into the unit (valves, etc...)?
 
BraveSirRobbin said:
Anthony;

WGL is indeed a 'real' company (I've met the owner who's initial's make up the name ;) ). I have faith they will indeed solve your problem when you get hold of them.

I'm not familiar with that particular model, but some use the RS-232 port to transfer 24 VAC power to other daisey changed modules. I'm wondering off hand if that is what you see. Are you seeing 24 VAC on the data pins (most likely 2, 3, and 5)?

Does the module keep blowing fuses with nothing else plugged into the unit (valves, etc...)?
Click to expand...
It's this part. There are daisy chain ports on the lower right hand side for addt'l controllers. The voltage issue I have is on the RS-232 port on the lower left. The module itself appears fine. The problem arises if it's serial cable (silver satin) is jacked into the HAI panel's serial port. I have a fuse in place between the 24VAC transformer and the HAI panel's power terminals and that's the one that keeps blowing.
 
I"m not familiar with HAI, but are you powering this (WGL) unit from the HAI panel directly? I.E. you don't have a separate 24 VAC XFrmr dedicated to powering 'just' the WGL unit?

I tried looking at THIS document from WGL's site showing HAI integration, but it wasn't clear (to me) on how to wire it into the HAI system.
 
So, it turns out that this was my fault. For those who are looking to add a Rain8Net to an HAI rig, DO NOT USE THE WGL SUPPLIED SILVER SATIN SERIAL CABLE! They ship with a 6 conductor cable and you must use a 4 conductor cable or damage WILL occur. Unfortunately, you will only find this out if you screw up or if you scroll down on the WGL page for the Rain8Net and download a .pdf that states this. As I already knew what I needed and had already programmed the HAI system for it, I didn't bother to look at it. I have advised Warren to more prominently display it on the device description on his site (kind of dumb not to if you ask me). The good news is that it is repairable (the chip is bad so I have to RMA it).
 
That's a pretty painful lesson, thanks for sharing, hopefully Warren will update the site.
 
The documentation also contradicts. Sometimes it states use a cross over cable and other times is states to use a straight. Mine didn't blow, but when I had it wired wrong one of the red lights on the serial port would just stay on as it was getting power from the rainetpro. I ran into so many issues with the integration that I gave up. The rainetpro would occasionally drop commands and/or not receive them. This would leave zones running or not start. I verified that the HAI was sending the serial commands via connecting a terminal simulator to the output. Also was able to control the rainetpro directly from a pc without an issue. Bottom line is that the integration between these two products using rs232 is not bullet proof. GIven this is for irrigation, I didn't want to chance an issue. May have just been me. Good luck. SJ
 
If I was WGL... I would add a sticker to the cable that states "do not use this cable wth HAL pannels." simple and efficient.
 
I got the "repaired" module back from WGL yesterday and tried to installntoday. It was not repaired and there is still voltage on two pins. I am dead in the water at this point and starting to wonder if the Rain8 is the way to go. Warren must monitor this site as he has now put a clear warning regarding the serial cable on the website page for the product.
 
Can you put that on a computer's serial port and see if anything show up with hyperterminal? Just wondering if the HAI unit got damaged somehow.
 
BraveSirRobbin said:
Can you put that on a computer's serial port and see if anything show up with hyperterminal? Just wondering if the HAI unit got damaged somehow.
Click to expand...
I'm not comfortable plugging it into my notebook when there is voltage on two pins. The voltage was metered prior to anything else being terminated to the module and yet Warren insists it was repaired. I received an email back from Warren stating that he just wants the unit returned for a refund. No explanation of what's going on. No offer to repair or replace. He is just washing his hands of the potential relationship (which is too bad as I have been averaging 1-2 HAI installs a month). Se la vie...
 
I went ahead and just built my own. If Warren doesn't want to do business, so be it. I just used an Arduino (Fundamental Logic MaxSerial), a handful of 5VDC relays and, voila, I have "FrankenSprinks", my own version of the irrigation module. Hardware, done. Software, done. Now I just need to test via HAI's ProLink and call it done.
 
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