Visual 3 weird behavior and deep trouble

[yoohah]

Hi. I'm a first-time writer here. I've had an IHC setup for over 20 years and a few years ago I updated the controller to the latest version. Now one day ago the controller stopped working and I've tried to get it back to life with various tricks. I have a Windows 10 laptop that has previously worked both via USB and over the network (the controller is connected to a mesh router with a cable). The green OK light on the controller is on but it no longer controls any input and output modules. I've started it many times and waited 20 seconds in between. I've connected it to the computer with a USB cable, but the computer programs don't detect it. I've tried the official programs and IHC Starter. They've worked perfectly before. Although I've used the computer and cable very rarely. Many months ago. Also official firmware loader does not recognise the usb at all.

The controller failed last fall (it no longer worked via the network connection, I have a HomeAssistant installation and it controls some IHC functions)) and I removed the original SD card. I cloned it from the backup but I've been using the controller without the card and it's been working just fine up until now. IHC Starter says it doesn't recognize any USB drivers, and it can't find the controller via the USB cable or the network connection. The network connection doesn't seem to work at all, even though the connector LEDs are flashing. How do I restore the connection and get the controller working normally again? I'm in an emergency.

[Lars1]

It sounds like what happened to my Visual 3 controller too. I called LK and got it replaced.

Alternatively, you need to look for an used Visual 2 controller. It will work just as fine as the Visual 3 controller, unless you have LED dimmers, as Visual 2 doesn't support those.

[yoohah]

A follow-up to my accident. I had a 6 year old Visual 1 version controller on a shelf in the warehouse. I didn't think it would work anymore, but I replaced it with that broken VIsual 3 version. The surprise was when everything went back to normal and all the lighting and other things controlled by the IHC were working in the house. A couple of minor changes still need to be made to work by programming the IHC. As long as I can just get the computers hooked up to it on the serial bus. As I recall, it used to be a pain to get it to play with a Windows machine.
I'll send that broken controller to be examined, if there's a component that could be replaced to fix it.
Because of this problem, I'm thinking of starting a project to replace the electrical controls in my house away from the IHC system. I have already briefly researched various options, and so far switching to Shelly components seems to be a cheap and quick solution. Is there anyone here on the forum who has swapped the central bus components for Shelly products? For the more expensive ones like KNX I don't want to go with what I learned from this IHC saga. My house also has a well working HomeAssistant installation, so connecting new components to it using e.g. Shelly is completely painless.

[Bamse82]

20 timer siden, Lars1 skrev:

It sounds like what happened to my Visual 3 controller too. I called LK and got it replaced.

Alternatively, you need to look for an used Visual 2 controller. It will work just as fine as the Visual 3 controller, unless you have LED dimmers, as Visual 2 doesn't support those.

Hi. 

Mine just did the same. When where you able to get it replaced at Schneider? Thought they were all out. 

 

/Lasse

[Lars1]

5 timer siden, yoohah skrev:

 Is there anyone here on the forum who has swapped the central bus components for Shelly products? For the more expensive ones like KNX I don't want to go with what I learned from this IHC saga. My house also has a well working HomeAssistant installation, so connecting new components to it using e.g. Shelly is completely painless.

I haven't switched to Shelly, but I've looked at it and decided it's not the right way for me. It's a while back, but as far as I remember the reason is that it's using various communication standards depending on the components, and not all supports all communication standards. You therefore risk having a mixed setup. On top of that, I think there were some strange things with how you control the dimmers.

Regarding KNX, please bear in mind that it's not a proprietary product like LK IHC. It's an industry standard, which means there are multiple vendors, so if one decides to drop KNX you still have other vendors to choose from. I'm not 100%, but I actually think Shelly is proprietary like LK IHC, which means you have a greater risk ending up in the same situation with Shelly than with KNX.

[Lars1]

5 timer siden, Bamse82 skrev:

Mine just did the same. When where you able to get it replaced at Schneider? Thought they were all out. 

I got mine replaces about 3-6 months ago. Schneider got a number of Visual 3 controllers back from the technical schools, and they have been able to refurbished some too.

Go to lk.dk and click on support. There you will see all the contact info's. My experience is that they answer the phone pretty quickly, but the support form is slower and you might not get an answer at all.