Troubleshooting guide to solve this problem:
Meter will not connect to PSM Software

Introduction

When a PowerSight meter is physically connected to a computer running PowerSight Manager (PSM) software and PSM agrees that the PowerSight meter is attached and working, we consider the meter to be “connected” and PSM displays that status against a green background.

When a meter is absent or PSM does not agree that it is connected and compatible, then it is considered to be “not connected” and PSM displays that status against a red background.

If the unit is “Not Connected”, you will not be able to retrieve logs or waveforms, or any other information from the unit.

We intend for all models of PowerSight to “connect” to the latest version of PowerSight Manager software (PSM) installed on any PC running Windows 95 or higher, anywhere in the world.  This document is intended to aid you in achieving the connection.

Follow this troubleshooting guide to solve the problem.  This document has hyperlinks embedded in it.  The hyperlinks will be blue and underlined.  When you click on them, you will be taken to the next correct step.

Quick Check

1. Is the PowerSight meter turned on and operating?  If it is operating, the LCD of PowerSight will have characters displayed. If you press the “Time” button, the present time will be displayed and will increment each second.
2. Is the communications cable plugged deeply into the PowerSight and screwed firmly into the DB9 connector of the PC?
3. Is PSM running?
4. Are PSM and the PowerSight meter set for the same communications speed? PowerSight models PS250 and PS3000 operate at 9600 bps.  PS4000 can be set for speeds from 9600 bps to 115,200 bps (generally, 57,600 bps is recommended).  PSM is set under the “Software Options” button of the main menu.
5. Is PSM looking at the correct communications port to find the PowerSight meter?  You can select the communications port under the “Software Options” button of the main menu.

Detailed Troubleshooting Guide

S100                Can’t connect to PSM successfully

Try one more time to connect before progressing.  If unsuccessful, check if the PowerSight meter is turned on and operating.  If it is operating, the LCD of PowerSight will have characters displayed. If you press the “Time” key on PowerSight, the present time will be displayed and it will change each second.  Is it on and operating?  “Yes”, go to S300.  “No”, go to S200.

S200                PowerSight is not operating

Check that the meter is turned on.  Press the on/off switch down for ½ second once and then once again, if necessary.  Did this turn the unit on?

“Yes”, go to S100.  “No”, go to S400.

S300                Meter seems to be operating correctly

Examine the pins of both ends of the communications cable.  Are they straight?  If not, straighten them.  Are any of the pins recessed in the connector?  If so, at least temporarily pull them back out, so that they are even with the other pins.  Press the round mini-DIN8 connector of the communications cable firmly into the mating jack of PowerSight.  Press it in VERY firmly.  Attach the oblong DB9 connector of the communications cable into its mating jack on your PC and screw it in place.  Try to connect again.  If successful, congratulations.  If unsuccessful, proceed to S600.

S400                Meter is on, but not operating

Is the power cord plugged into the 12Vdc jack at the top end of PowerSight?  “Yes”, go to S450. “No”, go to S440.

S440                Power cord not plugged into PowerSight

Plug the power cord into the +12DC input of PowerSight.  Return to S100.

S450                Power cord is in PowerSight

To the left of the +12VDC input there is a small hole for the charging indicator light.  Is the charging indicator light shining with a red light?

“Yes”, go to S470.  “No”, go to S460.

S460                Charging light is not lit

If the power cord comes from a wall charger, is it plugged into the wall?  If it comes from a Line-to-DC converter (LDC), is the LDC hooked up to power? 

If you are using a wall charger, it must be plugged into an energized socket with the proper voltage supplied.  Summit has wall chargers for North American standard (120V 60Hz, CHG3 for PS3000, CHG4 for PS250/4000) and the European standard (220V 50Hz, CHG1 for PS250/4000, CHG2 for PS3000).

If you are using an LDC, we have the LDC2 for PS250, the LDC or LDC3 for PS3000, and the LDC4 for PS250/4000.  All LDCs can operate off input voltages of from 100 Vrms to 600 Vrms, 50 Hz to 60 Hz, phase-phase or phase-neutral.

If you have an AC voltmeter available, check that the correct supply voltage is present.  If it is present, use a DC voltmeter to check the output.  Any voltage from 9 VDC to 25 VDC is acceptable as an output.

If you’ve made a correction (like plugging in the wall charger or turning on the wall socket), go to S100.

If you found that there was no input voltage to the charger or if you had the wrong charger or LDC, resolve that problem and then go back to S100.

If the proper input is available and the proper charger is being used, but the output is less than +9VDC or more than +25VDC, the problem is with the charger.  If you use an LDC, check that its fuses in the input leads are not burned out.  Contact Summit Technology for repair or replacement: support@SummitTechnology.com.

If the proper output, nominally +12 VDC, is now plugged into PowerSight but the charging indicator light is not lit, there is a problem with PowerSight.  Contact Summit Technology for repair or replacement:  support@SummitTechnology.com.

S470    Charging indicator is lit, but PowerSight is not operating

Contact Summit Technology for repair: support@SummitTechnology.com.

S600                Meter and communications cable seem to be fine.

Close PSM and then restart the program.  If it connected successfully, congratulations.  If an error message like “COM1 in use.  Some Functions Disabled” appears, go to S650.

If it attempts to connect for just a few seconds and then displays “No Unit Connected”, go to S665.

S650                COMx in use message

The communications port of your PC that you are attempting to use is assigned to some other program.  Quickly determine if PSM is already running in another window.  If this is the case, close any other window with PSM running in it and go to S600.  If there is no other window open with PSM running in it, go to S660.

S660                Some program is using COMx

There is an application using the COM port you want to use.  Maybe the communications cable isn’t even connected to that port.  Click on the “Software Options” button of the Main Menu.  Click on the entry of the Serial Port box and select each of the other serial ports that are presented.  After each selection, click on the “OK” button in order to attempt to connect.  If one of these COM ports results in a connection, congratulations, you have solved the problem.  That successful setting is the COM port now assigned to the connection to your communications cable.    

If you are using a USB-to-serial converter, that may be the problem.  Our web site has a list of converters that are known to work http://www.powersight.biz/an02042USBtoRS232.pdf.  If you are using a Belkin converter, that is the problem.  We have been unable to get their support in resolving the communications problem.

If none of the COM ports available work, and the preferred port still has a message like “COM1 in use.  Some Functions Disabled” when you attempt to connect, go to S664.

If none of the COM ports available work, and the preferred COM port does NOT have a message like “COM1 in use.  Some Functions Disabled”, go to S665.

S664                Still “COM1 in use.  Some Functions Disabled”

Close all open Windows programs, restart PSM, and attempt to connect again.

If the previous actions provide no improvement, shut down your computer in an orderly fashion.  Shut it all the way down, leaving power off for 5 seconds before starting it up again.  When it is running again, attempt to connect with PSM.

If the previous actions provide no improvement and you have Palm Pilot software loaded, go to S666.

If the previous actions provide no improvement, Press cntl+alt+del once.  Open the Windows Task Manager and inspect the lists of applications and processes that are running.  If any of them seem likely to be using the COM port, proceed to terminate them. 

If all the previous actions provide no improvement, contact technical support:  support@SummitTechnology.com.

S665                Preferred port will not connect

If you are using PSM version 3.00 or higher, at the Main menu, click on “Software Options” and inspect the “Speed”.  If you are attempting to connect to a PS250 or PS3000, set the speed for 9600 and then OK.  If you are attempting to connect to a PS4000, press the “Admin” button on your PS4000 multiple times until it displays the “Current Baud Rate”.  Make sure that baud rate agrees with the speed setting of PSM.  If they don’t, change them to agree and attempt to connect again (generally 57600 is a good baud rate for all systems).  If they still don’t connect, set them both to 9600 baud and attempt to connect again.

If you are using a PSM version below 3.00, it will not be able to connect to either the PS250 or the PS4000.

 If you still can’t connect, the likely explanations are that you either are connected to the wrong connector for the COM port you are attempting to use or your serial port is not working.  Sometimes the serial ports of laptops are disabled in order to conserve power.  This is something that can be checked following power-up and prior to Windows starting.  If you have another device that can work using the serial port, contact technical support: support@SummitTechnology.com.  Otherwise, have your serial port checked.

S666                Palm Pilot software is installed and cannot connect

Open the Palm Hotsync Manager.  Usually there is an icon for the Hotsync Manager at the lower right of your screen, next to the time presentation.  The icon is shown on the right. Double click on the icon or enter the Hotsync Manager application through the Windows “Start” key.

At the main menu, click on “Setup”, then “General”.  There will be a choice of when the Hotsync Manager is to be run.  If there is a check mark next to the option of “Always Available [put in Strartup Folder]”, this is the problem.  We recommend that you check the option “Available only when the Palm Desktop is running”.  This way, whenever you enter your Palm Desktop, you will automatically start the Hotsync Manager.  The other option of “Manual” will work fine, too, but you will need to remember to manually start the Hotsync Manager whenever you want to synchronize your Palm to your computer.

Once you have made the change, click “OK” and then restart your computer.  Go back to S664.

Technical Support
Summit Technology
support@SummitTechnology.com
www.SummitTechnology.com