Lightning struck 8x24 - how long to boot up?

[DavidMeed]

We have a Meridian 8x24DS system with 12x0 and 0x16 expansion modules. It was installed in the early 90's and has served admirably with 8 lines, 4 DID trunks and about 40 phone sets, Startalk flash and CID.

We had a lightning strike beside the building and the system stopped working (along with the fire alarm, security system, etc. etc.)

We ordered all new boxes, copper expansion card and DID card and dropped them in using our old programming card. When we connected everything up the phones simply flash all the "lamps" (or lcds) on each phone and continue doing that as long as power is applied. (Waited over an hour).

We then dropped everything except the bare 8x24DS KSU, plugged in another 50 pair plug to the phone set plug and put a brand new 7324 across the white/blue pair. It still just flashes every indicator on the phone and nothing else happens (even after 4 or 5 hours) We are waiting for date and time to show on the phone so we can go in and start programming. It doesn't appear to start even with a brand new software card in it (DR5.1).

How long should we wait for startup/boot of the system? What indicators do we have that it is booted up?

I noticed that the extensions are supposed to start at 221, but our CAP is 230 and the extensions go up from there - maybe the ports were assigned different intercom # in programming? Or should I be connecting that set to a different pair? Should I be using a 7310 on that first port instead of the 7324 for testing purposes?

This is a "like new" 8x24DS with a "like new" DR5.1 software and one phone set connected to the white/blue pair on the phone sets port.

Any suggestions?

Thank you
David Meed

 

[curlycord]

Flashing when booting then steady time and date means finished.
Can take 20 minutes give or take at times.

Try removing all modules and just boot KSU with software and nvram data sleeve
Also did you replace the data cartridge nvram sleeve too (what the software plugs into) or just the software? what version is the sleeve/nvram?








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curlycord

http://www.curlycord.com

Toronto Canada

http://www.telcopc.ca

 

[norstarboy125]

You should really call in a Norstar tech on this one, not something the average person wants to attempt.

Charm City Communications

http://www.charmcitycommunications.com

 

[DavidMeed]

curlycord (Programmer) said:
>Flashing when booting then steady time and date means finished.

We never get to this point.


>Can take 20 minutes give or take at times.

Under what circumstances would it take 20 minutes to boot?
With a bare KSU all by itself with just one phone set connected, how long??


>Try removing all modules and just boot KSU with software and nvram data sleeve

This is what we did - still no joy...


>Also did you replace the data cartridge nvram sleeve too (what the software plugs into) or just the software? what version is the sleeve/nvram?

Replaced both the software and the data cartridge.

Our sleeve had a tag NT5B49FA-93 Rel 01 A
The new sleeve is tagged NT5B49FA-93 Rel 01

Our software was "NT5B24CJ-93 Rel 01A 1998/10/09 CDA-8x24-DR5.1 V12.5
New Software reads "NT5B24DK-93 Rel 01 MFG 970422 USA-8x24-DR5.1 V12.5


norstarboy125 said:
>You should really call in a Norstar tech on this one, not something the average person wants to attempt.

Our business manager has programmed the system since it was installed whenever we moved sets or changed anything around. He was hands on with the original installation, but doesn't remember all the gory details of that initial startup and setup after 15 or 20 years. He is just shuddering at the thought that we may have lost the data in the data cartridge. I'm reluctant to plug in our nvram into a base system since reading about how it defaults back to blank (until we are sure we've lost it anyway...)

If that is NVRam how come we would loose the data - I thought NVRam was semi-permanent unless erased by a command. What causes the data loss in these 8x24 KSUs when the power goes down??

David Meed

 

[Firebird Scrambler]

I used to install the good old 8+24 system in the UK, although the software was different for the UK market. I think Curly's advice is important in that you should unplug everything first and just power up the main control panel with a couple of extensions installed.

Make sure that all of the fibre cables and power leads to the expansion modules are disconnected and only have a couple of digital phones wired up.

From my memory some time ago, I had a site that failed during an upgrade and all the sets just kept flashing all the time. As far as I remember, we had a faulty control unit. This meant a full reprogram of the switch.

We never had any software in those days to backup the data. Do you have any system backup?. I don't know if the 8+24 in your country ever had any backup and restore function?.

All the best

Firebird Scrambler
Meridian 1 / Succession and BCM / Norstar Programmer in the UK

http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbromley

If it's working, then leave it alone!.

 

[DavidMeed]

firebirdscrambler (Programmer) said:
=====================================
>...I think Curly's advice is important in that you should unplug everything first and just power up the main control panel with a couple of extensions installed.
=====================================

From what I'm reading here, this has the unfortunate side effect of erasing all the programming on our nvram sleeve as the system defaults when it doesn't find the expansion units. (Who ever designed that feature (bug!))

I did set up a basic system using the "new" sleeve and software, but it didn't work, either with the "new" software cartridge or our old lightning struck cartridge.

And then I got desperate. I've read several threads about discharging the backup capacitors to restart locked up systems, so what have I got to loose?

So I open up the NVRam sleeve to get at the capacitors, and what do I see but a bent pin in the middle of the software cartridge header.

Hmmmmm....

(And those 1 F capacitors have some corrosion on top of them, and measure 0.45 volts just 12 hours after being plugged in...)

Straighten up the pin, put things back together, hold your breath as you power up and just a few seconds later we have a solid date and time on the phone set.

The moral of the story - double check simple things like bent pins on all the connected cards. (Though why this was shipped with a bent pin and dead capacitors is a matter I'll be taking up with my vendor.)


=====================================
davidmeed said:
>If that is NVRam how come we would loose the data - I thought NVRam was semi-permanent unless erased by a command. What causes the data loss in these 8x24 KSUs when the power goes down??
=====================================

This is not really NVRam as I understand it - it is CMOS static ram with a capacitor backup that will keep the data intact as long as the capacitor holds the charge - which can be from 1 year for a new capacitor to nothing at all for a failed capacitor. Theoretically the capacitors should last longer than rechargeable batteries which die in 5-7 years, but I guess the capacitors aren't living up to their expected lifetimes. (Mind you, our original KSU motherboard capacitor still looks in good shape at 15 years old - it's reading 3 volts after a couple of weeks unplugged.)


=====================================
firebirdscrambler (Programmer) said:
>We never had any software in those days to backup the data. Do you have any system backup?. I don't know if the 8+24 in your country ever had any backup and restore function?.
=====================================

Is there a backup and restore function for customer data on the 8x24? I'm going to be checking into that promptly. I know we have an SMDR3 that spits out all kinds of call log data.


David (at least it boots now) Meed

 

[norstarboy125]

It would of made more sense to just ditch that old dinosaur and upgrade it to at least a MICS. That thing did it's job and then some but for how cheap you can pick up a refurb 0x32 cabinet it's a no brainer to take the upgrade path. Anyway I'm sure a older version of NRU can accommodate you with a backup of the system.

Charm City Communications

http://www.charmcitycommunications.com

 

[Firebird Scrambler]

Hello David

It's so good to hear that you were able to find a bent pin and get the system up and running again. I can't answer some of your queries as I moved onto Option 11's and in the UK, BCM's started to roll out. Despite what you have been through, it's funny that the problem was down to a physical issue rather than corruption and these Norstars still keep on going which to be fair is pretty damm good for a product in today's climate.

All the best

Firebird Scrambler
Meridian 1 / Succession and BCM / Norstar Programmer in the UK

http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbromley

If it's working, then leave it alone!.

 

[curlycord]

When your a tech and on site you check everything and fix within the hour.
When you try to help customers in forums you can forget something and can take days to resolve.
Best to always call in a tech for issues like this so you will have little down time.









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curlycord

http://www.curlycord.com

Toronto Canada

http://www.telcopc.ca