Network Troubleshooting - Process of Elimination (Public)

Below you will find instructions for performing process of elimination troubleshooting on networks. This can be time-consuming on larger networks, but is extremely valuable for narrowing down potential problems in complex installations.

Before proceeding, ensure that all CAT5 on site meets MacroAir's CAT5 requirements, paying particular attention to the shielded requirement and the 568B pinout of the RJ45 male ends of the cable. Further troubleshooting will not be possible until these requirements are met.

In a standard network installation, the components involved in network communications are (in order):

Network Controller > RJ45 Female/Female Coupler (Controller 4 and AirLynk only) > CAT5 Cable > Control Panel RJ45 Female/Female IN Coupler>Control Panel Whip>RJ45 Terminal Block (Schneider VFD Only)>VFD

From that first control panel to the next fan and every fan after, the communication network connection looks like:

First VFD>Control Panel Whip>RJ45 Female/Female OUT Coupler>Cat5 Cable>RJ45 Female/Female IN Coupler>Control Panel Whip>RJ45 Terminal Block (Schneider VFD Only)> Second VFD

A failure of any one of these components can cause a network failure. Therefore, it is best to eliminate as many potential issues as possible and then work backwards until the problem is found. Typically, the best way to do this is:

1. Verify that the controller you are using supports networking and is capable of running the number of fans on the network.

• The standard touchscreen controller can only control a single fan and does not support networks.
• The Controller 4 can control up to 4 fans.
• The Controller 30 can control up to 30 fans.
• The AirLynk can control up to 30 fans.
• The Dual Control cannot be directly connected to a fan network on its own. It must be connected to an AirLynk. A Dual Control or Controller 30 can be identified by the software version when pressing the Settings (gear) button in the upper-right corner of the screen. The software version will contain "DC" in the version number for Dual Control, whereas a regular Controller 30 will show "MA" in the version number.

Dual Controller

Controller 30

2. Verify that the network controller is properly wired.

Controller 4

Controller 30/Dual Controller

AirLynk

3. Verify that the fans were ordered for a network. Fans not ordered for a network will not be properly addressed. Please contact MacroAir Technical Support for further details fan addressing. Do not modify the addresses or any VFD programming without the assistance of MacroAir Technical Support.

4. Verify that the VFD control panels are mounted in the proper order. If ordered for a network, every VFD control panel will have a sticker indicating the VFD network address. While it is possible for a network to function with addresses out of order, it is strongly recommended to mount VFDs in numerical address order to ensure the best operation of the network.

5. Unplug the rest of the network from the OUT port of the control panel you are working on.

6. (Schneider Only; For Yaskawa, proceed immediately to step 7) Plug a diagnostic touchscreen directly into the bottom of the VFD. Remove the orange and orange/white wires from the STO and P24 terminals and place a jumper between them (be sure to reconnect the orange pairs to those terminals when troubleshooting is done).

• If everything is functional, the VFD can be eliminated as a potential issue. Proceed to step 7.
• If it is not functional, verify that the diagnostic remote works on another fan if possible. If the remote is good, the issue is with the VFD. Contact MacroAir Technical Support for additional troubleshooting steps.

7. Plug the touchscreen into the IN port of the control panel.

• If everything is functional, the female/female coupler and control panel wiring harness (the end that goes into the IN port) can be eliminated as potential issues. Confirm that the VFD address matches the address sticker on the control panel (contact Technical Support for details). Skip to step 9.
• If it is not functional, the issue lies with the control panel whip, female/female coupler, or Yaskawa VFD. Contact MacroAir Technical Support to verify communication programming and wiring on the VFD, and if it looks good, proceed to step 8.

8. Switch the control panel wiring harness RJ45 male ends on the couplers. Move the plug on the inside of the IN female/female coupler to the inside of the OUT coupler and vice versa.

• If everything is functional, the IN port is bad. Try plugging the network controller into the OUT port instead. If it all works, a new coupler is necessary. If the network controller still does not work, proceed to step 9.
• If everything is not functional, both couplers are likely good and can be eliminated as potential issues. The issue is likely with the wiring harness. Check that the pinout is the correct 568B on both ends. Only the end meant for the IN port will have the brown/white wire terminated.

9. Plug the touchscreen in down at the ground (AirLynk) or wire it up using the CAT5 wires from the Controller 30.

• If everything is functional, the female/female coupler on the AirLynk enclosure and the CAT5 between the network controller and the first panel can be eliminated as potential issues. Proceed to step 10.
• If everything is not functional, there is an issue with the CAT5 cable between the network controller and the first control panel. Check the pinout on both ends and ensure it is the correct 568B configuration. A new CAT5 cable may be necessary.

10. Plug/wire the network controller back in.

• If everything works, there may have just been a loose connection somewhere. Plug in the rest of the fans back into the OUT port of the control panel you were working on. If there is another issue after that, proceed to step 11.
• If everything is not functional, there may be an issue with the controller itself. Confirm the proper wiring and programming. Ensure that everything is set up correctly, especially in terms of AirLynk and MSTP versus IP control. Contact MacroAir Technical Support for assistance with controller software programming.

11. After plugging the rest of the network back into the OUT port of the control panel you were working on, proceed to the next control panel in line and unplug the rest of the network from the OUT port of that panel.

12. Proceed with steps 5-8 above. If the above steps do not resolve the issue, proceed to step 13.

13. Go to the control panel in line in front of the control panel you are working on (if you are at fan 2, go to the control panel for fan 1). Unplug the wiring harness from the inside of the OUT female/female control panel coupler and plug the touchscreen in.

• If everything is functional, there may be an issue with the wiring harness side meant to be plugged into the OUT port. Check that the pinout is the correct 568B. Only the end meant for the IN port will have the brown/white wire terminated.
• If everything is not functional, there is likely an issue with the CAT5 cable between the control panels. Check the pinout on both ends and ensure it is the correct 568B configuration. A new CAT5 cable may be necessary.