Most of our intercom systems have stations (room and patio) that can control the system by using the buttons on the station. They can raise, or lower, the system-wide volume and even turn the system on or off. IF one of these stations develops a short, you can find your system turn on by itself, have the volume turn all the way up, and can't seem to regain control over your system.

The following is an explanation of a procedure to track down a station that may have taken over control of your master unit.  This test is also referred to as the "Black Wire Test".  This procedure is valid for most, if not all, of our 3- or 4-wire systems. If you have a system that uses more than 4 conductors for each station, please call our Technical Support line at (800) 421-1587 for information on your particular unit.

To begin, it is a good idea to know where your power supply, also called a transformer, is for the master.  The power supply can be found by removing the master unit from the wall and looking for a group of 5 wires that are twisted together like a small rope.  This is your power cord.  Follow it away from the master and at the end will be a white plastic plug.  This plug is attached to your power supply.  Before you attach or remove any wires from the master, it is always a good idea to disconnect the power supply from the master before proceeding.  

After the power has been disconnected, follow these steps to find your rogue, or bad, station:

1.  Look for a group of black wires that are all attached to a single terminal.  This terminal should be labeled as "black".

2.  Remove all of these wires from the terminal and then separate them.

Depending on how many black wires you have (you should have one for each station) you will need to separate these into manageable sets.  For instance, if you have 9 black wires, you can separate them into 2 groups (4 and 5) or 3 groups (three groups of 3).  You will be testing each group until you find a group that, when attached, causes the problem associated with your master unit (intercom turns on by itself, increases the volume level, disallows user control or functionality).

1.  Connect the first group of black wires.

2.  Reconnect the power to the master.

3. Test the master to see if you have regained control. When the problem is associated with the master malfunctioning, your only option is to wait and see if this group of black wires produces the problem.  You will need to wait a sufficient amount of time until you believe you have proven they do not contain the offending station.  While you are waiting, you can place the master back into the wall, but be careful you do let the loose black wires rub up against the circuitry of the master.

Please note that while these black wires are detached, you will not have full functionality at every station.  The stations whose black wire has been removed will not be able to perform some functions, but will be able to hear voice and music.

If this group of wires does not produce the problem, then remove them and test the next group.  Continue this process until you have either tested all groups, or you have found the one that contains the bad station. If you have tested all of the wire groups, and still have not found the problem, proceed with the section below entitled, Patio Station Test.

Room Station Test

Once you have found a group of wires that contains a bad station, simply break this group up into smaller groups, or single wires, for further testing.  Continue the testing process until you have isolated the one wire that, when attached, causes the problems you are experiencing.

Follow these steps to find the bad station:

1.  With the power disconnected from the master, reattach all black wires that do not create a problem, and leave the one BAD wire off.

2.  Reattach power. turn the radio on and tune it to a good station.

3.  Go to each room station and press the Talk button.  Any station that still plays music when the button is pushed is a faulty station.  The stations that cut off the music are good.

4.  Replace any BAD station with a known GOOD one to determine if the problem is with the station itself, or the cable run from the master to the station.    More than likely it will be the room station that is faulty.

Don't forget to reattach any black wires that were removed after the station has been replaced.

Patio Station Test

If you do not find any room station wires that result in the problem being reproduced, the problem may be with a patio station.

To troubleshoot a bad patio station, follow these steps:

1.  Disconnect the power from the master.

2.  Place all of the room station black wires back under the terminal labeled BLACK and tighten it down.

3.  Find the terminal labeled "Patio Black" and remove the wire(s) from it.

4.  Separate these black wires and test them individually as you did for your room stations.  Again, leave all GOOD wires attached and remove all BAD wires.  If you only have one black wire, then removing it should eliminate the problem from the master.

5.  With all GOOD black wires attached, and any BAD black wires disconnected, turn the radio on and tune it to a good station.

6.  Go to each patio station and press the Talk button.  Any station that still plays music when the button is pushed is a faulty station.

7.  Replace any BAD station with a known GOOD one to determine if the problem is with the station itself, or the cable run from the master to the station.    More than likely it will be the patio station that is faulty.

Don't forget to reattach any black wires that were removed after the station has been replaced