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How do I run two Xantech IR Receivers? I have wrecked two of them now.
This thread has 11 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Thursday February 20, 2014 at 10:47
nixima
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I am working on a HTPC install with remotes from both main level and basement so I need to use two IR Receivers. I have the Xantech 789-44 Connecting Block on the main level by the HTPC and in the basement I have a Xantech 490D IR Receiver spliced to Cat-5 and then connected to the 789-44 terminal screws. I then have another 490D on the main level connected to the 789-44 3.5mm jack. This worked for a short time but then the 490D on the main level quite working. The little green LED was not on anymore. I thought I might have a bad 490D so I tried a 480-10D IR Receiver but this one worked for a short time also and then its LED went out also. I messed around with the wrecked IR receivers a bit and I can get the LED to light up if I don't connect the ground wire but they do not pass IR signals. Anyone know if these are fixable?

I've researched some and it seems people have had success with this type of configuration so I'm not sure what I am doing wrong. I am thinking to try connecting both IR receivers to the 789-44 terminal screws to eliminate problems with the 3.5mm jack but I really don't want to wreck any more IR receivers. Either that or I might try a monoprice block. Are the Xantech receivers and emitters compatible with the monoprice blocks?
Post 2 made on Thursday February 20, 2014 at 11:17
jcmitch
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The front panel LED is only supposed to light when its receiving IR signals, so either you have connected 12VDC to the Data "OUT" connection or you have a source of IR in the room that's constant (like a LCD TV for example).

Wiring diagram below.

[Link: xantech.com]

There are specific models for use in spaces with LCD screens, etc.

[Link: xantech.com]
OP | Post 3 made on Thursday February 20, 2014 at 11:43
nixima
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Hmm, I know I have everything connected properly and I know when working the 490D has a dim green LED that stays on constantly and then flashes when receiving IR. I'll have to play some more with the 480-10D as I've only seen a constant on red LED and no flashes from it.

Should I be able to drive two IR Receivers with the 789-44 block?
Post 4 made on Thursday February 20, 2014 at 12:50
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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Re your last question, it's not the 789-44 that drives the receivers; it's the power supply.

I was not able to locate ANY information on this device directly on the Xantech site, but found pdfs on their site by googling the model number. In its instruction sheet, it's said that the 490 draws 10 mA and can output a maximum of 100 mA (at which point, of course, the power supply would have to be able to output 10+100=110 mA). So, yeah, your average Xantech regulated supply should easily be able to run two of these; most of the time Xantech blocks only draw about 5 to 10 mA per emitter LED. Add up what you've got and locate data sheets for the power consumed by any other Xantech devices.

Don't mix brands.

Now, about the green light. First, it's been years since I've looked at a 490, and I though ALL the talkback LEDs were red. But maybe it's nicer to see a green LED on something stuck through the face of a cabinet. However, it should only come on when BOTH of these things happen:
a) one or more emitter LEDs are connected to the system -- no LEDs, no talkback light EVER; and
b) the sensor is picking up IR.

That constant green should not be on. There might be IR coming from something in the room, or some kind of RF interference could be being picked up by the sensor.

About the power supply: be sure that it actually delivers twelve volts. That means it must be a regulated 12 volt supply. Because non-regulated supplies do not deliver the rated voltage, Xantech used to sell 9V supplies and they warned against using 12V supplies -- if those supplies were unregulated. I think people found this confusing so they just started insisting on 12V regulated supplies. If you're not using a Xantech regulated supply, you might be killing your parts.

Yes, when you disconnect the ground lead, the receiver does not work and the LED comes on.

The 480-10D is not working right. Try using just one receiver, then just the other one, to see if they both work by themselves. Verify that your power suppl voltage is actually 12 volts.

Yours is, by the way, an excellent first post. A LOT of people ask totally worthless questions by not providing enough information for a good stab at an answer. Welcome to the site and thanks for asking something that doesn't require asking WTF you're talking about!
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 5 made on Thursday February 20, 2014 at 13:29
Fred Harding
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You most likely have a wiring issue.

The 78944 can support mulitple devices. Use the screw bus input only.

What does the supplier of the equipment you are deploying suggest?
On the West Coast of Wisconsin
OP | Post 6 made on Thursday February 20, 2014 at 14:45
nixima
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Great tip on the power supply! I was getting 20.5V out of it! I swapped in a different one that was measureing 12V and now one of the 490Ds is working as expected (green LED coming on with IR) but the other 490D and the 480-10D are not working (no LED activity with IR).

Is there anything to check with these non-functional IR receivers to try to fix them or do I need to get a new one?
Post 7 made on Thursday February 20, 2014 at 14:51
Fred Harding
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The way to test is simple.

Build a small circuit, with one emitter, one connecting block, one power supply, and one target.

If it blinks when you point a working remote at it, life is good. If not, nope.
On the West Coast of Wisconsin
Post 8 made on Thursday February 20, 2014 at 14:59
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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I would and have used the 789-44's IR RCVR jack for a Xantech receiver. Don't mix brands.

Just as an FYI: Xantech used to call the 78944 the 789-44. Any time you search on Xantech's site, omit the dashes.

Now, a long FYI: The 78944 can be seen as two separate devices. One part, using the power connector and either the screw terminals or the IR RCVR mini jack, provides ground and power for a receiver and connects the receiver's output to the buss (those three screws). The other part connects to ground and the buss and runs the buss through a resistor for each of its four outputs. That is, there are four resistors.

You can use a 78944 just as a connecting block without any LEDs; in this case wires connected to the screw terminals let you send the IR buss elsewhere. This is the same function as the CB12, but the CB12 also has one LED output jack and is cheaper than the 78944.

Or you can use a 78944 with the IR IN and ground, run from another location such as that in the last paragraph, to send signals to 4 IR emitters, either double or single. Note that if you use the 78944 ONLY to distribute IR, and NOT to connect an IR Receiver, the power input on the 78944 does nothing at all.

Incidentally, never use two power supplies until we talk about steering diodes.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
OP | Post 9 made on Thursday February 20, 2014 at 16:02
nixima
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I did the simple test swapping in each of my three receivers and only the one 490D works. The other two will only turn on their LEDs if I disconnect their ground wire but in that state they still will not pass IR signals. So the 20.5V power supply must have damaged them somehow.
Post 10 made on Thursday February 20, 2014 at 16:37
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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What voltage and current does that power supply label show?

Was it a Xantech supply? (If it was, it was broken, as they have nothing that will output more than 12V unless faulty.)

The earlier literature stated that unregulated 12 volt supplies, which usually output about 17 volts, can lock up Xantech receivers. I'm not surprised that more than 20 volts killed some of them. I see their site has removed notes about requiring an exact 12 volts. People will still install unregulated supplies as a money-saver!

I suggest you download, and keep in that huge directory on your computer named "Tech Info," from [Link: xantech.com], under Quick Links:
2. Technical Training
5. IR Troubleshooting guide
6. IR Receiver Guide

The last two are probably in the first one. The "Installation Guide" is misnamed as it has to do with specific computer-programmed equipment.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 11 made on Thursday February 20, 2014 at 16:56
Fred Harding
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Dead horse beating department. Are you connecting the Xantech devices using bare wires to the connecting block? If yes, those wires are coded. I am assuming you know which is signal, voltage and ground. The connecting block has four screw terminal positions. You will not use the status position.
On the West Coast of Wisconsin
OP | Post 12 made on Thursday February 20, 2014 at 17:33
nixima
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Yes, it was a Xantech supply. Thanks for the links! I will read through those and file them away.

The two 490Ds I am connecting bare wire to the block and the 480-10D via the 3.5mm jack. I have the colors wired correctly and not using the status terminal as mentioned.

I think we can wrap up this thread as I think my whole problem was due to the power supply. I think I'll try a new 480-10D and connect it to the 3.5mm jack and connect the 490D to the terminal screws and both of them should work, but please correct me if I'm wrong.


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