Solution: Turn on that unit’s alarm
From Falcon Keypad:
Go into Feature *5# (Rent/Edit a Unit). Press the # key on the Falcon until you see the prompt “Unit Alarm”. Be sure
this is set to ON. The status can be toggled by pressing the * key on the Falcon until it displays ON then # to save the
setting.
From Falcon 2000 Software:
(this is only available on V-4.0 or higher) go to Edit a unit and make sure the check box for unit alarm is checked if it
is not then check that box and it will automatically turn on that unit’s alarm.
Hardware Failure:
Problem: Mux is NOT communicating.
Solution: Print a report to determine if Mux is communicating.
It is possible that a particular mux is not communication with the Falcon. If no doors on this mux report back to the
Falcon there is a possibility that the RS-485 communication have failed. SEE RS-485 Troubleshooting Section. The
Falcon 24 and Falcon 4.0 and higher are the only versions that have a report to indicate if the Mux is Online or not.
From the Falcon Keypad:
(version 24) go into Feature *8# (Print Reports). Press the * seven times until the display reads Status Report. Press
the # key to generate the report. There must be a dot matrix printer installed on the parallel port of the Falcon for this
report to print. Check the report to determine if the mux that is wired to the door input that does not register is ON
LINE. If it is not repair the mux. The door cannot report to the Falcon if the mux is not communicating.
From Falcon 2000 Software:
(version 4.0 or higher) Click on the Large printer icon at the left of the screen and choose Remote Online Status. You
can view this report from the screen or print it to a printer connected to the F-2000 CPU. Check the report to
determine if the mux that is wired to the door input that does not register is ON LINE. If it is not repair the mux. The
door cannot report to the Falcon if the mux is not communicating.
Special Note: If you have an earlier version Falcon it is possible to remove the RS-485 cable from the Falcon for
approx 5 minutes. If there is a printer connected to the Falcon it will start to print Communications Off followed by the
remote number on any of the Muxes that are communicating at the time. When reconnected it will print
Communications ON followed by the remote number on the remotes that are communicating.
Identifying an OPEN DOOR problem and repairing it.
An open door that will not close can be caused by many different problems and can be difficult to locate. You will
need a (Digital Volt Meter) DVM to properly locate the problem. If a door status does not change from OPEN or
ALARM to CLOSED and the software is configured properly and the mux is communicating, then it will be necessary
to open the mux box and scan the door inputs for open doors. This process is extremely helpful and will save you a
lot of time in troubleshooting. An OPEN door is the most common type of failure and can be caused by a misaligned
contact and magnet, a missing contact or magnet, an “open” contact or a broken wire. REMEMBER the mux is
relatively “dumb” and all it does is send a signal to the Falcon if the door is open or closed based upon a voltage.
PTI’s standard PMUX-xx all can operate between 12 and 18 V AC or DC but the output voltage to the doors channels
is ALWAYS 5 volts DC. Place your volt meter in the DC position and select a scale that will display in Tenths or
hundredths if possible (example 5.00 V DC). Place the negative lead on a ground on the mux. This will be any of the
last 4 door inputs on the mux. Now scan each and every wire with the positive lead. You should register 0.00 V DC
on all doors that are closed and working properly and no less than 4.9 on any open doors.
