Zone Master 2 failure

[Marc Charvet]

Hello,

I purchased a Zone Master 2 from RH Designs in 2012.

It no longer works: the Zone Master starts up normally (all the LEDs light up when it is switched on), but no measurement is taken when I press the sensor measurement button. In addition, the connection with my Stop Clock Pro (RH Designs also) no longer works either (the ‘ZM’ indicator on the Stop Clock Pro does not light up and the time does not change).

I replaced the battery, but this did not help. I followed the procedure to restore communication, but this did not work either.

I contacted RH Designs, who told me that the cost and labor in repairing this would be similar to the price of a new unit : he suggest purchasing a new one. I paid £220 for it in 2012 ; it now costs £389, which is too expensive for me at the moment, especially if it is also going to break down after a few years of service.

Has anyone else encountered this problem and, more importantly, found a way to fix it?

Is it permanently out of service or is there a way to get it working again?

 

[koraks]

I don't know the architecture of the device, but the fact that several I/O functions have stopped working suggests a common source. Since such I/O is typically handled by the microcontroller more or less directly, this would imply failure in the controller. It could be something like a nearby lightning strike having blown up a GPIO port.

Is it permanently out of service or is there a way to get it working again?

Everything can be fixed in theory, but you got the expert's opinion already and I think realistically that's what you'll have to come to grips with.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Hello,

I purchased a Zone Master 2 from RH Designs in 2012.

It no longer works: the Zone Master starts up normally (all the LEDs light up when it is switched on), but no measurement is taken when I press the sensor measurement button. In addition, the connection with my Stop Clock Pro (RH Designs also) no longer works either (the ‘ZM’ indicator on the Stop Clock Pro does not light up and the time does not change).

I replaced the battery, but this did not help. I followed the procedure to restore communication, but this did not work either.

I contacted RH Designs, who told me that the cost and labor in repairing this would be similar to the price of a new unit : he suggest purchasing a new one. I paid £220 for it in 2012 ; it now costs £389, which is too expensive for me at the moment, especially if it is also going to break down after a few years of service.

Has anyone else encountered this problem and, more importantly, found a way to fix it?

Is it permanently out of service or is there a way to get it working again?

I bought mine around the same time and use it together with the Timer2(unfortunately, no longer made) both units operate perfectly ever since.

 

[ic-racer]

Check for faulty connections and cold solder joints.

 

[Marc Charvet]

Thank you very much for all your replies.

Everything can be fixed in theory, but you got the expert's opinion already and I think realistically that's what you'll have to come to grips with.

Unfortunately, you confirm my fears.

I bought mine around the same time and use it together with the Timer2(unfortunately, no longer made) both units operate perfectly ever since.

Considering the price, to which taxes and customs duties must be added, I am now hesitant to make such an investment if it is eventually going to break down like the one I already own.

Check for faulty connections and cold solder joints.

I will try to carry out these checks : do you have any advice on how I can do this ?

 

[Bill Burk]

Second one's never break down.

 

[Marc Charvet]

Second one's never break down.

It's like a variation on Pascal's wager argument !

 

[mwdake]

I have a Zone Master II.
I really don’t use it much and the last time I did it had been sitting in the cabinet for a while.
It acted like you described, turns on and display looks OK but pushing the measure button on the sensor did not do anything.
I fiddled with it a bit and it seemed like the plug into the display unit was acting a bit finicky. Unplugging the sensor as well as twisting it a few times it started working again but I think to this day it is still a bit finicky.

 

[mshchem]

Clean the sensor plug and socket.

 

[Marc Charvet]

Clean the sensor plug and socket.

The sensor plug and socket, as well as the connection with the Zone Master, did indeed need cleaning. Using Kontakt 60 spray enabled me to restore the device to proper working order.

Thank you very much for your helpful advice.

I really don’t use it much and the last time

I hadn't used it for a long time and I usually unplug the sensor and Zone Master connection ; perhaps that contributed to the contacts becoming dirty.

 

[koraks]

That's a consolation! Happy to hear this helped.

 

[MARTIE]

Great result!

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

What a relief! A £389 relief!