Troubleshooting a NuTone Model 478 Apartment Intercom System with Lack of Entrance Communication
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- Опубликовано: 11 сен 2024
- One of the most common problems with any NuTone Apartment Intercom System is the inability to communicate with the Entrance Directory Speaker
This Video takes you through the most common cause of this type of problem on a NuTone Model 478 Apartment Intercom System.
If you are working on a NuTone 478 Apartment Intercom System and you need a detailed look at how the system is wired and how it operates. Watcwww.youtube.co... our Fundamentals Video about the 478 System:
For more detailed information about NuTone Intercom Systems: You Can:
Visit our web site: northsideforyou...
Or you can email use at: nscompany@msn.com
Or you can call us at: 925-743-8236
Thanks for the vid. I'm an electrician w very little experience with intercoms. I just never had to repair them. Very informative and concise
Hi DimeBDare: Thanks - Chris
Very helpful to understand the problem and resolutions. I am looking into the similar issue of no audio for all 4 unit apartments building with the Lee Dan intercom system. Would it be a similar process as this NuTone intercom?
And can I just replace the speaker cone only without replacing the base?
Hi Y Oh: It's impossible for me to says if the System you're working on has a failed Entry Station Speaker Cone or not - However it is a simple matter of measuring the Speaker Cone with an Ohm Meter to find out. If parts are available for the System you're working on - then just replace the Speaker Cone - If it's only available as party of the Entrance Directory - then you'll have to replace the entire things - Chris
Thanks man this video help 100%👍👍👍👍👍
Hi Aseem: Cool - Chris
Do you test the speaker for continuity
Hi Ashraf: No - You're actually measuring the coil in the Speaker Cone for its Resistance in Ohms. You need a Multi-Meter to perform this measurement. The problem with checking the coil for continuity is - If the coil shorted out - it will show continuity but it will not work to drive the speaker cone - Chris
I know my speaker is bad. But there is no info on the speaker to figure out what the ohms are or wattage. How would I go about figuring out how many ohms the speaker is? I believe it's about a 3in round speaker. I hope you can help. Thank you very much.
Hi Bill: If you have a NuTone Model 478 Apartment Intercom System - It uses a 3-1/2" 16 Ohm Speaker Cone - We have replacement Speaker Cones available - Chris 925-743-8236
Hi....found my amplifier finally....if no sound/tone in all apartments and no sound at entrance panel would that likely be the amplifier?
Hi thehook: There isn't any way that I can tell you if your Amplifier is bad, or not - having not seen the System.. You need to do some Troubleshooting to find out where the problems are
1. Is there power from the low-voltage transformer to the Amplifier?
2. Is the Speaker Cone in the Entrance Directory good? (measure the ohm of the speaker cone)
Do The Following:
1. Remove 1 Apartment Station (keep track of how the wires are connected)
2. Disconnect the wires from the Amplifier that go to the Apartment Stations
3. Using some scrap wire - connect the Apartment Station that you removed directly to the Amplifier (making a 1
station system)
4. Test your 1 Station System - right at the Amplifier - If it works - you have some other issues with the System
(remote stations ~ wiring ~ or both??) - If it doesn't work - It may be the Amplifier
Chris
@@northsideservicecompany3567 thank you, I'm on it
Hi, I've been working through your videos and they've been great. I'm hoping you can help with the problem I'm having. The 485 amplifier in one of the units connected to the intercom system is much louder than in other units. What could cause this issue?
Hi Apolinar: The Model 485 is an Apartment Intercom Station, not the Amplifier. The 485 Apartment Station is used with the NuTone Model 478 Amplifier. I don't have enough detailed information about your 478 System to offer any useful help. As you have probably discovered, Apartment Intercom Systems can be complex and without detailed information, I'd just be guessing.
It would be best if you contacted me directly - This is fair to complicated to diagnose in a RUclips Comment
- Chris nscompany@msn.com
I just purchased a refurbished 478 control amplifier for my system because none of the push button buzzers on the entry panel were buzzing the apartment intercoms, although the door release and push/talk functions still worked fine. I figured there was an issue in the 478 amplifier causing the problem with the buzzers. I installed the refurbished 478 amplifier and the buzzers still don't work. Do you have any ideas on what I can try next?
Hi Rick: That's a very big question. . . What I would do is the following - 1. Borrow an Apartment Station from somewhere in the Building to use as a test station - 2. At the 478 Amplifier, disconnect the Audio 1 ~ Audio 2 ~ Control ~ Ground Wires (which will disconnect all of the apartment stations from the amplifier) 3. Using a 4 foot cable ( any type will do) connect the borrowed station to the 478 amplifier (4 common connections) - 4. Connect 1 wire to the "Ring" Terminal on the Apartment Station and touch the other end of the wire to the "Ring Common screw on the 478 - The Ring Tone should be heard in the Apartment Station - If you do not heard it, there's a problem with the 478 - If you do hear the Ring Tone - you have some type of wiring problem in the building. If it's a wiring problem, you should contact me directly, much to complicated to troubleshoot in a RUclips Comment - Chris nscompany@msn.com
@@northsideservicecompany3567 Thank you for your speedy response, Chris! I'll give your suggestion a try.
Thank you so much for your help Chris! The problem was with a broken control wire that ran from the control amplifier to the entry directory. I used the other wire in the twisted pair to make the connection and the intercom system is now working beautifully. What a load off my mind! Thanks again!!
Homeowner says when someone pushes their button at the lobby entrance panel it does not buzz inside their Condo so they don’t know when someone is trying to contact them to enter to make a delivery. As a test if they push the door button on their intercom inside their Condo the lobby door buzzer activates the door strike & the lobby door can be opened. Do you think the issue is with the intercom inside their Condo. No one else in the 15 unit building is having any issue. Our building his located in Valley Village Ca. If we need service can you refer someone? Thanks Rob
Hi Robert: You did not mention if the Communication (talk & listen) are working for the unit without a Call Tone - This would be good to know, if the communication does not work it could be a problem with the Apartment Station.
If the communication does work, there are several possible sources for the lack of Call Tone - 1. A bad Directory Pushbutton - 2. A "Ring Wire" problem between the Pushbutton and the Apartment Station - 3. A problem with the Apartment Station.
You can check the Directory Pushbutton by using a short piece of wire and jumper across the Pushbutton screws (for that unit). If the Call Tone then works the Pushbutton is bad - If the Pushbutton is the small Rectangular style button - it will be very difficult to find a replacement (these haven't been made on over 15 years)
A "Ring Wire" problem can be checked by - using a Continuity Meter to check for a broken wire. Since the "Ring Wire" for each unit is a dedicated wire just for the unit - finding a work-around may be difficult
Since you probably don't have any extra Apartment Stations to use as a replacement, you can find another resident that's willing to lend you their Station for testing. Simply swap the 2 Stations to see if the problem follows the original Station.
If I had to bet, I'd bet on the Pushbutton as the problem - I do not make recommendations for local people to work on systems
Chris
i have a PACIFIC ELECTRONICS AMPLIFIER and it has different labelling for wiring. Can you help for comparing wirh Nutone amplifier? What is AC1 , AC2 ]16 VAC & AC2 - DO AC DOOR . There is one more thing L+ & L- DC DOOR. Can you clarify these items for door release connections? Thanks.
Hi Dayal: I have no first-hand experience with your equipment - It seems that your Pacific Electronics Amplifier is a direct replacement for the original Auth-Florence equipment that was made in the 1970's. Here's a link I found that may help you understand how the Amplifier is wired: www.leedan.com/AF1000.html
Since it seems that the Door Release problem is with the entire system - it is very likely that the problem is with 1. The Door Release - 2. The wiring to the Door Release - 3. The Control Amplifier (in that order) This should be fairly simply to troubleshoot and eliminate one things at a time - Chris
My grandmother had a system like this in her old condo (I don't think it was a NuTone but had similar problems, the condo was built in 2001 and she moved in in 2003... I think the speaker cone on the directory was blown out, probably about 15-20 units in the building) ... it never worked right because you could never hear the person in the condo talking to you at the door, and the door release didn't work half of the time. The apartment she moved to from the condo had a telephone-based entry system which proved to be more reliable. Those techs that regularly work for those other service companies usually tell you to replace the system even if it's not entirely broken because that's just what they're told to say unfortunately (we recently had a similar scenario with our heat pump and a guy came out that wasn't part of a big service company and said that "regular" techs are just told to say a system needs replacing even it if can be fixed). Great video. :)
Hi Vincent: It is true that many companies prefer to just sell a new system than trying to repair an existing system. Telephone entry system are a very good modern choice for many buildings, however they tend to be too expensive to install in builds of less than 20 - 25 units. Also, you have the ongoing monthly expense of the out going telephone line and you need some to maintain the programming when tenants move in and out of the building. NuTone apartment system work very well in smaller builds and typically they will work without and service for 20+ years. - Chris
changed a speaker cone in entrance panel, check it for ohms before hand and it read 44ish ohms so it was good (45 ohm speaker)...connected it and a few weeks later, it's reading only 4 ohms or so. any reason it would go bad so quickly?
Hi thehook910: I assume that you disconnected the wires for the Speaker Cone when you rechecked it a few weeks later??? - If it's an old Speaker, you might have caught it just as it was failing - NuTone Systems use 16 ohm Speaker Cones - Also,, the could be DC from the Amplifier (old & tired) which will kill the Speaker - Chris
@@northsideservicecompany3567 yeah disconnected it and checked b.c. was getting no sound from the apts. it was new out of box. was wondering if stuck talk or listen button could cause that. It's a Lee Dan system. Yeah I have to check the amplifier next, before I put another speaker in thanks
Since the coil in a Speaker usually fails 'open' the reading of your speaker seems odd, especially since it's new. It migh tbe a good idea to recehck the mesurment. I have no fisrt-hand experience with any Lee Dan equipment - however I would think a stuck switch would have the effect of jamming up the system. - Chris@@thehook910
Do you have a video showing entrance door can't open when tenant push the open button from their apartment.
Hi Dayal: We do not have a Video about troubleshooting the Door Release part of a NuTone 478 Apartment Intercom System. The troubleshooting would be very straight forward - 1. Is there only 1 apartment with this problem or is it throughout the entire building? If it's only the 1 apartment, it's either a problem with that individual Apartment Station (not a common problem) or with the wiring to that station - If it's a building wide problem, then check the actual Door Release to see if it works - then check the 2-wire that connect the Door Release to the 478 Control Amplifier. If these are good - then it's probably the 478 itself (this can be repaired)
This Video should help you understand how your 478 Systems is put together: ruclips.net/video/jtag7GsY_so/видео.html
You can always contact me directly - Chris nscompany@msn.com
@@northsideservicecompany3567 Thank you for prompt reply. it is a Six unit apartment building with pacific electronics amlifire. No response from all six unit to open the door. They can get buzzer from outside to open the door. But when they push the button from inside their unit, No respose at the door latch the door latch stay closed.
So my problem is all the other buzzer work beside my second floor there are 2 apartment on second floor but only one buzzer don’t make a sound when u ring the bell
Hi loyalty overmoney: It sounds like a wiring problem - If the Apartment Stations are loop wired - you might find the problem in another Apartment - where the wires come from. Other that the Call Signal not working in the 1 Apartment, do all of the other functions (2-way communication and door release) work in that Apartment Station? - Chris
@@northsideservicecompany3567 everybody else bell n speakers work well but the other guy i figure I should check his intercom to see if I can hear communication n buzzer etc so if I know all that works it all come down to the button / wiring for out side I would guess
@@loyaltyovermoney5942 It could be Directory Pushbutton problem - You can jumper across the screws on the Pushbutton to see it the Apartment Station Rings - Chris
@@northsideservicecompany3567 ok I I was in his apartment n I check his intercom and find out is buzzer to open the door to let people in does not work or talk or switch to listen I push all his button n seem like everything dead so i guess it’s not just the push button from out side I wondering if it’s getting any kind of juice
What if the directory speaker does buzz when pressed and resident unit buzzes as well but no communication happens?
Hi Jose: It could be several different problems - An old and tired Amplifier - Dirty switches in the apartment stations - wiring problems. What I would do is: Remove 1 apartment station - disconnect the 4 system wires at the amplifier (Aud 1 - Aud 2 - Cntrl - Grnd) the connect the test station directly to the amplifier. If the problem persists, the amplifier needs repair (most likely) If the test setup works correctly, it's one of the other problems - Chris
my intercome is experiencing interference noises like screeching sounds when pressed the talk button ...the sound can be heared everything else is working fine but its not clear its like the screeching noises comes up and low when either the person at both ends speaks ..is it an amplifying issue or speaker problem ...?? your response will be really helpfull ...its a simple gate intercome for home
its a panasonic vlmf70
@@ananthpjose9561 A Panasonic VLMF70 is a Video Intercom System - I don't work on or know anything Panasonic Intercom Systems. My recommendation is that you contact Panasonic and get the name of a Panasonic Dealer or Installer to help you with the problem. If the equipment is more than 10 years old - you may find that parts are no longer available and you may need to replace the system - Chris
I have a question concerning the IS-515 Speakers and IM-5000/IM-5006 system. I currently have 8 speakers and my customer is wanting to add another speaker. can i combined paralleling speakers/circuits and have some speakers home run back to the master? I have not investigated how they are currently wired.
thanks,
Sean
You can Home Run or Loop-Wire the Remotes Stations for the IM5006 System , or have a combination of both Home Run and Loop-Wired Stations. The limitation for loop-wired stations is, there should not be more than 4 remote stations on a single loop, the maximum length of any loop should not exceed 750 feet. If you are using a single remote station as a "Star Point" (additional remote stations wired from a single remote) you should have more than 2 additional remote stations wired from a single "hub" remote station - Chris
hey i have a Graystone by Elbex can i install the 3 ring doorbell? also can you do a video
Hi Jose: I don't know anything about the equipment you mentioned - Chris
did it the equipment that i have www.munroelectric.com/silvereclipse/images/drill/GRY_KIT-SD%20Specifications.pdf so i want to remove the panel and add 3 ring doorbell
I work in 4unite building. Entry dictory station is buzzing. How to stop the buzzing.
Hi Eddie: I would need more specific information about the system to offer any useful advice.
You can fill out an Intercom Repair Request Form and once I receive it, I'll contact you by phone to discuss the problem.
Here's a link to the Repair Request Form: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQHT6fVgm25twaXFeCkkgeITEfAE_zlRBry6B8-GbIs19wcQ/viewform?formkey=dF9RVjBQMFQ5S0xYbTBHMHRoNkVkRFE6MQ
Chris
I have a 728 that every time a tenant pushes the talk button all I get in the lobby is noise like there is voltage traveling through it.All the other functions work,the buzzer is fine and they can hear me in the lobby and unlock the door.Any information would be helpful thanks
H Rich: I don't know what a "728" is - that's not a NuTone Model Number. - Chris
@@northsideservicecompany3567 my mistake 478 sorry
It could be many things - sounds like it may be an "old and tired" Control Amplifier - if possible, call to to discuss the problem and details about what to do - Chris 925-743-8236
@@northsideservicecompany3567 ok thank you,I will reach out tommarow if that's ok.thanks again
@@northsideservicecompany3567 Chris, Thank you for your input this morning.I replaced with a unit that is not in use and waiting for access to test.I did however notice burn marks on the board I removed so if this fix works out I would like to send the burned board out to you for repair.I will reach out when I confirm that the unit is now functioning properly.Again thank you.
Just found this video. Thank-you so much for the information! My question is I have this system in a 100 unit building, i have communication from the unit to the main lobby, but not back the other way. This is happening in more than one unit. What could be the cause of this issue?
hi Lordtalon99: There could be many things causing the problem you have described. It could be caused by an old and tired Control Amplifier - Dirty switches in the Apartment Stations - You're welcome to call me to discuss this complicated problem - Chris
925-743-8236
My listen works fine but when I talk it comes out scrambled. Everyone else in the building is working fine its just mine.
Hi s ellers813: I am unclear on what "it comes out scrambled" means - If you mean that the sound is distorted and difficult to understand, it would be most likely that the Speaker Cone in your Apartment Station may need to be replaced. Did you actually ask many of your neighbors about their Intercom use? Perhaps even trying their station yourself to compare to yours? This would seem to be an Amplifier issue - but testing is required to know - Chris
@@northsideservicecompany3567 thank you for the reply. When I try to speak it just gets really loud and makes a type of screeching noise and you can't even hear a person talking. I have talked to my neighbors and they did say they don't have that problem. Mine is a Tektone I believe and probably from the 70s or 80s its old. When I listen it works fine and the door unlock works fine. I will look at the speaker inside my unit and see if its something I can find a replacement for. I tried telling my maintenance but they don't care enough.
@@sellers8133 Unfortunaltley I don't know about TekTone Apartment Intercom equipment - Chris
No está el españo
Hi Pepin: No tengo idea de a qué se refiere tu comentario. - Chris