standard support Q & A...
1946 – 1985 FAQ’s
Q: Nothing works. What is ON stays ON and what is OFF stays OFF. What do I do or check?
A: Most likely your system has a “stuck switch”. To prove it, check the Transverter for proper voltage output. In a normal operating system the voltage should be 28 - 30 VDC between the “Switch” and “Relay” output wires on the Transverter with either one of them disconnected. If the voltage is 0 VDC, or a really low 2 - 4 VDC, this is proof of a stuck switch. The transverter drops in voltage output down to 3 volts after firing the relay coil in order to protect against burning up the coil. If you get a voltage higher than 3 volts and lower than 26 VDC from the Transverter, then it should be replaced. If you are reading 28 - 30 VDC and still nothing is working then you have a wiring problem where something is not connected (as in a wire coming loose from under a wire nut) or incorrectly wired (as in when changing a component in the system and not re-connecting to the proper wire). For specific help in finding and eliminating the stuck switch, go to: Finding a Stuck Switch
Q: Why does everything in my house works except for one light?
A: In the case that only one light is acting up or not working it is likely a burned out light bulb, a tripped breaker, or a single relay failure, check them in that order. If you can hear the relay clicking but do not see the light changing state it is one of the first two potential problems. After you have proven it is not a burned light bulb or tripped breaker, install a new relay and that light should come back up and running. If a new relay doesn’t fix the problem, then check the switch on the wall to ensure it has not broken.
One other thing that might be the cause, but seldom happens, is that a wire for the control of only that relay is broken or disconnected. The standard troubleshooting tools that any electrician has will be able to find this sort of problem. Check the wires inside the relay control panel first for loose connections before calling an electrician.
Q: I can’t find my Transverter, where would it be mounted / installed?
A: Typically the Transverter is mounted to the inside or outside of the enclosure that holds all of the relays for the system. In the case you have several locations of relays; it is not needed to have a Transverter for every panel. The power is just extended to each location even if they are on the other side of the house. There is a slim chance the original contractor used one Transverter for each panel.
Q: It doesn’t look like I have a Transverter. What else could be used?
A: If your Touchplate system was built before 1954 then it is possible that instead of a TVR-1 or TPS-0120 Transverter, you may have two components that do the same job. So when you are replacing your power supply you will need to look for a 78K1 which is the transformer and a 17C which is the converter. When you are replacing the power supply you will need to remove both the 78K1 and the 17C and install the TPS-0120.
Q My Transverter feels hot. What is causing this?
A: The Transverter being warm or even hot to the touch is a strong indication that you have a stuck switch and that the Transverter is starting to go bad. See Finding a Stuck Switch to correct this problem.
Q: Why do some or all of the lights not work properly when it gets really hot or cold outside?
A: The relays definitely have a temperature range for normal operation. They do not operate well below freezing, and they can also fail in attics that go above 120 degrees. If you cannot relocate the relays to a more conducive area, a simple fix for the cold problem is to mount a light bulb close to the relay panel. Turning the light bulb ON during the cold period is usually enough heat to keep the relays working. (Remember the Easy Bake Oven? You can bake a cake with a 60 watt light bulb! ) The best solution is to contact the factory for assistance in upgrading the whole system to current technology and relocating the panels to a garage, a basement, a mechanical room, or closet that will avoid this altogether.
Q: What would make my lights work intermittently, regardless of weather?
A: Intermittent operation is more often than not caused by a weak power supply. The voltage output of the Transverter should be 28 – 31 VDC, if not, the Transverter should be changed.
Q: I just bought this house and moved in. My system is completely operational, but I would like information on what it does and how it works and if there are Upgrade options for this older system. Do you have helpful information?
A: Go to http://www.touchplate.com and follow the Support links for kinds of information. Several options are available for upgrading older Touch-Plate® systems. Please contact Touch-Plate® for a complete list of upgrades that are available for your system. We will need a count of how many relays you have in your system and if the enclosures they are mounted in are in the same location or different parts of the house, how many switches stations with the number of buttons at each station, and the wattage size of the loads you would like the upgrade to be capable of dimming certain lights. Digital photos of your system emailed helps save lots of time.
Q: My Transverter does have the same color of wires as the older one I am replacing. Which wires goes where?
A: In the chance your older Transverter still has the labels by the output wires, then replacement should be easy. Just connect Switch to Switch and Relay to Relay. If they are not labeled then you will need to follow the wires from your old Transverter to what it is connected to. The easiest way to do this is by locating the wire of the Transverter that connects to one wire of every relay inside the relay enclosure. This wire will be your “Relay” wire, and through the process of elimination, the other wire will be your “Switch” wire.
Q: It looks like I have a silver box (labeled PL-6) mounted above or below each relay. What are these used for?
A: The PL-6 devices you see inside the relay panel either above or below the relay are the pilot light transformers for the master switch stations usually located in the master bedroom and/or some other main living area. If these were to malfunction or stop working, the only thing that you would loose function of would be that particular indicator light for the specific relay it is connected to. The PL-6 has nothing to do with operating the relay, it only does the indicator light.
Q: My older system looks like a wire nest! Are parts still available for this system and should I upgrade?
A: You should upgrade your system. It will clean up the wiring mess and give all kinds of new features and benefits to your home. Components are still available but will not be available forever. Eventually you will have to upgrade to newer technology. The good news is all your old wiring is an investment that you do NOT have to throw away if you upgrade with new Touch-Plate® equipment. We still offer options that re-use the old wiring. Any electrician who recommends that you completely rip the old system out and replace with conventional line voltage wiring is greatly mistaken and will cost you many thousands of dollars in demolition, re-wiring and
re-construction. It would be a very costly mistake.
Q: I have an old GE® or Remcon® system. Do your switches work with their system?
A: Yes! Once you understand the operation of GE or Remcon, and how Touch-Plate® works, the solution is simple. The GE® and Remcon® systems operate on a three-wire system. One wire is common, one wire is for turning the relay on, and the last wire is for turning the relay off. Touch-Plate® switches only have two wires. One being the common wire and the other being the switch wire, and because of our single coil relay, the same button is used to turn the relay on and off.
You can use Touch-Plate® switches in place of three-wire switches, but you will need two Touch-Plate® buttons for every one three-wire switch. See Three-wire to Touch-Plate® Wiring Diagram.
Q: I have an old GE® or Remcon® system; will your relays work in their place?
A: Touch-Plate® relays will not work in place of GE® or Remcon® relays if you are changing them out individually. There are too many differences in how they work. The Touch-Plate® relay (2500-B) is a single coil, 28VDC latching relay, the GE® relay (RR-7) is a dual coil, 24VAC latching relay, and the Remcon® relays (depending on the style) are a single or dual coil relay with an internal power supply for each relay. If you are ready to convert the whole system, then
you could convert to Touch-Plate®.
Q: My relays seem to be burning up and some of them are new, is there some thing else that could be going wrong with my system?
A: Most likely you have a power supply other than Touch-Plate® that is NOT inherently limiting. If someone believed they had enough technical knowledge and went to Radio Shack and bought a transformer it would burn up your relays each time a switch was stuck. Change to a Touch-Plate® Transverter and this should fix the problem. In rare circumstances, the other factor in relays burning would be overload. Check the lighting load that is being put on any given relay to make sure that they aren’t over loaded. If all of this is fine, and the problem still exists, contact your local electrician and have him look for any problems in the high-voltage wiring connected to the Touch-Plate® system.
Q: What were/are the advantages of having a Touch-Plate® low voltage relay system installed in a house?
A: Having a Touch-Plate® system installed in your home provides a combination of convenience, security, energy savings and fun. Most homes have a “Master Switch Station” located in a well used living area like the master bedroom or kitchen. This controls station would let you turn ON and OFF every light connected to the Touch-Plate® system in the house. By doing so, you could make sure that no un-needed lights were left on when you left the house, or even turn on outside lights if you heard a noise without going downstairs to the from door or even near a window. The Touch-Plate® low voltage system gives you piece of mind, an added sense of security.
With a new system from Touch-Plate®, you will get all the benefits of today’s technology; motion sensors, photo cells, Time-Keeper® time clock for scheduling lights to come on and off, PC control with 32-bit Windows® software in some models, as well as stuck switch protection, and the best of today’s technology.
Q: I am re-decorating my house and was wondering if I could change the style of switches that I have in my house.
A: Every switch Touch-Plate® manufactures is momentary action. So you are free to pick the style of switch that best fits your décor. One thing you need to know about the older system, if you desire switches with LED pilot lights to replace switches without pilot lights, then you will have to run more wires in the walls from your Touch-Plate® system to the new switch as well as probably Pilot Transformers if your current system doesn’t support a pilot light for that given relay.
Replacing your low voltage wall switches is a very easy task, and you don’t need to be a licensed electrician to do it. A screw driver, a pair of wire cutter/strippers, and subject to the type you are installing, maybe some small wire nuts.
Q: I want to add LED style control stations to my old installation, can I do it?
A: With your old component based system the only way to add LED indicator lights to your control stations is with additional wires at the location. If you have spare wires then you can add the LED’s. However, if you would upgrade to a new system, you would have the option to get new control stations with more buttons and LED’s, and re-use the wires in place to achieve your goal.
Q: Is there an easy way to tell which model relay I have or the replacement I need?
A: Yes. If the relay you are replacing has two wires coming out of the cylinder it was a 1550 series and is replaced by the 2500-B. If your old relay has four wires coming out of the cylinder of the relay, it is replaced by a 2500-BPL. You can always check the website for the “Cross Reference Guide”.
General Notes:
Two relays will not operate from a single button press in older systems prior to 1986, they were designed to operate one at a time.
3-Way, 4-Way and even 5-Way switching is a standard feature of low voltage control systems and almost all old Touch-Plate® installations have multiple switches that control the same relay.
Do NOT ever attempt to replace a momentary action, low voltage Touch-Plate® switch with an off-the-shelf high voltage toggle switch (maintain / latching style). This will definitely bring in immediate failure of the system.
Painted switch plate covers, cracked covers, and wall-papered covers all are likely sources of producing a stuck switch.
Every old component based system only needs one Transverter, since the relays were all operated one at a time.
For help in planning an upgrade from an old system to a current system it is necessary to make a count of all the loads controlled by Touch-Plate® relays. It is also necessary to know how many different locations there are with relay panels. Many new features and benefits are gained when upgrading.
Watching the Flash Demo of the “Wiring Diagram”, and / or looking at the “Triangle Diagram” is the simplest way to get an immediate look at the components of your old system and how they are wired and how it is meant to function.
