Testing classic head unit without energy bar

[tjsmk8]

I’m attempting to test a pair of old classic head units but don’t have a functional energy bar at the moment. When connected to 12v DC, each will connect to the network, can be viewed in the dashboard, linked to fusion, etc. Neither will recognize any other modules though. I’ve tried a WXM (flashes green), AFS (flashes orange), PM2 (no light at all), and display (lights but is blank). Is this normal behavior with no energy bar attached, or does it seem the head units are faulty?

 

[_AV]

Sounds like either the head unit is bad, or the modules or both. I always use a known good display to test communication with a head unit. If the display is blank, there is a problem with the head unit.

 

[tjsmk8]

Thanks for the response. I was just emailing you recently to see if the 3 EB8 power bars I have were salvageable, and now it seems none of my old system is. It's very weird since everything worked when stored a couple years ago.

 

[_AV]

yeah. This is quite strange. Usually, it takes something significant such as a lightning strike or a power surge to kill main controllers on those. Typically, a bad module plugged into an otherwise working system would fry all aquabus comm on all active components. That case is easily repairable.