this is me
Active member
Just like to throw this out there to help with Profilux users.
Firmware update on the Profilux can be tricky if you're not using the right connection to the PC. Yes, the Profilux has a USB port and a serial R232 port. USB is most convenient and widely used. You can find USB port in almost any devices nowadays. So it seems like a no brainer to use USB to connect your Profilux to the PC. It works, and works great with programming the Profilux using the Profilux Control software. However, when it's time to update your firmware, there's no gauranteed to work 100% of the time and the firmware can kick out in the middle of the update. This can spell chaos and disaster if you don't know what's going on.
In an event of a firmware update failure, the the Profilux locks up. The natural thing to do is disconnecting the power and connecting it back. When you do this, the screen of the profilux goes blank and looks like a dead unit. Your whole tank shuts down since the Powerbar doesn't know what to do. You run around like a chicken panicking around your tank. After you calm down a bit, you searched on the web to find the remedy.
The remedy is to use Flasher to flash the memory and download the new firmware into the Profilux
http://support.aquariumcomputer.com/english/section.php?sid=7
This Flasher can only work via serial connection. You cannot use USB to do this! After you get a hold of an old computer with the serial connection or a serial to USB converter, you can use the Flasher and download the new firmware to the Profilux and the screen will go back to normal.
Do not send the Profilux in for repair when you see the screen is blank. As long as your computer see the connection, the unit is still operational. One way to check this is to listen to the sound of your computer when you plug the Profilux in. It should make that sound when a device is connected to it. Or you can do to "Device Manager" on your computer and find the Profilux if you're computer savvy.
I guess the message here is to use a Serial R232 connection for your firmware update!
Firmware update on the Profilux can be tricky if you're not using the right connection to the PC. Yes, the Profilux has a USB port and a serial R232 port. USB is most convenient and widely used. You can find USB port in almost any devices nowadays. So it seems like a no brainer to use USB to connect your Profilux to the PC. It works, and works great with programming the Profilux using the Profilux Control software. However, when it's time to update your firmware, there's no gauranteed to work 100% of the time and the firmware can kick out in the middle of the update. This can spell chaos and disaster if you don't know what's going on.
In an event of a firmware update failure, the the Profilux locks up. The natural thing to do is disconnecting the power and connecting it back. When you do this, the screen of the profilux goes blank and looks like a dead unit. Your whole tank shuts down since the Powerbar doesn't know what to do. You run around like a chicken panicking around your tank. After you calm down a bit, you searched on the web to find the remedy.
The remedy is to use Flasher to flash the memory and download the new firmware into the Profilux
http://support.aquariumcomputer.com/english/section.php?sid=7
This Flasher can only work via serial connection. You cannot use USB to do this! After you get a hold of an old computer with the serial connection or a serial to USB converter, you can use the Flasher and download the new firmware to the Profilux and the screen will go back to normal.
Do not send the Profilux in for repair when you see the screen is blank. As long as your computer see the connection, the unit is still operational. One way to check this is to listen to the sound of your computer when you plug the Profilux in. It should make that sound when a device is connected to it. Or you can do to "Device Manager" on your computer and find the Profilux if you're computer savvy.
I guess the message here is to use a Serial R232 connection for your firmware update!
