[milleniumaire]

My IHD is plugged in and has worked flawlessly for a couple of years now, with only the odd disconnection, but it usually sorts itself out.

However, for the last couple of weeks it has shown no data and now appears to be constantly "power cycling".

If I disconnect it from the mains, so it is running on battery, within 30 seconds it will turn off.

I've tried placing it in the electricity meter, on battery and have also moved it closer to the meter while plugged in, but no luck.

The fact that on battery, it turns off within around 30 seconds after it has done the following, makes me think it may be broken i.e. the battery has failed:

1. Turn on by pressing the button on the rear.
2. All 3 lights (orange, green and red) are briefly on and a welcome message displayed.
3. The model number is displayed.
4. The GUID is displayed.
5. It says "Waiting for current data". The signal strength (fan) icon at the top left flashes (5 bars) and the time display at the top right shows 0000.
6. After around 20 seconds it powers off.
If connected to the mains, instead of powering off, it repeats all the above (3 lights etc).

Clearly, it isn't working!

Any thoughts?

[JoeSoap]

@milleniumaire

Further to @retrotecchie’s post, there are some options in the link below should you decide you want to acquire a new IHD…
https://community.eonnext.com/thread...ull=1#post6726

[milleniumaire]

The other thing I have noticed is that on the electricity meter, both WAN and HAN lights slowly flash, but the WAN light flashes red while the HAN light flashes green.

Is there any significance to this?

I emailed E.ON Next about my IHD issues nearly 2 weeks ago and haven't received a useful response. I assume this is because they either don't have the resource or simply don't care.

Yesterday I downloaded and installed the Bright app onto my Android phone and supplied my IHD GUID. Just checked and it is still showing the "We are now getting your app up and running!" message.

[retrotecchie]

@milleniumaire

It's bricked. More than likely the battery is end of life. As it's long out of warranty, I don't think you have much comeback unless you try a DIY battery replacement.

[milleniumaire]

Originally Posted by JoeSoap

@milleniumaire

Further to @retrotecchie’s post, there are some options in the link below should you decide you want to acquire a new IHD…
https://community.eonnext.com/thread...ull=1#post6726

Thanks, I had already found this post, which is very helpful. It's surprising how little support the energy industry has for IHD's.

[milleniumaire]

Originally Posted by retrotecchie

@milleniumaire

It's bricked. More than likely the battery is end of life. As it's long out of warranty, I don't think you have much comeback unless you try a DIY battery replacement.

Is it normal for the IHD to stop working when the battery has failed, even though it is plugged into the mains? My IHD has always operated on mains power.

[retrotecchie]

@milleniumaire

Your IHD runs from the internal battery, which is charged by the mains adapter. Not a good idea, but that's how they are designed. Most IHD's last much longer if they get a full discharge regularly, or are run entirely on battery and just recharged when they need it. Some folk leave them plugged in 24/7 and they last for years with no trouble. Your symptoms do indicate a faulty battery or internal power fault.

[retrotecchie]

Originally Posted by milleniumaire

The other thing I have noticed is that on the electricity meter, both WAN and HAN lights slowly flash, but the WAN light flashes red while the HAN light flashes green.

Is there any significance to this?

With regard to the IHD, absolutely no significance at all.

[meldrewreborn]

@milleniumaire

You have nothing to lose, so why not see if you can open up the IHD and get to the battery. This is likely to be a commercially available item and available via eBay or similar, At the most some soldering might be required to connect the new battery. This is a cheap option, if you are not up to it yourself I'm sure somebody local can attempt it for you.

[milleniumaire]

Originally Posted by meldrewreborn

@milleniumaire

You have nothing to lose, so why not see if you can open up the IHD and get to the battery. This is likely to be a commercially available item and available via eBay or similar, At the most some soldering might be required to connect the new battery. This is a cheap option, if you are not up to it yourself I'm sure somebody local can attempt it for you.

I'm going to try using the apps first to see what they are like. I've always disliked having to go to the IHD to view my usage, especially when I work from home and so I'm on my PC and mobile all day long! In this day and age, I don't really understand the need for a dedicated piece of hardware like the IHD when the information they display "should" be available through an app (PC and/or mobile) or via the energy suppliers website.

If I do feel the urge to purchase a new IHD, which at the moment is unlikely, I would probably get the Chameleon ivie Bud, which I believe is more advanced than the old IHD3.

If the Bright app proves to be successful, I'll consider the failure of the IHD to be a bonus 😀