TROUBLE SHOOTING THE MEDIA MONSTER
(continued)

Now let's check the connections.

For the present, disconnect any wires from the Control Freak except the wire for the switch mat, the power cable, and the Infra-Red LED cable (that attaches to the DVD player).

Next , make sure you're connecting it to the right terminal block. You should be connecting the switch mat's wire to the largest terminal block on the Control Freak, (the one with six screws). Connect the wire to the two farthest right screws by first loosening the two screws on the top of the green block (turning them counterclockwise), then sticking the ends of the wire into the holes on the front of the green block. Make sure to stick the wire ends into the upper part of the hole. Then turn the screws clockwise until tight. Give each side of the wire a small tug to make sure they're clamped down tight.

If you stick the wires into the lower part of the hole, they won't get clamped down correctly, so make sure they go in the top part. When you tighten the screw, the little metal clamp inside the hole should rise up to secure the wire.

While we're here, make sure there's a jumper wire bridging the two middle holes (see the picture at left) and that it's connected securely.

Finally, the last piece of the puzzle to check is the switch mat, so let's make sure your switch mat is working.

Disconnect the switch mat. We'll make a super-simple switch to take its place for the moment...

Take a short length of wire (doesn't matter how long, say 6"), and strip 1/4" of insulation off of both ends.
Connect the two ends of one side of the wire to the same place on your Control Freak where you had the switch mat (the right-most terminals on the biggest green terminal block). Now, after having waited the obligatory 15 seconds between attempts, touch the two loose ends of the wire together, completing the circuit and simulating someone stepping on the mat. If it works fine now but didn't before, your switch mat needs replacing.

If you need more help, feel free to contact us via the contact page on this website.

Happy Haunting!