Power over Ethernet has Stopped Working on Mk2 One Port Gateways
Issue
ETC has been monitoring an unusual failure rate in Response Mk2 One-Port gateways. This issue often presents itself as a failure to power up when connected to a Power over Ethernet (PoE) system.
Explanation of Issue
We have been researching multiple potential causes for this issue and have discovered a susceptibility in the circuit board that can potentially be aggravated by environmental factors.
ETC remains committed to our customers and to resolving this issue. All Response Mk2 One-Port Gateways have had their warranty extended by five years from their original warranty end date.
It is important to note that the overall percentage of failures remains low and may not occur in all devices. This issue is only present in the One-Port version of the Response Mk2 gateway due to their unique circuit board design. Two-Port, Four-Port and all DIN rail products are not affected by this issue. While presenting similar symptoms, damage from improper grounding and electrostatic discharge have been determined to be unrelated to this susceptibility. Proper grounding remains required by ETC installation guidelines.
Resolution
If a Response Mk2 One-Port Gateway experiences an issue with Power over Ethernet, please contact ETC Technical Services to arrange for a repair of the unit.
An alternate solution is to power the gateway via DC power input. For portable units, ETC part number PS406-F is available.
Proper Grounding
When installing One and Two Port gateways, always connect the ground wire to a path to earth ground. For metal backboxes using metal conduit, as long as the entire path is contiguous and connects to earth ground, it is acceptable to connect the ground wire to the backbox or metallic containment, but a dedicated ground wire is preferred.
For portable units, there is a ground wire location on the side of the box. EtherCon cables and shielded ethernet cables (STP) are acceptable to use in lieu of a bespoke ground wire provided they are properly earth grounded at the other end of the cable.
See the Setup Guides available here for more details on proper installation: https://www.etcconnect.com/Products/Networking/Response-Mk2/Documentation.aspx
To check proper earth ground, a digital multimeter can be used to determine continuity between the earth ground wire on the gateway and the ground of a nearby power outlet.