Black Start Deadlock: Multi or Quattro will not boot if the CCGX is off but CCGX is powered by the Multi / Quattro

Startup Deadlock between CCGX and Multi/Quattro

If the CCGX is powered by energy that needs to come out of the Multi/Quattro, but the Multi/Quattro will not boot up (e.g. black-start scenario), you will have a 'deadlock' with no obvious resolution other than the interesting observation that briefly disconnecting the VEBus cable from the CCGX will magically fix it.

This turns out to be a hardware function provided via pin 7 of the VEBus cable between the CCGX and the Multi/Quattro unit(s), intended to suppress startup of a VEBus environment.

If you do need the Multi/Quattro to power up and supply output power despite an attached CCGX being switched off, you need to break this deadlock.

Fortunately, that is very easy to do - just cut pin 7 of the VEBus cable between the CCGX and the Multi/Quattro unit(s). That's it!

How to make this cable

Here is an easy way to make that special patch lead:

• Take a standard RJ45 ethernet patch lead
• Carefully strip the outside insulation sheath back, part way along the cable, to expose the underlying twisted pairs
• Identify and cut the #7 wire (brown/white according to standard RJ45 ethernet cable colour coding)
• Separate and insulate the cut ends with insulation tape, and then wrap the whole location up with more insulating tape
• Mark the cable to indicate that is has got pin 7 disconnected (to avoid confusing someone in the future who might use the cable somewhere else!)