How To Remove Your NuTone IM / IMA4406 Master Station - Video -

The NuTone IM4406 and IMA4406 Radio CD Intercom Master Station is one of the most common model we have sent to us for repair.

I have learened that owners find it somewhat daunting to open up their Master Station and disconnect all of the cables and wires so it can be removed and sent to us.  They find it equally difficult to reinstall after they have received the rebuilt Master back.

After I have spoken with each customer about their repair, I send them a copy of the original Installation Instructions which gives the step-by-step instructions and diagrams to install their IM4406 or IMA4406.  This works for many owners, but I think a video showing how to remove their IM4406 or IMA4406 may be better.

Here is a short video showing the removal of a typically installed NuTone IM4406 or IMA4406 Master Station.

There is also bonus footage at the end showing the extra steps to remove a IM4406 or IMA4406 which has the optional IA440 or IAA440 Expansion Kit.

Use this link to Contact us about problems with your NuTone IM4406 or IMA4406

Use this link to fill out an Intercom Repair Request Form

You Only Get One Chance To Fix it Right the First Time

Some Things Just Really Cheese Me Off. . .

A poorly done repair is one of those things.

This week I received a NuTone IM4406 Intercom Master Station in for repair.  It had a typical list of problems: No Intercom, No Radio, No CD, No Chime, No sound from the system at all, basically the clock kept time and it would display Radio Station readouts - thats' all it did.

Upon initial inspection, I noticed that there were markings on the circuit boards, markings that were made by another repair shop - another NuTone repair shop - and I knew which one . . .

I contacted the owner of the IM4406 and asked about prior repairs, he said that he had sent it in to another shop 2 years ago for basically the same problem. Hmmm.

I was shocked by what I found when I disassembled the set.  During the prior "repair" 1 component was replaced and even that wasn't done correctly.

A single Voltage Regulator was replaced (a common problem) however the all important heat sink bracket was not added (something that is common knowledge - even 2 years ago) so the new regulator was doomed from the start.

So why is this so bad?

Lets look at what we know about this type of problem with a IM4006.

1.  The original voltage regulator lasted about 15 years before it failed.

2.  The improperly installed replacement regulator lasted only 2 years

Why?

The failed Voltage Regulator is symptom of the problem, no the problem itself.  Yes, the regulator should have had a heat sink bracket when the IM4406 was designed back in 1996 - but even without the bracket, the regulator lasted 15 years.

Why did the replacement last only 2 years?

Because of what causes the regulator to fail: An ever increasing demand on it: Which is caused by the slow failure of other components in circuit.

Would this "repair" have lasted longer if they added the heat sink bracket - probably

Would have adding the heat sink bracket made this a proper and complete repair - Not Even Close -

The reality of repairing equipment that has to be shipped in to us and then shipped back to the customer is that the shipping costs are a measurable percentage of the overall total cost.

In the long term, performing a complete and through repair is less expensive than doing a minimal repair.  The few extra dollars for parts is nothing compare to the time, effort and expense of have the unit repaired again 2 years later.

So, why was the original repair done so poorly? - My guess is that they simply don't care enough to do it right. . .

Here's a picture of what I replaced (inside the red box) the blue arrow points to the 1 part that the other shop had replaced. 

NuTone IMA4406 CD Player - A New Problem Has Shown Up

I Found a New Problem with a NuTone IMA4406

Well, its been almost 1 year since I posted any new information about the NuTone IMA4406 Music intercom System.  That's because up until yesterday, there wasn't anything new to report about, just alot of the same problems over and over with the master Stations that have been sent in for repair.

Yesterday I was working on an IMA4406 that was originally installed in October 2004.  I know the installation date because I installed the system when my customer was building their new home.

They reported that they were having trouble with the system working intermittently and especially the door chime, which only worked some of the time.  During the Service call, i noticed that several of the main capacitors in the Power Module had already vented and their tops were bulged out.

I removed the IMA4406 and brought it back to the shop for a rebuild.  I though this would be just another normal rebuild like so many early 2000's IMA4406 needed.

When I disassembled the IMA4406, I had to remove the CD Players Control Circuit Board and that's when i noticed some interesting.

In the power supply section of the CD Player Control Board, I noticed that there were 3 capacitors that had vented just like the ones in the power supply.

The owners didn't report any specific CD Player related problems and I hadn't really checked out the CD before starting the rebuild, so I can;t say for certain if these failed parts had affected the CD Players operation or not.

I replaced all 7 of the power supply capacitors on the Control Board and i noticed that there were 3 different brands of parts used.  The 3 that had failed were the same brand, so maybe it's another "quality of component" problem. 

NuTone IM4406 - CD Player Problems

We have more and more people contact us about the CD Players in the original NuTone IM4406 Intercom Master Stations.

The IM4406 was manufactured between 1996 and the end of 2002 (or so) and that makes these original IM4406's between 14 and 20 years old.  Unfortunately NuTone no longer has parts or circuit boards available to repair these CD Players and without support from NuTone, repair is not a reasonable option.

Here's a Video from our YouTube Channel that explains the construction and challenges of trying to repair these CD Players

Where does the Backup Battery Plug In on your NuTone IM4406 / IMA4406

When it's time to replace the Backup Battery in your NuTone IM4406 or IMA4406 it can be a little tricky to find the Battery Plug Socket.  This is because the Battery Socket is located on the underside of the Main Circuit Board.

 

The Red Arrow points to the area where the Battery Socket is located.

The Blue Arrow points to battery socket, which is mounted on the underside of the circuit board.

The Pink Arrow points to the plug on the backup battery pack

Here you can see the plug from the backup battery pack partially inserted into the socket.

It is very important for the black wire to be on the left side when the plug is inserted into the socket.

This is because batteries have both positive (+) and negative (-) terminals.  The black wire is negative and the red wire is positive.  If the battery pack is plugged in backwards, it will not backup your Master Station and the batteries will be damaged when the Intercom tries to recharge them.

Once you have the plug aligned with the socket (with the wires in the correct positions) you can use a small flat screwdriver which has been slipped in between the red and black wires to carefully push the plug into the socket.