NuTone NM Series Intercom Repair Initiative

We found out on Tuesday, April 27th 2018 that Nutone had discontinued the NM Series of Radio Intercoms.

 The Discontinuation includes the NuTone NM100WH and the NM200WH (white) and NM200AL (almond).  Along with the Master Stations being discontinued, all of the accessory items have been discontinued also.  These include:

Chime Modules

Entry Door Stations

Inside and Patio Remote Stations

Transformers and Wall Housing

As is typical now-a-days, by the time this information became public knowledge - there is very little, if any at all equipment left in NuTone's inventory.  We were told that what ever NM100 and NM200 Master Stations were left, would be reserved to cover any warranty isues, and they would not be available to purchase.

Since the NuTone NM Series of Intercom are simply re-branded version of the M&S Systems (Music and Sound) DMC Series of Radio Intercoms, which include the DMC1 and DMC3-4 - it is likely that those model s have been discontinued also.

I was told by a M&S Dealer last fall, the her received a letter from Linear - M&S Systems that they would no longer repair any Out of Warranty DMC Series Master Stations.

It is reasonable to expect NuTone to follow course and stop offering repairs on Out of Warranty NM Series Intercom as well.

Since it seems that all repairs have been taking place at the Linear Corp. Repair Facility in Rapid City Michigan.

While all of this has been taking place, we have been working on our "NM Series Intercom Repair Initiative" Which is simply our ramping up of our ability to repair both the NM Series of NuTone Intercoms, as well as the M&S DMC Models.

Here's our first Video in our Repair Initiative Series

Here are Links to our Picture Galleries for the NM Series (inlcuded DMC Series) 

NuTone NM100 Circuit Board Pictures ( Same as DMC3-4)

NuTone NM200 Circuit Board pictures (Same as DMC1)

NuTone NM Series Tuner Assembly Pictures (Same as DMC Series tuners)

NuTone NM Series Radio Intercoms are Generating more Question

Over the past year we are being asked more and more questions regarding NuTone NM Series of Radio Intercoms.

Most of these questions are about what seem to be common problems that we have seen since the NM Series was introduced. 

Since it is very likely that the NM Series wil be replaced with newer models some time in the Fall of 2017, it seems like a good time to begin building the technical knowledge base for the NM Series.  Since there are no technical documents or service information for the NM100 or NM200, it will be up to us to create this information.

I have begun this process and I have created a new YouTube Playlist for the NuTone NM100 and NM200 Series.

Initially there will be 3 Videos:

Video #1:  An Overview of the NM100 Master Station

Video #2:  A Tear Down of the Circuit Boards in the NM100

Video #3:  An Attempted Repair of the Backlight Failure on a NM100

Update on Thursday, August 18, 2016 at 8:36AM by Cindy & Christopher

Tearing Down a NuTone NM100 RAdio Intercom Master Station

This is the second Video in this series.  

In this Video I disassemble a NuTone Model NM100 Radio Intercom Master Station and have a look at the 3 circuit boards that make up the NM100

These circuit boards include:

1.  Main Power Supply - Amplifier Board

2.  Audio - Intercom Control Board

3.  Display - Micro-Controller Board

I include circuit board numbers for each board and I have a look at the important different IC's on each board.

What you will find out about the NM100 is that it is not a ground-breaking design.  It's populated with a variety of common IC's and features a fairly unimpressive amplifier design.

Update on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at 9:11AM by Cindy & Christopher

NuTone NM100 Intercom LED Backlght Repair.

One of the most common problems with the NuTone NM Series of Radio Intercoms (includes both the NM100 and NM200) is a failure with the backlight LED's for the display panel.

This 3rd Video shows some of the basic information about how the Backlight circuit works and I was able to resolve the problem with the LED's

Since the NM100 and NM200 are very similar in respect to the backlight problem, this repair will apply to both models.

Just a few problems seem to be common with the NuTone NM Series Intercom

The NuTone NM Series of radio intercoms are still fairly new and for the most part they have been trouble free.  

We be seeing what might be the beginning of some common problems with both the NM100 and NM200 Master Stations.

As most people know, the NuTone NM series is a rebranded M&S Systems DMC1 and DMC3-4.  The only differences between the two brands are cosmetic changes that were designed by NuTone to give the NM series a broader appeal.

Getting a handle on the NM series is a challenge because NuTone has decided to keep the technical information in-house and all repairs on the equipment will be done at NuTone's repair facility.

The 2 most common problems we have seen on the NM series are:

1.  The LCD display on the master stations will gradually fade out over the course of a few months until it becomes unreadable.  On the units I have replaced (under warranty) they still had information displayed on the LCD panel, but it was so dimly lit that I had to cup my hands around the screen to see anything.

2.  I have seen 3 NM series master stations which had an odd operational problem.  The NM series is a mono radio / intercom system, it has just one speaker in each location.  The system wide controls and adjustments are accessed through the "Tone" button on the master station.

The Tone "Menu" includes adjustments for:

Master Volume:   High/Lower

Loudness:   On/Off

Treble:    Up/Down

Bass:    Up/Down

Intercom Volume:    Up/Down

Music Level:    Higher/Lower

On the 3 malfunctioning units there were also adjustments for:

Balance:   Right/Left

And when the radio source was set to FM, the LCD display showed "Stereo" on the display.

These hidden menu options must be part of the firmware that controls the operations of the NM master station and somehow these options become activate.

The NM series does have both Right and Left channel Stereo inputs for the CD and Auxiliary inputs, perhaps there was initial going to be a system with a stereo option that never came about.

No one I have spoken with about this "stereo" situation seemed to know anything about it?

Update on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 3:26PM by Cindy & Christopher

I spent some time today tearing down a NuTone NM200 Master Station.  The NM200 has a fairly simple layout and design and it looks like the power / amplifier board would be easy enough to repair if needed.

I can say that would be true of the audio/intercom control board or the LCD display board.  The 2 boards are populated with miniature surface mounted components, which are much more difficult to work with.

The biggest disadvantage with the NuTone NM series is the lack of an technical information form either NuTone or M&S Systems.  Without schematics and other technical information all repairs will be much more difficult.

A CALL FOR HELP:

If anyone has access to any technical information for the NuTone NM series or the M&S System DMC1 or DMC3-4  Send It To Me.  I will post it for everyone to see and use.  In the future there will be a need for shops to repairs these models and if we start building up the information we need now, we will be ready when the need arises.

Update on Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 8:21AM by Cindy & Christopher

A new "Problem" was reported about the NM Series today.  A consumer called to find out if it would be possible to make an adjustment to the clock to correct a problem with it running to fast.

Apparently his NM200 gains about 2 minutes each month.  NuTone has replaced his NM200 once already under warranty, but the replacement had the same issue.

Since there is no technical inofrmation about the NM series, it's difficult to make any determination about the source of the problem and what would need to be to done to correct it.

I will make a guess that the clock is controlled by the same controller that runs the display and that setting for the clock are in the code or firmware.  At this time there is no solution for this customers problem.