Frequently Asked Question

5100 Standard — Take-A-Number Queue

Last Updated 20 hours ago

5100 Series Take-A-Number Display — Troubleshooting & Setup Guide

Download the 5100 Series Product Manual — Refer to this manual throughout this article for wiring diagrams, programming option tables, and detailed instructions.

1. Display Not Powering On

Symptom: The display shows nothing when plugged in; no digits, no indicator light.

Cause: No power is reaching the display, or the power adapter has failed.

Solution:

  1. Check the bottom-right corner of the display for a blinking power indicator light.
  2. If the power light is absent, verify the power adapter is functioning (test with a known-good adapter if available).
  3. Confirm power wiring is firmly seated in the power terminals on the back of the display.
  4. If the adapter is confirmed working but the display still does not power on, the display unit itself may need to be replaced or repaired. Contact Microframe Support to arrange an RMA.

⚠️ Important: Never allow power wiring to contact other terminals while connecting or disconnecting — accidental shorts can damage the display.

2. Display Shows Nothing / Blank Digits (Display Size Setting Incorrect)

Symptom: The display powers on (power light is visible) but shows no digits, or the number appears incorrect or truncated.

Cause: The "Display Size" option (Area 2) is set incorrectly.

Solution:

  1. Point the remote at the display and press [MENU].
  2. Navigate using [UP] / [DOWN] to reach Area 2 (Display Size).
  3. Enter the number corresponding to your display's digit count (e.g., enter 2 for a 2-digit display).
  4. Press [ENTER] to save.

Refer to page 11 of the 5100 Series Manual for a full Options Table.

3. Display Shows "--" (Double Dashes)

Symptom: One or more displays show alternating or steady -- (double dashes/hyphens).

Cause: A window slave display cannot communicate with the master display. This is almost always a wiring or programming issue.

Solution:

Step 1 — Check programming:

  • Press [MENU] on the remote.
  • Confirm the master display shows 14. If it shows any other value, press [4] to set it to 14, then press [ENTER].
  • Slave (window) displays should be set to 15, 16, or 17 depending on your configuration. See page 11 of the manual.

Step 2 — Inspect communications wiring:

  • Unplug power before inspecting wiring.
  • Check that the A, B, and Ground wires between displays are firmly seated in their terminals. A missing or loose ground wire is a common cause of erratic behavior.
  • Refer to the wiring diagram on page 14 of the manual for correct multi-display wiring.
  • Never run communications wire in the same conduit as power wiring — this can cause interference.

Step 3 — Bench test to isolate a faulty display or wire:

  1. Remove both displays from their installed location and bring them to a table.
  2. Wire them together using a short, known-good wire (see page 14 of manual for wiring diagram).
  3. Program both to master mode (14). Connect a button to each display.
  4. Press the button on each display and confirm both displays count up together.
  5. If the bench test works but the problem returns at the installation site, the installed wiring is the likely cause.
  6. If -- persists on a specific display even on the bench, that display may need repair.

4. Display Numbers Jumping by 10s (Quickset / Shorted Button Input)

Symptom: The displayed number jumps by 10 (e.g., 10, 20, 30) instead of incrementing by 1. The 10s digit may appear to blink.

Cause: The 5100 series includes a Quickset feature: holding the advance button for more than 5 seconds changes the 10s digit. If a wired push button input is shorted — due to a damaged wire, a pinched wire under a mounting screw, or corrosion — the display may activate Quickset unintentionally.

Solution:

  1. Check any wired push buttons and their wiring for damage. Pay attention to areas where the wire passes under or near button mounting hardware, as screws can pinch wires and cause a short.
  2. Disconnect wires from Input 1 (UP) and Input 2 terminals on the back of the display.

- ⚠️ Do not disconnect the power (24VAC) terminals.

  1. Observe whether the jumping stops. If it does, replace the wiring and/or button.
  2. If no wires are connected to the input terminals and the jumping continues, the display may require repair. Contact Microframe Support for an RMA.

Note: See the Quickset section of the 5100 Series Manual for more detail on this feature.

5. Display Continuously Flashing / Advancing on Its Own

Symptom: The display flashes, counts up on its own, or behaves erratically without any button being pressed.

Cause: The onboard [SELECT] button may be stuck or have a wire pressing against it; alternatively, wiring connected to the pushbutton input terminals may be shorted.

Solution:

  1. Check the onboard SELECT button:

- Remove the back cover of the display.

- Inspect whether any wire is resting against or pressing the SELECT button.

- Ensure the button itself is not physically stuck in the depressed position.

  1. Check pushbutton input wiring:

- If you use an external wired push button, disconnect it from the display's input terminals.

- If the erratic behavior stops, replace the button and/or wiring.

  1. Check for corrosion (outdoor/exposed installations):

- Displays installed outdoors — even under an awning — may develop surface corrosion over time, which can cause input-terminal shorts. Physical inspection of the board is required.

  1. If none of the above resolves the issue, the display likely requires repair. Contact Microframe Support for an RMA.

6. Remote Control Not Working or Unresponsive

Symptom: Pressing buttons on the IR remote has no effect on the display, or the remote only works intermittently.

6a. Remote Is Locked Out

Cause: The display may be set to ignore the remote.

Solution:

  • Point the remote at the front of the display.
  • Press and hold the [EXIT] button until a code appears on the display, then release.
  • Attempt to use the [UP] / [DOWN] buttons again. The display should now respond.

6b. Incorrect Keyfob Address

Cause: The keyfob address does not match the display's address.

Solution:

  • Using the remote, access [MENU] and navigate to the keyfob address setting.
  • Reset the address back to the default value. (See Options Table on page 11 of the manual for defaults shown in bold.)

6c. Weak Signal / Intermittent Response

Cause: Low batteries, direct sunlight on the IR sensor, or the remote is out of range or not in line of sight.

Solution:

  1. Replace the batteries in the remote.
  2. Ensure you are within 25–30 feet of the display with direct line of sight to the front panel.
  3. Check whether the display is in direct sunlight — sunlight can interfere with the IR receiver.
  4. If a brand-new remote continues to fail after fewer than ~10 uses and all of the above have been checked, send the display in for repair evaluation.

Replacement remotes are available for purchase on the Microframe website.

7. Keyfobs Not Pairing / Only One Keyfob Working

Symptom: The system has multiple keyfobs but only one of them causes the display to respond.

Cause: Additional keyfobs have not been paired to the display.

Solution:

  1. Point the keyfob at the display.
  2. Press and hold the middle button on the keyfob for 5 seconds.
  3. The display will show "AP" to confirm pairing.
  4. Repeat for each additional keyfob.
  5. Test all keyfobs to confirm they are working.

8. Display Shows Leading Zeros (or Should Show Them)

Symptom: The display does not show a leading zero before single-digit numbers (e.g., shows 1 instead of 01), or you want to enable/disable this behavior.

Cause: The leading-zero option (Area 3) is toggled off.

Solution — To enable leading zeros:

  1. Point the remote at the display and press [MENU].
  2. Press [UP] until the display shows 31.
  3. Press the [0] (zero) button — the display should change from 31 to 30.
  4. Press [ENTER] to save.

Refer to pages 11–12 of the 5100 Series Manual for full details on all programmable options.

9. Displays Out of Sync (Master/Slave Setup)

Symptom: In a multi-display system, window slave displays do not show the same number as the master, or do not update when the master advances.

Cause: Communications wiring is loose or disconnected, or slave displays are programmed incorrectly.

Solution:

Check programming first:

  • Master display: Area 1 = 4 (display reads 14)
  • Standard window slave: Area 1 = 5 (display reads 15 or 16)
  • For MWSS (two displays per window, front and back): Area 1 = 7 (display reads 17); also set Areas 8 and 9 to assign matching addresses to paired displays. See page 7 of the manual for the MWSS Special Case details.

See the manual page 11 for the full Options Table and page 14 for wiring diagrams.

Check wiring:

  • Inspect all A, B, and Ground connections between displays.
  • Unplug power before checking wiring.
  • Do not run communications wire in the same conduit as power.
  • Perform a bench test (see Section 3, Step 3 above) to isolate whether the problem is the installed wiring or a display unit.

10. Display Skipping Numbers — Menu Mode Activated Accidentally

Symptom: Numbers skip irregularly (not in consistent 10s increments) or the display seems to be in an unusual mode.

Cause: The [MENU] button may have been pressed accidentally, putting the display in programming/menu mode.

Solution:

  • Press [EXIT] on the remote to leave menu mode and return to normal operation.
  • If no button is pressed, the display will time out of menu mode on its own.
  • If incorrect menu settings were saved, refer to page 11 of the 5100 Series Manual for default values (shown in bold) and restore them using the [MENU] → navigate → enter value → [ENTER] sequence.

11. Adding a Second Display to an Existing System

Symptom/Goal: You want to connect a second display to your existing 5100 series system.

Solution:

  1. Purchase a compatible 5100 series display (e.g., D5120).
  2. You will need 5-conductor wire to connect the two displays. Refer to the wiring diagram on page 14 of the 5100 Series Manual.
  3. Program the original display as master (Area 1 = 4, reads 14) and the new display as slave (Area 1 = 5, reads 15).
  4. External push buttons can be connected to either display; pressing the button on any display will advance the number on all connected displays simultaneously.

When to Contact Support

Contact Microframe Support directly if:

  • The display does not power on and the power adapter has been confirmed working.
  • Erratic behavior (flashing, auto-advancing, -- display) continues after all wiring and programming steps above have been completed.
  • A display is suspected to have internal damage (e.g., from a lightning surge, power short, or corrosion).
  • A remote continues to fail after battery replacement and all line-of-sight/lockout troubleshooting steps are exhausted.
  • You need to arrange a repair RMA — you will need the display's model number and serial number (found on the back of the unit). You pay your own outbound shipping; Microframe does not charge evaluation fees upfront. Typical repair cost is approximately $75 per unit. An RMA number is required — do not ship without one.

Contact Microframe Support via the support ticket system or by phone during business hours (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Central).

5100 Series Product Manual

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