diff --git a/www-api/app/Models/BackendModel.php b/www-api/app/Models/BackendModel.php
index fe323958..94de1411 100644
--- a/www-api/app/Models/BackendModel.php
+++ b/www-api/app/Models/BackendModel.php
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use CodeIgniter\Model;
 class BackendModel extends Model
 {
 
-    const DEBUG_API_CALLS = false;
+    const DEBUG_API_CALLS = true;
     private $wrenchboard;  // internal use only - no overriding
     public $USER = 'root';
     public function __construct()
@@ -21,13 +21,10 @@ class BackendModel extends Model
     }
 
 
-    public function wrenchboard_api($in, &$out) {
+    public function wrenchboard_api($in, &$out = array()) {
         log_message('critical', "wrenchboard_api-STARTING" );
-        $ret = 10999;
-        $out = $in;
-        log_message('critical', "wrenchboard_api-ENTERED".serialize($in) );
         $this->wrenchboard_load();
-    /*      if (!is_array($in)) {
+        if (!is_array($in)) {
             $in = array();
         }
         if (!is_array($out)) {
@@ -42,7 +39,7 @@ class BackendModel extends Model
             error_log(json_encode($in));
         }
         $ret = $this->wrenchboard->wrenchboard_api($in, $out);
-*/
+
         return $ret;
     }