Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue What NEMA or IP rating is a specific product? Environment All devices Cause Is a product protected against water and access by foreign objects? Resolution The Degrees Of Protection document details both the IP rating and NEMA Enclosure charts. The IP rating is made up of 2 digits, the first is the level of protection to foreign objects, the second is the level of protection to water. If a product does not specify any rating for water ingress in it's datasheet then the the second digit will be 0. The first digit relates to the size of a foreign object that can be inserted into the product. Typically many Buildings products will not allow the insertion of a finger (12.5mm approx' 1/2") and offer no water protection, so they would be rated as IP20, however it would be IP10 should they have holes of up to 50mm (approx' 2").

Issue There are "Local Network: and "By Network" options that allow to just connect to the local network or just a b3 Environment RoamIO2 Bacnet Windows7 Windows 2008 Cause By default, the RoamIO2 Bacnet Service Tool has "Local Network" and "By Network" options which may attempt to access all bacnet devices across the entire bacnet network depending on what is selected. This includes all controllers connected to a routing device (BCX/AS/ES). The amount of controllers and the size of the network can cause a long delay in bringing up controllers. Resolution Ensure that the RoamIO2 firmware has been updated to V1.110002 or greater. This version introduced the "Local network" and "By Network" selections in the Bacnet Service Tool. Download details of the Network Targeted Search with snapshots Download the firmware RoamIO2Appl2.000002) Download the Bacnet Service Tool and user guide(1.110003) (Download Center)

Issue Webstation shows 12 hour AM/PM time and U.S date format even when the PC is setup to 24 hour and UK date formats   Environment Webstation Localization Cause Webstation does not get its time and date format from the Windows PC, but from the installed and selected language pack. To change the format, you need to install the language pack for your country or language. There might not be language packs for all languages and countries, and unfortunately there is currently no option to UK/ European English in Webstation. Resolution The workaround is to install a modified English language pack. Download and save and install one of the following two zip files, and install as described below. DO NOT UNZIP THE FILE! UK English 24 hours format with time zone indication UK English 24 hours format without time zone indication    While you are logged into Webstation, Select Settings, then Add or remove language Select "Choose file" and browse to the location you downloaded the language pack .zip file to and select ok Then under settings, select "Change regional settings" You should now have the option to select "English (UK) (en-UK)"  you should now see that the date and time have now changed to UK format.

Issue Webstation static graphic viewer no longer works in Chrome, FireFox or on smart phones. The "Loading..." image never goes away. Environment Webstation Cause The file "xmlHttpImageLoader.js" located in "C:\inetpub\wwwroot\TACVistaWeb519\Modules\Graphics\ImageLoader" (519 being the version of TAC Vista installed) uses the name "status" for a variable in the script. This variable name is a reserved word. The name is actually not a reserved JavaScript word, but a reserved Windows word: http://www.w3schools.com/js/js_reserved.asp Resolution As only Internet Explorer is supported, this is not going to be fixed. There is however a workaround that will enable viewing graphics in static mode. 1. Rename the file C:\inetpub\wwwroot\TACVistaWeb519\Modules\Graphics\ImageLoader\xmlHttpImageLoader.js 2. Paste this corrected file to the same location

Issue It is not possible to bind a point in a Function Block program to the RelinquishDefault property of a BACnet Multistate value in an SE8000 controller. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment StruxureWare Building Operation(SBO) 1.6.1 SE-8000 series Room Controller Cause In some circumstances the user may wish to change the value from both the HMI in SE8000 and from a Function block program in SBO, and in this case the RelinquishDefault property must be used. Resolution A possible workaround is to use a LUA script in the SE8000 controller. Idea 1: Write a LUA script that will check if the Priority array (ex. priority 16) value has changed for the list of points that the user wants to modify. If there is an entry in the Priority array, have the LUA script copy that value to Relinquish_default, then relinquish the corresponding priority array entry. Idea 2: There are 6 LUA "scratchpad" BACnet AVs that the user can write too. When the LUA script sees a change in those AVs, it can copy the value to a specific AV's relinquish default. For example, scratchpad AV25 can be used to "shadow" a setpoint. So when AV25 changes, the LUA script will copy the present value of AV25 into the Relinquish_default of whatever the Setpoint's AV is. Example of the LUA script in the SE8000 controller for the above: If value AV25 is bigger than 0, the value of AV25 is written on AV39 Relinquish_default property (priority17) and then AV25 is set to 0. if ME.AV25 > 0 then ME.AV39_Present_Value[17] = (ME.AV25/10); end ME.AV25 = 0 LUA programming guide for SE8000 Room controllers

Issue Can the old Robertshaw T99 temperature sensors be integrated to SBO? Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, TAC IA Series Environment SBO all versions Cause Retrofit job installation Resolution According to the RTD-DI-16 specification sheet, the T99 sensor can be integrated to SBO as follows with some limitations. Configuration Use an RTD-DI-16 module with a 2 or 3 wire RTD resistive input. Select 1000 ohm for the Sensor class property of the RTD input object. Configure the Conversion Settings properties of the RTD input object near the endpoints of the temperature range to be measured using values from the T99 temperature/resistance table. Configure the remaining properties of the RTD input as needed. Limitations Input Range. An RTD-DI-16 input configured for 1000 ohm operation is limited to an input resistance range of 500 to 2200 ohms. This will limit the temperature range that can be measured with a T99 sensor to ~115 deg. F maximum. Linearity Error. Depending on the range of temperatures to be measured and the needs of the application, linearity error may be significant. This can be corrected by using a script or function block program to linearize the signal based on the T99 temperature/resistance table values.

Issue What track is used for ABA data? Environment ABA Magnetic stripe cards and readers. Cause Card format information required. Resolution ABA data is usually stored on Track 2 and requires a track 2 reader to decode the data. ABA Magnetic Stripe Format.

Issue iClass Reader consolidation Environment Electronic Access Control Continuum & I/Net readers Cause HID has discontinued some of the iClass readers. Resolution The following 2 links cover the parts obsoleted and their replacements: PA-000336: Schneider Electric Part Numbers PA-00172: HID Part Numbers

Issue Customer wants to connect MODbus meter to Comm port 4 on a Netcontroller 2 but needs to know which pins to use Environment Continuum Netcontroller 2 NC2 Cause Customer wants to know Netcontroller 2 pinouts Resolution The Netcontroller 2 has a number of different connection types including RS485, RS232, RS422 and RJ11 Please see attached document for a full list of the Netcontroller 2 pinout configurations Link

Issue Changing readers from ABA to Wiegand and getting card not in database Environment Continuum ACX7xx ACX700 Cause When you change card readers from ABA to Wiegand on a ACX7xx controller you need to make sure you also change the switch and jumper positions also Resolution You will need to remove the cover of the ACX7xx to reveal the dip switches and the resistor like jumpers that you will need to change, please see the attached document for how to make these changes . Link

Issue The LIB-4-485 converter is no longer available through Schneider Electric Environment MicroNet Satchnet Communications Cause Obsolecence Resolution The LIB-4-485 USB to RS232 converter can no longer be purchased through Schneider Electric. The LIB-4-485 USB to RS232 converter can be purchased directly through B and B Electronics. Click here (1) to be linked to the port powered RS232 to 422/485 converter page.  http://www.bb-elec.com/Products/Serial-Connectivity/Serial-Converters/Port-Powered-RS-232-to-RS-422-485-Converters/485SD9TB.aspx Click here to download the data sheet. B and B Electronics contact details: Westlink Commercial Park, Oranmore, Co. Galway, Ireland Phone:   +353 91 792444 Fax:       +353 91 792445 Customer Service: eorders@bb-elec.com Tech Support: techSupport@bb-elec.com General Inquiries: info@bb-elec.com

Issue After commissioning a Sigma IC-Lon it is a requirement to upload the NvConfig.bin. There are times when the file properties are changed. Environment Sigma IC-Lon Cause After commissioning a Sigma IC-Lon it is a requirement to upload the NvConfig.bin. It has been found that on some sites that once this file had been uploaded it was not possible to back the file up using a backup program or windows explorer. Resolution The file properties need to be changed by adding Authenticated users and the users groups to each file and have full access rights assigned. Please click here for document with screenshots. It was on an Italian site hence the italian windows settings. English version will be posted soon.

Issue After upgrading to Niagara G3 3.8 (from 3.7), nested PxIncludes now only partially load and very slowly.  They are not all entirely missing.  After a screen refresh, most will load except for a random few.  Also, they may load all at one moment but not the next.  The same Px file in version 3.7 loads faster with nothing missing. Environment Niagara G3 / AX version 3.8 Cause PxInclude caching is disabled by default in 3.8. Resolution This issue was addressed with the release of an updated bajaui module - version 3.8.38.3.  This version re-enables PxInclude caching.  Download it here.

Issue Information on the MicroSmart Laptop Interface Module (MSC-LIM) Environment DMS MicroSmart Cause Information Resolution Installation / Connection sheet

Issue If we want to use a NTC 1,8K sensor on an input of a SEC-TE module do we need to scale the input by a script program then?   Environment SEC-TE Cause To scale the input reading, we need a script. Resolution Link to file for LUA script file.

Issue Unable to find data sheet for TAC M500 actuator Environment TAC M500 actuator Cause No data sheets are to be found on the Extranet Resolution The data sheet for TAC M500 actuator can be found here

Warning Potential for Data Loss: The steps detailed in the resolution of this article may result in a loss of critical data if not performed properly. Before beginning these steps, make sure all important data is backed up in the event of data loss. If you are unsure or unfamiliar with any complex steps detailed in this article, please contact Product Support Services for assistance. Issue No events are transferred to the Report Server SQL database. Trend logs are transferred just fine. In the report agent log you can see this message "Sequence contains no elements" Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Report Server Cause The Enterprise Server has been renamed before the Report Server has been installed or before the Report Server Agent has started collecting data. Resolution This issue will be fixed in a future version, but until that, do the following to correct the issue: The fix is split into two sections. First, a section working with the "event.db" file from the SBO database, and second a section working with the "StruxureWareReportsDB" from SQL Management Studio. "event.db" from the SBO database Download http://www.sqliteexpert.com/download.html (Just take the personal one) Stop the Enterprise Server Copy the "event.db" file to a safe location Attach the "event.db" file to "SQLite Expert Studio" Get the first event from the event.db using the following query in the "SQL" tab: SELECT SEQNO,TimeStamp,EventGUID,SourceServer FROM t_7E_2FSystem_2FEvents_2FEventLog_2FEventRecords ORDER BY SeqNo LIMIT 1; Convert the TimeStamp with this "SBO TimeStamp Converter" tool "StruxureWareReportsDB" using SQL Management Studio Write the following SQL query in SQL Management Studio, using the converted time stamp, and the Guid you found previously. INSERT INTO StruxureWareReportsDB.dbo.tbEvents (DateTimeStamp,SeqNo,OriginalSeqNo,Guid) VALUES ('2014-04-17 08:35:23.857','1','1', '380d1c4c-c60b-11e3-8ecb-b8ac6f81243c') Start the Enterprise Server again Restart the Report Agent and let it run for a while.

Issue Control Valve Sizing Environment Control valves Cause Selecting the wrong control valves can cause improper control operation  Resolution Refer the Application Note CA-28, Control Valve Sizing. This is a good reference document for sizing a control valve. 

Issue Can the MPM be connected to the Internet (ie: given a public IP address)? Environment All MPM models Cause Request from end customer Resolution Although current versions come with Digest Authentication, the MPM must NOT be connected directly to the Internet or any other public network. It should only be made accessible over the Internet by using VPNs, firewalls, and remote software with strong passwords. This Application Note provides the above information in official terms.

Issue Robertshaw T99-112 RTD Immersion Temperature Sensor - Specification Sheet & Temperature / Resistance Table Environment DMS MicroSmart Cause Create a custom temperature / resistance object in Niagara, SBO, etc... Resolution Spec & T/R table available here.