Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Performing an action that normally starts WorkPlace Tech Editor or Monitor does not start the tool. A warning message is displayed. Schneider Electric StruxureWare has stopped working A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Please close the program. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, TAC IA Series Environment SmartStruxure WorkStation SmartStruxure WorkPlace Tech Editor and Monitor program Cause .NET support not enabled in Visio Resolution Enable the .NET programmability support in Visio. as documented in Section 4.6 of  the SmartStruxure WorkPlace Tech Editor and Monitor manual. Open Windows Control Panel Click Programs and Features In the list of programs, select Microsoft Office Visio and then on the File menu, click Change In the Change your Installation dialog box, select Add or Remove Features and then click Continue On the Installation Options tab, expand Microsoft Office and then Microsoft Office Visio Click .NET Programmability Support, select Run from My Computer, and then click Continue Windows reconfigures Microsoft Visio. When finished, click Close

Issue A space temperature sensor is not reading correctly on a MicroSmart controller (Model # MSC-P-1504).  The type of sensor is not known due to its remote location.  What are the possible values for the SCALE, OFSET, and CVTYP elements? Environment MicroSmart MSC-P-1500 line of controllers Cause Trying to determine the type of sensor installed so a spare sensor can be brought for the service call. Resolution The different combinations of SCALE, OFSET, and CVTYP can narrow down the type of sensor installed (i.e. RTD, voltage, or current).  The exact model cannot be identified remotely.  See page Table 6 on page 17 of the Installation Guide for this controller family.

Issue Installing and Configuring Email Service Accounts in Niagara G3 Environment Niagara G3 Cause The need for a quick reference guide Resolution The following document can be found at Niagara-Central.com as well.

Issue Need information on securing a building automation system. Environment Best practices Cause End user has requested assistance for their IT department to secure the building automation system. Resolution Click here to get a copy of Best_Practices_for_Securing_an+IBMS_WP.pdf,  a white paper written by Schneider' Electric's Buildings BU IT Security Group. This also located on the Download Center here

Issue Enterprise Network Server BTL Certification Environment I/A Series G3 3.6.35 BACnet Advanced Operator Workstation (B-AWS) I/A Series G3 3.6.35 BACnet Operator Workstation (B-OWS) Cause The PIC statements for the I/A Series G3 Enterprise Network Server for BACnet Advanced Operator Workstation and BACnet Operator Workstation is available from Schneider Electric. However, they are not listed on the BTL website under Schneider Electric.  Resolution Schneider Electric is focused on maintaining BTL listings for servers and controllers that are an active part of the SmartStruxure solution. There are no plans to add or renew BTL listings for products that are only supported by TAC I/A Series systems at this time. Existing listings that don't apply to SmartStruxure solution will remain on the BTL website until they expire. Schneider Electric product BTL listing can be found here.

Issue How to configure a LON router in Niagara R2. Environment Niagara R2 LON Cause Troubleshooting Resolution Review / download documentation here.

Issue Is there a SmartStruxure specification that includes a piece for Network 8000 migrations? Environment Network 8000 Cause sales request Resolution The document is available on the Buildings Business Extranet, under Products > SmartStruxure solution > Sales > Guide Specification. It's a Word doc so it can be modified to suite the desired needs. The current version is 1.4 and is available here for convenience.

Issue The customer is replacing a defective actuator on a hot water reheat valve downstream of a VAV box.  The VAV and associated hot water valve are controlled by a DMS MicroSmart MSC-V-511 controller. Can the MF41-6043 actuator be wired into the MSC-V-511 and control the valve? Environment DMS MSC-V-511 MF41-6043 Cause Defective actuator is discontinued and cannot be swapped with an identical, working one. Resolution The triac outputs on the MSC-V-511 can properly control the MF41-6043 actuator. Terminals D1 to D4 provide 24 Vac which is the voltage required for the actuator. Look at the MSC-V-511 installation guide (F-25710) on page 18 for details on how to wire and program the actuator. Remember that the MSC-V-511 provides 24 Vac power so there's no need for an external power source.   If needed, the MF41-6043 installation guide has wiring diagrams on page 6. The actuator requires 2.3 VA. The digital outputs on the MSC-V-511 can provide up to 12 VA.

Issue Can the SE7605B5045 be converted to work on an Echelon trunk? Environment Viconics SmartStruxure Lite Cause Wrong controller ordered for application Resolution VCM7600V5045E Echelon Retrofit Communication Card is available for purchase and can be installed in the field. Click here for a list of all communication cards available.

Issue Proxy objects were successfully created in a G3 obix integration of a R2 station.  The writable proxy objects (ie: setpoint overrides) in the G3 station do not propagate the new value to the native object in the R2 station. Environment Niagara G3 Niagara R2 Cause This is a known issue with the G3 obix driver. Resolution Right-click the proxy object in the G3 station and do a 'forceUpdate'. If there are several dozen proxy objects affected, download this program object.  Paste it anywhere in the Obix Network and execute it.  A 'forceUpdate' will be done to all proxy objects. As of June 2013, these are the most up to date jar files for an obix integration:  2.301.535i.beta.jar, 2.301.535i.beta.jar.pc, and niagaraDriver.zip. Extraction password:  niagara (all lowercase)

Issue A network of GCMs are configured with the NIM card in each GCM to allow intercommunications over the ethernet network. Some (or all) of the devices are no longer communicating.  No known changes have been made to the ethernet network. Environment GCM-86xxx series GCMs with GCM-ETH-1 ethernet network cards The GCM-ETH-1 network card contains firmware version 11.1F. Cause Known issue with the older version of the firmware (rev 11.1F)  where network traffic issues can cause communications failures. Resolution If a firmware upgrade kit (GCMA-149-113) is available you should update the firmware in the NIM card to version 11.2T, using the procedure in document F-26229. In the event that you cannot obtain a firmware upgrade kit or a replacement GCM-ETH-1 NIM card, the procedure documented in Technical Bulletin 99-56, can be used to clear the memory of the NIM card, allowing it to re-establish communications.

Issue What was the repeater used on MicroSmart communication trunks? Environment DMS MicroSmart (all revisions) Cause Information on a discontinued product line Resolution The typical repeater installed was Model # RPTR-DMS-WW.  There are other model numbers for trunks installed with fiber. Click here to view the Repeater Installation Instructions (F-25846).

Issue Need a currently available sensor that is compatible with the MicroFlo II controller. Environment MicroFlo II VAV controller Cause Need a sensor for the obsolete MicroFlo II. Resolution See the Spec Data sheet (F-24314-5, page 3) for a list of compatible sensors that are currently available. NOTE: The MicroFlo II controller is OBSOLETE.

Issue What date was the DMS product no longer available?  Is there supportive documentation of the announcement? Environment DMS Cause Documentation required for an end customer's request Resolution The DMS product line was no longer for sale on April 1, 2005. Click to view Announcement 05-016.

Issue I/A Series R2 and G3 Security Update - Oracle has released a Critical Patch Update for Java SE that addresses a number of security vulnerabilities Environment I/A Series R2 - All versions I/A Series G3 - All versions Cause Oracle has released a Critical Patch Update for Java SE that addresses a number of security vulnerabilities.  The patch contains fixes for 50 security vulnerabilities including 44 that only affect client deployment of Java.  These vulnerabilities can only be exploited on desktops through Java Web Start applications or Java applets.  One reported vulnerability exploits the installation process of client deployment of Java – installation of the Java Runtime Environment on desktops.  This Critical Patch Update also includes fixes that were previously released with the Java 7 Update 11 alert (Security Alert CVE-2013-0422). Resolution Download and review TPA-IA-13-0001.01 Technical Product Advisory that details the vulnerabilities.  Schneider Electric recommends that customers evaluate the risk of enabling Java, based on how the affected PC is used and that customers review the download and install the Critical Patch Update as needed.

Issue MNL-V1RVx, MNL-V2RVx and MNL-V1RVx-2, MNL-V2RVx-2 differences Environment I/A Series Micronet LON VAV controllers Cause Part number MNL-V1RVx has been replaced with MNL-V1RVx-2 and part number MNL-V2RVx has been replaced with MNL-V2RVx-2.  The datasheet F-26365 indicates the parts as MNL-V1RVx and MNL-V2RVx.  Resolution The MNL-VxRVx and the MNL-VxRVx-2 are functionally the same. The '-2' was added to the part number to indicate an enhancement to the VAV actuator assembly to reduce the operation noise level of the actuator. 

Issue When logging into SIGNAL, a pop-up error appears: Path not found. Error, Btrieve #915.  A local or shared drive cannot be found.  Correct the problem and try again. Environment SIGNAL Cause The SIGNAL.INI file located in the WINDOWS folder contains folder paths that no longer exist or were changed. Resolution Replace this file with a copy containing the default directories. The file can come from a database backup, another installation of SIGNAL, or from the link available in the previous line above.

Issue What is the I/A Series product suite? What I/A Series devices will be connected to or talking on my network? Does I/A Series support DHCP, DNS, and dynamic DNS? Which software protocols and RFCs (Request for Comments) does I/A Series support? I use Netscape Navigator as a browser, are there any ActiveX compatibility issues that I need to be concerned with? How do I back up this device? What LAN network management tools do I use to manage these devices? When does a UNC controller communicate with the Enterprise Server and vice versa? What does a system of UNCs and a Enterprise Server do to my network traffic and bandwidth? How do I access an UNC or Enterprise Server over the Internet? Can I access the entire I/A Series network if only the Enterprise Server is exposed to the Internet? How will I/A Series tie in to my security policy? How is the UNC protected from viruses? How do I protect someone from hacking into my I/A Series system? How do I set up / use a VPN? How does your system work with firewalls and proxy servers? What firewalls does your system work with? What LAN network management tools do I use to manage these devices? “I use Netscape Navigator as a browser, are there any ActiveX® compatibility issues that I need to be concerned with?” “I use Netscape Navigator as a browser, are there any ActiveX® compatibility issues that I need to be concerned with?” “Which software protocols and RFCs (Request for Comments) does TAC I/A Series support?“Which software protocols and RFCs (Request for Comments) does TAC I/A “I use Netscape Navigator as a browser, are there any ActiveX® compatibility issues that I need to be concerned with?” Series support?”“Which software protocols and RFCs (Request for Comments) does TAC I/A Series sup Environment I/A Series R2 Cause Frequently asked IT related questions for I/A Series R2. Resolution There is a document 'F-27407-4 IT Manager’s Frequently Asked Questions' that answers common IT related questions on the I/A Series R2 system. This document can be downloaded here. Frequently Asked Questions

Issue What type of SIM is a Type 40? Environment Network 8000 Cause Service call to an older installation of Network 8000 product Resolution Type 40 is a SIM-TRANE. Click here for the SIM-TRANE Integration Manual.

Issue When using WPT 4.0 to upload controller databases, the system may display the following error message at the end of the upload process: Environment WorkPlace Tech version 4.0 Cause This error will occur whenever an Upload is performed under the following circumstances: 1. Any time the WPT project path is changed from the factory default such that it references a  drive path other than "C:", and the project is opened from that location. 2. Any time a project is opened through the use of the "Browse" function, and that project is located on a drive other than "C:"   Resolution See the attached Technical Alert TA04-05 for complete details.