Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue I/A Series R2 Enterprise Server and I/A Series G3 Enterprise Network Server redundancy solution Environment I/A Series R2 and I/A Series G3 Cause Continuous uptime is required for I/A Series system and data. Resolution The recommended software for I/A Series redundancy is from Stratus Technologies (http://www.stratus.com/). Contact your local Stratus Technologies office or distributor / partner for details. Also refer TVDA document 'everRun Mx with SE Building Management Systems'.   Frequently asked questions: What does Stratus Technologies solutions do? It delivers simple, affordable, continuous uptime for any Windows application running on unmodified, industry-standard server hardware. This high availability solution protects applications, data, and operating systems from faults, failures, and dropped network connections. How does it work? Stratus software synchronizes two standard Windows servers and creates a virtual application environment that runs on both of them simultaneously. If one server fails, the Windows application continues to operate uninterrupted using the other server with no failover, transaction rollback, or other complex procedure. Are there any special I/A Series licensing requirements? The Stratus solution requires a single I/A Series license only. Only one copy of the Enterprise Server / Enterprise Network Server is required. There are no special properties or license requirements. Which Marathon product should be used? All Stratus products can be used. The particular Stratus product will be determined by the end-user hardware and performance requirements. Are there any special properties that need to be set up in the Enterprise Server / Enterprise Network Server when using the Stratus product? The installation of I/A Series (R2 or G3) is no different than installing the product on a standard Microsoft Windows platform. Keep in mind; if the Microsoft Windows platform is running IIS, then either IIS or the Enterprise Server / Enterprise Network Server will have to run on something other than port 80. Both applications cannot utilize the same port.

Issue There are no existing objects in Niagara G3 that can split a 16-bit Modbus register into two 8-bit values with one representing the high byte (bits 8-15) and another the low byte (bits 0-7). Environment Niagara G3 all versions Cause Modbus integration of a 3rd-party product using 16-bit values which must be split into two 8-bit values. Resolution A program object is available below that will achieve this requirement.  The output of this object generates two 8-bit integer values and two string values for use with logic programming and display purposes.  Text file of program code

Issue Attempting to commission and bind to a Trane lon controller (object name:  Lcir & programID 80:00:CF:07:00:0A:04:05, 80:00:2A:55:00:03:04:0C, and Lcir-DAC 80:00:2A:56:0A:03:04:04. Both processes fail.  An xif file was created directly from the controller using Nodeutil. Click here to view the xif file. Environment Niagara G3 version 3.5.25 Cause The commissioning process concludes with a change of state to the controller ('config/online' to 'offline' to 'online'). The issue is that this particular Trane controller responds to the first requests ('config/online' to 'offline') but fails to respond to the 'online' request (original message plus three retries as defined by the LonWorks protocol) or approximately 400 mSec. In addition, the binding process also utilizes an 'online' to 'offline' to 'online' change of state and has some similar delays within the controller response. Resolution Modifying the Retry Count within the Lon Comm Config settings (from 3 to 6) allows up to 6 retries in the event of a no response for this type of  message. The actual Trane node appears to take a long period of time (over 500 mSec) to respond to the change of state message. This change to the retry count will not affect the bus unless there are bus issues that generate multiple retries. Basically, the change will be not be noticeable on a solid operating bus.

Issue Trying to locate the BACnet PICS for a UNC and ENC.  Where are they located? Environment Niagara R2 revision 522 and higher Niagara G3 revision 3.2 and higher Cause Trying to locate a web-based resource for this information Resolution For Niagara R2, click here for the BACnet PICS.  For Niagara G3, click here for the BACnet PICS. 

Issue Ordering the proper software options for a Vykon Energy Suite installation on a Niagara G3 jobsite. Environment Niagara G3 Cause The Vykon Energy Suite is only available for purchase via Sourced Products from Tridium.  The part numbers and descriptions are difficult to locate. Resolution The feature that licenses TEA-BASE (eas) is included with the standard ENS-1. So, a separate purchase of TRD-TEABASE-G3 is no longer required (since it is not usable without licensing stations or points). TRD-TEASTA-G3 increments the station limit parameter and allows unlimited points from an ENC. TRD-TEAPNT-G3 increments the point limit parameter and allows individual points from an ENC as well as points within the ENS as required. Additional documentation: VES G3 Users Guide VES G3 Datasheet These two part numbers are now available on iPortal for ordering.  Contact Customer Care at ccc.orders@schneider-electric.com or 1-888-444-1311 (press 1) to place an order.

Issue Doing a Niagara G3 integration with a Modbus controller from ASCO Power Technologies.  What type of Niagara object is required to read register 40158?  Click here to view Modbus Register Map Environment Niagara G3 ENC-520 ASCO Power Technologies controller Cause Cannot identify what type of object is needed. Resolution The number appears to be an enumerated value (1-22) and is a read-only integer. Use a Numeric Point.

Issue How to open an external document (e.g. Word, Excel, PDF) from a G3 graphics page Environment I/A Series G3 (Niagara AX), revisions 3.3 and later Cause N/A Resolution The attached document provides detailed instructions on how to launch an external documents from a G3 graphic.  Click Here to open the document.

Issue How to convert earlier versions of Microzone II PSI files to 3.3 revision or later Environment Network 8000 Microzone II, PSI/XPSI Revision(S) 3.13 and 4.1 Cause Error Not a valid application file!  File is not compatible with existing XPSI revision.  It must be upgraded with Zconvert.exe Resolution Procedure on how to convert Microzone II files to revision 3.3 or later and read me file.

Issue Is a license required for the S4 BACnet to N2 Routers? Environment S4 BACnet to N2 Router-16 S4 BACnet to N2 Router-32 S4 BACnet to N2 Router-64 S4 BACnet to N2 Router-128 S4 BACnet to N2 Router-256 I/A Niagara R2 I/A Niagara G3 I/A BACnet Metasys N2 network Cause Additional information on 3rd party router Resolution No license is required. But you will need to fill out the S4_Group_Order_Form and send it to CCC at the time of ordering. Link to S4 BACnet to N2 Routers for additional information

Issue LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) Integration of G3 (Niagara) Users with Active Directory Environment I/A Series G3 (Niagara) LDAP Cause None Resolution The Enterprise server or ENC must be part of the site domain before setting up LDAP.  If DNS has been configured proceed to LDAP Configuration Steps.  For further information consult docLdap_3_1.pdf

Issue As of December 2010, Microsoft® Windows XP is no longer available, preinstalled on new computers. Is there a valid, legal and legitimate workaround for running our software products that will not run on Microsoft® Windows 7? Environment New computer that was purchased pre-loaded with Microsoft® Windows 7 Professional or Microsoft® Windows 7 Ultimate I/A Series software that runs only on Microsoft® Windows XP such as: I/A Series (Niagara) R2 - all releases I/A Series (Niagara) G3 - all releases prior to 3.6.x  Signal XP WorkPlace Tech Tool 3.2sp1 Cause Microsoft® Windows XP is no longer available on new computers. Resolution Downgrade the Microsoft® Windows 7 Professional / Ultimate installation to Microsoft® Windows XP. According to the Microsoft® Windows 7 Professional / Ultimate EULA (End User License Agreement) that the computer user must read when starting up a new computer, the following Operating System downgrade rights are available: Downgrade rights for Windows 7 are an end-user right, documented in the Software License Terms that customers accept upon first running Windows software. Windows 7 end user downgrade rights will be available through the sales lifecycle of Windows 7 which is up to two years after the launch date of a new version.  UPDATE:  As of November 2012, Microsoft has upgraded their Windows Lifecycle information, indicating that this upgrade right expires in February, 2014. More information is available from the Microsoft Windows web site and from the attached document.

Issue Shielded twisted pair cable may have been installed in an area of high EMI/RFI, and proper grounding of the shield wire is necessary to make the shield effective. Environment A segment of LON trunk with shielded, twisted-pair cable. Cause Proper grounding helps to avoid DC and 50/60 Hz ground paths from being formed through the shield. Resolution Follow the Guidelines as presented in the Echelon FT 3120/ FT 3150 Smart Transceiver Data Book, page 114, Figure 5.7 "Terminating and grounding Shielded Twisted Pair Cable." Grounding Shielded Twisted Pair Cable When using shielded twisted pair, terminate the twisted pair and ground the cable shield, as shown in Figure 5.7. Figure 5.7 Terminating and Grounding Shielded Twisted Pair Cable The twisted pair is terminated according to the guidelines listed in the previous sections. The cable shield should be grounded using a capacitor to tie the shield to earth ground, and a large-value resistor to bleed off any static charge on the shield. Tie the shield to earth ground through a capacitor, instead of a direct connection, in order to avoid DC and 50/60 Hz ground paths from being formed through the shield. Typical values for Rb and Cc are as follows: Cc = 0.1 µF, 10%, Metalized Polyester, ≥100V Rb = 470kΩ, 1/4W, ±5% The cable shield should be grounded at least once per segment, and preferably at each device.

Issue How many MicroSmart devices and Microsmart trunks does the Niagara G3 driver ENC-DRV-MS support? Environment ENC-520 Series ENC-DRV-MS Cause Incorrect product data sheet F-27425-3. Resolution ENC-DRV-MS driver supports 124 MicroSmart devices and a maximum of 4 Microsmart trunks. Note ENC-520 product data sheet [F-27425-3] options for ENC-DRV-MS31,MS62,MS93,MS124 are incorrectly shown.

Issue The IP address can be entered into a UNC-520 using the Admin Tool but after rebooting or power cycling the device, the IP address is reset back to the factory default. Environment I/A Series (Niagara) R2 UNC-520-2(-N) with serial number greater than 36183  Cause The newer UNC hardware manages stored OS configuration data in a different manner than the older UNC-520 devices.  Because of this change, the factory default operating system has the capability to read, but not permanently change the device IP address. Resolution You must use the Admin Tool Installation Wizard to install the r2.301.527 (or newer) version of the OS and NRE (system software) before you can save any new Ethernet address information to the UNC. Follow the procedure in the UNC-520 installation manual (F-27391) section "Upgrade, License and Configure the Host" to install the OS and NRE system software.  Click here to see the referenced page of the manual.

Issue I/A Series R2 (Niagara) ibsAsd driver "FATAL: Cannot boot station from sns java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: tridiumx/serialDriver/services/AsyncEventSource" Environment I/A Series R2 (Niagara) ibsAsd Driver Cause serialDriver Module is missing.  Resolution Use the Admin Tool (Configure Modules Only) and add the serialDriver jar.  Click Here to see document

Issue Review of Windows event log, product event logs, or error windows during operation provides an error code number that is unreadable. Environment Microsoft Windows Cause Microsoft uses a standard list of error codes which programs can access. The display of these errors is typically in a decimal or hexadecimal format. Resolution Use the Windows Error Codes spreadsheet which allows the user to enter the code as either Hexadecimal or Decimal format and provide the text description for the error code. Use the error code description to further diagnose the problems being experienced. Guidance on whether a code is Hexadecimal or Decimal: 0x00000001 - Hexadecimal -214000000 - Decimal

Issue Recommended USB to Serial RS-232 adapter Environment I/A Series R2 UNC’s, G3 ENC’s, MicroNet 2000 MN-CIM, and MicroSmart MSC-LIM. (NOTE: MN-CIM is obsolete as of December, 2011. See Product Announcement PA-000164. There is no functional replacement available) Cause PC or Laptop without RS-232 Serial Port (DB-9 male) connector. Resolution IOGEAR (p/n: GUC232A) has been validated to work in the following applications: 1. HyperTerminal  with a direct connection to the ENC/UNC’s serial port (COM1) using RS-232 adapter and Schneider Electric p/n: UNCC-405 (RJ-45 socket to DB-9 socket adapter, null modem) and CBL-RJ45-** (flat silver satin cable). 2. MN-CIM interface module for use with the TAC MicroNet 2000 series controller interface and Air Balance software. 3. MSC-LIM interface module for use with the DMS MicroSmart Controller Interface (equipment with a handheld port). Click here for product data sheet on the IOGEAR adapter

Issue Displayed temperature on the ETR is offset from the actual temperature reading of the controller. Environment ETR Thermostat Cause Factory calibration is offset from actual temperature. Resolution Click here to download the Installation and Operating Instructions Temperature Display Adjustments Temperature display may be adjusted by adjusting the ZERO or OFFSET Potentiometer (P2) as shown on the diagram.  Adjust P2 until the LCD Display reading, matches your controllers temperature reading if necessary. Note that all LCD Displays, are factory calibrated using an NIST Certified Glass Thermometer.

Issue Understanding and Troubleshooting Modbus Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, TAC IA Series, Other  Environment All Modbus environments. Cause Modicon first introduced Modbus in 1979. Modbus is an open standard,and it is the most widely used in the industrial environment. Modbus is publicly available and,due to its simplicity, many manufacturers use Modbus as a solution for integration in their own products. Many commercial products and systems support the Modbus RTU and Modbus TCP protocols. For further information, visit the Modbus website at http://www.modbus.org. Resolution For a brief understanding on Modbus and how to troubleshoot Modbus, refer to the Modbus Troubleshooting PDF

Issue When viewing a graphic (or other object requiring a Java plugin) in Google Chrome you get the message "This plug-in is not supported" where the graphic should have been shown Environment Webstation Xenta Server I/A Series G3 version 3.8.xx or earlier Cause Google Chrome has disabled Java in version 42 and above Resolution 1: Open Google Chrome 2: In the address field, enter the following: chrome://flags/#enable-npapi 3: Click on "Enable" to enable the feature so it looks like this 4: Click on relaunch to restart Chrome   More information from Java's web site