Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue What specification should BACnet MS/TP cable meet? Product Line Andover Continuum, EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment MS/TP BACnet devices Cause Often an incorrect cable type is used when wiring MS/TP devices causing unreliable communications. Resolution The BACnet Controller Technical Reference defines the following cable specification for a MS/TP cable: RS-485 Cable Specifications: Cables used to form the RS-485 network should conform to the following specifications: Wire Size: 22-24 AWG Cable Type: Twisted-pair, copper wire, tinned Shield: Braid Nominal Impedance: 100-120 Ohms Velocity of propagation: 78% Capacitance: <12.5 pF/ft (~ 41pF/M) between conductors and < 22 pF/ft (~72pF/M) between the conductor connected to ground and the next conductor. An example of a cable that meets this specification is Belden 3105A. Also check out the SmartStruxure-RS485-Network Installation Quick-Help video on the Exchange.

Issue Configuring the Workplace Tech encrypted LON Tunnel Client  Product Line TAC IA Series Environment I/A Series WorkPlace Tech 5.10.4 Click for WorkPlace Tech 5.9.4 information I/A Series N4 Jace Cause How to handle the encrypted LON tunnel for single and multiple LON networks in the latest version of Workplace Tech, 5.10.4.  Understanding possible errors during tunneling. Resolution The following video will help us, Apply the Encrypted LON Tunnel in an N4 Jace Configure the Tunnel Client for use with multiple LON Networks on a single Jace Understand the change in workflow from Workplace Tech 5.9.4 and 5.10.4

Issue If an application hangs or crashes, Windows systems are sluggish or have problems, or new software fails to install properly one of the first places to look for information on what may be happening is the Windows Event Log. Product Support personnel may ask to see a copy of the Windows Event Log. Product Line TAC INET, TAC Vista, Andover Continuum, Satchwell MicroNet, Satchwell Sigma, TAC IA Series, Field Devices, EcoStruxure Building Operation, Other, EcoStruxure Building Expert, Access Expert, Security Expert Environment Windows Operating System Cause If an application hangs or crashes, Windows systems are sluggish or have problems, or new software fails to install properly one of the first places to look for information on what may be happening is the Windows Event Log. Resolution   Open the Event viewer by one of the ways below: Start Event Viewer by pressing Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box and type eventvwr. Right-Click on "This PC" and select "Manage" then navigate to Computer Management (Local) > System Tools > Event Viewer. Select the type of logs the need to be exported. Application, Security, and System logs in the Windows Logs and Schneider Electric Security Expert logs under Applications and Services Logs (for Security Expert cases) are required.  For each log, view recent messages then click the "Action" menu and select "Save All Events As". Enter the log name, include the log type (Application, Security, or System) in the log name, and location the click "Save". For non-English Windows, make sure to select English (United States) in "Display information" then click OK. 

Issue While Continuum controllers and EcoStruxure controllers do not utilize Power over Ethernet (POE), can plugging in a Continuum or EcoStruxure controller into a POE switch damage either the POE port or the controller? Product Line Andover Continuum, EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment PoE Ethernet Cause Controllers must be installed on a subnet served by a POE switch. Resolution According to the IEEE standard, a POE switch shall determine if the connected device is POE capable before turning on the power. The detection if a connected unit is POE capable is done by measuring the resistance between the pair #2 - #3 and pairs #1 - #4. On a POE capable unit the resistance is 25kohm, with some tolerance. If it is lower or higher it is not considered to be POE capable. As there are no Continuum or EcoStruxure ethernet controllers that apply a 25K ohm load, a properly functioning switch port will not enable PoE power and the device will not be damaged. Find information on the PoE standard in the Fundamentals of Power Over Internet (PoE) PDF

Issue Getting "Commport is not XDriver enable" error when attaching the driver file to the comm port. Comm port has been flashed to enable XDriver operation. Controller Options shows Xdvr Comm2:00000009 (0000) Product Line Andover Continuum Environment BCX NCI NCII B4920 XDriver Comm Port Cause Bad controller XDriver support flash file. Resolution 1. Take the Workstation offline, edit the comm port, and set the default mode to "XDriver". 2. Go back online and send the comm port to the Controller. 3. Attempt to attach the Driver file to the comm port, if the same error occurs then contact Schneider repair department for a new XDriver option flash file. See article Determine if a controller comm port is XDriver enabled - Communities (se.com) 

Issue After the successful installation of Continuum 1.9x, users are receiving a DCOM Permission error when logging on to Continuum webClient. The error is intermittent. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Microsoft Server 2008 Standard Microsoft Windows 7 Continuum 1.9x and 2.0 Continuum webClient Server Remote Desktop Cause When a remote desktop connection is made on Windows 7 or Windows 2008 Server the console occasionally gets locked. It stays locked until the local session is restored with a logon. Resolution Create a .bat file. **************************************************************************************** @echo off REM Restores session 0 to the "console".  Thus allows local machine REM to return to the service accounts desktop without being locked. REM ------------------------------------------------------ tscon.exe 0 /dest:console @%windir%\System32\tscon.exe 0 /dest:console @%windir%\System32\tscon.exe 1 /dest:console @%windir%\System32\tscon.exe 2 /dest:console **************************************************************************************** Place this file on the desktop of the Continuum webClient Server system. When you disconnect from the remote session run this Bat file. Do not just disconnect. This must be run "As an Administrator." This will disconnect the session and restore the console.

Issue Accessing Continuum Security Key information using MMC to determine what features are enabled. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Security Key Cause Users need the ability to know what version of Continuum is supported on their key Resolution Note: The MMC method for viewing enabled key features mentioned below no longer works with Windows10 or greater and because of CyberSecurity issues ActiveX controls have been deprecated by Microsoft in favor of more secure web technologies.  This feature will not be updated for Cyberstation.   Some Cyberstations do not have Microsoft Office with Excel installed but the security key information may be accessed using Microsoft Management Console instead. Go to Start> Run, Type in MMC.exe and click OK Select File> Add/Remove Snap-in Click the Add button (bottom left) Click On ActiveX control and click Add Click Next while in the Insert ActiveX Control dialog Scroll Down until you find SecurityKeyReader Control and highlight it and click Next Leave the default name and click Finish Close the Stand Alone Snap-in dialog Click OK on the Add/Remove Snap-in dialog Click on the SecurityKeyReader Control and highlight it and it will display the Key info If you want to save it, File> Save and enter the name SecurityKey.msc Windows 7  (32-bit system) Go to Start> Run, Type in MMC.exe and click OK (64-bit system) In Command Prompt  enter  mmc /32 Select File> Add/Remove Snap-in Click On ActiveX control and click Add Click Next while in the Insert ActiveX Control dialog Scroll Down until you find SecurityKeyReader Control and highlight it and click Next Leave the default name and click Finish Click OK in the Add or Remove Snap-in dialog Double click on the SecurityKeyReader Control in the right-hand pane and it will display the Key info If you want to save it File> Save and enter the name SecurityKey.msc To reopen Go to Start> Run, Type in MMC.exe and click OK File> Open and select Ex. SecurityKey.msc To copy to another computer File Search> Enter SecurityKey.msc (or whatever you named it above) Copy the file to the other computer and paste it into the Administrative Tools folder Ex. C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools  

Issue Controller cold starts after power fail Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum 1.x CX BCX Cause ACCRestartMode system variable is set to Cold Start Resolution Change the ACCRestartMode system variable. See the bCX1 Controller Technical Reference Guide Rev F  document page 55 onwards for an explanation of the changes that are required.

Issue There is only 1 input available, but the end-user wants more than 1 sensor to be connected, where the reading will be averaged. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, EcoStruxure Building Expert Environment Building Operation Workstation Building Operation Automation Server SSL SE8000 Cause The wrong sensor type or incorrect wiring might have been used. Resolution 4 resistive sensors of the same type are required. Depending on scenario, 2 sensors may have to be fitted adjacent to each other, or fit 2 sensors into 1 sensor housing to achieve the correct number of zones to be monitored. For wiring follow the drawing below:

Issue Windows System Information may be requested by Technical Support to assist with a reported issue. Product Line All Product Lines Environment Microsoft Windows Operating System Cause Unspecified cause. Resolution Press WINDOWS + R on the keyboard of the Windows system that you wish to obtain the report from. The Windows key is usually located between the CTRL and ALT keys and has a picture of a flag on it. Type Msinfo32.exe and click OK The System Information tool will start. Click on File > Sav When prompted, save the *.nfo file to an accessible location. Email the *.nfo file to your support representative.    Note: This application can also be accessed from Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and System Information. Using this method will open the System Information for XP and Windows 7, 32 and 64-bit computers. Refer to: Description of Microsoft System Information (Msinfo32.exe) Tool

Issue What SQL collation is supported by CyberStation Product Line Andover Continuum Environment CyberStation SQL Server Cause Which SQL collations are supported by CyberStation. Resolution Only the SQL_1xCompat_CP850_CI_AS collation has been tested with CyberStation. Note: In more recent versions of SQL server (i.e 2005), you can have the Collation on a per-database basis so ContinuumDB will have its collation set to SQL_1xCompat_CP850_CI_AS and another database can use a different collation setting. Also when the continuum database is restored it will retain the original collation that it was created with.

Issue CyberStation is unable to connect to the database. ODBC test also fails when testing the connection to the database. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment CyberStation SQL server SQL management studio Cause SQL server not on UPS. Server shut down due to a power failure. Looking at the ContinuumDB using the SQL Management Studio shows the database has been marked as suspect.  ContinuumDB (SUSPECT) The database may be marked suspect for the following reasons System Issues Transaction Log File is Missing SQL Server Crash Database Files are inaccessible SQL Server Database Operation Failures Due to Improper shut down of SQL Server System (as mentioned above) Due to Sudden Power Outage Low Disk Space Issues Hardware Failure Resolution The database may have been damaged by the ungracious shutdown. The restore option is grayed out and must first be re-enabled before a restore operation can be allowed. How to recover a database in suspect mode Clear the suspect mode of the database using sp_resetstatus DatabaseName. This will clear the suspect flag and make the database available online. The SQL Server must be stopped and re-started. Change the database status to Emergency using the following command. ALTER DATABASE DatabaseName SET EMERGENCY; Restrict database to single user by changing the access mode as mentioned below ALTER DATABASE DatabaseName SET SINGLE_USER; If the restore option is now enabled skip step 4 Run the CHECKDB command with “REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS” option. This option should be tried as the last option as it always behaves the way it is named. We are not sure of what data it removes. DBCC CHECKDB (DatabaseName, REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS) WITH NO_INFOMSGS, ALL_ERRORMSGS If the repair operation is successful the database is now usable but if a recent backup is available it is strongly recommended to restore the database. Restore the most recent backup of the Continuum database. Set the ContinuumDB owner using the query SP_ChangeDBOwner 'Andover97'  

Issue A b3 controller that is shown as offline in CyberStation can incorrectly change to online when RoamIO2 is connected to the bus.   Product Line Andover Continuum Environment RoamIO2 bCX CyberStation b3 Cause When a RoamIO2 is connected to the MSTP bus and the BACnet Service Tool software is started, it assigns itself a BACnet MAC Address. It may assign itself the BACnet MAC Address of an offline b3. If at the same time you are running a listview of b3 controllers on that bus in CyberStation, and displaying commstatus, the offline b3 with that BACnet MAC address will appear online. However, attributes such as VersionNum, BACnet DeviceID, Port, and InstanceID will be blank in the listview - tipping you off that this is bogus.   Resolution Be aware of this situation and add the attributes described in the cause section above to confirm what you are seeing.  

Issue Receive an Error message "Outlook not installed"  when starting  Continuum Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Windows 7,  64Bit Continuum  1.9X Microsoft Outlook  64 Bit. Cause Outlook 64 Bit is not supported at this time. Resolution Uninstall 64-bit Outlook.  Then install 32-bit Outlook.

Issue The SQL Server 2008 is running the 64-bit version as well as the Continuum Workstations are using 64-bit Operating Systems. In the interest of increasing the SQL access speeds can the ODBC connection between them also utilize the 64-bit ODBC driver? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum v1.94 (or greater) Microsoft SQL Server 2008 64-bit Microsoft SQL Server 2012 64-bit Microsoft SQL Server 2014 64-bit Microsoft SQL Server 2016 64-bit Cause Want to know if the SQL access speeds can be increased by taking advantage of using the 64-bit ODBC drivers. Resolution The Continuum application itself is a 32-bit application, this will require the 32-bit ODBC drivers to make a connection to the SQL Server. Even though we support Continuum in a 64-bit environment, it is still only a 32-bit application so the 32-bit ODBC drivers are used for the SQL connection. Be aware that this is just the communications on the SQL side, the SQL application itself will still process data at 64-bit speeds if the 64-bit version is used.

Issue The specifications and setup details of the EH series humidity sensors. Product Line Andover Continuum, EcoStruxure Building Operation, Field Devices, TAC IA Series, TAC INET, TAC Vista Environment Humidity Sensor Cause The EH Series Room, Duct and Outside humidity sensors are a universal Relative Humidity transmitter that can be powered with either a +15 to 36 Vdc or 24 Vac supply voltage. The EH series sensors are designed with a field selectable 4-20 mA, 0-5 Vdc, or 0-10 Vdc output signal that is equivalent to 0 to 100% RH. The EH Series is used in building automation system, humidity chambers, and OEM applications and is compatible with Vista, Continuum, I/Net, I/A, and SmartStruxure systems. Resolution EH Series Humidity Sensors Click the below links to look at the documentation for these sensors including the dip switch settings. EH Series Humidity Sensor Data Sheet EH Series Humidity Sensor Installation and Operation Instructions Old EH Series Humidity Model For information on the older style of dip switches (models with two separate sets of dip switches), see the document below. Old EH Series Humidity Sensor Installation and Operation Instructions

Issue Continuum has a limit on the number of entries that can be added to the BBMD table in the bCX and CyberStation. Do the AS and ES servers have the same limitation? Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Automation Server (AS-P, AS-B) Building Operation Enterprise Server Continuum Cause Limitations must be known for engineering design. Resolution The number of BDT Entries you can add to the BBMD table in EcoStruxure Building Operation is limited only by the available resources, so for all practical purpose there is no limit. Device BDT (Broadcast Distribution Table) FDT (Foreign Device Table) ES only limited by memory 64 (up to v1.4) 600 (from v1.5) AS only limited by memory 64 (up to v1.4) 254 (from v1.5) ASB only limited by memory 50 bCX1 32 32 Cyberstation 1024 1024 Always refer to the Architectural Guidelines for the latest information

Issue Emailing alarms if Microsoft Outlook is not used on the site? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Cyberstation 1.73 and above bCX 4040 Netcontroller II (9680) ACX57xx Series (ACX II) Cause The customers site IT system is unable to provide reliable Email communications from Microsoft Outlook on the Continuum Workstations. Resolution The documented Outlook support: Initially Full Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Exchange was specified as the requirement 1.92 to 1.94 specified Microsoft Outlook 2007 for Windows XP and Vista (Full Microsoft Outlook or Exchange) 1.94sp1 to 2.03 specified Microsoft Outlook 2007 Microsoft Outlook 2010 (Full Microsoft Outlook or Exchange software package)   For further information on outlook versions see the KB article Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2010 with Continuum email alarms. Notes Only 32bit Outlook was tested/supported Continuum does not support MS Outlook Express for emailing alarms From v2.0 CyberStation has internal SMTP email options see  SMTP Email Alarm Configuration in Continuum 2.00 to 2.03 There are other email option for emailing directly from controllers. There is a feature in the bCX (also NetController II, ACX II) controllers to be able to email messages directly to a SMTP server either manually or via Plain English programs, although this is not directly linked to the Continuum Alarm system and would require a Plain English program to determine what emails are to be sent. See the "bCX1 Controller Technical Reference" Commissioning section for details on how to set up the controller to send out emails to a 3rd party SMTP email server.  There is also the Continuum SNMP Configuration guide for use with SNMP alarming with a Network Management System. Then in the CyberStation online help see the "SendEmail" function help on how to use Plain English to get the bCX (Netcontroller II or ACX II) to send out messages via email.  

Issue For various reasons, it is sometimes necessary to change a b3's mac ID. For example, a b3 that is removed from a site and will later be used at a different site needs to have its mac id reset to factory default to avoid the possibility of introducing a duplicate mac id. NOTE: To set the MAC ID to the factory default you need BACnet Service Tool version 1.110004 or newer.   Product Line Andover Continuum, EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Continuum b3 Controller Continuum Service Tool RoamIO2 BACnet Service Tool Cause The MAC ID needs to be set or changed on a b3 controller. Resolution IMPORTANT: If the b3 has previously been assigned a valid mac id then proceed to step #1. If the b3 has factory default slave mac id then see  CHANGING MAC ID ON A BRAND NEW B3 FROM THE FACTORY below Make sure the b3 is disconnected from the MSTP network then connect the RoamIO2 directly to the b3 using the service port. Launch the BACnet Service Tool and de-select the 'By Networks' and 'BACnet only' menu options in the view menu. Click the green icon to make the RoamIO2 sync to the baud rate of the b3 and discover it. In the 'Tools' menu select 'Set Offline B3 Mac Id' as shown below.  In the 'Modify MAC Id' window enter the b3's serial number and the new mac id to be set then click Apply. (NOTE: To set the MAC ID to factory default enter 172, DO NOT USE ZERO) To set the MAC Id to the factory default you need BACnet Service Tool version 1.110004 or newer. Tested working on beta version 1.119903). This beta version is attached. Download it and remove the .txt at the end to make it a zip file, unzip then see the readme.txt. A feedback message 'Success! will be returned if the MAC id was changed EXCEPT when setting the MAC Id to factory default (172) When setting the MAC Id to the factory default you will NOT get SUCCESS feedback, this is because the default id of 172 is a slave id (chosen because in hex it is AC for Andover Controls). Slave Ids are not allowed to initiate communication on the MSTP network. So, as a result of that, the b3 is unable to report to the RoamIO2 that the id was successfully changed. A visual sign that the ID was changed to 172 is that the TD led on the b3's RS485 port will shut off. Disconnect and re-connect to have the RoamIO2 communicate with the b3 using the new MAC id (unless you changed it to the factory default of 172). CHANGING MAC ID ON A BRAND NEW B3 FROM THE FACTORY The RoamIO2 can also be used to assign a mac id to a brand new b3 which has a factory default mac id of 0xAC (172 decimal) but the steps are a little different. In order for a RoamIO2 to be able to send communication packets to the b3, it first has to sync up with the baud rate of the b3, it does by listening and analyzing the packets sent by the b3 until it is able to determine the baud rate. As mentioned before, the factory default mac id of a b3 is slave id 172 which prohibits the b3s from sending out packets and makes it impossible for the RoamIO2 to determine the baud rate. There are several ways to work around the baud rate issue... Set the baud rate manually. Click on the green icon to attempt to connect the RoamIO2 to the b3. You will get an error that the baud rate could not be determined, click YES to proceed anyway From the 'Tools' menu select 'Set B3 Baud Rate' and set the baud rate to what you believe the last baud rate was for the b3. (The factory default baud rate is 19200) You should now be able to set the mac id per the steps above. NOTE: You may have to try all the baud rates until you find the one the b3 is operating at.

Issue Troubleshooting controllers can be aided by observing the CPU light Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum controllers Cause A video created to show the differences between Normal, Error and Bootloader modes Resolution This will not show specifically what mode the controller is in, but it can offered to try to help to determine the mode. The speed of the CPU light on some of the controllers may vary, but this gives a general idea. Normal Mode is on the left, Error Mode is in the middle and Bootloader Mode is on the right. Note if the CPU LED is constant on or off see the KB article - Continuum controller CPU light solid or not illuminated