Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue A Vista alarm set up to display a value (such as the temperature being monitored to trigger the alarm) is coming through with question marks where the value should be. Product Line TAC Vista Environment Vista Workstation Alarm queue Cause By default Vista should read the .PV when no other attribute is defined, but sometimes it does not. Resolution Add ".PV" to the end of the text string to display the value.

Issue Download a phone number to a TAC Xenta 901/401/30x using TAC Vista 2000 Environment TAC Vista 2000 TAC Xenta 901, 401, 301, 302 Cause Download a new phone number to the controller to enable communication via the modem COM port. Resolution Open the Status dialogue Right click on the network object  Choose download parameters only. This will download the phone number you have defined in your modem COM port.

Issue On a 7740 or 7741, what are P6 and P7 used for? Environment I/NET Seven 7740 7741 Cause P6 and P7 are optional connections. Resolution P6 and P7 are optional connections used to supply unregulated 24 VDC at 100 milliamps.

Issue What is the longest time delay that can be used for relay modules within MR controllers? Environment I/NET MR controllers DDC Relay modules Cause Limitations within the controller and programming. Resolution 3299 seconds is the longest configurable delay. That equates to 54 minutes, 59 seconds.

Issue What are the correct conversion coefficients for an internal PI point? Environment I/NET Resident Point editor Cause Internal PI points are always the target of a calculated point. Resolution Internal PI points must use a conversion coefficient pair: M = 1.0 b = 0.0

Issue Can an I/NET control system be connected to a Firefighters Smoke Control Station (FSCS)? Which I/NET product is often recommended as a Fire Alarm Panel (FAP) Interface? Environment I/NET FSCS UL 864 Cause Smoke control in an HVAC application. Resolution I/NET can be connected to a UL 864 listed panel providing contact inputs (for Lamps/Enunciator) and contact outputs delivering override switch status. Only the 7797-12-U8 is approved for use as the primary means of serial alarm reception in a listed smoke control system. Refer to TCON 231, Smoke Control Systems Manual, FSCS Interface Options for more details.

Issue What is ADI Z-NET? Environment ADI Z-NET Graphic panels Modbus Smoke control systems Cause ADI Z-NET allows up to eight graphic panels to be interconnected as one larger Modbus interface port. Resolution ADI Z-NET is a proprietary network system/protocol that can interconnect up to eight graphic panels so that they appear as one larger (higher point count) MODBUS interface port. Refer to TCON 231: Smoke Control Systems Manual, ADI Z-NET for more information.

Issue Why is it recommended that the Firefighters Smoke Control Station Interface (FSCSI) database consists entirely of internal points and point extensions? Environment Firefighters Smoke Control Station Interface (FSCSI) Cause This allows the same database to be used regardless of whether the FSCSI is an ICI PCU or even an MRI. Resolution This allows the same database to be used regardless of whether the FSCSI is an ICI PCU or even an MRI. For more information see TCON 231, Smoke Control Systems Manual, Database Logic.

Issue Monitor the communication integrity of sub-LAN smoke control points Environment sub-LAN controllers Smoke Control Cause Smoke control systems must maintain communication with the sub-LAN controllers at all time. Interruptions in communication must be immediately known and responded to. Resolution Create a single point that will go OLD if communication is lost to any of the smoke control sub-LAN controllers. Refer to TCON 231, Smoke Control Systems, Manual, sub-LAN monitoring for more information.

Issue Limit access options of the users of the I/NET system. How many passwords are allowed? Environment I/NET User administration Cause There are many reasons to limit the access of different users in I/NET. One, for example, is if the HVAC is part on the Smoke Control Strategy.  Resolution The host password scheme covers over 100 individual host/system functions and capabilities. The number of uniquely defined users, when unique passwords for each, is virtually unlimited at the hosts. Refer to TCON 231, Smoke Control Systems Manual, System Access Control, Passwords for more information.

Issue Elevators do not allow free access when unlocking the elevator reader with a time schedule Environment I/NET Elevator control Cause The clue is "elevator READER". Since the elevator reader doesn't directly control a "door", giving it an unlock schedule does nothing more that turn the led green. Resolution Add a schedule to each of the outputs that would allow access to each floor.

Issue How to free the elevator floors for free access when a door time schedule will not. Environment I/NET Elevator control 7920 MR-88R DIO 7940 Cause Elevator control design. Resolution If you only have a few floors, you could use a 7920's extra outputs in series or parallel with the floor outputs. Then attach a time schedule to them. If you have many floors, use the outputs of an MR-88R or a DIO 7940 in the same way. You might also use a single spare output as a connection to the elevator controls. Arrange with the elevator tech that when the contact is open, the floors are free. Closed contact means we control them. Then he configures his relays and such to accomplish it. If you prefer not to add any wiring or extra outputs, you might use a combination of AIC, events, etc. Check out Tech Tip G066 (if you can find it) for some ideas.

Issue Using a Thermistor Sensor on an MR Controller Environment I/NET MR Controllers Cause You may use a thermistor sensor in place of an I/STAT for room temperature readings only Resolution You may use a thermistor sensor in place of an I/STAT, only if it reads temperatures in space temperature range. Reason being, the stat port has comm line directly to the processor of the controller. If a sensor is used that reads either extremely high or low readings, they can disrupt the processor and cause controller reconfigurations.

Issue Can a thermistor be used on the stat port of a 7716 or 7718 to read very high or very low temperatures? Environment 7716 7718 Cause The reason is the same as for the MR. The stat port has a comm line connection directly to the processor of the controller. Sensors reading extremely high or low ranges can disrupt the processor of the controller. Resolution A sensor should not be used on the stat port to read anything besides space temperatures. If a sensor in these ranges is needed, use another input on the controller.

Issue How to start the export of the IMI database Environment I/NET IMI Video badging Cause Getting an export of the badging data from IMI, perhaps to import/upgrade to Datacard ID Works Resolution First, create an answer set inside the IMI Query Processing ICON. This is where you export the photo as the cardnumber.JPG.

Issue Need Conversion Format for IMI Batch Export Environment Datacard ID Works Cause Need Conversion Format for IMI Batch Export Resolution In order to use these pictures in the Datacard ID Works system, they must be either JPEG or JPG file extensions.

Issue How do I handle multiple tenants during the IMI export process? Environment I/NET IMI Cause The export file name is not incremented, nor can you name it during the export process. Performing an export procedure more than once will overwrite each previous export file.  Resolution To keep an export file, either copy it to another location or rename it before exporting other file records.

Issue In the new Datacard ID Works system how many Projects do I need to create? Environment Datacard ID Works Cause How many projects must be created in the new Datacard ID Works system? Resolution Create one projects for each tenant.

Issue When converting a card from the IMI system using the Flashpoint Video capture card, will the card work in the Datacard (ID Works)? Environment ID Works I/NET IMI Cause The Datacard system supports the TWAIN formats and the Flashpoints cards also use this format. Resolution Yes, you can. The Datacard system supports the TWAIN formats and the Flashpoints cards also use this format.

Issue Does the Magicard Video badging printer work with the Datacard system? Environment ID Works Magicard Video Badging Cause The Magicard printer web site has a driver for the Datacard system. Resolution Yes you can, the Magicard printer web site has a driver for the Datacard system.