Building Automation Knowledge Base

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 How to order Continuum v2.0 to take advantage of a Software license instead of a Hardware license. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum v2.0 and above Continuum Software Licensing Cause A new site requires software licenses, not hardware security keys. Resolution For details on how to order the licensing for Continuum software key see Ordering and Activation of Software License for Continuum v2.0 Note: Purchase a new Continuum Security Key before upgrading to a keyless license. The following is taken from the above document. A new installation – Software license ordering and activation is available only as an upgrade to a hardware key. For new installations please order the USB key from the factory, upon receipt follow the steps outlined hereon for upgrading your USB license to software license. The following products can be ordered with a Software Key: WebClient Server All factory Add-On options [–E (Endura), -D (Data Exchange/Active Directory), -B (Badging), etc...] CoE Add-On options. (see Continuum 2.0 Keyless Add-on Applications FAQ V1.0.pdf for details.) The following can not support a Software Key and will require a Hardware Key (USB or Parallel port): Continuum Interface Server

Issue Status does not change. Environment CT current transformer H909HV-S6 Cause Although current flow is present, the current transformer status does not change. Resolution This issue was caused by the incorrect wiring between the Current Transformer and the DDC controller. To clarify this, please see below. The drawing shown as part of the installation instructions appears to show that four connections to the DDC controller are required, this is not connect, only two are required. The status output connections consist of two terminal sets, but only one connection is required from each. To download the H909HV-S6 datasheet please click HERE.

Issue As part of a site power feed problem investigation where varistors are being blown, how are they connected to the power feed? Environment i2920, b3920, b4920. Cause When a site is experiencing power problems and the mains input varistors blow, it is required to know how the damaged varistor is connected. Resolution The 3 varistors are connected between: Live and Earth, Neutral and Earth, Live and Neutral. The attached sketch shows how  the 3 varistors are connected. The connections are the same for the i2920 and b4920.

Issue Site doors are configured for CARD+PIN but they have a short list of people that require the ability to access the door without a PIN Environment CyberStation Cause Documentation Resolution Click HERE for a sample PE program that will allow a list of Card Numbers to change the mode of the door to card only so they can gain access without a PIN, the program will switch the door back to CARD+PIN as soon as the special person goes thru the door.

Issue Vulnerability affecting certain versions of OpenSSL. Product Line Andover Continuum, EcoStruxure Building Expert, EcoStruxure Building Operation, Satchwell MicroNet, Satchwell Sigma, TAC IA Series, TAC INET, TAC Vista Environment OpenSSL Cause Software vulnerability Resolution Information and Customer Statement located at the following link on the community: Schneider Electric Security Statement Regarding the Heartbleed Vulnerability. A corporate statement on this can also be found here: Schneider_Electric_Heartbleed_Customer_Statement_APR_15_2014.pdf.

Issue Information on the features that Video Monitor supports and details on how to configure it on a Continuum Workstation. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum v1.90 and above. Cause There does not seem to be a specific manual for Video Monitor. Resolution What Is Video Monitor? Video Monitor is CyberStation's powerful video-surveillance tool. Video Monitor, available in CyberStation Version 1.9 and higher, allows you to view live and recorded video images from cameras assigned to doors or points that trigger alarm events. It allows you to monitor doors, immediately capture video images from doors, unlock a door, monitor door status, monitor a person's access to doors, and get alarm information as soon as it happens. You customize the way Video Monitor operates using its powerful configuration tool, Video Administrator. Using Video Administrator, you can attach up to 16 cameras to a door or point. Video Monitor is launched when an event associated with the door or point triggers an alarm. Another video surveillance monitoring tool, VideoLayout, is also available for video matrix-frame viewing. The system may be configured to use either Video Monitor or Video Layouts as your primary video interface to alarms. Also see reference to supported features in the Feature Blast for v1.90 when Video Monitor was first added to Continuum. Configuration There is a large amount of information in the Continuum on-line help files that discuss how to configure Video Monitor in detail. See the Continuum online help contents and search for "Video Monitor."   Note: The Video Monitor option must be enabled on the Continuum Security Key to able to set this up and use it. This comes standard in v1.90 and above and can be enabled on your Key if it is not already.

Issue CyberStation program shows status running but current line is blank and elapsed timers are all zero. Environment CyberStation Cause Documentation Resolution Click HERE to see more information on the functionality of Cyberstation programs that are configured to run on any Workstation.

Issue How to have visibility into what a controller sees in its list of peer controllers and Cyberstations following a tech. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment All CX controllers Cause Documentation Resolution If controller is 9900 you can perform a "dump controller" from Hyper Terminal and see the list of peer controllers and CyberStations the controller has been taught. For Second Generation Continuum controllers that do not have a terminal interface you can put a program in the controller to get information about the list. (You can use the program in the 9900 as well.) Click HERE to see a sample PE program. IMPORTANT UPDATE: If the site has more than just a few (3-5) controllers comment out the line in the program that gets the controller names. Also, comment out the line that gets the security flag if there are first generation (9900, 9640) controllers involved.

Issue How are the bits allocated in a 26bit Wiegand card format? Environment Access control peripherals data format Cause Although this is an openly published data format, sometimes the actual data bit format is required. Resolution The Wiegand 26 bit format consists of 24 bits of data and 2 Parity bits (Odd and Even) The 24 data bits are split between 8 bits for the Site code and 16 bits for the card number. Giving a card number range of 1 to 65535, and a site code range of 1 to 255. A spreadsheet defining the format can be downloaded here.

Issue A method to create many objects with alarm links using CSV import files. Environment Continuum Cyberstation Cause A requirement was presented where many Inputs and Numerics needed to be created with attached alarm links. A quick method to create these similar objects was investigated. Resolution The CSV file was broken down into the minimum attributes that were required to create a numeric with an active alarm link. Attached is a copy of the CSV file that was used and a screencap showing the results. Follow the steps below to take the Workstation offline, import the CSV file, then send the changes to the controller. 0. Set the Workstation to offline. 1. Import the CSV file "alarmlinkexp" into the acx1 controller by right clicking on the controller and selecting "import into...". Note the success result in the distribution window. 2. set the Workstation to online. Refresh the continuumexplorer view, right-click on the new point and select "send to controller". Note in the distribution window that this succeeded without any errors. 3. The value of the object is set to "NotSet", set this to off, apply, then set to "On". 4. Note that the alarm is triggered and comes in to the alarm bar.   CSV Import file structure InfinityNumeric Name,Alias,DeviceId,Format,AlarmLink1,AlarmEnable test2,test2,net1\acx1,###$,Root\testAlarmEnroll,1

Issue  Evaluating Signal Levels on RS-485 Field Bus with an Oscilloscope. Environment Infinet Field Bus MSTP Field Bus Cause Documentation Resolution See  Evaluating Signal Levels on RS-485 Field Bus with an Oscilloscope.pdf

Issue MBus to Modbus TCP Product Line Andover Continuum, EcoStruxure Building Operation, Satchwell Sigma, TAC Vista Environment Mbus Modbus Cause How to read MBus devices into a BMS System using Modbus TCP Resolution There are different methods, but these are generally using a Modbus RTU / Mbus gateway and then converting it to Modbus TCP. The following ADFweb solution allows Mbus to be read directly into a Modbus TCP device. Click here for the datasheet.

Issue How to create a set of manual logs to show the state changes of a digital point with time stamps. Environment CyberStation Any CX Any i2s Cause Documentation Resolution How to create a report for a digital input that shows the input change of state with a time stamp.pdf

Issue At times it is necessary to replace the battery. Environment BCX Cause  A procedure is needed to replace the battery. Resolution To download the PDF for the procedure to replace the BCX battery, click the following link: Battery Replacement Procedure.pdf

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 In Physical Access Control lingo, the term Edge controller typically refers to a device that is installed at the door (or in close proximity to the door) and that has all of the components needed to fully control the door with only and IP connection running back for communications to the front end system. Typically Edge access controllers are PoE so that there is no need to provide a separate power feed to the device, they also provide power to all the components that comprise the door control (door lock, REX etc) Environment CyberStation CX9702 Cause Documentation Resolution Continuum does not have a physical access controller that can be considered an Edge access controller. The Continuum access controller that come closest is the CX9702, although it is NOT a PoE controller. Click HERE to see the specs of the CX9702.

Issue The bCX1 Series Technical Reference Manual shows part number 01-2100-299 as lightning protection for Continuum. The cut sheet on iPortal does not specify which model PC642C this is.   Environment Continuum Cause Details on iPortal do not specify which specific model of the PC642 series is supplied with part number 01-2100-299. Resolution The part number 01-2100-299 on iPortal (here) corresponds with the 15V model of that lightning arrestor. This also comes with the base, Emerson part numbers below. PN PC642C 015  Leaded    PN PCB1B BASE Leaded The PDF for the Edco PC642 Series is here.  

Issue Where can information on programming and configuring the AC256 line of controllers be found.  Environment AC256 AC8 AC4+4 Cause Although the AC256 line of controllers has been discontinued, there are many live systems still in existence which need to be supported. Resolution The AC256/AC8 Configuration and Programming Student Guide can be found here.