Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue What can be connected to a UI on an Xenta controller? Environment Xenta programmable Xenta I/O modules Universal Inputs Cause The name "universal input" implies that anything can be connected to it. In reality, it just accepts several different types of inputs (not all). Resolution Thermistor 0-10 volts Open/Close contact

Issue I controlled a point on an MR (or ASC) but the point value went right back to what it was before I controlled it. Why? Environment I/NET MR or ASC Cause Quick polls are probably turned off. Resolution Select Edit, Controller, MCU Config. Once that's up select Stationx, where x is the address of the port that MR, etc is connected to. Find the MR\ASC\etc. and make sure the box in the "QP" column is selected.

Issue What are quick-polls? Environment I/NET Site Cause What are quick-polls? Resolution There are 2 ways we collect point values from sublan devices. One method is called "read all points" in which the SLI asks for the value of every point on every sublan device which is set for communication in the MCU config. This happens about every 30 or 60 seconds (depending on the type of SLI). In between those, the SLI uses the quick polls to say "give me the value of any point which changed since last time I asked you". In addition, transactions are collected from DPUs during the quick-poll process.

Issue Why does my DM point on an MR always go into alarm? Environment I/NET site Cause Why does my DM point on an MR always go into alarm? Resolution The time to state timer in the DM/DC point resides up in the SLI. If an MR-DDC module starts the DC point, the MCI has no mechanism to start that timer. Therefore, the DM will create an alarm with every change of state. If the DC is controlled by an event sequence or point extension, the DM functions properly. If you need to use DDC, use a DO and DI and create a DA for the alarm handling. Attach a calculation (module or extension) to the DA of P0=P1 to compare the DO and DI points. Give the DA an alarm delay equal to the value you would have used for the time to state setting.

Issue How to get alarms from more than one link to dial a pager Environment I/NET Site Cause How to get alarms from more than one link to dial a pager Resolution You could use indirect and global points to get the alarm conditions all into one link, then use 78061 to dial the pager. This is messy and bogs down lan traffic. A better solution is to connect a host pc to the host lan (or ethernet lan) and use the event printer port with Emergin software.

Issue If a site upgrades a synchronous dial site to asynch, what do they need to replace? Environment I/NET Site Cause If a site upgrades a synchronous dial site to asynch, what do they need to replace? Resolution Replace: the boot chips of the devices with modems connected the bin files of those devices maybe the modems themselves. You can try to use the Hayes modems in an asynch fashion but if you have problems be ready to replace them with US Robotics modems.

Issue How to properly setup links in configuration profile? What do system and hardware mean? Environment I/NET Site Cause How to properly setup links in configuration profile? What do system and hardware mean? Resolution The only time a link is defined is when you have cable connected to the computer's serial port which then connects to a tap or modem. If there is no tap or modem connected to THIS computer, you DO NOT assign a link and the link type is ""none"". When the link type is direct, INET is looking for the dip switch address of the Link tap. This is the address you use in the "hardware" field. If you are connecting to a 78010 tap which connects directly to a controller lan, the hardware address IS 0 because it is performing the functions of the Link tap. It's obviously 0 as well when you are connecting to the emulated tap of a controller because it connects directly to the controller lan. If the 78010 connects to a host lan (not to be confused with an ethernet lan), INET is looking for the dipswitch address of the 78020 or 051 taps. They are the link taps. 

Issue What is the "system" link address and why does the site need to assign it? Environment I/NET site Cause What is the "system" link address and why does the site need to assign it?   What if there is an ethernet system with 2 PCs and each of them connect to a 78010 which in turn connect directly to controller lans? They're both hardware link 0. How will the site distinguish between them?  Resolution The site can modify the link definitions in the configuration profiles and give them unique ""system"" link addresses, that's how. The system link number must not conflict with any NPR in the system either. Typically, the site will  match the hardware and system addresses on links connected to the first PC on the network. Assign different system address to subsequent PCs with associated taps.

Issue Can you use the thermistor inputs on a 451 for Digital Inputs? Environment Xenta 451 Cause Thermistors can only be used on B inputs and U inputs, not X inputs.  Resolution The associated software does not allow anything with an X input to report anything but an on/off based on a voltage or no voltage.

Issue Does I/NET 2000 rev 2.20 run in Windows 2000 NT FS mode? Environment I/NET 2000 Cause Does I/NET 2000 rev 2.20 run in Windows 2000 NT FS mode? Resolution Yes, it will run in either NT FS or FAT 16 mode.

Issue How do I make the OCC-UNOCC button a toggle ON/OFF button? Environment OCC-UNOCC Cause Modifying the OCC-UNOCC button to a toggle ON/OFF button. Resolution Go into the Inet "MR Functions\Istat" editor and change the button parameters interval to 255 sec.

Issue How do I make the service key on an I/STAT stay active until I finish servicing the controller? Environment I/NET Site Cause How do I make the service key on an I/STAT stay active until I finish servicing the controller? Resolution Go into the MR Functions > I/STAT editor  Change the Inactivity timeouts "Escape from Service" to "0" (zero).

Issue Can convert an ACP file to an MS Access file (MDB)? Environment I/NET 2000 Cause Can convert an ACP file to an MS Access file (MDB)? Resolution If you are running Inet 2.xx, you have a tool to do this conversion. If you go into windows explorer\programs\Inet 2000\access-conversion editor you will see that there is a process for this. This process will allow an ACP file to convert the MDB and back to ACP files. One essential thing, if you convert the ACP file to an MDB file. DO NOT CHANGE the file structure, if you plan to convert it back to an ACP file.

Issue What do I have to do to activate the IDisc Wand? Environment I/NET site with Access Control Cause What do I have to do to activate the IDisc Wand? Resolution Go into the I/O Server and set the Com Port that the Wand is attached. Then go into the access \option editor and select to read card numbers from the reader.

Issue Is there a difference between the IDisc wand for I/NET 4.xx and I/NET 1.xx or 2.xx systems? Environment I/NET Site Cause Is there a difference between the IDisc wand for I/NET 4.xx and I/NET 1.xx or 2.xx systems? Resolution Yes, there is a difference. In the I/NET 4.xx system, the Dongle (the Gray plug) is a 25-pin connector. This connector also contains a circuit board that is only compatible with I/NET 4.xx. In the I/NET 1.xx and 2.xx systems, the Dongle is a 9-pin connector. This also contains a circuit board that is only compatible with I/NET 1.xx and 2.xx systems.

Issue How to tell what Revision the BIN files are in the Data directory of I/NET Environment I/NET Site Cause How to tell what Revision the BIN files are in the Data directory of I/NET Resolution In the data directory, the time stamp value is equal to the Rev number. For example, the 7798.Bin -- 58KB – 5/18/01 – 2:23 AM, The Rev number of this file is 2.23.

Issue Can you mix Prox cards and reader with the same format? Environment I/NET Access Control Site Cause Can you mix Prox cards and reader with the same format? Resolution No, If you have a 26 bit HID reader, you have to have a 26 bit HID card. A 26 bit Motorola card will not work with a HID reader. The same is true of other way Motorola reader and HID cards will not work.

Issue Can I share a 24 VAC Transformer with a 7798 and a 7910 or 7920 DPU? Environment 7798 7910 DPU 7920 DPU Cause The 7798 is a half wave DC board and the DPUs are full wave boards. The grounding is different and this will cause power problems that will destroy the 7798. Resolution You will burn up the 7798 board if you put it on the same transformer as a 7910 or 7920 DPU.

Issue OSTART and OSTOP not working on a temperature control extension Environment I/NET Resident I/O Temperature Control Extension Cause Optimal start requires the space temperature to meet the cooling/heating target temperature sometime after the optimized start time. Resolution Check that the space temperature has met the cooling/heating target temperature sometime after the optimized start time in order for the OSTART to work properly.

Issue How does a site set up a fan start with setup and setback temperatures? Environment I/NET Site Cause How does a site set up a fan start with setup and setback temperatures? Resolution The site can set up a temperature control extension. Then only populate the setup and setback temperatures. These are the only temperatures you put differentials on. The rest of the temperatures leave at the default values.