Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Why is grounding important? Environment I/NET site Cause Why is grounding important? Resolution Grounding is crucial for the I/NET family of controllers for 2 reasons: Lan communications require that reference to be successful. Improper controller grounding can take a controller to a boot state, or merely clear the data base from memory.

Issue I can't get my dongle (PSU) license to work. Environment I/NET 2000 Site Cause I can't get my dongle (PSU) license to work. Resolution You have to install the appropriate license file, on your license server. For in-house licenses: TAC Engineer.pfl, you can find it on TARAI or on the TAC software installation CD) For end user licenses: The license file you received via mail from Product Support.

Issue How many LonWorks Units can you have on Vista system? Environment TAC Vista LNS network LON devices Cause Understanding the LON device maximum limit prior to designing a new system can avoid problems later on. Resolution The official limit is 1000 LWUs on a TAC Vista system. But there are several plants that are using many more. It depends on the amount of communication there is between TAC Vista and the LWUs TAC Vista can support 3200 (50*64) LWUs on each LonWorks network. A TAC Vista system can contain 65535 objects (sum of Logical and Physical).

Issue TAC Xenta 901/401/30x won't dial up to TAC Vista system Environment Xenta 901, 401, 30x Cause Incorrectly formatted parameters. Resolution Check that the correct phone number is downloaded to the TAC Xenta. Define network object and click on modem params.

Issue Download a new .ndb file to a TAC Xenta Unit in TAC Vista 3 Environment Vista 3 Cause Updating the network database structure for a Xenta unit. Resolution Browse the new .ndb file in Vista (in the $ndb object select file). Open the status dialogue Right click on the desired level (network, TAC Xenta group or TAC Xenta) Select download application and parameters.

Issue How do I get the system information using the serial channel RS-232 B? Environment I/NET RS-232 B Serial port Cause This information cannot be gathered using a web browser. Resolution Get system information using serial channel RS-232 B (See below how to connect terminal emulator to serial channel) Command err a Displays all error messages in the system error log. Print it to terminal emulator.  Command sysinfo Displays all system information such as software versions etc. Print it to terminal emulator. Disconnect and connect power. Print what is displayed on the screen during boot to terminal emulator.

Issue How many trendlogs can the Xenta 511 handle? How many log values can be stored? Environment Xenta 511 Cause Knowing limitations on the maximum number of trends and trend data helps engineer the system properly. Resolution 150 trendlogs are supported. Total 100,000 values are possible to store.

Issue How many messages are buffered on a 7801? Environment I/NET Seven 7801x, 7803x, 7804x External or Embedded TAPs. Cause Even though every device in the system contains a message queue, only a few of the devices will successfully buffer the queued messages for later distribution. All controllers and Taps distribute messages out of their RS485 port even with the absence of any LAN communication. This is due to the fact that there is no requirement for an acknowledgment to be received at the generating device. The RS485 LAN is for both solicited and unsolicited message traffic. The only devices that perform extended buffering are the ones which directly communicate to polling devices such as the 7801 Taps, 7803 Taps, 7804 Taps, and all DPUs/SCUs. The MRs, ASCs, and UCs do not generate messages; messages relating to these devices are generated by the relevant MRI, MCI, etc. Resolution A 78-01/03/04/06 EPROM tap can buffer approximately 1000 messages. A 78-01/03/04/06 MIP tap can buffer approximately 1200 messages.

Issue How many messages are buffered on a 7716xx / 7718xx / 7756xx / 7780xx / 7792xx? Environment I/NET Seven PCU 7716, 7718, 7756, DLCU 7780, MRI 7792xx Cause Even though every device in the system contains a message queue, only a few of the devices will successfully buffer the queued messages for later distribution. All controllers and Taps distribute messages out of their RS485 port even with the absence of any LAN communication. This is due to the fact that there is no requirement for an acknowledgment to be received at the generating device. The RS485 LAN is for both solicited and unsolicited message traffic. The only devices that perform extended buffering are the ones which directly communicate to polling devices such as the 7801 Taps, 7803 Taps, 7804 Taps, and all DPUs/SCUs. The MRs, ASCs, and UCs do not generate messages; messages relating to these devices are generated by the relevant MRI, MCI, etc. Resolution The 7716xx/18xx/56xx/80xx/92xx can buffer approximately 150 messages.

Issue How many messages are buffered on a 7798xx / 7793xx / 7791xx? Maximum number of the Message which can be stored on I/SITE locally? Environment I/NET Seven  7798, 7798B, 7798B1 and 7798C (I/SITE LAN) (SLI) Cause Even though every device in the system contains a message queue, only a few of the devices will successfully buffer the queued messages for later distribution. All controllers and Taps distribute messages out of their RS485 port even with the absence of any LAN communication. This is due to the fact that there is no requirement for an acknowledgment to be received at the generating device. The RS485 LAN is for both solicited and unsolicited message traffic. The only devices that perform extended buffering are the ones which directly communicate to polling devices such as the 7801 Taps, 7803 Taps, 7804 Taps, and all DPUs/SCUs. The MRs, ASCs, and UCs do not generate messages; messages relating to these devices are generated by the relevant MRI, MCI, etc. Resolution Controller software prior to I/NET version 2.xx = approximately 150 messages. Controller software for I/NET version 2.0 Without emulated tap: 100 Messages With emulated tap: 1000 Messages.

Issue Need to know how many messages are stored in the buffer of an NPR Environment I/NET NPR Cause Host workstation disconnected or not masked to receive messages.  Need to know how much data is recoverable Resolution NetPlus Routers = approximately 1000 messages. Once this is full, messages are deleted on a First in First out basis

Issue What is the Standard Cubic Inches per Minute for a PWMP1? Environment PWMP1 Cause Configuration Question Resolution 216 SCIM @25 psi.

Issue What type of BIN is used when selecting “Typical” or the default install of I/NET 2000? Environment I/NET 2000 site Cause Refer to the Communication chapter in TCON209, I/NET 2000 Technical Reference Guide for information on synchronous versus asynchronous communication. Resolution Determine whether you will use synchronous or asynchronous communication. Setup's Typical option (the default) installs asynchronous BIN files. You should choose the Synchronous option to install synchronous BIN files. You may switch from synchronous to asynchronous, or vice versa, at a later date by choosing the Custom option and then selecting the appropriate controller binary files. Instructions are provided in Chapter 2, Installing I/NET in TCON 213.

Issue Which Controllers and Taps are supported by the MIP? Environment I/NET site Cause Which Controllers and Taps are supported by the MIP? Resolution 7700 7740 7741 7760 7770 7720 (8000 RTU) 7730 (P4300 DCU) 78035 LAN Tap 78040 Host/Link Tap (Dial) 78050 Link Tap (Dial) 78060 LAN Tap (Dial) 78041 Host/Link Tap (Dial w/o modem) 78051 Link Tap (Dial w/o modem) 78061 LAN Tap (Dial w/o modem) 7810 Printer Tap 78010 Host Tap 78015 Host/Link Tap (metal enclosure) 78020 Link/LAN Tap (metal enclosure) 78035 LAN Tap 78040 Host/Link Tap (Dial) 78050 Link Tap (Dial) 78060 LAN Tap (Dial) 78041 Host/Link Tap (Dial w/o modem) 78051 Link Tap (Dial w/o modem) 78061 LAN Tap (Dial w/o modem) 7810 Printer Tap

Issue I replaced the EPROMs and RAM in a 7700 DCU with a MIP, but now cannot do a software restore. What is wrong? Environment I/NET site Cause I replaced the EPROMs and RAM in a 7700 DCU with a MIP, but now cannot do a software restore. What is wrong? Resolution Verify that the network configuration is correct in the NET. Con. Editor. The "Dn" field for the TAP or Controller must be configured with a "Y" before the Tap/Controller will appear in the software Restore Editor.

Issue Is the point address automatically stored in Docutrend? Environment I/NET site Cause Is the point address automatically stored in Docutrend? Resolution No. The point address is not sent to Docutrend. Refer to TCON 084 or TCON 210.

Issue What is the maximum number of Docutrend cells a workstation can have? Environment I/NET Cause Configuration Resolution 1023 Cells.

Issue What is Docutrend? Environment I/NET site Cause What is Docutrend? Resolution A proprietary data storage, retrieval, and custom report definition and generation program provided with I/NET.

Issue What is a Demand Control in I/NET Software? Environment I/NET site Cause What is a Demand Control in I/NET Software? Resolution This editor is used to monitor and control electrical power consumption. With it, you can maintain a daily or monthly consumption total. Demand control enables demand shedding of electrical loads when demand is high, and the restoration of the loads when demand levels drop. This editor is used to direct demand data to a Docutrend cell.

Issue What is DIF? Environment I/NET site Cause Definition for DIF (Data Interchange Format) Resolution This stands for Data Interchange Format. It is a special format for data files that can be read by most major spreadsheet programs. Docutrend data can be converted into this format for use by a third-party software program. Refer to TCON 210.