Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Displayed temperature on the ETR is offset from the actual temperature reading of the controller. Environment ETR Thermostat Cause Factory calibration is offset from actual temperature. Resolution Click here to download the Installation and Operating Instructions Temperature Display Adjustments Temperature display may be adjusted by adjusting the ZERO or OFFSET Potentiometer (P2) as shown on the diagram.  Adjust P2 until the LCD Display reading, matches your controllers temperature reading if necessary. Note that all LCD Displays, are factory calibrated using an NIST Certified Glass Thermometer.

Issue Understanding and Troubleshooting Modbus Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, TAC IA Series, Other  Environment All Modbus environments. Cause Modicon first introduced Modbus in 1979. Modbus is an open standard,and it is the most widely used in the industrial environment. Modbus is publicly available and,due to its simplicity, many manufacturers use Modbus as a solution for integration in their own products. Many commercial products and systems support the Modbus RTU and Modbus TCP protocols. For further information, visit the Modbus website at http://www.modbus.org. Resolution For a brief understanding on Modbus and how to troubleshoot Modbus, refer to the Modbus Troubleshooting PDF

Issue A door value is reported as unlocked when it should be locked, is there a way to confirm the physical state of the relay output without going to the panel and looking at the hardware? Environment CX9680 ACX5720/40 CX9900 CX9702 Cause Need to verify the physical state of the relay controlling the door lock remotely. Resolution In Continuum, output points (including doors) have an attribute called 'OverrideValue' that reads feedback in the hardware to report the physical state of the output. The overridevalue flag can be printed from the command line as seen in the screen shot below. In the example above, a door configured with default strike time of 10 seconds reports the physical state of the relay output after a valid access or Exit Request transaction.

Issue Mag stripe on Badge will not encode after upgrading Windows and Cyberstation Environment Windows7 Cyberstation Fargo Printer Cause Badge printers use different printer drivers and configurations that can cause features to not work from one version of Windows and Cyber Resolution EpiBuilder>Tools>Printer Card Encoder Setup Magstripe tab> Current Magstripe Encoder - Custom selected and working on the older printer, but not on the newer printer Changed the selection to Fargo and now the encoding is working on the new printer (See image below)

Issue The documentation does not specify how many  objects can be added in the filter tab of a report. Environment Cyberstation Workstation creating a Report Cause Adding too many objects produces the following error: "There are too many objects in the filter Member Objects lists." Resolution The maximum number of member objects you can add to a report is 150 objects. Exceeding 150 will produce the above error.

Issue Connecting to a Morpho Sigma Reader and getting an error using V-Sation from Schneider Electric Environment Continuum V 1.94 and above Morpho Sigma Reader BioBridge Cause V-Sation is not compatible with the Morpho Sigma Series Readers at this time. The Continuum Integration was done by  SafranMorpho and not by Schneider Electric using their Software called BioBridge and Secure Admin for configuration when in Legacy Mode. Resolution This application is not supported by Schneder Electric and all questions should be directed to SafranMorpho Tech Support.

Issue Door using AC1/AC1Plus does not change value (Open or Closed), the value of the Door Switch attribute is stuck in Open or Closed regardless of the physical position of the door switch contact. The door switch contact itself is working fine when verified using a multi meter. The supervision resistor(s) are also connected property. Environment Cyberstation CX9900 CX9680 AC1 AC1-A AC1Plus Cause 1. There is an input configured to use the same channel as the door switch. 2. The door's exit IOU has been set the same as the entry IOU. Resolution 1. Delete the input that is using the same channel as the door switch, (or use a different channel number) it maybe necessary to reload the controller after removing the illegal configuration to recover. 2. Set the exit IOU appropriately,  ZERO if the door is entry only or correct IOU number of the second AC1 on the exit side for an entry/egress door.  it maybe necessary to reload the controller after removing the illegal configuration to recover.

Issue How to find out the Continuum serial number if it cannot be seen on the key or software licensing is used? Environment Cyberstation Security Key, Dongle Software licensing Cause When upgrading features or version on a Continuum system the Serial Number is required by Order Entry / the factory to process the upgrade and generate the upgrade file. If using software licensing or the number is not on the workstation key, it can still be found using a separate application. Resolution Run the application "CyberKeyWriter2.exe" that can be found in the Program files \ Continuum directory on the workstation (or WebClient Server). The following screen will appear showing the serial number:

Issue Start up of Continuum Workstation sees the below error. The Continuum Workstation may continue to start up if the OK button is pressed or may crash.   ContinuumServer.exe error An error occurred during initialization of Continuum Shared Memory by "ContinuumServer.exe". Please restart your system. If this problem persists, please contact technical support. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum v2.0 SP1 A Windows 32-bit Operating System Cause Beginning with the Andover Continuum 2.0 SP1 Release, Continuum applications now take advantage of the upper memory address space that is available natively on 64-bit Operating Systems (OSs). In order to access these memory addresses on 32-bit OSs, you must reconfigure your 32-bit OS to support applications that are Large Address Aware (LAA).  Resolution Enabled Large Address Aware (LAA). A Windows batch file is included as part of the Continuum 2.0 SP1 release that allows you to reconfigure your 32-bit OS to support applications that are LAA. You will need to ensure that Windows Firewall and Windows Defender are turned off and then run the "laa_update.bat" batch file as an administrator from the installation CD or zip folder.  See page 19 of the Cyberstation v2.0 SP1 Installation Guide for further details.

Issue Schlage SERIII Weigand Keypad functionality in Continuum for 26 Bit. Environment Continuum version 1.94 and above. Cause The functionality of the Schlage SERIII Weigand Keypad is limited to only sending whatever 4 or 5 Digits are entered on the keypad. It can only do a Site Code or Site Code + Card for 26 Bits in Continuum. This is set on the rotary switches that are on the back of the device. PIN Only and Infinity 37 Bit are not supported by this reader. Resolution To set this up the following procedure can be used: Without powering up the keypad, remove the rear rubber rotary cover for the switches Rotate dials to match Site Code on the top two dials Change the Mode on the lower dial to Mode 2, 3 or 5 for 26 Bit depending on the amount of digits desired Verify that the door that it is being used on is setup correctly for that format Once completed, power up the unit Verify the keys displayed are scrambled after turning on Enter desired digits depending on the mode set up in step 3 to test functionality

Issue Unable to create/edit Reports or Schedules with Windows Authentication enabled on the Workstation.   1. All fields greyed out when attempting to edit a Report object   2. See a "Security error: Security logon rejected" error when attempting to create a new Schedule object. Environment Continuum v1.94 Continuum v2.0 Cause With Windows Authentication enabled, Continuum user credentials were being used for certain internal processes to effectively login to Windows. Since the credentials may not match the authentication would fail. This has been corrected with Continuum v2.0 SP1 Resolution The issue has been resolved in Continuum v2.0 SP1. Download Continuum v2.0 SP1 installation files from here.

Issue How can I rename a Personnel Profile? Environment Cyberstation V2.0 Cause There is no option to directly rename a Profile. Resolution  When a profile is used to create a personnel object it does not retain any links to the created objects, the profile allows a new person to be created with all of the defined areas and settings, future changes to a profile will have no affect on the existing personnel objects. To rename a profile you have to do a "Save as" enter the new name, then you can delete the old profile. From the Screenshots below: 1) Press the "Configure" button in the Personnel Manager, this will open the "Configuration" window. 2) From the Dropdown box select the Profile you want to change 3) Press the "Save As" button and the "New Profile" box will appear, see second screenshot. Enter the new name required for the profile and press OK. 4) Back on the Configuration screen, select the old profile from the dropdown box and press "Delete" to remove the old profile. This will not change existing Personnel objects already created or the logged data.    

Issue Unable to update LiveEvent View Window. Environment Continuum  version 1.91 and above Windows XP Windows 7 Cause Although MSMQ is enabled the MSMQ HTTP Port in the details must be enabled as well. Resolution To following steps should resolve this issue: Open Control Panel. Click Add Remove Programs and then click Add Windows Components. Select Message Queuing and click Details. ... Ensure that the option MSMQ HTTP Support is selected on the details page Restart the Live Event Viewer Window again and messages should be coming now Windows XP Location: Windows 7 Location:

Issue When connecting the RoamIO-2 service tool directly to a standalone BACnet b3 controller which is not connected to the MSTP network yet, the RoamIO-2 does not show the b3 controller on the screen. Environment RoamIO-2 Continuum SmartStruxure BACnet b3 controller Cause By default, the View option of the ROAMIO2 Bacnet Service Tool is set to view "By Network".  Resolution Connect the RoamIO2 service tool directly to the b3's service port. Launch the BACnet Service Tool and in the 'View' menu de-select 'By Networks' and 'BACnet Only' menu entries. Click the green icon to connect. Now, it will show the b3 controller in the service tool.

Issue Infinity schedules (as opposed to BACnet schedules) may not work correctly if downloaded to the controller before or after the current week of events ends. Consider the scenario above, CX1 is located in LA (Pacific Time Zone) and CX2 is located in Boston (Eastern Time Zone), the Cyberstation performing schedule downloads is located in Dallas (Central Time Zone). If the schedules are configured with default download time of Sunday at midnight, CYBER1 will download the schedules to both CX1 and CX2 at (or shortly after) Sunday @ 12:00:00 Central time. Meanwhile, where CX1 is located in LA, the time is Saturday @ 10:00 PM and CX2, located in Boston, has a time of Sunday 1:00 AM The controllers can only hold one week worth of events. How a schedule download 2 hours ahead of time would affect the schedules in CX1?  Any events in CX1 between 10:00 PM and midnight would be over written with events for the same period of the following week. How a schedule download 1 hour late would affect the schedules in CX2? On Saturday @ 11:59:59 PM Eastern time CX2 runs out of events for the past week. Since it has not yet received the events for the next week, it starts repeating the events in the schedule for the week that just ended.  If the schedule events for the week that has just started but not yet been downloaded to the controller happens to be the same as the previous week, in terms of events, then this does not present any problem. But if the two weeks differ in the events they have between Sunday midnight and 1:00:00 AM, the schedule will not function correctly. IMPORTANT NOTE It is important to note that the scenarios described in this article are only applicable if a schedule contains exceptions or happens to differ from week to week in terms of the events entered in the schedule. If the schedule happens to be the same week after week, then it should not make a difference whether the controller receives a schedule download or not, from week to week. In fact, even if no download takes place at all, the schedule will function correctly as the controller will just repeat the same events week after week. Also, BACnet schedules do not have this problem, when a BACnet schedule is created Continuum sends ALL of the events in the schedule to the controller instead of just one week worth of events as is the case with Infinity schedules. Environment Cyberstation All Continuum controllers Cause Continuum Infinity Schedule download functionality does not automatically take into account time zone differences between Cyberstation and controllers. Resolution When configuring Infinity Schedules download day and time, it is very important to take into account the locale of the Cyberstation performing the download, as well as the locale of the controller receiving the downloaded schedules. Configure the schedules' download time so that the download takes place on Sunday @ 12:00:00 AM IN THE TIME ZONE WHERE THE CONTROLLER IS LOCATED. The schedules residing in CX1 in Los Angeles should be configured to download on Sunday @ 2:00:00 AM Central time which corresponds to Sunday @Anonymous user:00:00 AM Pacific time. The schedules residing in CX2 in Boston should be configured to download on Saturday @ 11:00:00 PM Central time which corresponds to Sunday @Anonymous user:00:00 AM Eastern time. Note that the schedule download engine always downloads one week worth of events starting at the configured download time. In this case all events from Saturday @11:00:00 PM to the next Saturday @11:00:00 PM will be downloaded, which will ensure that CX2 never has to repeat any events from the previously downloaded week.

Issue When printing access control cards, there is a need to print the a card number bar code on the card as well as photo's, names, text, logos etc. Environment Continuum Access Control systems, all versions. All Security and Integrated Workstations (with SEC or INT in the part number). Photo badging option (append -B to the part number). Cause As well as a photographs, text, numbers and graphics, barcodes may be added to the card design using the EPI Designer software. To use card badging the system requires that the Continuum Security Key (Dongle) has the badging option enabled (-B in the part number), otherwise the "Create/ Edit Badge" option will not be available to select. Resolution From the EPI Designer menu select the "Draw", "Bar Code" option and the following screen will be displayed allowing the barcode to be configured: The configuration page above allows the type of barcode to be defined, the Personnel "Field Name" to be linked to the code as well as other barcode options shown. Custom fields can also be used.

Issue Continuum video integration using Pelco Endura. When video alarm comes in, Video Monitor starts up as expected and video is recorded for the specified amount of time but the recorded video does not automatically play back as expected. Product Line Andover Continuum, Pelco Environment Cyberstation Pelco Endura Cause The NVRs configuration for recorded video type has been changed from its default of continuous recording which is what the Continuum-Endura integration supports. You should ensure that your Pelco Endura system is set to continually record. While it is possible to change the recording type, continuous recording is the recommended setting from Pelco. As a result, when an alarm or event occurs, it is "marked" on the Endura system at the time of the event based on the recording time and duration. Such events are then visible from the Endura client as a marked event with details included in the comment for that mark. Resolution SOLUTION #1 If a specific recording type such as motion or schedule has been configured remove it to go back to the default continuous recording type. NOTE: As continuous video recording will utilize more storage capacity, one option for reducing the amount of storage used by all the video is to enable Pelco EnduraStor. SOLUTION #2 The other option is to leave the configuration as is and manually start playing back the recorded video by double clicking the video event. In the screen shot above, double clicking the PSS_Test_AV1 video alarm will cause the recorded video to start playing back.

Issue Having issues with the Personnel Manager, need to create a log file for PSS/R&D to help troubleshoot the problem. Environment Cyberstation Personnel Manager Cause Documentation Resolution Edit the file 'PersonnelManagerCtrl.dll.config' in the Continuum installation directory 'Commom' folder Change 'LogFile Enable' from False to True. Use the Personnel Manager to perform the operation causing issues so that diagnostics information can be written to the log file. Make sure to set 'LogFile Enable' back to False. File 'PersonnelManagerLog.txt will be created in the Continuum installation folder, send to PSS for analysis.     NOTE: The 'LogPerformance' option can be used when troubleshooting slowness issues.

Issue How to get data from Rayleigh Instruments RI-78-80-C kWh power meters Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Modbus RTU Interface Automation Server Continuum X-driver Cause The Rayleigh Instruments RI-78-80-C has a single 48bit Modbus RTU word available to be read (kWh) It does not respond with an exception when an incorrect register is requested (or a single 16bit part of the 48bit word requested) Only half of each 16bit registers within the 48bit word is used Thus Register address 0, 1 and 2 can have a value 0-255 (00 00 to 00 FF) only The value are actually in 1/100 kWh Reg2 0 to 255 (255 = 255/100 kWh)Reg1 0 to 255 (255 = 255 x 256/100 kWh)Reg0 0 to 255 (255 = 255 x 256 x 256/100 kWh) So if Reg0 = 3, Reg1 =167 and Reg2 = 59Then the reading would be(3 x 256 x 256 / 100) + (167 x 256 / 100) + (59/100)= 2394.19 kWh The value is in 1/100 kWh Reg2 0 to 255 (255 = 255/100 kWh) Reg1 0 to 255 (255 = 255 x 256/100 kWh) Reg0 0 to 255 (255 = 255 x 256 x 256/100 kWh) Example So if Reg0 = 3, Reg1 =167 and Reg2 = 59 Then the reading would be(3 x 256 x 256 / 100) + (167 x 256 / 100) + (59/100) = 2394.19 kWh   Resolution To read the three registers, Modbus Register Groups must be used within SmartStruxure, this ensure a single read is done for the 3 registers comprising the 48bit value. Then a program can be used to calculate the actual meter value. This device will not appear as online in SmartStruxure as the Device Online mechanism requires a response from a 16bit register read (this device does not respond with an exception when an incorrect register is requested and has no 16bit registers to read)   Download an example of Modbus Objects and Script. The below example script could also be atapted for Continuum Plain English Program Numeric Input ModReg0, ModReg1, ModReg2 Numeric Output kWReading Line Calc1 kWReading = ((256*256*ModReg0) + (256*ModReg1) + ModReg2)/100 Note This device may not operate correctly in v2.0 and v3.0 due to a change in the method of offline detection, but this is fixed in v3.1 Numeric Output kWReading   Line Calc1 kWReading = ((256*256*ModReg0) + (256*ModReg1) + ModReg2)/100

Issue Requirement for a demonstration license for the OPC Server to get an idea about how it functions and to demonstrate to potential customers. Environment Continuum OPC Server Cause Require demonstration license for the software. Resolution There is a one hour demonstration mode that the software goes into if there is no valid license found. This should provide enough time for demonstration purposes. When starting the application without a valid license the below dialog is displayed.   You can download the Continuum Controller OPC Server from the downloads website at this link.