Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue No link LED on a Desktop's and Laptop's Network Interface Card (NIC). Environment Windows OS Cause Network interface card has power management feature enabled.  This will shutdown the network interface card if no activity is present, battery is low on power, or battery is intermittent. Resolution Disable power management features under Device Manager Network Adapters. 

Issue Can an internal modem be installed in the field on a Niagara R2 UNC, if so, what is the part number? Environment Niagara R2, UNC-410, UNC-520 Cause NA Resolution An internal modem can be field installed on an UNC after purchase. No license changes are required. Both the UNC-410 and the UNC-520 uses the same part number, UNC-410-MDM. Reference the Replacing the Modem section of the TAC I/A UNC-xxx Installation Instructions documents for details on installing the internal modem. UNC-410 (document #F-27321) UNC-520 (document #F-27391)  

Issue Hardware wizard has been run in the WorkPlace Tech Tool for this application and it shows that the application is configured for English units (Degrees F, etc.), not metric units (Degrees C, etc.) but some of the points still read in metric values. Environment LON Controllers WorkPlace Tech Tool software, version 5.x (or newer). Cause When a WorkPlace Tech Tool application file is upgraded from WPT release 4.0.x to WPT  5.x.x, it is possible that some information defined by the use of the Hardware Wizard may not migrate properly.  This problem has only been noted occasionally in applications migrated forward from WPT 4.0.x. Resolution A two step process is required to insure that the Hardware Wizard data inconsistencies are corrected in the application file. Run the Hardware Wizard and change the engineering units to Metric. Click [Finish] to save the changes.  Compile the application but do not download it. Run the Hardware Wizard again and change the engineering units to English. Click [Finish] to save the changes. Run the "Rebuild Application" function from the Application menu to reconstruct (and clean) the application database. Save the application file then compile and download the application to the controller. 

Issue When air temperature falls to 30 degrees F, the output values calculated by the Enthalpy object are incorrect as compared to performing manual calculation verification or humidity measurement Environment IA Series MNL-800 controller WorkPlace Tech Tool (any version) Cause The Enthalpy object limits the allowed range of its input values so as to maintain the resolution of the values it calculates.  These range limits are set based on the temperatures typically encountered when calculating enthalpy for mixed air, return air and supply air needs in air handlers. Resolution The following limits are used when processing the Enthalpy object inputs: Dry Bulb Temperature:  32 to 120 Degrees F (0 to 48.9 Degrees C) Dewpoint Temperature: 32 to 120 Degrees F (0 to 48.9 Degrees C) Relative Humidity: 1 to 100% Barometric Pressure: 19.94 to 39.79 in-Hg (506.5 to 1010.7 mm-Hg) Input values outside the ranges listed will be processed as if they were clamped to the listed limit.  For example if the air temperature (dry bulb) was 26 degrees F, it will be processed as if the temperature were 32 degrees F.

Issue Need to determine which controllers have not had their battery tabs removed without going to each individual controller and removing its cover to perform a visual check. Environment Continuum Controllers bCX1 b3xxx i2xxx CX9680 CX9702 ACX57xx Cause During commissioning, battery tabs were not removed or batteries were not plugged into the PCB. There is no way to see the status of the backup battery by looking at the controller object in Continuum.  Resolution One method is to create a new object in the controller (numeric), do not save to Flash, then power cycle the controller. If the object is still in the controller after powering up (able to be opened without showing an error), then you can deduce that the battery tab has been removed and the battery is operational…if the point is not able to be viewed then the tab is still present or the battery is not holding a charge.

Issue Which actuator should be used as replacement to a M15 actuator that is mounted on a VTRA Valve? Environment VTRA DN65 M15 24V / 12VA 15 Nm 300s / 180° Cause Currently used actuator is no longer available. Resolution Use EM9/180 (part no 8601110000) together with Linkage kit E/M9-VTRA (part no 8600990000).

Issue How to implement a simple Man Trap using PE Environment CyberStation CX9900 CX9680 ACX5740/20 Cause A mantrap is an access methodology with an entry door and an exit door. One door of the mantrap can not be opened until the opposite door has been closed. Mantraps are most often used to keep non-secure areas separated from secure areas and prevent unauthorized access. Resolution 'This program implements a Man Trap that allows one person at a time in the man trap. 'Once a person is in the man trap no access is allowed until the occupant leaves the 'man trap via the REX. 'The occupant is allowed to exit at either door but once they have activated the REX 'at one door they are required to leave via that door. 'If occupant stays in the trap longer than TrapMaxOccTime and alarm can be sent via ManTrapStuck 'TrapMaxOccTime and ManTrapStuck are InfinityNumeric objects in the controller. 'Program is Looping and AutoStart TRAP_READY: ManTrap_A DisRdrKpAccess = False ManTrap_B DisRdrKpAccess = False ManTrap_A OpenOnExitReqst = True ManTrap_B OpenOnExitReqst = True If ManTrap_A ValidAccess or ManTrap_B ValidAccess then Goto TRAP_OCCUPIED TRAP_OCCUPIED: ManTrap_A DisRdrKpAccess = True ManTrap_B DisRdrKpAccess = True If ManTrap_B ExitRequest then ManTrap_A OpenOnExitReqst = False Goto WAIT_EXIT_B Endif If ManTrap_A ExitRequest then ManTrap_B OpenOnExitReqst = False Goto WAIT_EXIT_A Endif WAIT_EXIT_A: If ManTrap_A DoorSwitch = Opened then Goto TRAP_READY If TS > TrapMaxOccTime then ManTrapStuck = On WAIT_EXIT_B: If ManTrap_B DoorSwitch = Opened then Goto TRAP_READY If TS > TrapMaxOccTime then ManTrapStuck = On 'Keep program from disabling due to run time errors E: If TS > 30 then Goto TRAP_READY

Issue  The error LED on a CX9900 Controller is flashing.  What does this mean. What do the various NetController Error LED blink rates indicate. Environment NCI CX9900 CX9000 Cause An controller error has occurred. Resolution The ERROR indicator remains OFF until an error occurs. If the NetController fails an internal system test, the ERROR indicator blinks a preset number of times, then pauses, and repeats the blinking and pausing sequence. This blinking pattern will persist until you reset the controller. The number of blinks between pauses identifies the specific problem (as shown in the table below). ERROR Indicator Blink Rates (before a pause) # Blinks                Type of Failure                                                               17                           CX Firmware is corrupt (Bad Flash/ROM or bad update) 18                           LAN Card's memory is faulty - Try replacing the LAN Card. 19                           Problem creating certain System Tasks - Maybe due to lack of memory. 20                           Problem with the NIC - Try replacing the LAN Card 22                           RTC Failed - Possible Hardware issue 24                           Problem with the PIT chip - H/W related 25                           Problem creating Timer Tasks - Maybe due to lack of memory 28                           The RAM memory is faulty or bad. Try replacing the RAM module(s). 29 to 62                                 Problem creating certain System Tasks - Maybe due to lack of memory. 63                           Copy protection - Flash Upgrade file is invalid for this Controller (UPD file is Serial # protected) 64                           Problem creating the Uprev task - Maybe due to lack of memory. Note: If a Plain English program disables due to an error, the ERROR indicator illuminates and stays ON (without blinking)—if this occurs, you can turn the indicator off by setting the ERRORS system variable to zero.

Issue The operation was not performed error pops up when accessing logs or extended log via a group with Continuum 1.9 Environment Continuum Webclient Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause The installation was accomplished according to the instructions in the readme file to rename the original logviewer.exe Resolution Shutdown Cyberstation Install 1.90 SP1 first Copy in the AccSQLSP.dat from the hotfix and upgrade the database Delete all the original logviewer.exe files then copy in the new logviewer.exe from the hotfix. Just renaming the file will not work. Reboot the PC and restart Continuum and the error should no longer appear.

Issue The Alarms system variable in a controller contains a value other than zero but Active Alarm list view in CyberStation does not show any active alarms from that controller, How can I find out which alarms are active in the controller? Environment CyberStation All CXs All I2 devices Cause Active alarm can be determined by creating a column in the default list view to store alarm information from 'Live' source. Resolution Right click on InfinityNumeric and select 'View' to launch the default list view for the class. Edit the list view and add a column for the 'AlarmValue' attribute and set the column source to 'Live' Run the list view and inspect the AlarmValue: Blank = No active alarm on point Alm1 = the first alarm is active on point. Alm2 = the second alarm is active on point ... Alm8 = the 8th alarm is active on the point

Issue Xenta server stand alone and Vista at the same time. No alarms showing in TAC Vista when Xenta Server is connected. Environment TAC Vista TAC Xenta Server Cause If you add a stand alone Xenta Server on a Lon network it will send out heartbeats just like TAC Vista does. So the affect will be the same as having 2 TAC Vista servers on the same network.  But there is a way to turn this off. In Xbuilder you can turn this off by setting "Alarm Server" to disabled Resolution In Xbuilder click on the LON object Under General properties change "Alarm Server" to disabled. Download the project.

Issue How can a sound or light be triggered when an alarm or alarm type is active. Environment Vista 5.x.x. Cause Vista Server uses two sum alarm objects that control a database points for each alarm priority when they meet the criteria of the sum alarm type. $Acoustic Any alarm in that priority that requires an acknowledgement. If acknowledgement reset is enabled then an alarm will trigger the Acoustic Sum Alarm a second time when it has returned to normal and requires a second acknowledgement. $Optic Active when any alarm in that priority is active or awaiting acknowledgement from a return to normal condition. Acknowledging the alarm does not stop the Optic Sum Alarm. Resolution To configure a sum alarm for control of physical objects such as a buzzer or light first setup the alarms to use a specific alarm priority. Select either the $Acoustic or $Optic sum alarm in the TAC Vista folder or the Vista Server object and select the properties of the sum alarm object. Select the browse button next to the priority of the alarms that match your criteria and browse to the database point that will trigger control logic or a physical output that results in an audible buzzer or a visible light. To send a value to multiple controllers use an internal database point then use Object Transfer to send it to multiple controllers for control of physical equipment.

Issue How to print a Control back slash (CTRL\) from a PE program Environment CX9900 CX9680 Cause PE device driver expects escape sequence of CTRL \ followed by some code. Resolution The following line will send the expected esc sequence followed by the value of the Minute system variable out of comm1 (assuming the PE program has already opened the commport for printing) Print "|28",Minute to comm1 

Issue The ScreenMateCache.dat file is not created on a Windows 2008 server.  Environment Windows 2008 server Vista 5.1.6 Cause In a 2008 server the ScreenMateCache.dat file is created in C:\windows\temp, to get it working the user "Network service" and "Local system" needed full access to this folder. Resolution Make sure the users "Network service" and "Local system"  C:\windows\temp have full access to C:\windows\temp. 

Issue Are there any specific setting to be enabled in order for restricting the access to TAC Vista database folders? Currently all windows users can copy the TAC Vista database folders.   Environment Vista 5.1.6 Cause The only way to restrict the access to Vista database folders is to create a special Windows user which have full access to the folders and then the Vista server must run as a service logged on with this Windows user. Resolution Create a special Windows user which is administrator on the PC, run the service Tacos with this user. Restrict the access to the database folders for all other Windows users.

Issue Is the DC1100C still available? Is the DCCOMMS software still available? Environment DC1100C DC1100 C DCCOMMS DC COMMS DC1100 DC1400 DC1000C DC1000 C Cause Is the DC1100C and the DCCOMMS software still available? Resolution The DC1100C had the communication module so that the controller could be interrogated remotely. This controller is no longer available. The DCCOMMS software ran in a DOS environment and is also obsolete. The DC1000C or DC1100C must not be confused with the DC1100 or the DC1400, these are the same controllers but without the communication interface and are still available.

Issue What is the purpose of Acknowledge Reset and how can be it be configured in Vista? Environment Vista 4.x.x/5.xx Cause Acknowledge Reset is a feature that requires an alarm to be acknowledged after it has returned to normal. Purpose This feature is used to help match an end user operating procedure that requires time stamped and user id recording of when an alarm is acknowledged and when the problem condition is corrected. In combination with the Acknowledge Response feature the Vista event log can be used as a maintenance log of the system. Behavior There are two sequences that activation of the Acknowledge Reset will cause and the default colors assigned to each state. Single Acknowledgement Alarm goes into the alarm condition, but it is not acknowledged. - Alarm displayed in red with alarm string Condition returns to normal - Alarm displayed in red with reset string User acknowledges the alarm and it is removed from the alarm pane. Double Acknowledgement Alarm goes into the alarm, condition. - Alarm is displayed in red with alarm string. Alarm is acknowledged - Alarm is displayed in green with alarm string. Condition returns to normal - Alarm displayed in yellow with reset string. User acknowledges the alarm as second time and it is removed from the alarm pane. Each alarm priority can be individually enabled or disabled with the Acknowledge Reset functionality. Resolution To enable Acknowledge Reset: Select "TAC Vista" in the Vista Workstation tree structure. Right click on the $System object and select properties. Select the Priority tab. Check the box next to each alarm priority Acknowledge Reset should be enabled for.

Issue What ElecType can be used with the current range of controllers Environment Continuum NC2 NC11 CX9900 CX9940 bCX bCX4040 bCX9640 ACX57 b3 i2 Cause What ElecType can be used with the current range of controllers Resolution The current range of Continuum controllers can't use most of the options available in Continuum (ElecType) as many of these are for older controllers. See Continuum help (in Cyberstation) for the best descriptions of use. Current range of controllers mostly use (see specific spec. for full details):- Voltage, Digital, Counter, ACCTemp(DegF), ACCTemp(DegC), Supervised To use any other analog sensors, within the current range of controllers, including thermocouples and RTDs, they need to be converted to a 0-10Vdc (or preferably 0-5Vdc) or 4-20mA and use "Voltage" ElecType   Other ElectTypes below. For CX9400 controller:- RTDTemp(DegF), RTDTemp(DegC), RTD1000TempF, RTD1000TempC, ThermCoupJTempF, ThermCoupJTempC, ThermCoupKTempF, ThermCoupKTempC, ThermCoupTTempF, ThermCoupTTempC, ThermCoupETempF, ThermCoupETempC, ThermCoupRTempF, ThermCoupRTempC, ThermCoupSTempF, ThermCoupSTempC, ThermCoupBTempF, ThermCoupBTempC, RTDTempF2W, RTDTempC2W, RTD1000TempF2W, RTD1000TempC2W Not Used:- ACC_InputCurrent, ACC_Keypad, ACC_Pressure, ACC_Airflow Older Controllers:- TankProbe

Issue When changes are made to the BACnet schedule in a third party device, the object editor crashes when the changes are applied. ACCTrace file shows the following error: The datatype of a BACnet property value specified in a service parameter does not match the datatype of the property referenced by the specified Property_Identifier. Environment CyberStation Continuum BACnet Trane SC Schedule Object Cause The object type is not fully support by the third party controller.   Consult the devices PICS statement. Resolution In some cases third party vendors will implement BACnet object types for internal use while not allowing other vendors to write to these object.  Occasionally it may be possible to write values to some of the objects properties.  However, when Continuum tries to write to a value to the unsupported property the object error will crash.

Issue DDC Lines show only inconsistently when viewed through a Xenta 527 Web Server Graphic Environment I/NET Xenta 527 5.1.3 and below Cause Issue corrected in 5.1.4 release Resolution Upgrade the Xenta 527 to the latest revision of I/NET or at least 5.1.4 Upgrade Xbuilder to the exact same revision Send the upgraded project files to the upgraded controller.