Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Following a reboot of CyberStation, alarms continue to be logged but are not displayed in Active Alarm View. Environment CyberStation Active Alarm View Continuum Database Initialization Cause Alarms not being displayed in Active Alarm View. Resolution Performed a Database Initialization with Enhanced Alarm Logging and Enhanced Alarm Delivery selected on the workstation.

Issue Need to know the smallest change that an Input can measure or that an Output can provide. Environment All Continuum controllers. Cause Need to know for specification compliance or to determine the smallest measurable change in an Input. Resolution Some of our controllers support inputs with a 10 bit resolution and some support 12 bit resolution. As a rule, all 5.115v inputs are 10 bit and all 10v inputs are 12 bit. You can see which resolution each controller supports by viewing the Datasheet for each controller and noting the value of the "Input Resolution" and voltage range of the inputs (normally 0-10VDC). As an example, the b3920 shows an input resolution of 2.5mV on its 0-10VDC inputs. This equates to a 12 bit resolution as shown below.      2 x = 10VDC / 0.0025 VDC      2 x = 4000      x * log(2) = log(4000)      x = log(4000) / log(2)      x = 11.96578 or 12 bit   Further, a b3800 has an input resolution of 10 bits on its 0-5.115VDC inputs.      5VDC / 2 10 = 0.00499V or 5 mV You can find the individual controller Datasheets on Ecobuildings. Navigate to the Download Center and search the controller model number. Then narrow results by Asset Type = 'Specification Sheet'.  Most of the new Datasheets now note both the Input and Output resolutions.

Issue New SNVTs are not always added in the end of the XIF-file when using HFB-blocks. Environment TAC Menta TAC Xenta Programmable Controllers Xenta 280, Xenta 281, Xenta 282, Xenta 283, Xenta 300, Xenta 301, Xenta 302, Xenta 401, Xenta 401:B Cause When using HFB-blocks in TAC Menta, the HFB will only be in the application file, and will never be sent down to the device. However, all the blocks belonging to an HFB will be stored together in the application file, this means that if you add a SNVT inside an HFB, it will not always be added last in the XIF-file. Resolution When program SNVT in TAC Menta, always put the SNVT on the top level in TAC Menta, and not inside an HFB block.

Issue Want to be able to run the SE7200 in floor heating and chilled beam simultaneously. Environment SE7200 Cause running simultaneous applications. Resolution Unfortunately the SE7200 will only handle 1 main application per controller due to its limited I/O.

Issue Program settings and User profile lost after upgrade. Environment Vista Cause When you upgrade Vista to a new version, a new folder structure is created in the Windows registry. All saved user profiles are stored in the previous version folder structure and need to be exported and imported to the new folder. Resolution First make sure you save the user profile File - Save my program settings Go to Start - Run enter regedit Locate HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TAC\TAC Vista Workstation All Vista version that has been installed can be viewed here. Enter the folder which version you saved the userprofile. Go to TAC Vista Workstation - Settings Right click on the user you want to export and export. Right click on the .REG file created and choose Edit. Change all navigation paths to the version you want to import to. When its done save and right click and choose merge. PS: You can change the folder name in the registry to the correct version and export. Remember to change the name back again afterward.

Issue The difference between VWG-APP-1045 and  VWG-EPP-1045 option cards. Environment I/A Tridium SE7000 VWG-EPP-1045 VWG-APP-1045 Cause Different cards available. Resolution VWG-APP-1045:  option card  that fits directly into a Tridium JACE controller to provide communications between controllers and the gateway device. VWG-EPP-1045: option card that fits directly into the American IA range of controllers with an RS232 interface

Issue Can we integrate 3rd party LON devices Environment StruxureWare Building Operation AS or Enterprise Server Cause Integrating third part LON devices allows the system to take full advantage of the open protocol. Resolution We currently support 3rd party Lon devices in Version 1.0 and 1.1, but some large devices are too big to be configured in quantities according to specifications. No major change regarding this is scheduled until earliest 1.4. In 1.3 we will change the numbers that we support to configure but this will mainly be runtime improvements. Some devices can only be configured with Lonmaker which is an extra step during the engineering process.

Issue Trying to install I/NET on 64-bit PCs. Environment I/NET 2.40 and above Windows 7 64-bit Cause The 64-bit operating system is not currently supported in the existing versions of software. Resolution The next release of software scheduled for the Mid 2012, version 2.42 would be compatible with the 64-bit operating system.

Issue Please define the difference between the V211 and V211T Environment V211 V211T Cause There are 2 different valves with similar characteristics, what differences are there, and why should I choose one or the other? Resolution V211 is equipped with flanged connections, while the V211T has internal threaded connections.

Issue Looking for the cheapest and simplest Vista Server/Workstation package in version 5.1 Environment TAC Vista Cause Needs the simplest/cheapest TAC Vista Server and Workstation package to be able to work with ZBuilder Resolution The Standalone package contains Server (limited functionality, see data sheet for details) and Workstation, and is the smallest available package.

Issue Needs a 230V actuator to replace existing actuator on customer installation Environment V211T Venta MV15B Cause Since most actuators are 24V, the 230V option is not too common. Resolution The 230V version of MV15B, part no 880-0460-000 is suitable as actuator for the V211T.

Issue Troubleshooting VX communication in a Xenta 527, but the page for starting and stopping communication is missing. Environment Xenta 527 Vista I/NET Cause Xenta 527 version 5.1.6 and 5.1.7 should have native modbus support but the feature Start/stop communication and VXI web Shell Command does not work. This is because the html pages for this two functions does not exist and its planned to be included in later version. Resolution If you have a Xenta 700 with the same version you can just copy them  (/www/config/operator) and paste them via FTP to the Xenta 527 and it will work. The links are present in the menu to the left. Only the pages are missing.

Issue Continuum Cyberstations maintain system logs such as activity log for tracking purposes, are there any similar system logs in the controllers? For example, when a user logs into the controller's configuration web page, is this recorded in an activity log inside the controller? Environment All CX controllers Cause System design Resolution All system logs such as activity log of user actions are managed by Cyberstation. Continuum controllers do not locally maintain any system logs such as activity log.

Issue Remote Alarm Manager does not work on Sigma 4.06. Environment Sigma 4.06 RAM Remote Alarm Manager Version 1.2 Version 2.0 Cause Site has been upgraded to Sigma 4.06 and Remote Alarm Manager 1.2 does not work. Resolution Sigma release 4.06 only supports the use of Remote Alarm Manager version 2.1. Download Remote Alarm Manager release 2.1 software

Issue Damper position and Valves do not respond to any commands that are sent to it. Environment MR-VAV-AX Cause The SPL setting on the device was set to 1650, this is a default setting but needs to be set to a correct value otherwise  the damper position would not function properly. Resolution The chart below can be found in TCON147: ASC-VAV-AX Installation Guide, page 69. This shows what values need to be set for this to function. Table 12. Shutdown/Purge/Lockout Values S/P/L Value Mode Cooling Damper Heating Damper Auxiliary Heating Fan Heat 0 to 99 Normal Modulating Modulating Cycling/On Cycling 100 to 199 Lockout - Heat Modulating Closed Off Off 200 to 299 Lockout - Cool Closed Modulating Cycling/Off Cycling 300 to 399 Lockout - Full Closed Closed Off Off 400 to 599 Purge CHF CHF On Off 600 and over Shutdown Closed Closed Off Off

Issue Need to execute a special sequence within an Infinet controller when it loses communication with its parent controller. Environment Infinet Controller i2 Comm failure Communication failure Plain English Cause Need to commence a special control sequence when controller loses communication. Resolution In the Infinet controller create the following objects. DateTime: TestTime Numeric: CommFail InfinityProgram ImportTime.Pr InfinityProgram CommTest.Pr In the ImportTime.Pr Program Create a line named CALCULATE On the CALCULATE line add a line that calculates the TestTime to be equal to the Date System Variable in the parent controller + 60 seconds. Create an E line In the CommTest.Pr Create a WATCH line. Create a COMMLOSS line. On the WATCH line set COMMFAIL to OFF, then compare the local Date system variable to TestTime .  When Date is greater then TestTime goto COMMLOSS On the COMMLOSS line Switch COMMFAIL On.  Then add a goto statement that sends the program to WATCH when Date is greater then TestTime and TS > 180 All relevant programs should monitor the COMMFAIL numeric.

Issue Programming assistance. Environment Sigma Programming Cause Assistance with creating a programmable object is required. Resolution It is required that the H&V plant, which is normally controlled by a Time Schedule, can be overridden by a switch which has two momentary contacts, Plant start / Plant stop. Time schedule on - Plant can be stopped, or returned to time schedule control. If the plant is left overridden off, it will automatically revert to time schedule control next day. Time schedule off - Plant can be started and will run for a fixed period of time, or returned back to time schedule control. 10 IF POINT 0|1 ON THEN XInt = 1 20 IF POINT 0|2 ON THEN XInt = 2 30 IF POINT 0|33 OFF THEN GOTO 90 40 IF XInt = 2 THEN YInt = 1 50 IF XInt = 1 THEN YInt = 0 60 XInt = 0 70 IF YInt = 0 THEN RETURN TRUE 'Plant On' 80 RETURN FALSE 'Plant Off' 90 YInt = 0 100 IF XInt = 1 THEN SET TIMER 3600 110 IF XInt = 2 THEN SET TIMER 0 120 XInt = 0 130 IF TIME LEFT THEN RETURN TRUE 'Plant On' 140 RETURN FALSE 'Plant Off' Point 1 Override On status Point 2 Override Off status Point 33 Time schedule

Issue Which actuator is suitable to replace the Forta M750 actuator? Environment Forta M750 Forta M800 Cause Since the Forta M750 is no longer available, it needs to be replaced by a suitable actuator. Resolution The Forta M750 should be replaced by the Forta M800 actuator.

Issue The data sheet states 2 different power consumptions: Power consumption: average 6 VA Transformer sizing: 30 VA Which one should be used for calculating power supply? Environment Forta Cause There are different figures specified in the documentation for the Forta series actuator. Resolution Average consumption is 6VA, but the peak consumption is 30VA, and this is just before the valve reaches the fully closed position.

Issue After powering down a Microzone II controller and powering it back up, the ENC will not immediately reconnect to the device. Environment I/A Series G3 ENC with tacASD 3.4.64.1 or earlier module (jar file). Any ASD devices under the ENC. Cause The existing tacAsd module, (release 3.4.64.1 or earlier) may exhibit excessive device initialization and recovery times upon a restart of the station or a power cycle of the ASD devices. Resolution Update the tacAsd module to release 3.4.64.4. File acAsd-3.4.64.4 can be downloaded from Ecobuildings Download Center.