Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Is it possible to directly replace a TCX867 with an i2867? Environment TCX867, i2867 Triac Output negative, positive, load switching Cause The two products have different output circuitry and the i2867 will not always be a direct replacement. Resolution Both the i2867 and the i2867 have triac outputs that only switch AC loads.  The i2867 outputs internally have one side connected to ground, hence the terminals are labeled Outx (Out1, Out2 ..) and Gnd, this means that when switching electrical loads they must switch the return path from the load, not the power feed to the load. The older TCX867 has isolated outputs and could switch either the Power or ground side of the switched load. It has 2 terminals on each output both labeled with the channel name i.e. Out1 on both terminal 1 & 2. So you can replace a faulty TCX867 in the field with a i2867, but it may require changes to the plant wiring to ensure the -Ve side of the load is switched, failure to do this can result in damage to the i2867. See i2867 installation guide for full details on installing an i2867

Issue Trying to create Modbus RTU 2nd Generation XDriver points. Filled in Xdriver tab attributes and pressed "Apply" or "OK". When refreshing or re-opening the point editor the Xdriver tab info has not saved.     Environment Modbus RTU Xdriver CyberStation Cause The name attribute of the Xdriver comm port was changed to Modbus Comm 4 and the Alias was changed to CommX. Resolution Change the Xdriver comm port name and alias attributes back to the default settings - in this case comm4. Points now save correctly.

Issue Modbus points on a CX9680 have very long update time.  Points can take hours to update.  LAN capture file shows no issues. Down reving the NetController to firmware 2.000014 restored normal point update times.  This problem recurs when the controller is upgraded to any higher version. Environment Modbus TCP/IP xdriver CX9680 Cause Slow update times may be related to a known issue that was corrected in the new Modbus TCP/IP xdriver v 200017 that was released 2/14/2012 Resolution Replace xdriver with version 2.00017.

Issue  Is it necessary to commission an MNB series controller if it is being used in a standalone application?   Environment Single standalone MNB series controller Cause Using an MNB-300 controller to control a small RTU via an attached MN-sx sensor during construction.  Resolution No. Commissioning is needed only when the device is being configured to communicate via its BACnet interface.

Issue AccDataservices.Exe  not found on startup. Environment Continuum  1.7x, 1.8x,  1.9x AVG Anti Virus. Cause New AVG Virus definitions installed on 2/15/2012  marked the accdataservices.exe as "Malware" and placed the file in quarantine. Resolution Add accdataservices.exe to the exception list in the AVG Antivirus program.

Issue From Continuum edit the schedule that comes built in with the Viconics device and change the Object Property List then save the schedule. The schedule object saves without error, but re-opening the schedule reveals that no change took place. Environment CyberStation Viconics thermostat Cause Viconics does not allow changes to the built in schedule object property list. Resolution A workaround is to put the schedule that is in the Viconics device out of service then create a schedule in the bCX that drives the desired objects in the thermostat.

Issue What are the part numbers to order the back plate and controller separately for an MNB-1000? Environment MNB-1000 Cause MNB-1000 part number break down. Resolution The MNB-1000 controller breaks down as follows: MNB-1000 - Controller and Base Assembly MNB-CNTLR-1000 - Controller only, less Base MNB-BASE-1000 - Base only, less Controller  

Issue Dump file imports fail, have errors, or have blank programs with no code. Environment Continuum Cyberstation Cause Large dump file imports (such as an entire site database) can have problems where the import gets out of sync and fail. Making any changes to the dump file with an editor such as Word, Wordpad, or Edit applications. These text editors cause problems formatting, the bytecode of InfinityPrograms do not have a carriage return and the editor can end up pushing all the lines of code up onto one line. This can't be imported properly due to the line now being greater than the maximum line size. Resolution The following recommendations should be considered when importing dump files: Usually breaking these large imports up into smaller chunks (each controller) results in a smoother import and more success. Use a true ASCII text editor such as Notepad++ to make changes to dump files. Always save changes to a new filename so the original is left untouched.  You may also need to remov the Workstation Folder and Workstation, re-initialized the Continuum Workstation and then retry the import.  

Issue What Sigma documentation comes with Sigma Environment Sigma Cause Is there any documentation that can be viewed other than via the "Help" menu on the Sigma Client. Resolution The Sigma Help file Sigmahelp.chm is located in C:\Sigma\Help. The file can be copied to any other PC or memory stick and viewed by double clicking on it. The help file is best viewed in IE8 or IE9 in compatibility mode.

Issue How many alarms are stored in a standalone Xenta? What happens with alarms in a programmable Xenta if no Vista is connected? Environment TAC Xenta 301, 302, 401, 281, 282, 283 Cause There is a limit on how many alarms a Xenta can store before the memory gets full. Resolution The TAC Xenta will store up to 20 alarms after that it is "First in first out", meaning that when the 21st alarms comes in the oldest alarm will be overwritten.

Issue Need to print a variable such as DayOfYear and have the value always printed using three digits. Environment All CXs All i2s All b3s Cause Documentation Resolution Use the 'Right' function as follows... Print Right("000",DOY,3) to MyString The above will print the day of the year to MyString padded with zeros to the left when day of year contains less than three digits.

Issue The Platform Software Manager indicates the Report module is installed on the ENC, but ReportService cannot be added to the Services container of an ENC. The following error message is displayed in the Program Director window: WARNING [22:25:05 12-Jan-12 CST][sys.xml] Type "report:ReportService" not found: null [3:55] javax.baja.xml.XException: Error parsing value [4:4] at javax.baja.io.BogDecoder.err(BogDecoder.java) at javax.baja.io.BogDecoder.decode(BogDecoder.java) at javax.baja.sync.AddOp.decode(AddOp.java) at javax.baja.sync.SyncBuffer.decode(SyncBuffer.java) at com.tridium.fox.sys.broker.BBrokerChannel.syncToMaster(BBrokerChannel.java) at com.tridium.fox.sys.broker.BBrokerChannel.circuitOpened(BBrokerChannel.java) at com.tridium.fox.sys.BFoxConnection.circuitOpened(BFoxConnection.java) at com.tridium.fox.session.SessionCircuits$ServiceThread.run(SessionCircuits.java) at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:823)   Environment Niagara G3 all versions, ENC-410, ENC-520 Cause The ReportService Module in the ENC Platform may have become corrupted. Resolution Uninstall and reinstall the module in the ENC, making sure the module content filter is set to ui+runtime.

Issue Wiring detail using STR602 temperature sensor inc. remote adjust with a CXR5805 Controller Environment STR602 CXR5605 CXR 5605 Cause The STR datasheet instructions are not clear, it details terminals 22, 23 and 24 and not what each terminal is for e.g. 0V Com, Setpoint, 'C. The CXR5805 User Guide details the old part numbers. Resolution The STR602 combines the RPW4425 and DRT3453 into one temperature and setpoint unit. The STR602 is a 3 wire device using a common 0V between the setpoint adjust potentiometer and the temperature sensing thermistor. The terminations are STR602 term 22 (Setpoint) STR602 term 23 (Temp 'C) STR602 term 24 (0Vcom) And if used on a CXR5805 STR602 term 22 (Setpoint) is wired to term 5 on the CXR5805 STR602 term 23 (Temp 'C)  is wired to term 22 on the CXR5805 STR602 term 24 (0Vcom)  is wired to term 27 on the CXR5805 Link terminals 6 and 27 on the CXR5805 

Issue When a program in the source controller keeps setting a point's value to the same value (i.e. set MyPoint = On) every scan, the point's value is being transferred to the destination controller even if the point is subscribed in the Import/Export table. Environment Infinet controllers ( i1 & i2 ) Net controllers ( CX9xxx & ACX57xx) Cause When the value of the source point is changed, it is transferred to the destination Infinet controller(s) by the IE engine.  But when the source point's value is set to the same value (most likely output and numeric points set by calculation programs in the same controller), the IE engine still transfers the same value to the destination controller, in order to have the destination controller get the value that might have been lost due to the controller being offline.  This does not happen to Input points due to the threshold attribute of the object.  Resolution Modify the calculation program in the source controller to compare its value with the previous value before setting the value to the calculation (or condition check) result.

Issue Personnel Manager takes longer to open than Personnel Editor. Environment Continuum 1.93 Cause When the personnel folder is selected it will take time to complete the object list. (Contents of the folder)   10,000 records = approx. 45 seconds. Resolution Wait until the object list populates before you select a personnel record. There will be a 10 to 20 second opening difference between the personnel manager and the personnel editor. This is due to opening process differences.

Issue Browser locking up with blank screen after viewing several graphics.  Java console says java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: PermGen space. Environment IA Series Niagara G3 Cause This can occur when viewing graphics screens from different ENC stations that have differing versions of modules. The browser will load the modules it needs from each ENC which can eventually use up all the available PermGen memory. Resolution Make certain all ENC stations are using the same version of the modules needed.

Issue Getting the following error message when attempting to open a Niagara R2 Enterprise Server station: ERROR: Cannot open web server socket. [ServerLoop.run] java.net.BindException: Address already in use: JVM_Bind at java.net.PlainSocketImpl.socketBind(Native Method) at java.net.PlainSocketImpl.bind(Unknown Source) at java.net.ServerSocket.bind(Unknown Source) at java.net.ServerSocket.(Unknown Source) at tridium.nre.drivers.SocketDriver$TcpSocketFactory.createServerSocket(SocketDriver.java:681) at tridium.nre.drivers.SocketDriver.createServer(SocketDriver.java:203) at tridium.foundation.net.TWebServer$ServerLoop.run(TWebServer.java:754) at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source) Product Line TAC IA Series Environment Niagara R2 Enterprise Server all version Cause Windows IIS is enabled on Enterprise Server PC. IIS and WorkPlace Pro (station database) have a conflict issue related to Port 80. By default, IIS connects and utilizes Port 80 when installed and running. This directly conflicts with an Enterprise Server’s station database running on the PC which also uses Port 80 by default. Resolution Most times, users do not require IIS on the Enterprise Server or WorkPlace Pro PC so IIS is disabled. If IIS is required, users typically change the port used by the station's database to another port (e.g. 8080, etc.). If this change is made, all other settings that access this IP for the station (address table entries, web browser pages, etc.) must append the port number to the IP address (e.g. 192.168.1.142:8080). Disable the IIS if not required by some other application on the Enterprise Server PC. Select Start and open the Control Panel Double-click add remove program Click on “Add/Remove Windows Components on left side on screen Scroll down and deselect Internet Information Services in the Components window Click next and Finish The Enterprise Server station can now be opened. Note:  On Windows 7 host computer, the World Wide Publishing Service may be linked to IIS.  Go to 'Services' in Windows 7 and modify its startup to 'Manual' so that it does not start automatically.  If IIS is needed on the Enterprise Server PC, then change the port used by the Enterprise Server. Open WorkPlace Pro Admin Tool and stop the Enterprise Server Open the Enterprise Server offline Right-click on the Enterprise Server station and open its Properties sheet Click on the Config tab Change httpPort to the desired port number and click Apply Right-click on the Enterprise Server and Save Close the Enterprise Server station Open Admin Tool and start the Enterprise Server station  Once the station starts you should now be able to access it. Please note that the port number must now be included in the station's address when accessing the Enterprise Server.

Issue Is there a setting that will retransmit a BACnet point in case a BACnet device goes offline? Environment Niagara G3 ENS, ENC-410, ENC-520 Cause Points go offline and come back online with controller default values. Resolution The Max Write Time applies to writable proxy points. Specifies the maximum “wait time” before rewriting the value, in case nothing else has triggered a write. Any write action resets this timer. If property value is 0 (default), this rule is disabled (no timed rewrites). The Max Write Time of the Tuning Policy can be set to periodically write to proxy points at a set time interval. 1. Open the station and expand its BACnetNetwork 2. Expand Tuning Polices 3. Double-click on the policy you want to update 4. Enter a maximum time to be used in the Max Write Time property. (example 10 minutes) 5. Save change Note: In some cases setting this to some value, for example 10 minutes, may be useful. Often, a network may have devices that upon a power cycle (or even a power “bump”), have writable points that reset to some preset “default” value or state.

Issue When any LON device is power cycled the nvi values will change to invalid / null / last changed / default value.   Environment LON Devices Cause Using the device for the first time or after re-flashing the firmware. Power cycling the device. Resolution If nvi has any binding it receives the value from source nvo. If nvi does not have the binding then manually set the value. If nvi is a multistate SNVT it returns to default value.

Issue Schneider Electric portfolio replacement actuator for Controlli MVL56PS56 Environment MVL56PS56 Forta M700 Cause A replacement for Controlli MVL56PS56 is requested by customer. Resolution MVL56 is replaced by the Forta M700. "PS56" is a production specific specification for another manufacturer (unknown). Linkage kit required is depending on application. Part no MVL56 is replaced by MVH56 at Controlli.