Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue After upgrading the WorkPlace Tech Tool software to release 5.8 and requesting / installing a new TIP demo license, the license is still shown as expired. License request was generated using the "Purchase WIBS Software" icon on the computer desktop. Environment I/A Series WorkPlace Tech Tool software, release 5.7.2 or newer including release 5.8.x. Cause The WIBS Purchase program is used for licensing all WIBs product family software and the WorkPlace Tech Tool software, prior to release 5.7.2.  This licensing software is not compatible with Windows 7. The licensing subsystem software used with the WorkPlace Tech Tool software, release 5.7.2 and newer uses a new licensing subsystem that is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. Resolution After installing the WorkPlace Tech Tool software, version 5.7.2 or newer, the "WIBS Purchase" icon can no longer be used to request a new or updated license for the WorkPlace Tech Tool software.  The "WIBS Purchase" licensing program does not work with the newer version of the WorkPlace Tech Tool software. During the installation of the WorkPlace Tech Tool software, a new license request program is installed on the public desktop, if not already installed.. This license request program is named "Purchase WorkPlace Tech Software".  This icon must be used to create the license request and install the new license for the current version of the WorkPlace Tech Tool Software.  Depending on the computer configuration and user permissions, the "Purchase WorkPlace Tech Software" icon may have not been created on the computer's desktop.  If the program is not on the desktop, the corresponding program, WPTLPurchase.exe can be found on the computer in the folder C:\Program Files\WorkPlace Tech\Licensing\Core".  A shortcut to this program should be created on the computer desktop.

Issue Hardware address Wrong address Direct connect Environment I/NET Direct Connect Cause Hardware addresses where used with the old TAPs and this address needed to be the same as the address configured on the TAP set by their dip switches. These TAPs are hardly used anymore and when you use a Direct connect to say a 7798C and a hardware address are set, you will get unknown address data in AMT Resolution Right click I/O server and choose properties and modify your profile Modify your Direct connect settings Set hardware address to "0" Software address can still be used

Issue An initial calculation of KWH produced a artificially high value that was captured by a trend log and is now stored in Report Server. This anomaly is artificially skewing the auto scale feature. Environment Web Report Server Trend Log Extended Trend Log Extended Log Cause The trend data anomaly is artificially skewing the auto scale feature of the trend graph in Report Server. Resolution Open the associated extended trend log. Right click on the entry that is to be corrected and select edit record.  Change the value of the entry to some more acceptable value. Enter  a reason for the change in the comment field. Select save. The new value will appear in place of the original entry with an icon to show that the value was altered. Allow up to 24 hours for the data to be migrated into Web Reports Server.

Issue How calculate the accuracy? Environment SHD100: 006902320 006902321 SHD100-T: 006902330 006902331 Cause In the documentation, both "Accuracy" and "Temperature Dependence" is listed. The Temperature Dependence is varying (see data sheet for chart), while the Accuracy is constant across the scale. Resolution The Accuracy and Temperature Dependence needs to be added together in order to calculate the correct total accuracy/deviation.

Issue When an alarm in Xenta Server or a Xenta device under a Xenta server that are configured to send alarms via mail,  the mail receivers will get  an extra mail when that alarm is acknowledged. Environment TAC Vista TAC Xenta Server Cause This behaviour is due to a bug in earlier versions of the Vista Server software Resolution There is no known workaround to this issue, but it is fixed from Vista v5.1.3 (and later versions),  i.e. an upgrade will solve it. 

Issue The temperature readings from the space temperature sensor on the TAC Xenta 120 device is not stable, is it possible to damp the readings? Environment TAC Xenta 121-FC TAC Xenta 121-HP Cause In some application, it is not possible to get a stable reading from the temperature sensor. Resolution It is possible to activate a filter for the space temperature readings. Set the nciNodeAppOp2.bit14 to 1, this could be done from TAC Vista or from LonMaker. please note that the first bit is bit zero. This will make the device to use 80% of the old value and 20% of the new reading.

Issue What is required to configure controllers to use the wireless network adaptors? Environment Wireless Infinet CX 9680 (Netcontroller II) bCX 9640 (bCX1-INF) i2xxx controllers Wireless MSTP bCX 4040 (bCX1-BACnet) b3xxx controllers Cause Require more information on how to enable Continuum controller subnet to use wireless communications instead of wired communications. Resolution To setup and enable wireless Infinet or MSTP networks, you will require two things: 1. Firmware There is separate Wireless Firmware that needs to be loaded into the i2xxx and b3xxx controllers to enable wireless communications. The Netcontroller II or bCX1 controller do not have a separate wireless version of the Firmware. FW -> Ecobuildings   2. Wireless Adapters You will need to attach wireless adapters to each controller including the master and change the commport to wireless mode. (Note: bCX or NC2 controllers only; wireless has not been enabled in the ACX57xx controllers at this time.) For further information see the Wireless documentation at the link on ExchangeOnline below. Ecobuildings

Issue Can both RS-232 ports be used for Modbus simultaneously on an I/A Series UNC-520? Environment I/A Series UNC-520 Cause The I/A Series UNC-520 is licensed with the Modbus master driver IA-DRV-MOD.  The requirement is for the UNC to communicate Modbus to third party controllers using RS-232. Resolution Yes ...both I/A Series UNC-520 RS-232 ports can be used simultaneously with the Modbus driver IA-DRV-MOD (ModbusAsync) set for COM1 and COM2.

Issue Attempting to link from one I/A Series G3 station to another using a pop-up link and getting an error when using the browser.  The error indicates - javax.baja.license.FeatureNotLicensedException: tridium:brand. Environment I/A Series G3 (all versions) Cause Created a PxFile with a bound label pop-up binding to open another link outside the station environment (e.g. history).  The link works properly when using and viewing in Workbench but does not work with IE browser. Resolution The pop-up link through the browser currently does not support links to another station (supports only links within the same station).  Recommend the graphic be located with the associated history in the same station if pop-up link required.

Issue How do our field controllers keep their own internal time? ( Clock , Real Time Clock , RTC , Frequency) Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Controllers Cause Not sure how the local time is kept on the controllers. Resolution Throughout the life of the Infinity and Continuum product line, the method of keeping the time on the controllers has changed. The older controllers (9000,9200,9400 era) used the AC frequency as a pulse, or heartbeat, to keep time. This was calculated at a 60Hz cycle and if there was a dirty power cycle or a different frequency power supply (say 50Hz), the local time on the controller would drift out over time. The newer controllers (anything with a Real Time Clock) use the Real Time Clock and its crystal to keep the time; this is in no way affected by the AC or DC power. On any newer generation controller that has a  battery backup (battery backed RAM), the battery also keeps the Real Time Clock functioning as well as the controller RAM in case of a power failure.

Issue Get ACCDataServices crash during Continuum shut down Environment Continuum WS ( Cyberstation & Webclient ) Cause The most possible scenario of the cause of the issue is when PE programs in the Continuum WS are running for DB backup or truncating events from event tables during shutting down of Continuum. Resolution Modify the PE programs not to run during the period of Continuum shut down.

Issue ASD devices appear intermittent (device up / device down) when running the I/A Series R2 ASD driver build 514 and older. Environment I/A Series R2, ASD, ibsAsd-2.301.514.v1 (build 514 or older) Cause The ASD driver (514 or older) utilized the user defined retry count as part of the device recovery setting the value to zero during the ping.  This value could be subsequently captured in flash if the station backup occurred while the value was zero. Resolution This has been resolved in newer versions of the driver ibsAsd-2.302.516b and higher.  Upgrade ibsAsd and serialDriver as required.

Issue No Logging Databases Have Been Specified Environment Windows Cause No Logging Databases Have Been Specified. Resolution Log on to the Bas2800+ system Open Dataview From the menu select File then New From the menu select Data then Logging database. If there is a registered database in the Registered database Window you can select this. If the Registered database window is empty, press the Add button. Select the logging database you wish to use. (Default database "BAS2800.DBS" is installed with the software.) Press the OK button to select the database. On the Logging database Window press the OK button to assign the logging database. The error message should disappear.

Issue McQuay third party device on MSTP running at 76.8K baud does not show up under BACnet folder following a 'Find New BACnet Devices' from the root. Environment bCX4040 Cause Looking at the Comm2Count system variable of the bCX reveals the third party device is not actively passing the token on the MSTP field bus. The count does not include the device in question. Resolution One or more of the solutions below. 1. Third party device not able to communicate at the higher baud, change the baud rate on the bCX comm2. 2. Third party device is unable to auto baud and must be manually configured for a given baud rate. Configure the third party device accordingly. 3. Wiring issues in the MSTP field bus.

Issue For various reasons it may be necessary to temporarily stop a schedule from driving its occupancy point, is there an easy way to accomplish this? Environment CyberStation All CXs All i2s All b3s Cause Documentation Resolution If the schedule object is a Continuum schedule... 1. Edit the schedule object 2. Go to the 'Configuration' tab 3. Set the state to disabled. For a BACnet schedule... 1. Edit the schedule object. 2. Go to the 'Current State' tab 3 Check the 'Out of service' box  To return control to the schedule re-enable it/put it back in service.

Issue Why are all/some entries in the 'Active Components' menu grayed out? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment CyberStation Cause The 'Active Components' menu is context sensitive; it only enables entries that are applicable to the selected control. Resolution Display the 'Drawing' toolbar (View\Toolbars\Drawing) Select a shape from the drawing tool bar and draw a shape on the canvas With the shape on the canvas selected pull down the 'Active Components' once again Observe that there are menu entries enabled now, only those menu entries that are applicable to the control on the canvas are enabled.

Issue Cannot create a new Continuum database with Database Initializer. Environment Continuum database Database Initializer SQL Cause Occasionally, when a misconfiguration occurs in Database Initializer during the database creation process, the ContinuumDev.mdf and ContinuumLog.ldf will be created in SQL but the database instance will not be created. The presence of an existing database device will prevent SQL from creating an instance with the same name. Resolution Delete the ContinuumDev.mdf and ContinuumLog.ldf files in the SQL data folder and retry.

Issue Vista IV Error message 'unable to initialize license' when trying to start workstation. Environment Privilege Licensing Vista IV Cause Unknown corruption possibly due to premature or sudden shutdown of Vista and the Privilege Server, such as power loss to the PC. Resolution If this is accompanied by errors stating that a PSU of the specified family was not found or the PSU ID does not match, ensure the correct .PLF is installed. If the correct .PLF is active in the Privilege License Manager and you are still receiving the error, A reinstallation of Vista should correct the issue.     Note: Beginning 2012, PSS will no longer support the Privilege License System. The Tamfs26 Server will be retired along with TAC License Server software. It would be wise to inform the customer of this important information to plan for future upgrade in the event that their site license has issues.

Issue Upgrading to the newer versions of I/NET Seven and Crystal Reports are not working. Environment All versions of I/NET Software using Crystal Reports. Cause Because of differences between versions of the Crystal Reports runtime engines, any reports that you save in SevenReports 2.21 or later will not be compatible with SevenReports 2.20 or earlier. If you intend to continue using a report on SevenReports 2.20 or earlier systems, do not save the report in SevenReports 2.21 or later. Resolution The reports that come with TAC I/NET Seven are preconfigured to use the default instance of SQL Server. If you have configured your system to use any other instance of SQL Server for TAC I/NET Seven’s database, you must manually define the database settings for each TAC I/NET Seven report you intend to use. The SevenReports application allows you to create and print reports containing information from one or more databases, including TAC I/NET Seven database views. Using SevenReports, you can generate: Standard Reports – Standard reports are pre-configured to contain basic TAC I/NET Seven data. Each report contains the full range of data available (i.e., all of the database records in the appropriate tables). TAC I/NET Seven includes over 30 canned reports. Custom Reports – SevenReports allows you to create custom reports by selecting database views, selecting fields, creating links between the fields, and designing the report layout. All reports may be previewed on the monitor screen prior to printing. Some reports, such as those containing tenant information, allow you to specify a range of data to include in the printed report. This allows you to print a report that concentrates on specific information.

Issue How to open a webpage in an new browser window from a OGC graphic. Environment TAC Vista OGC editor Internet Explorer Cause Want to access a web page with a button in an OGC graphic Resolution Create a command point Choose application browse in the path to internet Explorer  (C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe) After the path type in the URL/IP Address separated with a space form the path.