Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Is it possible to change the colors for the alarm list in Webstation? Environment TAC Vista Webstation 5.1.x   Cause The colors for the alarm list in Webstation are inherited from Vista Workstation.  Resolution To change the colors for the alarm list in Webstation change the colors for the alarm list in Workstation and Webstation will inherit the colors. Change the colors in workstation: Right click on a alarm in the alarm list and open the properties for it. Go to "Customize". Click on the "Text" tab. Change the color. Open the "File" menu and "Save My Program Settings"

Issue Transfer SNVT (network variables) between lon devices in a TAC Vista Classic scenario. Can't bind in classic network; how to send SNVTs from one lon device to another? Environment TAC Vista Classic scenario LonWorks devices Cause If you are using TAC Vista in a classic scenario, no real SNVT bindings can be made. Resolution Use object transfer to send the values. Note that the server have to be running for the values to be transferred. For more info on how to set up object transfer, see Chapter 14 in the TAC Vista Technical Manual.

Issue Spare stuffing box (packing box) that fits a number of older valves. Environment Stuffing box Type T part no 0802064005 V221 V223 V265 V294 V295 V298 V353 V395-1 V396-1 Cause This spare stuffing box fits a number of different valves from the old and current TAC Schneider Electric portfolio. Resolution Stuffing box Type T part no 0802064005 fits the following valves: V221, V223, V265, V294, V295, V298, V353, V395-1, V396-1 NB: this product will be terminated by Dec 31, 2013.

Issue What does the message "This Part has Alternate Replacements" mean in regards to the MNL-800-101, as displayed in iPortal? Environment MNL-800-101 Cause See Product Announcement PA-207 regarding a parts shortage regarding the capacitor used for memory backup on the MNL-800-101 Resolution The MNL-800-102 is being shipped as a replacement for the MNL-800-101 until such time as the capacitor parts shortage has been resolved. As documented in Product Announcement PA-00207, the capacitor used for memory backup power storage in the MNL-800-101 is temporarily unavailable.  The capacitor used in the MNL-800-102 does not have the same temperature rating (-13 Deg F instead of -40 Deg F).

Issue How to safely de-commission an Access Controller with configured Doors and Personnel. Environment Continuum Cyberstation Access Controllers Cause In the past, when deleting Access controllers from a live site, problems have been encountered with controllers that had pending Personnel distributions. Resolution As long as there are no pending distributions to the controller, deleting the controller from Continuum should be problem free. The problem with distributions begins when a controller is still defined in the database but is not online. Any changes to personnel in this offline controller will be "buffered" until the controller comes back online. Deleting the controller device object out of the database stops these distributions from being attempted in the first place.   The most comprehensive method of removing personnel from a controller during de-commissioning is to do the following: For the Personnel, remove access to the Areas that the controller supplies access too. These changes will then distribute down to the controller and remove these personnel from it. Once the distributions are complete, remove the Areas from the door objects in the controller, if not using profiles.  (When using profiles in the Personnel Manager do not remove Areas, this can potentially cause database issues)  Then to complete the de-commissioning, delete the controllers Device object from the Continuum database.  

Issue Reading 32 Bit Integer values from two 16 Bit registers. Environment IC-Modbus IC3-Modbus 32 Bit Integer 16 Bit Registers Cause The IC-Modbus cannot read 32 Bit Integer values. Resolution To read a 32 bit Integer value stored in two 16 bit registers, the following must be carried out. 1. Both registers must be read and their values stored in two Analogue Input objects. 2. The two AI values must be combined using a programmable object, similar to the one below. The object will take the high register value, multiply it by 65536, and add it to the low register, giving the equivalent of a 32 Bit register. 10 XFlo = POINT 0|64 (High register) 20 YFlo = POINT 0|65 (Low register) 30 ZFlo = (XFlo * 65536.0) + YFlo 40 RETURN VIA TEXT 200 VALUE ZFlo (Text 200 use a suitable text).

Issue Forta actuator only modulates 0-50% when given a 0-10V input signal.  All DIP switches are OFF, so it should modulate 0-100% for 0-10V input. Environment Forta M800 Cause If the X1 and MX control signal connections are reversed, the actuator will appear to modulate but the stroke will be limited to 0-50% Resolution Ensure that the actuator is correctly wired, according to the Forta datasheet.

Issue PC was changed - for example because of a PC crash. Restored Vista and log backups. After that, logged data can be read, but no new values are logged. Environment Vista 5.1.7 Cause Vista 5.1.7 was installed and started on the new computer then the time on the computer was set to a future date by the IT department. During the time the PC clock was set to the future date values were logged. Then the time was set back to present time. The problem now is that "Next log time" will be potentially far in the future so no log will be logged until that date.   Resolution Correct the PC time Restore the log backup and Vista backup again Start Vista

Issue Power supply options for Multical 602 meter Environment Kamstrup Multical 602 Cause Power supply option Resolution The Kamstrup Multical 602 can only use 24V AC as power supply!

Issue Is it possible to use a 24V signal to keep the actuator in a constant position? Environment MD20 MD-20 Cause In some applications, a constant signal is requested for use as a safety device (spring return) only. Resolution The MD20 is designed to use a 2-10V control signal. Anything outside of this spec is not recommended.

Issue When Actuator M22 / M50 is purchased separately from valve, an adapter is sometimes required to connect valve and actuator. Environment M22 M50 Adapter 100108240 Cause In some applications this adapter is necessary to purchase separately. Resolution The adapter needed is available for ordering. Part no 100108240. Contact t your Orders Dept rep for more details and information.

Issue PSS recommends creating an ACC_Dump_Debug.txt file to troubleshoot save-to-database problems. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment ACC_Dump_Debug Debug file Cause Trouble saving a controller to database. One step in troubleshooting is to set up a debug file Resolution Note: Under normal operation, Continuum saves an ASCII dump file to the TEMP directory every time a “Save from Controller” (via the "Send to Database" option) is done and deletes the file after it is imported. In order to keep these files for inspection, follow this procedure. Open a dos command prompt, type Set TEMP, and record the location of your TEMP directory. In the TEMP directory, create a text file named Acc_Dump_Debug.txt. Edit the Acc_Dump_Debug.txt file and enter on the first line the directory where you would like the dump files to be stored (e.g., c:\DumpFiles\CNC1.) Note: The directory entered in the text file must already exist. If the directory does not exist, then an error message will be written to the Acc_Dump_Debug.txt file and the dump operation will proceed as normal. If the Acc_Dump_Debug.txt file is created but does not have a directory entry on the first line, .dmp files will be written to the root drive where continuum is installed. With the Acc_Dump_Debug.txt file properly configured, all .dmp files will be redirected to the specified directory. The file name of the dumped object is the continuum full path name of the object with a .dmp extension. To turn off the archiving, either delete the Acc_Dump_Debug.txt file or rename it.

Issue What are the alarm response times for StruxureWare Building Operation Environment StruxureWare Building Operation site Cause Requesting information concerning response times and maximum periods. Need to know when the response is met and provide a written description of the way in which they are met. Time from initiation of an alarm at the source to the annunciation on the engineering StruxureWare Building Operation server: Critical alarms (Plant Shutdown and Safety) <2 seconds Non critical alarms <4 seconds Time from initiation of an alarm to all other BACnet devices to StruxureWare Building Operation server: Critical alarm 20ms Non critical alarms 20ms Time from initiation of a change of state or value to all Lon devices to StruxureWare Building Operation Server: 20ms Resolution We have a requirement that says the following: The time from when a value, monitored by an alarm, passes the trigger value of the alarm, until the alarm is visible in a WorkStation logged onto the parent Enterprise Server shall be: - less than 1000 ms in average over 20 measurements -maximum 2000 ms for each measurement This requirement applies to the Performance Target System. This includes any multi-server environment and also if the value is out on a Lon device, BACnet device or any other device we support. The above requirement is met. We also don’t have different response-priorities for critical and non-critical alarms in StruxureWare Building Operation, they are treated the same.  

Issue Is there a way to reset the Last Daily Archive time and Last Backup Time in an I/A Series R2 station?  System clock was inadvertently set ahead now the daily archive and daily backup processes are not running. Environment I/A Series R2 ES and UNC stations Cause Computer system clock was inadvertently set ahead and not discovered for several days.  After correcting the clock setting, the daily archives and daily backup of the station does not appear to be running.  Both entries "Last Daily Archive" time and "Last Backup Time" show a future date and time Resolution There is no direct procedure for changing these time stamp entries in an I/A Series R2 station however, the time stamp entries can be edited in an XML copy of the station database. The following procedure can be used to reset these date stamp entries in the station database. Open the Admin tool, log into LocalHost, select the running station and use the DB Admin to Save Runtime Db. This updates the current config.db file with any unsaved station information. When the save is complete, stop the running station. Still in the DB Admin screen of the Admin tool, select the server station and perform a convert local from db to xml. Locate the "backups" folder under the r2.301.532 folder then in that folder, locate the folder for the server station you are working on. Rename the backup.zip file in that folder to backup.save.zip. Using a text editor capable of editing very large text files, open the config.xml file for the server station and make the following changes: Search for "<LastBackupTime>" and change the date to a date in the past. Search for "<LastDailyArchive>" and change the date to a date in the past. Search for each occurrence of "<LastArchiveTimestamp>" and change the date to a date in the past. If your editor has the capability of doing a replace all, you might be able to replace a group of these entries all at the same time, especially if you just change the date and ignore the time. Save the edited xml file and close the editor. Save the current config.db file by renaming it with a different extension. Using the DB Admin function of the Admin Tool, convert the station's xml file back to db. Verify that the current computer time is correct. Verify that if there is a time sync service running in the computer, that it is using a reliable time server as its source of time and date. You can now use the Admin Tool to restart the edited server station. Open the server station in WorkPlace Pro, navigate to the TimeSyncService under Services and verify that if "clientEnabled" is True, there are no blank entries for any of the timeProtocolServer slots. All three entries must be filled in, even if you put the same server address or name in more than one of the three slots. The backup and archive functions of the server station should now operate at the specified times.  

Issue Spare parts for V221 Environment 0804375005 Recond kit 221/223-65  0804376005 Recond kit 221/223-80  0804377005 Recond kit 221/223-100  0804538005 Recond Kit 221/223-125  0804627005 Recond kit 221/223-150 V221: DN65 7212154000 DN80 7212158000 DN100 7212162000 DN125 7212166000 DN150 7212170000 Cause Reconditioning kits for the V221 valves Resolution The following reconditioning kits are available until the end of 2012, after that they will be obsolete: 0804375005 Recond kit 221/223-65  0804376005 Recond kit 221/223-80  0804377005 Recond kit 221/223-100  0804538005 Recond Kit 221/223-125  0804627005 Recond kit 221/223-150

Issue Want to create a listview that shows all expired personnel cards on or after today's date. Environment Cyberstation (all versions) Cause The built-in Personnel_Expired Cards listview does not have any date filters. Resolution Either edit the  built-in Personnel_Expired Cards listview, or create a new on.  Edit the listview, and click on the Qualifiers tab.  Check the Advanced Database Qualifier box, and type the following expression in the Database field:  ((ExpirationDate >=   [workstation name] \Date) & (Template = False)) where   [workstation name] is the name of the Cyberstation. When the listview is opened,  cards expiring today and after will be displayed.            

Issue New computer to be used internally at a site to display I/A Series R2 & G3 graphics does not have Java installed on it.  How do I get it installed without public internet access? Environment I/A Series R2 graphics display I/A Series G3 graphics display Cause Java (Java Runtime Environment) is required to display the I/A Series R2 and I/A Series G3 graphics. Resolution Follow these steps to download a copy of the current release of the Java (Java Runtime Environment) to a flash drive, CD, DVD or other portable media or device.  You need to perform these steps on a computer that has public ethernet access.  NOTE: This procedure is current as of June 20, 2012 and may be different at a later date due to external web site changes beyond our control. Open your browser and go to the site http://www.java.com. Click the button [Free Java Download]. On the "Download Java for Windows" screen, locate the link that reads "Not the right operating system?"  Click the "See all Java downloads" link. On the "Java Downloads for All Operating Systems" screen, locate and click the link for "Windows Offline (32-bit)". Follow the prompts as displayed in your browser to save the downloaded file to your computer. After downloading the installation file, copy it to your portable media or device. Connect your portable media or device to the target computer and install the downloaded file (jre-xxx-windows-i586.exe where xxx is the version identifier) into the computer following normal software installation procedures. 

Issue Do not know the card information such as card type, card number and site code.  Environment  CX99xx , CX 9680 , ACX57xx , ACX7xx. Cause Need to know the card information that is to be used and need to configure the door for the card to be used.  Resolution Set the door configuration to Site + Card mode. Open the Access EventView and swipe the card to the reader of the door. Verify the card information from Access EventView.

Issue A third party personnel management system stores nine separate pieces of information in a single thirty two digit FASC number.  In order to migrate personnel data from a third party system into Continuum, the nine values that make up the FASC number must be separated in order to populate the various fields in each Continuum personnel Object. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Personnel Import Parse Excel Cause In order to migrate personnel data from a third party system into Continuum, the nine values that make up the FASC number must be separated in order to populate the various fields in each Continuum personnel Object. Resolution Import the third party information into an Excel spreadsheet. Under the Data menu, use Text to Column to parse the nine values combined in the FASC number into nine columns based on fixed width. Import the personnel data in CSV format or use Personnel Import Utility to import the parsed data.  (Note:  The Personnel Import Utility is a available as a paid for option in Continuum). Also see the following Knowledge Base Articles for information on importing personnel information: Personnel.csv file fails to import into Continuum Creating Personnel objects via CSV import file that include area assignment and photo

Issue Some managed switches have settings that have to be configured to match the communications type and speed of the connected devices. Environment Xenta 511, 527, 527-NPR, 555, 701, 711, 721, 731, 911, 913 Cause Some managed switches have to be configured to match the communications type and speed of the connected devices. Resolution Most switches automatically detect the speed and configuration of the connected devices. However, for those site where these configurations must be manually configured, the specs below should be noted. All Xenta Servers use a standard 10 Base T network port. These ports operate at 10 Mbits/sec. and are half duplex.