Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Controller inputs cannot be reloaded. Environment Reload I/O IO module Cause I/O module is offline. Resolution Resolve IO module communication issue and retry.

Issue Customer wishes to upgrade an existing controller to a CX9680. The existing controller has TankNet. Environment TankNet CX9680 Cause Are there any drivers available to connect a Tanknet system to the CX9680? Resolution TankNet is not available on any of the CX9680 comm ports. There is no driver to connect a TankNet system to it either. A controller with the TankNet option built into the comm port must be purchased. For leak detection applications there in an Xdriver for several Veeder-Root models. Here is a link to the Xdriver on The Exchange Download Center: Veeder-Root TSL 300 350 350R

Warning Potential for Data Loss: The steps detailed in the resolution of this article may result in a loss of critical data if not performed properly. Before beginning these steps, make sure all important data is backed up in the event of data loss. If you are unsure or unfamiliar with any complex steps detailed in this article, please contact Product Support Services for assistance. Issue What is the procedure for replacing a CX9200, CX9400 or 99xx with a BCX9640 Environment BCX9640 CX9200 CX9400 CX99xx Convert Conversion Cause While Continuum Versions 1.91 and higher have a direct procedure for upgrading a CX9200, CX9400 or 99xx to a CX9680, no such option exists for converting a controller to a BCX9640 controller.  Resolution There is no quick and easy way to replace a 9200 (9400 or 9900) with a BCX9640.  In order to do this it will be necessary to bring the BCX9640 online as a new controller (with a new ACCID) and copy the contents of the 9200 (9400, 99xx) into the BCX9640.   Do not copy the System Variables from the 9200, 9400 or 99xx into the replacement controller. As always a backup of the Continuum database should be made prior to making any such changes to the system. External point references, point references on graphics and alarm links would have to be checked and repaired where they have been lost.  Other controllers that referenced points in the original 9200 (9400 or 99xx) will have to be corrected so that they point toward the corresponding object in the new BCX9640.  A full recommissioning of the controller may be required.  Once the conversion is complete the original controller object would be deleted from the system. While importing a text dump of the (9200, 9400 or 99xx) is another approach, this can be a messy process that requires the dump file to be manipulated.  This can lead to more substantial problems if done incorrectly.

Issue When you setup a time event object to run a Vista report and save it to the hard drive on the local PC no file is saved, even though you can run the report manually. Environment Vista Reports Cause In the report the path to where the report needs to be saved is incorrect. The report will not create a new directory if the directory does not exist. A error will be logged in the $log folder of the database in the b0warlog.txt file. The text will look like this Tue Jun 26 10:28:46 2012 report  >>could not be saved Report report-report,  hRes=[-2146827284} Resolution Correct the path to were the report is to be saved or create the folder that matches the report save path.

Issue MSTP capture shows no destination network in the I-Am packet from the third party device.  Environment BACnet Third party device Zone IO 583 I-am Who-is MSTP Wireshark Cause The third party device may still respond to the Who-Is broadcast from Cyberstation, but is programmed to exclude the Destination Network in its I-Am response when the Network ID (UDP) is set to a value of 1.  Resolution Use a Network ID that is an integer other than 1, or have the third party vendor correct the configuration issue.

Issue Repeater for large distances between card reader and controller Environment Site with iBMS using Access Control Cause Site has large distances between card reader and access controller Example: maximum permissible cable length for a HID reader to the ACX controller - the length depends on the gauge of cable used: Wiring Distance Card Reader to ACX: 200 ft. (60.96 m) max using 22 AWG 500 ft. (152.4 m) max. using 18 AWG Resolution The communication between access controllers and card readers is using RS-422. Access controllers supply power as well as data to the card readers. To increase beyond the recommended guidelines a repeater can be used which extends the data length. A separate power supply would have to be installed to power the card reader.  Solutions for RS-422 data repeaters are: Westermo Cypress Computer Schneider Electric PSS in no way is endorsing nor including support of Cypress Computer & Westermo products in the following example: An example of a site using Continuum: the project used the Cypress SPX-1300 and was able to run the cables up to 3000 meters as long as the reader was powered from within the lift car, he utilised the Continuum elevator add on module with the Net11 and AC-1 Module per car.

Issue No alarms when specific users are logged in No alarms from specific Change of State Environment Vista Cause User Group Alarm are used when you want specific users to be able to see specific alarms.  For an example a Alarm control bound to a specific User Group - Alarm will only send its alarm to users added to User Group Alarm. Resolution To create a User group Alarm right click on root and choose add Add object User Group Alarm Add object User Group Add a Vista User Right click on the created User group and add the Vista user Right click on the User Group - Alarm and add the User Group. At Root right click on the Alarm control object and navigate to tab "user" and add the User group Alarm Now only the users added to the User Group - Alarm can see the alarm handled by this Alarm control object.

Issue Many  of our products have Web page functionality, can I test out if my animation plug in's are operating correctly? Environment Web pages, Web Client, Web Server Embedded Pinpoint web pages Silverlight, Flash player, Java and other Web animations. Cause Need to confirm if a web page  Animation plug in operates within the product or just on the Web browser used on the PC.  Resolution See Website: http://bubblemark.com/ for the links to the different animation tests.

Issue Object type "Time Chart - Global" does not update local time schedule in a Xenta programmable controller. Environment Vista 5.1.6 and below Xenta programmable controllers Xenta 281, 282, 301, 302, 401 Cause After changing a "Time Chart - Global," changes are sent out to all time schedules located in the associated Xenta units. If the Xenta is busy when this update occurs, it can take too long for the update to arrive and a time-out happens. This causes the Xentas to not get updated. Resolution Various time chart/time schedule updates have been corrected in Vista 5.1.7 and more are to come in 5.1.8. Please read the latest updates in the TPA

Issue Is the error LED on the ACX781 linked to the errors system variable in the controller? What events constitute and error that would cause the LED to be illuminated? How is the nature of the controller error determined? Can this value (and the error LED) be cleared by setting it back to 0? Environment LCX780 LCX781 Error Light LED Cause The error led is associated with the errors system variable.   Resolution Try using Command Line to set the Errors system variable  to 0 and see if the error led goes away. The most common reason why the error would be non-zero is because there is a program that went disabled.

Issue The following error message is displayed in the UNC-s Standard Output Window when attempting to install a station: FATAL: Cannot boot station from sns java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: tridium.services.DatabaseService   Environment Niagara R2, UNC-520, UNC-410 Cause A UNC can not be licensed for DatabaseService. Resolution Open the station offline and remove the DatabaseService.

Issue Cannot find the documentation on how to configure and use the Lon over IP interface in a ENC-520 Environment ENC-520 licensed for ENC-DRV-ILON These devices also support the ENC-DRV-ILON license: JACE-6, JACE-7 and JACE-NXT Cause Cannot find required information. Resolution Refer to the section "Components in LonIP Module" in the Lon Components Guides chapter of the NiagaraAX -3x Lonworks Guide. This document is distributed with the I/A Series G3 software (doc folder).

Issue The system is set up to create an alarm file when certain alarms is trigged but no file is created. Environment TAC Vista 5.1.7 Cause For a alarm file to be created when an alarm is set a object called "Alarm Receiver - File" must be created that object must be connected to a "Alarm Control" object, then the alarm which should trigger the file must be connected to that  "Alarm Control" object. The alarm was connected to the wrong "Alarm Control" object.   Resolution Make sure the alarm is connected to the correct "Alarm Control" object.

Issue When previously offline BACnet devices go back online, will the Xenta 913 try to poll them again? How does Xenta 913 poll BACnet devices that have been offline? The Xenta 913 doesn't poll all the BACnet objects when previously offline BACnet devices go back online Environment Xenta 913 BACnet Cause All objects the BACnet objects that can't be polled (are offline) during a poll are moved to a "failed queue". " Every 30 seconds a task moves one input and one output object from the "failed queue" to a different queue so that they will be retried next poll. This is all hardcoded and the 30 seconds timer cannot be changed.   Resolution If you wait long enough, all of the BACnet objects will be polled again. If many devices have been offline, this will take a while though.

Issue Are examples available to show how to write Plain English programs and create points for a Modbus RTU X Driver linked to Schneider Electric Power meters? Environment Modbus RTU X Driver Schneider Electric PM800 Power meters. Cause How can Modbus RTU X-Driver programs be written to poll for the data in a 3rd party Modbus device? Resolution The attached example show how to use the modbus RTU x-driver to read 4 16 bit data values from the PM800 meter, then using plain english to get the values to output to a single infinity numeric the total Power reading in kWH/mWH/gWH depending on the scaling factor of the meter. Create 4 Numerics reading the four registers that are used to store the data. Registers, 1716, 1717, 1718, 1719 are used in the PM800 Then create another numeric and via PE do the following calculation Energy Calc = (Register 4 x 1000000000000) + (Register 3 x 100000000) + (Register 2 x 10000) + Register 1. This will give you the value in wH. Then use a multiplier to give you the final reading in kWH etc.

Issue An existing Niagara R2 MicroSmart integration has been operational for several years.  Recent changes required reprogramming of some MicroSmart controllers -- points added, points deleted, points renamed.  How do these changes get uploaded to the existing station in the UNC? Environment Niagara R2 MicroSmart integrations (all versions) Cause Changes to building HVAC equipment. Resolution The MicroSmart driver uses the point list loaded in the PointListManager of the IbsMsService for reference.  So any changes to a point type, order, id, engineering unit, or status id must be uploaded in a "new" point list. Review the MicroSmart Driver Engineering Guide (F-27327), chapter 3, section 3.3 and 3.3.1 for a detailed review of how to work with updating unit displays and gx page "displays".

Issue "Not set" shown in the name column after upgrading to database layout version 2. Environment TAC Vista 5.1.7 or newer SQL taclogdata database layout version 2.0 Cause The "Name" column is a new column introduced in Vista 5.1.7 with the new database layout, so when a database is upgraded no name is added as there is no contact with Vista. Once Vista is running and a value is logged to the trendlog the name will be updated in the "Name" column to the same name as shown in Vista. Resolution No resolution required as the name will be updated once a log value is logged to the log database.

Issue The EmailRecipient is not receiving alarm emails sent by a Niagara G3 station. Environment Niagara G3, ENS, ENC-520, ENC-520 Cause If spam filter is enabled, the SMTP server will not route email as long as the Reply to parameter of the OutgoingAccount is empty.  It will treat the message as spam. Resolution The OutgoingAccount’s “Reply To” field must contain an email address. - Open the station in the tree - Navigate to Config > Services > EmailServices > OutgoingAccount - Fill in a reply to email address in the “Reply to” field.       Note:  In some cases a factious email address of the format xxxx@xxx.comcan be entered.  However, depending on the SMTP server, the "Reply to: field must contain a valid email address on the local SMTP server.

Issue Command Error in AMT MCU lost in AMT Environment I/Net AMT Cause If the I/Site loses contact with its SCU and there are a Global / Indirect point associated with this unit a Command error will appear in AMT. Resolution There can be various reasons for a SCU to go offline, it can be either power loss or grounding problem. Check the unit and the cables, it can also be that the unit is broken and needs to be changed. Check TCON312 and TCON313 for installation help.

Issue DCX250 goes blank appears to stop operating. Environment Infinity DCX250 Plain English Programs Cause The DCX250 uses Point to Point communications (not Import/ Export) for all of its communications, this relies on the other controllers being online and communicating at that time. Resolution The DCX250 uses point to point comms (not import / export) for all communications with other controllers, this should be done in a single import/ export mapping program to local numerics that is protected by an E: line or a First Aid program. The display programs should then use these local numerics for the screens, this ensures the user interface programs will still operate correctly in the event of a network problem. Also check the Infinet for Reconfigs to ensure network is operating correctly, verify correct cabling and grounding of equipment