Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Using European (and other non U.S.) date formats are not recognized by a list view prompt. Environment European Operating systems with DD/MM/YYYY date format. Cause List view user prompts are configured for U.S. date format. This applies to default list views like "Personnel_Expired Cards" that prompts the user for a date and time. Resolution When entering a date and time in a list view prompt box, it must be entered in the following format for all operating system language configurations: MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM:SS

Issue What is the warranty on a I/A Series product? Environment N.A. Cause Field office question Resolution Refer to "Warranty" section of the "Terms and Conditions" document found under the Products menu of the iPortal web site.  Note that these warranty terms only apply to those that buy our products direct from Schneider Electric.  End user warranty terms are usually determined by the installing office.

Issue Vista Server will open but Vista Workstation/Server Setup will not open because  MFC71.DLL is missing   Environment Windows XP Cause Symantec Virus Protection was removed/replaced by Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection: Forefront Endpoint Protection Version: 2.1.1116.0 Antimalware Client Version: 3.0.8402.0 Engine Version: 1.1.8601.0 Antivirus definition: 1.131.805.0 Antispyware definition: 1.131.805.0   Resolution Adding MCF71.DLL back to the needed folder will not work. Un-Install Vista Workstation/Hot-Fixes and Re-Install/ Vista Workstation/Hot-Fixes. Verify DCOM settings.

Issue What are the replacement battery part numbers? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum and Infinity controllers i2, b3, CX, bCX1 SCX920, LCX810, LCX800, TCX850 Cause Replacement part numbers required. Resolution All the i2/b3 controller battery types are covered on pages 48/49 of the b3 Controller Technical Reference The CX9200, CX9400, and CX9900 all use 2 off: 12V 6.5A lead acid gel cells, Part number: 01-2100-423 The Part number for the bCX1 battery is: BCX1-BAT-KIT The Part number for the ACX57xx battery is: ACX2-BAT-KIT The Part number for the NC2 battery is: NC2-BAT-KIT For the older Infinity Controllers: SCX920, LCX810, LCX800, TCX850 – ½ AA 3.6V 850mA-Hr  e.g. LS14250

Issue I/A Series G3 Security Alert – Directory Traversal and Weak Credential Storage Vulnerability and default encoding of credentials in authentication cookies Environment I/A Series G3 – All Versions Cause Recently, independent security researchers Billy Rios and Terry McCorkle notified ICS-CERT of a directory traversal and weak credential storage vulnerability with proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit code for the I/A Series G3 software.  This vulnerability could affect systems if not properly configured. ICS-ALERT-12-195-01 TRIDIUM NIAGARA DIRECTORY TRAVERSAL AND WEAK CREDENTIAL STORAGE VULNERABILITY Resolution Download and review TPA-IA-12-0003.02 Technical Product Advisory that outlines how to verify if a system is properly configured to protect against directory traversal.  Schneider Electric strongly urges you to review the TPA, assess the status of the system configuration and take the prescribed steps to secure if necessary.

Issue A large number of programs disabled due to errors when the controller time changed to February 27, 1990. The controller time corrected itself by the next error entry. Environment BCXxxxx CX9xxx Time Synchronization Cause The system time was changed manually on the Cyberstation that is in charge of administering time synchronization. Cyberstation ran a time synchronization routine during the period of time before the time server corrected the system time on the PC. Resolution Adjust the user account permissions such that users do not have the ability to change the system time on any Cyberstation PC.

Issue Technical support contact information for Design 360 and Studio 360 Product Line Andover Continuum, EcoStruxure Building Operation, Field Devices, Other, Satchwell MicroNet, Satchwell Sigma, TAC IA Series, TAC INET, TAC Vista Environment Design 360 Studio 360 Cause Design 360 or Studio 360 has issues requiring technical support assistance which is not provided by PSS. Resolution Schneider Electric Employees should contact PSS who will provide you with your Branch Administrator and Technical Expert contact information. Partners may contact Smartware directly for any support of the tool at: Email: techsupport@smartwaretech.com Phone: (716) 213-2222

Issue On an input configured with an Engineering Value range of 0 to 5 Degrees Celsius, an electric scale range 470 ohms to 10470 ohms and a reliability range from 470 to 1047 ohms, any input value produces an Under Range in the Reliability Property value. Environment SBO AS Inputs Reliability BACnet Cause The Reliability property references the inputs Engineering Values, not the Electrical Values. Resolution Because the Reliability parameters that are set on SmartStruxure inputs reference the Engineering values, in this example even the maximum value of 5 degrees Celsius would have placed the input value far below the Lower Reliability Level parameter of 470 (ohms).  In this case the solution is to use an Lower Reliability Level of 0 and an Upper Reliability Level of 5.

Issue Where to find documentation about TAC Vista OPC Server and OPC Client, including which versions of the OPC standard are supported in the different versions of TAC Vista OPC Client/Server. Environment TAC Vista OPC Server TAC Vista OPC client TAC Vista OPC tool Cause It is not always easy to know where to look for Vista documentation. Resolution All documentation about TAC OPC can be found in The Exchange Download Center. Search Vista OPC on The Exchange Download Center Narrow results by Asset types (Specification Sheet, Manual, Release Notes, etc...)

Issue Customers are reporting that TRD-T-IO-16 and TRD-T-IO-34 modules do not communicate "right out of the box". The "PWR OK" led on the IO-34 is lit up, but the device remains undiscoverable in Workbench (in the Ndio Board Manager view). The IO-16 has no LEDs lit, and also cannot be discovered. The IO modules are brand new, unused units. Environment I/A Series G3, TRD-T-IO-16, TRD-T-IO-34 Cause The IO-16 or IO-34 module was initially powered up for too brief a time and then powered off, interrupting an "automatic IO firmware upgrade" that was underway. The JACE keeps the latest NDIO firmware in its image distribution, and automatically updates any attached IO module found with older IO firmware. This IO firmware upgrade process occurs for each attached IO module, in sequence, starting with the lowest logical address IO board (IO module closest to JACE). During an IO firmware download, the JACE's Status LED has a long duty cycle blink -- long On, blinking Off. This IO firmware upgrade takes at least 30 seconds for each IO-16 module, and at least 60 seconds for an IO-34 module. Therefore, if multiple IO modules are attached with older IO firmware, it can take as long as 4 minutes of uninterrupted power to safely complete this operation. Once completed, the JACE continues booting and starts its platform daemon process. Therefore it is always safe to cycle power to the JACE once a platform connection can be made. Resolution If the JACE is powered down or if the IO module is removed during this IO firmware update, the IO module becomes unusable and must be returned to the factory to be re-imaged. The "PWR OK" LED will show green on an IO-34 even after is has been broken this way, but it will remain undiscoverable and unusable. Reference TPA-IA-12-0004-00 for more details.

Issue During a Continuum to SmartStruxure 1.2 conversion, getting Unknown Object errors when trying to download to B3 controllers with SmartStruxure. Environment AS b3 Unknown Object Error Cause Non StruxureWare objects exist in the b3 controller. Resolution Set the ACCID of the b3 controller to 0 using a RoamIO. 

Issue Third party device does not provide a place to terminate the shield on the comm bus cable. Environment MSTP Infinet Cause Comm cable shielding is required for MSTP and Infinet buses but a controller does not provide a termination point for the shield. Resolution The shield on a comm cable works something like a drain, by redirecting any electrical interference to ground. rather than allowing it to degrade the data signal. If there is more than one grounding point on a shield conductor, often there is the potential that the two ground points have difference of electric potential.   Such a situation could cause the shield to actually introduce electrical interference as the current passes from the point of greatest potential, through the cable and to the point of lowest potential.  For this reason a shield should always be grounded on one end but never be grounded at both ends.  These days many field bus controllers include non grounded shield terminations that simply serve to connect all shield wires as one continuous conductor that are drained by the master controllers shield termination point which is grounded. Where there is no shield termination, simply make sure that the shields from two comm cables are connected together.  

Issue What is the difference between Lonmaker 3.2 and "Turbo Edition"?  Environment Echelon LonMaker: 900800130: LonMaker 3.2 Standard Ed. 900800140: LonMaker 3.2 Professional Ed. 900800150: LonMaker 3.2 Std Ed Upgrade 900800160: LonMaker 3.2 Pro Ed Upgrade Cause In some documentation and price lists, LonMaker 3.2 is mentioned as "Turbo edition." Resolution There is no difference between Lonmaker 3.2 and "Turbo Edition." It is just a different name for the same product.

Issue Communication issues caused by improper grounding of the BACnet MS/TP shield connections to the B-LINK-AC repeater.   Environment BACnet MS/TP installation with B-LINK-AC repeaters. Cause The shield connection on port 1, labeled "(Input)", of the B-LINK-AC repeater is internally wired differently than the four other ports. Resolution Due to the differences in how the shield terminals are wired, the following techniques must be followed when wiring the B-LINK-AC BACnet MS/TP repeater. Port 1, marked (Input), must have its MS/TP bus shield connected to the SHLD terminal, which is isolated from Earth Ground. The incoming MS/TP shield must be grounded at only one point, at a location other than the repeater. Typically this is at the opposite end of the bus, or where the MNB-1000, UNC, ENC or other BACnet parent controller resides. All four of the other repeater ports, # 2 - 5, have their SHLD terminals tied together, and tied to Earth Ground internally, through the power supply's Earth Ground connection. For each MS/TP bus cable connected these ports, the single point of ground for the shield is at the repeater and, therefore, the shield must not be grounded at any other point on the bus. None of the five MS/TP ports on the repeater have internal termination resistors.  If a MS/TP trunk ends at the repeater, a 120 ohm terminating resistor must be connected between the MSTP+ and MSTP- terminals on that port of the repeater.  Likewise, the far end of each MS/TP trunk must also be terminated with a 120 ohm resistor between the MSTP+ and MSTP- terminals of that last controller. None of the five MS/TP ports on the repeater have internal bias resistors.  Standard practices, regarding the biasing of the MS/TP trunks, should be applied, as described in the I/A Series MicroNet BACnet Best Practices Guide, F-27360. Additional information on the use of these repeaters can be found in the "Approved MS/TP Repeaters" section of Chapter 5 of the I/A Series MicroNet BACnet Smoke Control Systems manual, F-27419.

Issue License is installed on computer but software still says that the computer is not licensed. Environment I/A Series G3 software installed on a Windows computer. Cause Tridium software certificate was not installed properly or has been damaged. Resolution Copy the file "Tridium.certificate" from the certificates folder of another version of the I/A Series G3 software into the certificates folder of the current version. The correct file location is C:\niagara\niagara-3.x.xx\certificates where 3.x.xx is the software version number.

Issue Methods to edit output files from the Report object to customize reports. Environment Continuum Report Object Cause The Reports generate .PDF and .SVG files when configured as a chart. How can these files be modified to produce a tailored report? Resolution There are four file formats that can be produced with a Report object. Text HTML Easily editable with a text editor such as Notepad or Word. Text XML Easily editable with a text editor such as Notepad, Excel, or Word. Chart - PDF Typically, PDF files are not easily modified but you can use Adobe Acrobat Professional to add  simple text to your Report or export to a Microsoft Word format where you can then edit the report as much as you want. The downside to this is that Adobe Acrobat can be an expensive purchase and the end result from these conversions is that some text fields are cut off or displaced.  Chart - WEB (SVG) Another option is to use the Web format for your Report, configured from the Output tab of the Report object, to save the Report chart as a .SVG  (Scalable Vector Graphic) file. This format is very similar to XML and can be edited with a simple text editor. There are also SVG Editors available that allow creating / editing SVG files in a graphic canvas such as what Illustrator provides. One such application is Inkscape Open Source application available at the link below. http://inkscape.org Information on the SVG format can be found on the Wiki at the link below. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scalable_Vector_Graphics

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 Needing to change the IP address on a Legacy NPR. Environment All versions of I/Net Cause When the IT department changes a subnet or network setting that prevents the device from communicating to I/Net. Resolution There are two ways to change the IP address on the Legacy NPR. 1. This can be done on a Direct Connect by creating a new configuration called NetPlus Router. 2. Make this active and connect the CBL 072 to the upper left connection on the back of the device. 3. Start I/Net and when connected, go to NP Routers, the device will be online with the name that was previously in it or Wantap 1 which is the default. 4. Select it and then modify the IP address and put the new one in, save the changes and hit the okay button. The second way to do this is from the Host PC, 1. Right click on I/O Server and select Configure  2. Modify the Active Profile. 3. Select NPR Routers and follow steps 3 and 4 above.

Issue I/Net Controllers are Supported in the 1.3.x and higher release of Building Operation Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, TAC INET Environment Site running I/Net and StruxureWare Building Operation1.3.x or higher Cause Legacy and support for various I/NET controllers Resolution The following controllers are supported: Routers: NPR 2000 TAC Xenta 527 TAC Xenta 527-NPR Site Controllers: 7798b I/Site Controller 7798c I/Site Controller 7793 Micro Controller Interface 7728 I/Site I/O Controller 7780 Distributed Lighting Control Unit 7716 PCU 7718 PCU 7756 PCU 7760 UCI (Unitary Controller Interface) 7700 DCU (MIP01) 7797 ICI (All Versions) SubLAN Controllers: 72xx Unitary Controllers 7760 Unitary Controller Interface (UCI) DPU 7910a Door Processing Unit DPU 7920 Door Processing Unit (DPU 48K) DIU 7930 Digital Input Unit DIO 7940 Digital Input Output Unit SCU 1200 Security Control Unit SCU 1280 Security Control Unit SCU 1284 Security Control Unit MR Controllers (all HVAC) MR-VAV-AX MR-VAV-X1 MR-VAV-X2 MR88 MR88R MR160 MR55 MR55X MR632 MR-AHU MR-HP

Issue Can the duct nipple for SPD910 be purchased separately? Environment SPD910: 004701090 004701080 004701070 004701060 Cause Replacement spare parts availability Resolution No spare parts are available for ordering separately unless listed in the data sheet and/or price list.

Issue What does "FS" mean in the technical data part of the data sheet for some of our sensors?  Environment Sensor documentation Cause No explanation in the data sheets what "FS" means. Resolution "FS" is short for "Full Scale".