Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue A graphic displays the values of 50 points from a Third party controller. The graphic launches normally and all point values update normally while the graphic is running. Once the graphic panel is shut down the controller drops offline.  Environment 3rd Party Device BACnet Pinpoint Graphic Cause While pinpoint graphics poll point values sequentially, when a graphic is shut down pinpoint will unsubscribe from all of the points at once. While some 3rd party devices can handle large numbers of unsubscribe requests, other devices may overwhelmed when too many requests to unsubscribe occur in close succession. Resolution Use Plain English to mirror points form the 3rd party device to local numerics.  Display mirrored points in the graphic panel rather than the actual points in the device.

Issue Commission and download to a Xenta 300/400 fails with error message  "Error creating file". Environment Vista 5.x Xenta 300/400 Cause Vista are using the folder C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Local Settings\Temp at Commission and download to a Xenta 300/400. So the user which have started the Vista server must have authority to write to that folder. Resolution Make sure that the user which have started the Vista server have authority to write to the folder C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Local Settings\Temp. 

Issue Every 6 second there is an error message in the Vista event log from user "system" that "system failed to log in on node TAVISTA".   Environment Vista 5.x Cause  The reason for the messages is that GetAlive is activated for Icarus( a program used in Sweden which sends SMS when a alarms comes to Vista). Resolution Deactivate "GetAlive" for Icarus. 

Issue During the uprev of Continuum, the database initialization utility takes a while to update the database. Environment CyberStation SQL Cause Many factors will determine how long it will take for the database update process to complete. These include but are not limited to: - Size of the database - Server performance - Network performance Resolution The main factor determining the time it will take to update the database if its size. as a guideline a 6 GIG database will take about 30 minutes to update.

Issue Will the JACE-600 or JACE-700 work with any of the four I/A Series proprietary drivers (GCM, DMS, ASD, MS)? Environment Niagara G3 JACE-600 JACE-700 Cause Existing building retrofit Resolution The four proprietary drivers are not supported on the JACE-600 or JACE-700 controllers. If these drivers are required a JACE 645 (TRD-T-645) is required. Please refer to Product Announcement PA-00251 for further details.

Issue Can the MNB-Vx be mounted upside down? Environment MNB Cause Unusual site installation - VAV boxes mounted upside down for better access to the damper shaft Resolution There is no mounting orientation specified for the MNB-Vx controller.  Ensure that all other mounting instructions are followed for proper operation.

Issue How can thousands of unacknowledged alarms and exceptions be deleted quickly in SIGNAL? Environment SIGNAL (all versions) Cause Months of unacknowledged alarms and exceptions were allowed to accumulate. Resolution The files containing all the alarms and exceptions are located in the SIGNAL\ALARM and SIGNAL\EXCEPT folders respectively. Shutdown SIGNAL (all programs).  In the ALARM folder, delete the alarm_a.dat, alarm_u.dat, and alarm_l.num files. In the EXCEPT folder, delete the excep_a.dat, except_u.dat, and excep_l.num files. Reboot the computer.

Issue Each time an InVue graphic screen appears, not all of the dynamic values (tags or remote references) update.  No error messages appear. Environment InVue 1.1 WIBS 1.1 Wonderware Cause The InVue computer hardware was replaced.  It has a dual/multi-core CPU which was never validated with InVue. Resolution Disable the settings in the computer's BIOS such that the CPU behaves like it is a single-core.

Issue Will the Vykon Alarm Service run on a Niagara G3 Soft Jace or ENC? Environment Niagara G3 Cause Application specific for a jobsite Resolution No.  The Vykon Alarm Service is only supported on an Enterprise Network Server (ENS).

Issue EM42 is obsolete and is no longer available when replacement is needed Environment VTRA linkage kit 8600990000 EM9 180° 8601110000 VTRA valve EM42 Cause Replacement of obsolete actuator on old style valve Resolution The replacement actuator for EM42 on a VTRA valve is  EM9 180°, 8601110000, together with linkage kit 8600990000. The linkage kit originally included with the EM9 package should NOT be used.

Issue Will the data in the Xenta Server still be intact after a power failure? How long is the "power outage protection time" for the various Xenta servers? Environment TAC Xenta 511 TAC Xenta 527 TAC Xenta 555 TAC Xenta 701 TAC Xenta 711 TAC Xenta 721 TAC Xenta 731 TAC Xenta 911 TAC Xenta 913 Cause Needs to know how the Xenta Server handles a power failure Resolution Power Outage Protection – Settings like configurations and web pages are stored in the non-volatile (flash) memory and will not be lost in the event of a power outage. A built-in capacitor maintains operation of the RAM memory for at least 72 hours in the event of a power outage. More information may be found in the TAC Xenta 500/700/911/913 Product Manual, chapter 2.1

Issue Need to know if the counter input on a xPDI8 meets the 140 hz specification that is called out in the Project Specification.   Environment xPDI8 xPBD4 Counter input Cause Need to know if the high resolution counter input on a xPDI8 or an xPBD4 Resolution While the xPDI8 counter input is rated for 140 Hz. this spec is based on a 50% duty cycle rate.  In any case, the minimum pulse width we can read on a high resolution counter input is 3.57 ms.  Anything less than 3.57 ms cannot be read reliably by the XPDI8.

Issue Copy/paste does not work for Extended Trend Logs in a Spreadsheet. When attempting to copy/paste an Extended Trend Log, the monitored Trend log is always included in the new Extended Trend Log and it is not possible to change it. Environment Enterprise Server version 1.2 Cause This is a bug which is fixed in version 1.4. Resolution Upgrade to version 1.4 when it is released.

Issue Temperature sensor input point is not updating. Sensor works fine on another input. Environment i2 controller Cause The threshold may be incorrectly set. For example, if it is set to 10 instead of 0.1. Resolution Check the threshold and make sure it is set to 0.1.

Issue Request for Schneider Electric version of Controlli VMBP2M Environment Controlli VMBP2M Cause Some products of Controlli are also available through Schneider Electric.  Resolution Unfortunately, no cross reference to Controlli VMBP2M is available in the Schneider Electric portfolio.

Issue Received a DMS-BATT-001 replacement battery for a DMS panel and the battery voltage is not 3.6 VDC. Environment DMS-BATT-001, E17-131 Cause The DMS-BATT-001 is a custom 3 cell rechargeable NICAD battery. The voltage of the replacement battery, as received from the factory, may be less than 3.6 VDC until the battery is recharged by the panel or device. Resolution Install the replacement battery and allow the panel or device to recharge the battery.  Once charged, the battery supplies the DMS-3500 series controller with battery backup of volatile program data for a minimum of 72 hours.

Issue Do IOU modules retain their current state when they lose communication with the host NetController? (NC1, NC2) Environment CX9900 CX9400 CX9680 IOU Modules Cause Documentation Resolution Upon losing communication with the NetController, output modules (DO-4. AO-4 etc) start a 260 *** second timer (4 minutes and 20 seconds), if communication is not restored before the time expires the module turns off the outputs as a safety measure. For Digital outputs the outputs will be turned OFF. (Invert attribute is taken into account). For Analog outputs the output value will be set to zero. *** For access control modules (AC1, AC1A, AC1Plus) the timer is 10 seconds to avoid leaving a door unlocked for an extended period of time.

Issue Contact information for product support for EasyLobby Visitor Management. Environment CyberStation EasyLobby Visitor Management. Cause Documentation Resolution EasyLobby directly supports their software plus the Continuum - EasyLobby integration software. Please forward all EasyLobby support requests directly to them. support@easylobby.com 781-455-8558

Issue Infinet controller could not see points on its parent controller (CX9680). When the parent controller was reloaded all references to point in the parent controller were broken.  Now none of the child infinet controllers can see points on the parent controller. Environment Infinet NetController BCX Handles LSX280 External references Cause The LSX280, which is the old SX8000 system service tool can be destructive to a Continuum based system. The LSX280 uses a very different process to calculate object handles.  Doing learns with the LSX280 can damage the object handle structure of a Continuum system in ways that may be hard to repair.    Resolution Ran the Import Export Fixup Utility.

Issue The documentation states in different ways that the sensors are both 0-95% and 0-100% RH range. Environment SHD100 006902321 SHD100-T 006902331 SHD101-T5 006902381 SHD101-T6 6902411 SHO100 006902361 SHO100-T 006902371 SHO101-T5 006902401 SHR100 006902340 SHR100-T 006902350 SHR100-T5 006902390 Cause Different RH (Relative Humidity) values are listed in the documentation, and needs to be explained.  Resolution Ranges are divided into "measuring range" and "working range".   Measuring range: 0…100% r.H. Working range:   10…100% r.H. ( non condensing )   Normally 100% r.H. is already water but it is possible to have 100% r.H. in air- or gas form. Sensor works at 100% r.H. in air but not if pure water is present. This is why “non condensing” is added. In this case working range is 10…100%. If we don’t add “non condensing”,  specification should read: 10…95% r.H.  Sensor will not become damaged because of condensing.