Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Alarm Viewer at one WS displays only the name of the object in alarm instead of the full path. Environment CyberStation Windows Cause Windows issue Resolution Windows service pack was found to be incorrectly installed or corrupt, re-installing the Windows OS service pack solved the problem.

Issue If more than four STR 350/351s are needed to be added into one Xenta 700 controller, the rest ones from the fifth one can’t be added for the Add menu for STR35x has been grayed out. Environment Xenta 700 STR 350/351 Cause Only four STR 350/351s can be added into one Xenta 700 controller. Resolution If it is really needed that more than four STR 350/351s are added into one Xenta 700 controller, these STR 350/351s can be added as LonWorks devices in the Workstation, instead of in Xbuilder.But with this method, the configuration window of STR 35x in Xbuilder can’t be used. The entire configuration to STR 350/351 can only be realized on the panels of them or through SNVT value setting in the Workstation.

Issue DC1100 or DC1400 not accepting 0112 passcode to clear alarms or to alter settings. Environment DC1100 DC1400 Cause When the passcode 0112 is used to clear alarms or to alter settings, the code is not accepted. Resolution The controller will require coldstarting. 1. Using the setup menu and view settings, make a note of the settings of the controller. 2. Coldstart the controller by turning the power off, hold down the enter and exit buttons, power on and then release the buttons. The controller should re-initialise and will return to its default settings. 3. Reprogramme the controller with time and date, heating and HWS schedules, and any other parameter required in the set up menu. e.g. no of boilers, HWS linked etc. 

Issue Pinpoints crashes when selecting object properties of an Active Animation. Environment Continuum Pinpoint v1.93 Cause Image files used in the Active Animation do not exist or mapped through to the wrong path. Resolution Check that the Image Files used in your Active Animation are actually located at the path indicated. If the image files have been moved from the initial location used when creating the graphics then this could be the cause of the error. Copy the files back to the original location, now you should be able to edit the Active Animations and change the Image Files paths to the correct graphic location. This problem was found in Continuum v1.93 Pinpoint after an upgrade from an undetermined version and the cause able to be identified after importing those graphics into a v1.94 system. Presumably v1.94 does not have the same problem when attempting to view the Active Animation Image Files.

Issue Is it possible to install the SPP110 sensor on a CPVC pipe system? Environment SPP110: 004702020 004702040 004702060 004702080 004702100 004702120 004702140 Cause Application suitability for plastic CPVC pipes. Resolution The SPP110 sensor is delivered with a G1/4 male thread on the sensor body, and then an adaptor to male G1/2 thread. It needs to be determined locally if a suitable threaded fitting (female) can be securely adapted to the CPVC pipe.

Issue Is it possible to use Lonmaker 3.1 with TAC Vista 5.1.8?  Environment TAC Vista 5.1.8 Lonmaker 3.1 Cause Compatibility between older version of Lonmaker and newer version of TAC Vista. Resolution You can use Lonmaker version 3.1 with TAC Vista 5.1.8. For a complete matrix of compatibility, please download the latest version of the Compatibility matrix from the Extranet: Follow these instructions to download the Vista Compatibility Matrix Go to the Buildings Business Extranet and browse to Products > TAC Vista > Documentation Click Compatibility Matrix in the Left hand navigation bar Download the latest TAC Vista Compatibility Matrix (link located on the right side of the screen). Verify that the planned or existing installation uses compatible software

Issue How to override the valves in a TAC Xenta 101-VF Fully open valve with TAC Xenta 101-VF Fully close valve with TAC Xenta 101-VF Environment TAC Vista TAC Xenta 101-VF Cause Sometimes you need to override the valves. Resolution In TAC Vista or Lonmaker find the SNVT  nviValveOverride HVO_OPEN opens both valves HVO_Close closes both valves. Don't fill in anything for flow or percent.  

Issue Get error message "access denied" when trying to create a objects in the root folder in Vista Workstation. Environment Vista server and Workstation 5.1.7 Cause If open "Authority" for a object in Vista the "Database owner" is specified. Usually the "Database owner" is $Administrators in this case it was the System user for the Vista server object. Resolution Change the "Database owner" in the Vista server object by clicking on " Take ownership" to $Administrators from system.

Issue What values are saved when you restart a Xenta 121 Power fail Xenta 121 Environment Xenta 121-FC Xenta 121-HP Cause What information is kept when a Xenta 121 is restarted. Resolution All configuration parameters (nci). will be kept. All nvi/nvo will go back to their initial or calculated values.

Issue Unable to log in to the localhost, while all user names and passwords associated with the PC have been tried. Product Line TAC IA Series Environment I/A Series G3 software installed on Windows computer. Cause To log into the LocalHost Platform via the I/A Series G3 Workbench, a username and password needs to be used that is defined in the local Administrator's group of the computer on which the software is being used. Many times, the user accounts on a computer will be Domain based accounts rather than local accounts. The I/A Series G3 software cannot authenticate with Domain based accounts. Resolution If logged into the computer as a user that is a member of the Administrator's group, you should be able to create a new user account and assign that user to the Administrator's group. Below is the procedure for creating a new local user and placing that user in the local Administrator's group on a Windows XP system. Right-click on the "My Computer" icon and select Manage. Click on the [+] box in front of "Local Users and Groups". Click on "Users". Right-Click in the righthand window and select "New User". A New User window will open. In the New User window, enter IAAdmin in the User name field. In the Full Name field enter "IA Admin" In the Description field enter "Local Administrator for I/A Series R2" In the Password field enter P@ssword. In the Confirm Password field enter P@ssword Uncheck the "User must change password at next login" option Check the "User cannot change password" option Check the "Password never expires" option Click the [Create] button then click [Close] to close the "New User" window. In the righthand window, right-click on the user IAAdmin and select Properties. In the IAAdmin Properties window that just opened, click the "Member of" tab. Click the [Add] button In the "Enter the object names to select" box, type in Administrators and press Enter. Click the [OK] button to save the changes. Close the Computer Management window. When the Platform is opened and a login is attempted on Localhost, enter "IAAdmin" for the user name and enter "P@ssword" for the password.

Issue Must add XDriver to a CX9200 where all other ports are being used.  Environment xdriver Comm Port CX9200 CX9300 Cause As soon as the port mode switches from xdriver to some other mode the xdriver file is detached and must be reattached to the comm port for the xdriver to work. Resolution The default mode of a comm port that is being used with an xdriver must be hard set to xdriver.

Issue When logging in Web Client, are the User Name and Password encrypted when sent to the server? Environment Web Client CyberStation Cause Documentation Resolution Both the User Name and the Password are encrypted by default when sent on the wire, this is true even when the system has not been configured to use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). To have ALL communications encrypted configure SSL per the instructions in chapter 3 of the Web Client Installation and Configuration document. (Establishing SSL Support for Confidential Information)

Issue Can an alarm be created to notify an operator when the HOA switch on a controller is no longer in the Auto position? Is it possible to show on a graphic when a controller output is not in the Auto position? Environment Output Override Alarm Cause Controller HOA switch security. Resolution Each output has an Override attribute which is set to True when controllers corresponding HOA switch is not in the Auto position. The Override attribute can be used for alarming and for a visual indication on a Pinpoint graphic.

Issue What SNVT types are supported in the StruxureWare Building Operation ES and AS? Environment SNVT types ES AS Supported Cause Confirmation was required on what SNVT's are supported. Resolution The StruxureWare Building Operation ES and AS support the current published Echelon master SNVT list, to see the full list, please click HERE.

Issue Following a workstation crash and subsequent replacement of the workstation PC, cannot bring the existing CX9200 online with the new Continuum Installation. Environment Cyberstation 1.6 CX9200 Windows XP SP3 Cause Continuum 1.62 does not support Windows XP with Service Pack 3. Resolution Install Continuum 1.62 on a Windows XP SP2 platform.

Issue Add a receiver group to a Xenta server alarm in Xbuilder Environment TAC Xbuilder Cause Easiest way to add a alarm receiver group to an alarm. So that an e-mail is sent when the alarm is triggered Resolution Drag and drop the alarm receiver object on top of the alarm.

Issue Is there an I/A Series G3 object that calculates sunrise and sunset? Environment I/A Series G3 (versions 3.5.xx and higher) Cause Requires calculated sunrise and sunset times for automatic control of lighting, etc. Resolution The SunPosition object can be used to calculate a wide variety of sun metrics. Calculations are based upon a provided longitude, latitude, and date time.  The SunPosition object can be found in the I/A Series G3 weather module. Note:  The use of the SunPosition object does not require that the ENC, JACE, or Enterprise Server have Internet access, nor that it be located within the United States. The data provided is generated within the station using mathematical calculations based upon the current date, time, and a location provided in degrees longitude and latitude. The following data is available as output slots of the object: Day Length Sunrise time Sunset time Astronomical noon Astronomical midnight Current sun elevation Maximum sun elevation (at solar noon) Minimum sun elevation (at solar midnight) Current sun Declination Current sun Azimuth Current sun Right Ascension

Issue Can an Infinity Controller with a Modbus xdriver operate as a slave node to a third party Modbus device that is set up as the master node? Environment Modbus RTU Modbus TCP/IP xdriver Cause Third party modbus Master has to poll data from a CX or BCX controller that is set up as a slave node. Resolution The Modbus TCP/IP xdriver can be configured to operate as a slave node. The Modbus RTU xdriver must be the Master node whatever MODbus network it is attached to.

Issue The bacnet loop no longer works correctly after upgrading to 4.500064 firmware Environment BCX B3 Continuum Cause The action property of the loop object was reversed in prior versions. This has now been corrected in firmware version 4.500064. Direct is now Reverse and Reverse is now Direct.   Resolution If the loop was being used in prior versions you will need to correct your configuration to use this version. An accumulating error will now get cleared when the loop object is put "out of service"

Issue Microsoft Security Update KB2744842, issued on September 21, 2012, prevents Internet Explorer 9 from remotely executing possibly malicious executable code contained in web pages. This security update prevents the Java applets used to display the G3 graphics from being downloaded into the browser.  After this security update is installed the graphic page will be displayed as a blank white page with or without a boxed red X in the upper left corner of the graphic page. For more information on the vulnerability, refer to Microsoft Security Bulletin MS12-063, available from the Microsoft web site. Use of alternate web browsers such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are not affected by the installation of this update. Environment I/A Series G3 ENS or ENC with web access Internet Explorer 9 being used to display the graphics pages. Cause Microsoft security update prevents Internet Explorer 9 from executing potential malware infected modules. Resolution If the ENC or ENS station is running the I/A Series G3 software release 3.4 or earlier, there is no module upgrade available to correct the issue.  A new web.jar module is available that allows Internet Explorer 9 to download and execute the Java applets used when displaying I/A Series G3 graphics. If the site is running G3 release 3.5.34, you will need to upgrade to release 3.5.39 with the latest security patches before installing the 3.5.403 web.jar file. If the ENC or ENS station is running I/A Series G3 release 3.5.39, upgrade the web.jar to release 3.5.41.1.  If the ENC or ENS station is running I/A Series G3 release 3.6.x, upgrade the web.jar to release 3.6.48.1. The upgraded web jar files are available on The Exchange Download Center. After installing the new web.jar module, the following cache folders must be cleared on any computer that has been used to attempt to view the G3 graphics from an unpatched G3 station running on an ENC or on an ENS-1 system. Clear the IE9 "temporary internet files" cache using the following procedure: From within Internet Explorer 9, select Internet Options from the Tools menu. On the General tab, select Browsing History then click [Delete]. Uncheck all check boxes except "Temporary internet files" then click [Delete]. Close the Internet Options window. Delete the wbapplet cache folder.  The location of the folder is  //users//niagara where is the login name of the current Windows user.  This folder can be accessed by typing the location into the Windows search box on the Windows Start menu. Clear the Java browser cache using the following procedure: Open Java from the Windows control panel. Click the [About] button on the General tab to verify what version of Java is installed. If running Java 6, On the General tab, in the "Temporary Internet Files" section of the window, click [Settings] then in the "Delete Temporary Files" window, make sure that "Downloaded Applets" and "Downloaded Applications" checkboxes are checked then click [ok] to delete the files.  When the delete process is complete, click [ok] to exit.. If running Java 7, On the General tab, in the "Temporary Internet Files" section of the window, click [Delete Files...] then make sure that "Downloaded Applets" and "Downloaded Applications" checkboxes are checked then click [ok]. Close the Java Control Panel window.  Note: These three caches must be cleared regardless of the browser being used if the web.jar file is been updated on the ENS or ENC being accessed.  If accessing some systems with the old web.jar file and some systems with the new web.jar file, it may be necessary to clear these caches any time you switch from accessing a system with the old web.jar file to a system with the new web.jar file.    There are two ways to resolve the issue when running G3 release 3.4 or earlier: Upgrade the installation to a newer I/A Series G3 software release (3.5.x or 3.6.x or when available, 3.7.x).  This is the preferred option because these newer releases correct many known issues with the release 3.4 and earlier versions. Use a browser that is not affected by the Microsoft Security update.  The known unaffected browsers include Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Microsoft Internet Explorer version 7 or 8.