Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue What can cause RAW alarms seen in alarm log? Environment Continuum error alarm log List View Cause The two most common reasons for seeing Raw Alarm Errors are... Alarms have been updated or deleted offline Continuum DB server is being overloaded. When this occurs, the alarm event coming off the wire gets dropped in the Raw alarm table to get its name and all other information rendered out into a readable format.  If the server is too backlogged the alarm could fall off the raw alarm table before the rendering is complete which in turn would generate the Raw Alarm error. Resolution If the alarm has been updated or deleted offline, reloading the controllers should remove these RAW alarm errors.  This will ensure the database is fully synchronized with the controllers. If there are indications that SQL is overburdened steps should be taken to address this issue.

Issue On a jobsite doing a backup of a GCM and its ASD controllers.  After an upload of the GCM is complete, the ASD controllers appear in the tree (the upload of the GCM created them).  Do they also need to be uploaded individually? Environment TreeTech (any version) Cause Understanding all the steps in a proper / complete upload of a GCM and its controllers. Resolution The first step is to upload the GCM. The second step is to upload each individual ASD controller (Microzone II, Microflo II, etc...).  Each upload will take less than a minute.

Issue A computer running UltiVist locked up and was rebooted.  Each reboot brings it right back to its locked up state.  How can this be prevented? Environment OS/2 UltiVist Cause A task or program does not execute properly and causes OS/2 to lock up with no response from keyboard or mouse. Resolution Boot up from the installation diskettes to gain access to a command prompt.  On the hard drive, modify the config.sys file to include the following lines: set restartobjects=startupfoldersonly set autostart=programs,tasklist,folders,warpcenter These lines will prevent the computer from running programs or tasks that lead to its locked up state.

Issue How to retrieve the XBuilder project (XPB) from the Vista Database. Environment XBuilder Xenta Server 913 Xenta Server 511 Xenta Server 7xx Cause  XBuilder file was not saved and backup was not set to target. Except Vista database backup do not have any other backups. Resolution To manually extract the XBuilder project from the Vista Database follow these steps: Using Windows Explorer navigate to the Vista database folder which has the XBuilder project you wish to extract. Open the $thisfil folder. You can see a zip folder named something like DE03xxxx.ZIP or similar.  Copy the zip file and paste it in the desired location. Unzip this file. The Zip contains the complete XBuilder project inside it.

Issue Cyberstation Online Help for Workstation editor Time Tab contains incorrect information. Environment Cyberstation online help Cause The highlighted text in the Workstation Time Tab online help is inaccurate.    Note: When entering this number, use the opposite sign (negative or positive) from what you actually want the system to write. For example, if you are 300 minutes (5 hours) ahead of GMT, enter: -300 For example, if you are -240 minutes (4 hours) behind GMT, enter: 240 Resolution Under UTC Offset, the Note should read as follows: Note: When entering this number, use an negative integer to specify time zones to the West (earlier than) Greenwich Mean time and a positive integer to specify time zones that are to the east of GMT. For example, if you are 300 minutes (5 hours) ahead of GMT, enter: -300 For example, if you are 240 minutes behind (later than) GMT, enter: 240 

Issue The R2 Enterprise server is running in a virtual environment. The station stops when the user logs off. Environment Niagara R2 Enterprise Server Cause The station’s App folder is over the recommended 500MB size. Resolution 1. Stop the station database 2. Locate the app folder under the station folder, and delete the app folder or rename it with ".old" suffix 3. Restart the station. The Cloudscape (app folder with file structure) will be automatically re-created. Note: All of the station's archives and logs are lost when deleting the App folder.  If the database’s archive needs to be save, then the app folder should be cut and save to the hard drive.  The saved station archives can then be viewed by placing the app folder in a new blank station    

Issue Where can I find the UL and CE certificates for our valves? Environment Valves Cause In some applications/installations, the UL or CE (depending on geographical region) is requested for the components used. Resolution The UL and CE certificates are only valid when electrical components are involved, such as actuators.

Issue Does the JACE-6E or JACE-7 support multiple FTT-10A LON cards? Environment JACE-6E, JACE-7, LON FTT-10A Cause Application requires multiple FTT-10A LON trunks. Resolution Yes ... the JACE-6E / JACE-7can support two individual FTT-10A cards.  Purchase (2) TRD-NPB-LON (FT-10A Lon Adapter cards) and (1) ENC-DRV-LON driver.  Add one LonNetwork for each physical port.  Under each LonNetwork within the Lon Comm Config, specify the port's Device Name (e.g. LON1 and LON2).  Reference the Niagara AX Lonworks Guide for more details.

Issue If the Automation Server (AS) starts up with its clock set to 1970, it is possible to create duplicate object Id's. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Automation Server, version 1.3.0.938 Cause If the clock in the AS is set before engineering the unit, the issue does not occur. However, if the clock is not set this problem occurs and the only was out is to re-engineer the AS. In addition, the BACnet interface will cease to function. Resolution This issue has been identified as a defect, and will be resolved in a future release.  In the meantime, be sure to configure the AS to the correct date and time prior to engineering the unit.

Issue Is Niagara G3 version 3.7 compatible with all the legacy drivers? Environment Niagara G3 Cause Sales request Resolution The ENC-520-2 can be installed with version 3.7 as well as any of the legacy drivers (ASD, GCM, DMS, MicroSmart).

Issue Doing a R2 to G3 oBIX integration.  The alarms in the R2 station have been successfully imported into the G3 station.  However, they are as 'normal' in the G3 Alarm Console when they are actually in alarm.  How can they be configured to change color? Environment Niagara G3 oBIX integrations (any version) Cause R2 native alarms are NOT oBIX 'Stateful Alarms', meaning there is no defined 'lifecycle' of an alarm event (unlike native G3 alarms). As a result, R2 imported alarms appear as "normal" (green alarm bell) source state events when routed to the G3 Alarm Console. Resolution Add native G3 alarming proxies to provide the red color of an alarm.

Issue What is an acceptable induced voltage on to I/Net signal terminals Environment I/net SCU Cause If you have 10V which is induced on to an input cable. And The installer ran 24Vac alongside signal wires in a multicore cable with a common screen. And  have a plan to eliminate the induced voltage by reducing the number of pairs carrying voltage and using other cables Resolution Of the input signal types, the Thermistor type is considered the most vulnerable to the pickup of stray voltage from sources in the local area. This is because the AI input is a high input impedance (as it is with all voltage measurement modes of operation), AND the signal source is also very high impedance (the 10K thermistor itself). With one side of the circuit grounded, this presents the 10K ohm impedance of the signal wire as a prime candidate for inducing AC voltage noise from and local adjacent AC voltage sources AND especially any such run in the same cable. There is no “acceptable limit” definition on such AC pickup. Acceptability is directly related to the system application and/or customer tolerance for fluctuations of temperature readings. In the room temperature range, a thermistor signal changes by only ~ 54mv for each degree C. Without filtering, this 54mv/C sensitivity would produce constant variation form small induced noise levels. We provide both hardware and software filtering on the analog signals that allows rejection of AC noise seen on the input terminal, BUT you still want to minimize the level of the noise pickup as seen on the analog inputs. In the I/NET controllers the hardware filter provides a 94/95 % reduction of the 50/60 hz AC noise level presented to the controller. The controller firmware follows with implementation of  deglitching and averaging filters that further reduce the effect of noise on the AI point value.  We also have a input filter technique specifically targeted at reducing the impact from AC line induced noise. That filter works on the principle of making the AI readings at a scan rate of 1.5 times the AC line frequency. This is the purpose of making the AC line frequency a configuration item (50 or 60 hz) in the CLAN controllers. On the SubLAN, this is scan rate is fixed at 25ms (1.5 times 60hz) which make the line frequency filter not as effective for 50hz, but still very helpful.   As the analog inputs are scanned, we capture a reading on the negative or positive cycle of the induced noise and then we average that with a reading taken from the opposing cycle of the induced AC noise as seen 25ms (or 20ms) away from the previous sample. The average of the positive and negative cycle of the induced noise creates a near complete cancelation of the induced error – for a sinusoidal wave noise signal. This technique does a great job of producing a notch filter centered on the AC line frequency and reducing/filtering the impact from such line frequency noise.   This combination of several filters allows you to see AC line induced noise on the analog input terminal, and still maintain a stable temperature reading in many cases.  Note -- If the AC noise is non-sinusoidal, due to anomalies in the noise transfer or originating from an AC source other than the sine wave AC power line, then the affectivity of the noise reduction will be reduced and signal reading impact will be larger. The 10V of induced voltage you describe is very large (huge) and far beyond anything I have seen, but then I have never seen 24VAC wired in the same cable with thermistor signals.  Separation of the 24VAC as you describe below is needed. Your described past tolerance for  5V is also above what I would expect to accept.   However, it is possible that the AC line frequency filter has been making such high noise level appear acceptable on the temperature reading display.   For possible work-around use, the high impedance of the thermistor source makes the addition of a capacitor on the AI terminal to ground very effective in reducing the applied voltage from AC noise pickup. Here a capacitor value in the range from 2 to possibly 100 micro-farads can sometimes be useful to reduce or work-around an installation wiring problem. The capacitor should be of the “Low Leakage” type.  Leakage in the capacitor would be exhibited as a small reduction in the DC voltage and associated increase in the temperature reading.  The higher the micro-farad capacitance value, the more reduction in noise you will achieve, but it is easier to obtain low leakage capacitors in the smaller capacitance values.  If polarized electrolytic capacitors are used, be sure to position the negative terminal toward ground.

Issue Do all b3 and i2 Controllers support  all PE commands Environment b3 i2 Controllers String Trig Cause Some PE commands can not be used on some b3 or i2 controllers Resolution The following Plain English system functions are not supported in the i2885, i2885-V, and i2887(L) controllers: (b3885,b3885-V, and b3887(L) controllers) ACOS, ARCCOSINE, ARCSINE, ARCTANGENT, ARCTANGENT2, ASC, ASIN, ATAN, ATAN2, CEILING, CHR, CLOSELIST, COS, COSINE, EXP, EXPONENTIAL, FACT, FACTORIAL, FIRST, FLOOR, GETOBJECT, LAST, LEFT, LEN, LENGTH, LN, LOG, MID, NUM_TO_STR, OPENLIST RANDOM, RIGHT, RND, ROUND, SD, SEARCH, SIN, SINE, STANDARD_DEVIATION, STR_TO_DATE, STR_TO_NUM, STR_TO_TIME, STRINGFILL TAB, TAN, TANGENT, VAL See - b3 technical data - i2 technical data - PE Programming guide

Issue No Driver Module for path Software administrator Environment StruxureWare Building Operation Software administrator Cause Have some errors about No Driver Module for path* Resolution In principle it means that we have a mount point but no driver. It could potentially happen if we have an object on another server referring those points. For example:  The messages are relating to broken binds of monitored values in trend logs. i.e. The original binds were changed to relative binds, and after that the monitored values were moved to another folder. In this case correct the bindings would remove the messages

Issue When trying to launch StruxureWare Graphics Editor stand alone or through Workstation the program crashes due to an unhandled exception. Review of Windows Event Log displaying the following error message: Application: SE.Graphics.Editor.exe Framework Version: v4.0.30319 Description: The process was terminated due to an unhandled exception. Exception Info: System.Configuration.ConfigurationErrorsException Stack:    at System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.PrepareConfigSystem()    at System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.GetSection(System.String)    at System.Configuration.PrivilegedConfigurationManager.GetSection(System.String)    at System.Net.Configuration.SettingsSectionInternal.get_Section()    at System.Net.NetworkingPerfCounters..ctor()    at System.Net.NetworkingPerfCounters.CreateInstance()    at System.Net.NetworkingPerfCounters.get_Instance()    at System.Net.Sockets.Socket.InitializeSockets()    at System.Runtime.Remoting.Channels.Tcp.TcpServerChannel..ctor(System.Collections.IDictionary, System.Runtime.Remoting.Channels.IServerChannelSinkProvider, System.Runtime.Remoting.Channels.IAuthorizeRemotingConnection)    at System.Runtime.Remoting.Channels.Tcp.TcpServerChannel..ctor(System.Collections.IDictionary, System.Runtime.Remoting.Channels.IServerChannelSinkProvider)    at Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices.WindowsFormsApplicationBase.RegisterChannel(ChannelType, Boolean)    at Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices.WindowsFormsApplicationBase.Run(System.String[])    at SE.Graphics.Editor.EditorApplication.Main(System.String[])    at SE.Graphics.Editor.Program.Main(System.String[]) Environment Windows .NET Framework 4.0 StruxureWare Building Operation 1.3 Cause .NET framework has become corrupted due to 3rd party software installation or upgrade from SmartStruxure Beta version to StruxureWare Building Operation  version 1.3 Resolution Only known solution to resolve this problem is a reinstall of the operating system. Repair, upgrade, or reinstall of .NET framework have not been successful.

Issue User over adjusts the setpoint on the STR612 Environment STR612 Cause The STR612 is used in conjunction with the CZU fan coil unit controller. The user over adjusts the setpoint.  Resolution The STR612 setpoint dial can be restricted. Under the dial cover are 2 plastic pegs that can be moved to the temperature extents that are required.

Issue What spare parts are available for the valves in our European portfolio?  Environment TAC  Valves Europe Cause When valves are getting worn out, they should be replaced. Resolution In general, all spare parts available for each valve are listed in the datasheets for the product in question. In addition, some field devices are also listed in documentation as Accessories.

Issue In Niagara G3, how many stations can connect to one Enterprise Network Server? Environment Niagara G3 Cause Planning a large installation Resolution An Enterprise Network Server running on a 32-bit server can handle up to 150 stations. An Enterprise Network Server running on a 64-bit server can handle up to 500 stations.

Issue For each alarm event, multiple alarm notifications are occurring in the AlarmViewer and in the Alarm Log. Environment Event Notification Alarm Enrollment Cause All occurrences were associated with a single Event Notification object which was dysfunctional. Resolution Created a new Event Notification with the same configuration and deleted the original Event Enrollment object.

Issue What is the resistance for the DRO and DOO sensors for a Drayton Theta II ES4 Environment DRO and DOO sensors Drayton Theta II ES4 Cause Information Resolution °C Ω     0 32650 1 31030 2 29500 3 28050 4 26690 5 25390 6 24170 7 23010 8 21920 9 20880 10 19900 11 18970 12 18090 13 17250 14 16460 15 15710 16 15000 17 14320 18 13680 19 13070 20 12490 21 13680 22 13070 23 12490 24 10450 25 10000 26 9573 27 9167 28 8777 29 8407 30 8057 31 7723 32 7403 33 7097 34 6807 35 6530