Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue How to show the Outdoor temperature on STR350? Environment STR350 Cause By the use of the variable nviOutdoorTemp, it is possible to show the outdoor temperature on the STR350 device. The outdoor temperature will be shown when you press the selection button. Resolution Make a binding for the outdoor temperature to the variable nviOutdoorTemp on the STR350 device.

Issue What is the temperature reading range for the STP500? Environment All Continuum controllers STP500 range STX500 range STD500 range Cause Clarification on read range required. Resolution When connected to a Continuum controller the operating temperature range is: -30°F to +230°F, -34°C to +110°C For readings outside this range, an active sensor with a 4-20mA or 0-10V output should be used.

Issue For EpiDesigner or EpiBuilder to work with some devices a plug-in needs to be purchased. Environment Continuum EpiBuilder EpiDesigner Windows XP Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause Epibuilder will not communicate with some approved devices without purchasing a special plug-in. Resolution ImageWare is the third party company that Continuum integrates with for badging and there are a number of devices that require a plug-in to work. Check the following web page for a list of tested and supported items and if the device indicates plug-in, then purchasing a plug-in is required. https://support.iwsinc.com/about/support/epi_builder/ The plug-in can be purchased through a ImageWare partner. https://www.iwsinc.com/partners/ Schneider Electric does not sell the plug-ins and has no access to any serial numbers that may be prompted for during the installation.

Issue analog input shows 8.6-8.9 volts instead of 10 volts Environment B4920 Cause The pull up resistor when disabled will drop the top end voltage slightly Resolution Pull up resistor on = 10 volts top scale Pull up resistor off = 8.6-8.9 volts top scale (by design) 

Issue Users are adding areas to a person which should be blocked by a security level. Environment Continuum V1.93, V1.94 Cause Object level security is allowing the personnel profile to attach areas that should be blocked. Users with limited access to the sites areas are having additional areas added when applying a profile. No problems are encountered if no object level security is applied to the areas. Resolution This issue is resolved in V1.94 SP1 release of Cyberstation.

Issue Do we support LDAP sources other than Microsoft Active Directory? Such as interfacing to Oracle Databases, OpenLDAP, Apple LDAP, etc… Environment Continuum Personnel Import Utility Cause Customer wants to use an LDAP source other than  Microsoft Active Directory. Resolution The only LDAP scenario that has been tested for was interfacing with Microsoft Active Directory, no other LDAP source has been tested or qualified at this time. Other LDAP sources may work but as these have not been qualified we have no way of knowing for sure.

Issue Can Personnel be deleted or disabled in Continuum utilizing the PIU and a third party system? Environment Continuum Personnel Import Utility LDAP Cause Not sure what can be accomplished with the PIU to manage Personnel changes. Resolution The Personnel Import Utility, with the help of a transformation file, can be used to disable Personnel records in Continuum. This can be accomplished with an interface using LDAP, CSV, or XML. One method would be to use the expiry date field to disable Personnel Access.

Issue How to use values form a modbus device in a Xenta 7xx menta program Environment TAC Xenta 731, TAC Xenta 721, TAC Xenta 711, TAC Xenta 701 TAC Xbuilder Cause Need to bring in values from a modbus device to a Menta application in the Xenta server. Resolution Create a PVR (or PVB,PVI depending of datatype of the signal you are bringing is) and make it public in the Menta application. Create a connection object in Xbuilder, connect the "from" to the modbus signal, connect the "to" to the PVR block. Now the value from the modbus device will be represented in the Menta application by the PVR block.

Issue Site is using Pelco video server that runs in the same OS as Continuum, to minimize cost they want to run Continuum in the video server machine. Environment CyberStation Various Pelco video servers Cause Cost Resolution While it is technically possible to have Continuum run in the same machine as the Video server it is not recommended. Some of the possible problems that may arise are... 1. Performance issues 2. Compatibilities issues, some files required by both Continuum and the video server may have different version requirements.

Issue Is it possible to order a Forta actuator with IP class 65? Environment Forta series actuator M400 M800 M1500 M3000 Cause Some environments are requiring a higher than normal IP rating. Resolution Unfortunately the design of the Forta actuators are only IP classed to IP54. No IP65 version is available. An additional weatherproof bag may be added to cover the actuator. However, such bags needs to be purchased from other sources as they are not part of our portfolio.

Issue Sometimes internal parts of the STR1xx wall modules are broken due to excessive force on the adjustment wheel. Environment STR1xx 004600100 STR100 004600110 STR100 004600200 STR101 004600300 STR102 004600700 STR103 004600400 STR104 004600500 STR106 STR106-B STR106-3 004600600 STR107 Cause Internal spare parts request Resolution Unfortunately, we do not have any spare parts listed for the STR10x wall modules.

Issue How do I find the max Close Off pressure for a certain valve/actuator combination? Environment Valves Actuators Cause The max defined Close Off pressure is important when choosing the correct valve/actuator combination for an installation. Resolution The max Close Off pressure is defined in charts or graphs in each valve series data sheet.

Issue TAC213 is obsolete and needs replacement Environment TAC213 0803097005 Cause Obsolete controller needs replacement Resolution TAC213 is obsolete since many years. No replacement product is available.

Issue The license log from the license server can occasionally display the following message: "ERROR: Non-activation-capable daemon activation invoked with non-client-request event type" Environment Vista and Flexnet Licensing Cause There is no known cause. Typically, it is logged once daily in the Debug.log file right after midnight. Resolution Acresso support has recognised this as a bug in FLEXnet. There is no implication that this error message impacts your license server usage or performance. This error is benign and not known to cause licensing problems.

Issue Logs in the UNC are not archiving to the Enterprise Server Environment I/A Series R2 Universal Network Controller (UNC) and Enterprise Server Cause The UNC station and the Enterprise Server station have their LogService 'archiveMode' property set to 'archive_disabled'.  Resolution Change the LogService 'archiveMode' in both the UNC station and the Enterprise Server station.  1. Set the UNC station's LogService 'archiveMode' to 'archive_remote'. The 'archiveAddress' property should have 'Supervisor' checked.  2. Set the Enterprise Server station's LogService 'archiveMode' to 'archive_local'. (The “archive_local” selection is valid only if the station is running the DatabaseService) The following have to be also correct in order for log archiving to happen: AddressBook entries should be properly setup in the Enterprise Server and UNC stations. Refer to Page 1-15 and 1-16 of the Niagara Standard Programming Reference for further information.  Supervisor checkbox in the UNC's LogService 'archiveAddress' property should be checked. In the Niagara Log Object properties, the 'archiveSetup' property should have 'nearFull' or 'daily' checked. It is recommended that both of these be checked. 

Issue When using a Windows 7 PC with regional settings set to Arabic or Saudi Arabia it is not possible to log on to ES from Workstation Environment StruxureWare Building Operation Workstation 1.3 Cause On a Windows 7 PC with .NET 4.0 installed if the regional settings are Arabic or Saudi Arabia a user cannot log on to the Enterprise Server from Workstation. This is not a problem with Webstation. Resolution This is only an issue with Windows 7 with .NET 4.0 which is the currently supported configuration (April 2013). The solution is to upgrade to .NET 4.5 or if required use Windows XP SP3 operating system. This has been tested on released version 1.3 and also 1.3.0 SP1 (build 1.3.0.10104-SP1).

Issue Can the DC1100 / DC1400 serve more than 2 boilers Environment DC1100 DC1400 Cause Can the DC1100 / DC1400 serve more than 2 boilers? Resolution The DC1100 or DC1400 is primarily designed for a 1 or 2 boiler installation. However in the case of 3 boilers. Note, 2 additional relays are required: Wire Boiler 1 to Boiler 1 terminals. Wire Boiler 2 to Boiler 2 terminals. Wire the coil of the 1st 230Vac relay to Boiler 1 terminals. Wire the coil of the 2nd 230Vac relay to Boiler 2 terminals. Either wire the relay contacts in parallel or in series, the feed for each contact will be wired from the Boiler 1 and Boiler 2 terminals respectively on the controller, the output of the relay contacts will be wired to Boiler 3. This is a workaround and does have its disadvantages: Boiler 3, when wired in parallel will always be a Lead Boiler and will do more work or when wired in series it will always be a Lag Boiler and will do the least work. In the case of 4 boilers: Wire the boilers in pairs to each boiler output on the controller. Note, the boilers will lead or lag in pairs. In the case of 5 boilers: Adapt both the solutions above.

Issue In some applications, auxiliary switches on the actuator are requested. Environment MD-S1 MD-S2 MD5 MD10 MD20 MD40 MF20 MF40 Cause Aux switches are not included and needs to be ordered separately if application requires them. Resolution MD-S1(1 switch) and MD-S2(2 switches) are suitable add-ons for all MD5/10/20/40 damper actuators.

Issue How long has an Automation Server been running since the last power cycle or reboot? Environment Automation Server SmartStruxure Device Administrator Cause The uptime of an Automation Server indicates how long the server has been operational since the last power cycle or system reboot. This is not currently visible in the StruxureWare Building Operation Workstation, but it is available through the Console interface in Building Operation Device Administrator. By monitoring the uptime of the device this can be a valuable diagnostic tool to determine if power loss occurred, crashes in Automation Server occurred, or other situations that might have resulted in a reboot and what time this occurred. Resolution In the Building Operation Device Administrator connect to an Automation Server (IP or USB) and select the "Open Console" option. Once logged into the Console issue the "uptime" command in the prompt. The uptime will be listed in Days, Hours, and Minutes as visible below: admin@AS-B-RKFDMW:~> uptime  14:18:20 up 1 day,  1:01, load average: 1.26, 1.16, 1.06   If you are using Report Server, this information is also available using SQL Server Management Studio from the Report Server PC. Enter the following query and the "Runtime" column will provide the current uptime for the specified ES or AS. SELECT Top (1) CAST(CURRENT_TIMESTAMP - DateTimeStamp AS Time) AS 'Runtime' ,DateDiff(Day, DateTimeStamp, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP) AS 'Days Up' ,DateDiff(HOUR, DateTimeStamp, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP) AS 'Hours Up' ,DateDiff(MINUTE, DateTimeStamp, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP) AS 'Minutes Up' ,DateDiff(SECOND, DateTimeStamp, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP) AS 'Seconds Up' ,[DateTimeStamp] ,[TYPE] ,[OriginatedServer] ,[OriginatedDevice] ,[SystemEventId] FROM [StruxureWareReportsDB].[dbo].[tbEvents] WHERE SystemEventId = 'Server initialized' AND OriginatedServer = '/Server 1' ORDER BY DateTimeStamp Desc   NOTE: Change the WHERE statement "OriginatedServer = '/Server 1'" so that '/Server 1' become '/yourServerName'

Issue How can a TreeTech database be moved from one computer to another? Environment TreeTech - all versions Cause New pc purchase Resolution The project backups are stored in a "Jobs" folder.  The folder location in Windows 7 is:  C:\ProgramData\Schneider Electric\TreeTech\JOBS The folder location in Windows XP is:  C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Schneider Electric\Jobs Use any compression utility to create a .zip or .rar of this folder.  Unzip the file in the destination computer in the same folder path.