Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue A script program monitors the value of a digital input on an IO module. The input is wired to a switch that, when pushed by an operator, will toggle a digital output ON/OFF to start/stop a piece of equipment. The issue is the program will randomly fail to see the input changing when the operator releases the button too quickly. This happens even though the IOU module detected the input change as indicated by the LED on the input channel of the UI-16 module. Environment Automation Server SXW UI module Script Program Cause In SmartStruxure, Script programs are executed by a task and then go dormant until the task schedules the program to run again. If the input changes and then returns to the value it had the last time the program executed, the change will be missed. Resolution Instead of a digital input, use a counter input and modify the PE Script to toggle the output when the count increments. EXAMPLE: Numeric Input theINPUT Numeric Output theOUTPUT Numeric thePreviousInVal 1: thePreviousInVal = theINPUT goto 2 2: if theINPUT > thePreviousInVal then goto 3 3: if theOUTPUT = off then theOUTPUT = on else theOUTPUT = OFF goto 1

Issue How to reset a person's anti-passback violation. Environment CyberStation NetController ACX Cause Person tail gated in or out of an area in a site that uses anti-passback and the person is now unable to gain access. Resolution Set the person's current area to 'UnKnown' In the older personnel editor go to the Current Status tab and enter 'UnKnown' in the Current Area field. The Personnel Manager does not allow the reset but the current area of the person can be reset from the command line as follows... Root\CredentialFolder\AbeMeran = UnKnown or Root\CredentialFolder\AbeMeran = 0    (zero)

Issue I/A Series Micronet BACnet controllers (MNB) support for BACnet Schedules Environment I/A Series Micronet BACnet (MNB) controllers  Cause There is a requirement for the BACnet controllers to support BACnet schedules.  Resolution Currently, I/A Series Micronet BACnet controllers do not support BACnet schedules. 

Issue The dates shown in the ODBC database are in the incorrect format for the region set. Environment Sigma ODBC Date format Windows 2008 Server Cause The engineer reports that although the correct date structure is shown in the Sigma logging, the format in the ODBC database is incorrect. Resolution This issue was reported on a Windows 2008 Server. Although all of the obvious entries had been changed to the correct regional and language format, one had not. Locate the entry in Regional settings "Copy all settings to all new users" which should be set to the required regional and language format.

Issue WorkStation randomly crashes while navigating between the objects in the object tree. Environment WorkStation .NET Cause .NET version Resolution Upgrade .NET to 4.5.2 Link to download from Microsoft here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=42642

Issue Data samples displayed in Report Server are a day (or more) behind Inconsistent / erratic data transfer from Enterprise Server to Report Server. Environment SmartStruxure 1.4.1, 1.5.0 Report Server Cause Due to large amount of Extended logs (100+) which have been collecting data for a week or more, the amount of data that needs to be transferred can be quite large and can take some time to transfer over. Resolution Transfer time can take up to 8 to 16 hours depending on amount of trends and data that needs to be transferred.   It is best to read the Report Agent Log (located here C:\Program Files (x86)\Schneider Electric\StruxureWareReports\StruxureWare Reporting Agent\StruxureWareReportingAgentLog) and look at the comments in this file which indicate number records transferred or still to be transferred.   It should be noted that restarting the Reporting Agent or Enterprise Server services will re-initiate this delayed update.  R&D are aware of these delays and are working to improve this performance in future releases. If you feel that the data is taking longer than 24 hours to update then please contact PSS for further analysis.  

Issue   Webreport editor - Trendlog comparison dataset is not set. Environment Report editor Cause We haven't mapped any dataset to display the available trend logs in Ext.Trend Logs selection box. In the web reports application we are generating the trend logs data and displaying it. So you can not see the data through report builder. Resolution Since the dataset is not mapped we cant display the report in the editor.

Issue Users with view only access to Graphic objects cant launch graphic editor to view graphics Environment Cyberstation Cause Need to configure extra access under Miscellaneous Resolution Go to the security settings Under the Miscellaneous folder, allow the group to run the graphics editor

Issue What's the best way to clear an existing database from a DMS3500 and DMS350A? Environment DMS DMS3500, DMS350A Cause Re-installing a database and want to ensure existing database is completely gone. Resolution In the DMS3500, connect OPRIF and use Command Mode to type in the following command:  DBCLR. Once complete, log back into the DMS3500 and begin a database installation. In the DMS350A, sign-on the keypad and type the following command:  DBCLR. Go to each connected DCM and set all 8 toggle switches to the ON position.  Cycle power to the DCM.  After 10 seconds, re-address the DCM and cycle power. Once complete, use OPRIF to begin a database installation. The DBCLR command and setting the toggle switches to ON are considered a 'hardware' clear of the database.

Issue A site has a UNC-520 with ibsMs Service and approximately 20 MicroSmart controllers.  A serial tunnel is successfully established to the UNC.  From the Operator Interface main page, MicroSmart is accessed.  After a few seconds, an error appears indicating that there are no controllers under the currently selected DCM. A DCM is a board that works with a DMS350A.  However, the site has no DMS installed, just a UNC and MicroSmart controllers. Environment Niagara R2 DMS MicroSmart controllers Cause Polling is not enabled in the UNC's MicroSmart Service.  Resolution Re-enable polling and reboot the UNC. 

Issue Site has InVue with embedded TreeTech version 1.1.  Now that a newer version of TreeTech is available (version 3.2), can version 1.1 be upgraded? Environment InVue Wonderware for Intelligent Buildings (WIB) TreeTech Cause Product upgrade question Resolution TreeTech version 3.2 is not compatible with InVue.  TreeTech version 1.1 is the only compatible version with InVue. TreeTech version 3.2 is designed to run 'stand-alone'.  It is not designed to run with any other software package. It is used to backup GCM databases.

Issue A cold start happens instead of a warm start when acc user has greater than 10 characters Environment Continuum Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause greater than 10 characters for acc user causes an issue where the controller will cold start instead of warm start Resolution Reduce the number of characters to be less than 10 A future release will correct this issue

Issue Can MOVs (metal oxide varistors) be installed on the main AC power connector of a MNL controller? Site has dirty power issues. Environment MNL controllers Cause Site has dirty power issues which are causing damage to the MNL controllers Resolution Although it's not a supported configuration, the MOVs are electronically capable of being installed on the MNL controller's main AC power connector.

Issue preventDefault() Javascript function not working on Mouse Up Environment TGML Editor Cause Users want to override the default function showing the StruxureWare Building Operation properties editor by preventing the default action for the Up function. The Building Operation Properties editor is not launched on Mouse Up but on Mouse Click. Resolution Select The TGML Script Add the line "evt.preventDefault();" to the onClick function

Issue On a jobsite, an energy meter was converted from a pulse output to a voltage output.  Can the analog input be totalized in the associated MNL controller like the pulse input was previously? Environment MNL Cause Changes on-site Resolution Analog values cannot be totalized in the MNL controller.  The next best option is to send the real-time analog value to the area controller (i.e. Niagara UNC or ENC) via a nvo and use the features available at that level for totalization.

Issue Unable to Edit I/NET Trends, Schedules or DDC from StruxureWare Building Operation Workstation on certain computers. Environment StruxureWare Building Operation Workstation Cause I/NET functions are launched from StruxureWare Building Operation Workstation using both graphics and Right Click menu items. These functions are not part of Building Operation Workstation, but are simply portions of the I/NET workstation application being launched from Building Operation. Resolution I/NET workstation should be considered an Engineering Tool for I/NET controllers. Any User that needs to make programming changes must have I/NET installed.

Issue In order to meet the requirements of a graphic display, the command and status of a fan are to be plotted individually.  A MicroSmart SS point integrates both command and status into one point.  When it's mapped to an ENC, the command "element" is not available.  How can they be separated and represented individually on a graphic? Environment MicroSmart Niagara G3 Cause The 'command' element is CTCMD but the Niagara G3 MicroSmart driver does not map it at the station level.  So, it's not available. Resolution Since CTCMD is not available, the best option is to modify the programming in the MicroSmart controller.  Remove the status feedback from the start/stop point and put it into its own point.  In this case, create a ST point.  Now, the STATS element for the start/stop point can be used to represent the fan command and the STATS element for the ST point can used to represent the fan status.  In Niagara G3, they exist as separate points and can, therefore, be mapped individually on a graphic.

Issue Is there a modulating output available in the SC3000 relay pack?  Environment SC3000 Cause In some applications, a modulating output is requested. Resolution Unfortunately, no such output is currently available in the existing version of the SC3000.

Issue I/A Series G3 mail service error: 'java.net.UnknownHostException: smtp.mail.yahoo.com - Authoritative Answer Host not found.  This error Indicates that the mail service in the I/A Series G3 platform is unable to establish communications to the SMTP mail server. Environment I/A Series G3 - all platforms Cause This error is typically related to the DNS settings where the URL cannot be resolved to an IP address. Resolution Verify and correct the DNS settings for the I/A Series G3 platform.

Issue What is the USB port used for in the STD300? Environment STD300 Cause Internal hardware upgrade that does not affect the functionality.  Resolution The USB port is in place for internal/factory use only, and should not be used in the field.