Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Migration of DMS-3500 to SmartStruxure Solution Environment DMS-3500 SmartStruxure Cause Not all products have been selected for migration to the SmartStruxure platform. Resolution None of the DMS-3500 databases or controller databases can be converted directly to SmartStruxure.  This is an unsupported migration without the use of a Niagara device to act as a gateway.

Issue How can the time in a Niagara G3 ENC or Jace be changed from a web browser? Environment Niagara G3 Cause Workbench not available Resolution It will require a change to the ENC/Jace license for Embedded Workbench. Then use Platform Services to edit the date/time. Drag Platform Services to a PX page, select Workbench View > System and Time Editor.

Issue StruxureWare Building Operation Satchwell MicroNet Integration - Supported MicroNet devices Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, Satchwell MicroNet Environment StruxureWare Building Operation 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6 Satchwell MicroNet devices Cause Not all variants of older Satchwell MicroNet devices that use the SNP protocol and IAC are supported by StruxureWare Building Operation.  Resolution Refer to MicroNet Devices on StruxureWare Building Operation Web Help (log on required) for a list of supported devices.  In Building Operation, MicroNet device is the family name for the following devices: Standard MicroNet devices: MN300, MN440, MN500, MN620, MN LCD, MN Touch Screen, and MicroNet Manager Interface MN 50 Series: MN350, MN450, MN550, MN650, MN LCD, MN Touch Screen, and MicroNet Manager Interface SNP and Intelligent Advanced Controller devices: MMC3601, MMC4601, IAC400, IAC420, IAC600, IAC Touch Screen, and Modem Interface Unit Unifact: URC2201, URC1201 Unifact Pro: URC-40N-100, URC-41N-10x, URC-50N-100, and URC-51N-10x All these devices are supported in Building Operation.

Issue Dashboard may freeze when adjusting a text field smaller than the content on a monitoring tab  Environment Windows 7 Cause Earlier versions of firmware in the MPM may have this condition Resolution Upgrade from version 2.8 to version 2.10 in the MPM

Issue IC-Lon objects show default values. Environment IC-Lon Defaults Default values Sleep Cause The IC-Lon controller works normally for a varying period of time, before default values are displayed. Resolution The IC-Lon has a number of limitations, and one of these is the number of output SNVT's used, and the frequency of the heartbeats used. When configuring the gateway.txt file for the IC-Lon ensure that all NVO's have their heartbeat settings set to an acceptable maximum value, and that the settings used vary. By default the NVO 's heartbeat value is set to 300 seconds, these should be changed to the acceptable maximum

Issue When using a Modbus RTU block reads with a special function code incorrect data can be seen. Environment Modbus RTU X Driver All controller types that support X Drivers Cause The Modbus RTU X Driver does not support the use of block reads (annex points) for the special function codes. Resolution The Modbus RTU XDriver supports special function codes to convert various (Non Modbus standard) data formats for use in Continuum points. As detailed in the Modbus RTU X Driver manual (Param6) function codes, Parameter 6 should not be entered for Function codes 241 to 254. A separate X Driver point is required for each value to be read when using a special function code.

Issue CNT block in the Function Block Editor is replaced by the PI block. How to set up a pulse counter input in a function block program Environment StruxureWare Building Operation Workstation Function block editor Cause Differences between the regular Menta and the Builder Function Block editor programming Resolution The CNT block is replaced by the PI (Pulse input) block in the function block editor. In Workstation, connect the PI to a input where the sensor type is set to counter.

Issue The schedule works well for a long time, when save the schedule after edited, the error pops up ,"An attempt to write property has failed because not enough dynamic memory  space exists in the addressed BACnet Device" Environment Continuum BCX1 b3 devices Cause "Clear past events" is not checked in the schedule objects, the past events are kept in the controller and occupy a lot of dynamic space. Resolution Delete the schedule and  create an new one with the same configuration as  the original one Check "Clear past event " in the schedule objects to avoid the same issue happening again

Issue Can the setpoints on a SE7600 Room Controller be locked out on the keypad so no one can modify it? Environment SE7600 or VT7600 room controllers Cause Design feature Resolution There are three keypad lockout levels: 0 = Full access to both occupied and unoccupied setpoints 1 = Temporary override capability for both occupied and unoccupied setpoints 2 = No access to both occupied and unoccupied setpoints Review the engineering guide specifications at www.viconics.com.

Issue Does the MNL controller line have any built-in surge protection for main AC power? Environment MNL controllers Cause Design specification Resolution No main AC power surge protection is part of the MNL controllers' design.  It will have to be externally applied.

Issue What is the maximum load on MPM-UN analogue Output? Environment MPM-UN SmartStruxure™ Lite Multi-Purpose Manager Cause Avoid overload on output ports Resolution The analog output ports has a maximum nominal load of 50mA each.

Issue DDE won't work when running Vista as a service Environment Windows 2008 Server or Windows 7 Vista server communication with a device or application via DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) Cause Applications and services no longer run under the same session in Windows 2008 server or Windows 7. Resolution Run Vista as an application.

Issue Internal time schedules in the SE8300 and other 8000 series room controllers. Environment Schneider Electric SE8xxx Cause As of the time this article is being written these devices are intended to be controlled by a network management controller or using contact closure on the device. However, some sales documentation states that these devices have "7 day occupancy scheduling (2-4 events)". This documentation was released prematurely and, although future models will have this capability, as of March of 2014 the current models do not. Resolution Currently occupancy of the SE8xxx devices can be controlled by a network variable over the Lon, BACnet or ZigBee network. Alternatively, occupancy can be controlled by configuring the device for contact closure control of occupancy. Future model series SE8xxx devices will support scheduling. Note, however, that it will not be possible to upgrade older devices to support scheduling since the hardware will also be changed.

Issue What are the cable specifications for wiring controller inputs to field devices. Environment Inputs Cable Sensors End devices Cause There is no specification for IO field wiring.   Resolution The line drop produced by cable resistance should be taken into account when choosing the wire gage for Input devices. It is good practice to run a shielded cable for analog inputs simply because it give you a way to drain off any externally induced voltage.

Issue Need to reference the outside temperature and humidity under another BCX1, but the value does not change as the referenced point changes. The program is running. The program code is as below: Line 1 Temp_Outside= NetworkA\BCX1_2\Temp_outside line E state=enabled goto 1 The result is : The value of Temp_outside does not change to equal the value of NetworkA\BCX1_2\Temp_outside Environment Continuum BCX1 B3 Cause A difference between the two BCX1s. The object type of the two points is not compatible. Resolution Correct the submask setting to make sure they have the same submask exactly Correct the object type to make sure they are compatible with each other

Issue Each time that a power failure happens on a sites MPM, the clock goes back to 1/1/2000. Environment StruxureWare Lite MPM Cause This is most likely due to the battery shelf life, this happens if the controller was purchased and left unused for over 5 months before being installed. Resolution ∙ BR1220 from Panasonic (Lithium Carbon-Monofluoride) ∙ nominal voltage 3V ∙ Capacity 35mAh ∙ Self-discharge 1%/year, under standard conditions ∙ Operating temperature range -30°C to 85°C Units manufactured after week 13 2016 have a super capacitor rather than a battery. The capacitor has a charge time of approximately 5 minutes after which it will provide backup for the RTC for approx. 48 hours

Issue Values on graphic pages constantly showing 'down' momentarily The following message can be seen in the standard output. "duplicate server session kills" Environment I/A Series R2 Enterprise Server Cause There is another copy of the same Enterprise Server station running on the network. In this particular case, there is a another computer on the network that has been licensed as an Enterprise Server and it has a copy of the Enterprise Server station. This computer is meant as a standby computer and the Enterprise Server station should not be running.  Resolution In this particular case, there is a another computer on the network that has been licensed as an Enterprise Server and it has a copy of the Enterprise Server station. This computer is meant as a standby computer and the Enterprise Server station should not be running.  Stop the Enterprise Server station that is running on the standby computer. From the Admin Tool, connect to the localhost and right click on the Enterprise Server station. Make sure auto run is uncheck. 

Issue When exporting a c2g file, the "Save As" window does not appear Environment SmartStruxure Lite Cause When exporting a C2g file, the "Save As" window does not appear  Resolution For Firefox ensure the ESR (Extended Support Release) version is installed. Update / Install the latest release of Adobe Flash Player

Issue Niagara G3 station fails to send out emails and discards to the email with this error message: "BOutgoingAccount could not dequeue in-memory email: null" Environment Niagara G3 (AX) ENC and ENS stations (all versions) Cause After watching the output with debug turned on, the station connects to the email server and authenticates. When it tires to send out an email there is a null pointer exception and it discards the email. There is a trailing semicolon in the To Field of the EmailRecipient under Alarm Service. The email handler is looking for another email address after the last semicolon and sees a null when trying to add the last non-existent email address.   Resolution Remove the trailing semicolon.  

Issue Some security software will report that there are vulnerabilities for SSL of Xenta Server. Some vulnerabilities look like: SSL Server allow anonymous authentication vulnerability SSL Server allow Cleartext communication vulnerability  Weak encryption model Environment Vista I/NET Cause This is how Xenta Server designed to work. Resolution There is a security enhancement for Xenta Server in Xenta 5.1.9. Update the firmware to Xenta 5.1.9 will fix these vulnerabilities. You can download Xenta 5.1.9 from Buildings Download Center.