Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue After upgrading a TAC Vista system on a site with high IT security you can end up with a wrong schema version in the SQL database causing issues such as failure to insert trend log data. Environment TAC Vista SQL Cause In some versions of TAC Vista, the SQL database upgrade carried out during the installation of TAC Vista doesn't upgrade the SQL database to the newest version. The first time you start TAC Vista Server, the server (TACOS) carries out the remaining upgrade steps. On a site with very high security standards, TAC Vista Server is however not able to apply the last SQL database upgrade scripts as those can only be carried out by the IT department directly on the SQL server, and as a result the SQL database is not fully upgraded. Resolution   1.      Note exactly what schema version the SQL database currently has This can be checked through SQL management studio with this query USE taclogdata; SELECT dbo.DSS_SchemaVersion() AS Db_SchemaVersion 2.      Note exactly what version of TAC Vista you have upgraded to 3.      Contact PSS to get a SQL upgrade script specific for the site and run that on the SQL database

Issue How to change the Standby image on a SE8000 controller to something other than standard factory image Product Line EcoStruxure Building Expert, Field Devices Environment SE8xxx range Cause The standard standby image for the SE8300 does not meet the customer requirements Resolution See the link below to the Exchange for the software and instructions on how to perform this process. Reference page 4 of the Uploader Tool - SE8000 Series Room Controllers.

Issue Reportserver does not delete the trend data when an extended trendlog is deleted in StruxureWare Building Operation. Environment StruxureWare Building Operation Webreport SQL Cause When an extended trendlog is deleted in StruxureWare Building Operation, its corresponding data in webreport server are not deleted. This means that when you want to look at a trend in the reportserver you will still see the deleted trendlog. No new data are collected but the previously collected data will be there. Resolution This is by design. The historical data are not deleted from SQL; however,  a side effect of this is that the webreport interface will still show the extended trendlog after it has been deleted in Workstation.

Issue Does the LCM driver support tunneling? Product Line TAC IA Series Environment R2 UNC with LCM driver Cause Tunneling is needed to make programming changes to the LCM's. Resolution It is possible to tunnel through the UNC to the LCM's, but it requires an RS-232 connection from the UNC to one of the LCM's.  See the LCM Integration Guide F-27422-2 for details.

Issue Need to use a controller that has no BACnet functionality due to network security limitations on site. Environment Continuum bCX1-CR-INF (bCX9640) Cause A customer has a site with restrictive network security requirements and BACnet devices (or any other open protocol) are not allowed. Resolution The bCX9640 is an Infinet protocol controller only. This version of the bCX firmware does not have the BACnet stack installed, and there are no BACnet points able to be created in this controller. You will be fine to use this controller where BACnet support is not required or allowed.

Issue One of the following errors is thrown by the Hasp Key Utility when attempting to update the Continuum License key using the V2C file received from Schneider Electric. Invalid Parameter Update failed: KeyIdNotFound Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum 2.0 Hasp Key Utility License Cause The V2C file that was emailed to the customer is corrupted. When Web based email is used to receive the v2c file from Schneider there have been cases where the file is not received in its original form.  When this happens the file size of the attachment appears to be correct.  When the c2v file is save to a folder on the workstation PC however, the file size reported is 0kb.  Resolution The solution to this is to use a non-web-based email application like Outlook or Outlook Express. 

Issue Troubleshooting 4417 DEVICE_ERR_NOADDR_I2C errors seen in Controller's Error Log. Environment Continuum Controllers Cause 0x00004417 0x00002100 0x021046e2 0x00080002 0x000000200x00004417 0x00002100 0x021046e2 0x00080002 0x00000020 "DEVICE_ERR_NOADDR_I2C" errors are related to the internal bus to the peripherals and RealTimeClock.   DEVICE_ERR_NOADDR_I2C       (no address response)      “DEVICE_ERR_NOADDR_I2C” errors are not I2 errors they are I2C errors. These errors are related to the internal bus to the peripherals (like an onboard RealTimeClock or the expansion bus (modules)).   There may have been an expansion module installed that has been removed while a PE program is still accessing an I/O on the module. Resolution Possible causes can be:   1. A defect with the onboard RealTimeClock. Check for 4417 errors followed by TimeSync errors and/or indications that the time clock is not stable similar to the following error lines.   01/01/1989 00:00:00.00 0x00004417 DEVICE_ERR_NOADDR_I2C (no address response) 01/01/1989 00:00:00.00 0x00010000 Clock change   2. An issue with the expansion bus modules. There may have been an expansion module installed that has been removed while a PE program is still accessing an I/O on the module.

Issue HID Biometric reader product obsolescence. Environment HID Desfire and Mifare Smart card and Fingerprint readers. As used on Continuum and I/Net Access Control. Cause HID have discontinued these readers. Resolution HID have discontinued production of their SmartTOUCH SB10 and SBK10 Desfire and Mifare fingerprint readers. Part numbers affected are: HID Ref: 800-8052, SE P/N 654 1903 000 - SB10 Desfire Fingerprint reader. HID Ref: 800-8057, SE P/N 654 1904 000 - SBK10 Desfire Fingerprint reader with keypad. HID Ref: 800-8050, SE P/N 654 1901 000 - SB10 Mifare Fingerprint reader. HID Ref: 800-8055, SE P/N 654 1902 000 - SBK10 Mifare Fingerprint reader with keypad.

Issue I have an Andover system that I need help with... Can you assist me with my Andover Continuum systems? I have an Andover alarm panel that got wiped out; what is the default IP address? Environment Andover Continuum Cause Phone number and email are not available online. Resolution To contact Schneider Electric for Andover Continuum system support, please visit the Contact Product Support page.

Issue Do not get any values in webstation Bindings in TGML do not work Environment Vista Cyrillic Cause If bindings in TGML contain Cyrillic characters and the operating system installed is set to a language that can not handle Cyrillic (i.e English), the bindings will not show their values. Resolution Set the region and language settings all to the desired language, i.e Russian or Polish. Be sure Webstation is set to handle the language by installing the correct language pack. Edit the TGML and make a small change so you can save again, this time the Cyrillic letters will be understood by Tacos.

Issue Unable to Import/Export objects from/to a Multi Purpose Manager (MPM) Environment SmartStruxure Lite Multi-Purpose Manager Cause The “save to file” button cannot be activated after clicking on “prepare data”.     Resolution The browser being used needs to have Adobe Flash Player plug-in installed. Check if flash player is installed on your computer using the link below. The latest version of Flash Player can also be downloaded from the same page. http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player.html

Issue How can the size of a program (Lua Script) be seen? Product Line EcoStruxure Building Expert Environment Site with MPM Cause What size is the program? Resolution The size of the script is the size of the exported as a txt file. For a graphical script, convert the graphical script to text format (ignore warning but do not save script otherwise you will lose the ability to edit your graphical script) then save it as txt file. Lua Program Information The CFG1 object of any given Manager can provide detailed information on the average execution time of all the Lua processes in the system (in milliseconds), along with their memory usage and available memory (in bytes). The "Max Size" will never change, since 16MB are always reserved for the Lua tasks. But the "Size Used" is a good indicator of how much memory is currently being used by the Lua tasks. Note that approximately 8MB are used by default. So anything above 8MB will represent the custom Lua programs current memory usage. The "Avg. Execution Time" is the most interesting value. It represents how many milliseconds it took for all Lua programs to complete. When the system is empty (no scripts, no trend logs, nothing) the value should be below 100ms. An average load would be around 500ms and an overloaded system will take above a second (1000ms) to complete all of its tasks.

Issue Error: Failed to replace dbexporter when installing ES 1.5. The error appears when files are being copied to machine. Environment ES Cause Other instance of ES running. Resolution Go in Control Panel\Administrative Tools\Services and make sure there is no Enterprise Server service running.

Issue How update monitors work and how to make an alarm on one Environment StruxureWare Building Operation Cause Check if a LON variable is offline/online Resolution When you have a function block program with a nvo you can right click on it and choose "new - mirrored network variable" When this is done a NVI is created at the local node. You can only create an update monitor for nvi's and this is how you do it. Right click on the created nvi and choose "new - update monitor" Double left click on the nvi to see its attributes, it now has a update monitor. Right click on the variable for the nvi and choose " new - alarm " Choose "variable status alarm" Choose the criteria for the alarm and then create, make sure the  "Trigger when variable is offline" is checked You will now get an alarm when the variable gets offline

Issue Upgrading Reports Server to 1.5 and receiving notification that SQL2008 R2 SP2 is not installed Environment Reports Server Cause Web Reports 1.5 requires that the express version of SQL2008R2 be at SP2, prior to 1.5, the site could use SQL 2008 R2 SP1 or RTM. Resolution Download the update for SQL which installs 2008 R2 SP2 at this link: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30437 Use the File ending in -x64-ENU Run the executable file after it downloads Install StruxureWare WebReports 1.5 using the Upgrade Database option

Issue When opening a G3 graphic page the data points are shown but the graphic itself does not always display. Environment G3, niagara, WorkBench Cause The exact cause has not been determined. Resolution Installing 3.7.106 with the patches or installing 3.7.106.5 corrects this issue.

Issue The SNVT bindings break after replacing a VT6700 Viconic thermostat with a VT7600r, VR76_PIR, SE7600, etc. Environment LonMaker NL220 Schneider Electric SE76XX stats Cause The older VT7600 Viconic thermostat includes the nvoOAT SNVT. On the newer models of the Viconic stats the nvoOAT variable is no longer available. The removal of the nvoOAT variable causes the SNVT table to become unaligned and breaks the existing bindings that had been created. Resolution When replacing a VT7600 thermostat with any new Viconics model the existing SNVT bindings will be broken. It is important to make note of all bindings made to the stat before performing a replace with a newer stat.

Issue The Occ Output on the SC3514E5045 will not fire a 7 volt relay. Environment SC3514E5045 Cause The documentation for the SC3514E5045 is incorrect. Resolution Wire the negative of the relay coil to the Occ output and the positive side to +7vdc.   

Issue Does the MPM have an internal power source to maintain the clock during an extended loss of power? Environment MPM Cause Clock maintenance during a loss of power Resolution The MPM has a Lithium battery that will keep the system clock online/accurate during a power loss. The battery life is very high, however leaving the MPM unplugged for many months will eventually wear out the battery. 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 A method of offline database engineering is needed for SmartStruxure.  Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment StruxureWare Building Operation Project Configuration Server (PCS) Cause System integrator wants to engineering expansions and new automation to the site offline. What is the procedure if the client already has the ES and AS devices onsite, but wants to engineer offsite? If not can we only add one AS per project then restore / deploy just the AS and how is point referencing managed on bindings to the original site server? Resolution Beginning with the release 1.5 version of Project Configuration Server(PCS) is a 'deploy once' version, meaning that it allows you to make the first configuration offline. It is a full deployment meaning it may only be the ES or AS or the ES with AS connected. There are no partial deployments with bindings intact with existing servers. For deployment to include bindings between the ES and AS or other devices, they must be added to the initial deployment, which will overwrite existing configuration. Note: the 64 AS limit is a performance issue. 64 fully loaded AS in a project takes a long time to open. Once a server in the PCS project is deployed on site, you cannot deploy it again without manually erasing the database in the online server using the Device Administrator or uninstall and re-install the Enterprise server. Consider the following scenario where an office wishes to use the PCS on a project with staged installation and an ES with 15 AS: Create the ES and all 15 AS in my project. You may not have the project’s communication information because none of the final IP addresses are available. So put them in with 192.168.1.x Configure all of what is needed in 5 of the AS (AS1 – AS5). Configure all of the IO and other objects in another 5 AS (AS6 – AS10) Do nothing with the last 5 AS (AS11-AS15). Create some read references in some of my programs in AS1-AS5 that are referencing objects from AS6 – AS15. Create extended trends and alarms categories at the ES. Create alarms in AS1 - AS5 that use the alarm categories. Go to the site and deploy AS 1 to AS5 (after modifying the communication parameters for those 5 so that you can bring them on line.) The alarm categories will be deployed to the AS in spite of the fact that the PCS would have had them configured as lead and shadows from the ES, which was not deployed. However, there would likely be an offline alarm generated because there was no ES and there might also be a lead/shadow alarm. The alarms will be correctly configured, however, and operational. The references to the objects from AS6 – AS15 will appear as unresolved in the AS1-AS5 reference managers. Go back to the office and finish everything needed in AS6 – AS10 Create graphics at the ES referencing objects from all 15 AS. Create trend charts showing log data from all AS. Create users, domains, workspaces, etc. Go back to the site and adjust the communication parameters for all the remaining 10 AS and for the ES Deploy AS6 - AS10 and the ES. Initially, the AS1-AS5 have empty/wrong communication settings to the ES. It requires a manual “Repair Com-settings” from the user logged on to ES (at the site). When the Com-settings are ok, then the bindings from AS1- AS5 to AS6-AS10 will be resolved after a few minutes. When the Communication settings in AS1-AS5 for the ES are correct, the synchronization for lead/shadow relationships starts updating the alarm categories that we discussed in step 8a. The graphics in the ES will have resolved bindings for objects from AS1 – AS10, but unresolved bindings from AS11-AS15. In fact, they will be resolved to AS1-AS5 even if you haven't corrected the Com-settings in AS1-AS5. The ES knows all the AS. Go back to the office and finish up my work on AS11-AS15. Part of this process is the creation of programs that reference objects in AS1 – AS10. Go to the site and deploy AS11 – AS15. All of the read references to objects from AS1 – AS10 will automatically fix up once the Com-settings for the ES in AS11-AS15 are correct. It might, however,  take a few minutes. All of the references in the ES graphics for AS will be operational.   Further information can be found on Building Operation WebHelp.