Issue Using the Xenta 511, will value pages only show temperatures in Celsius? How do you get them to display in Fahrenheit? Environment XBuilder Cause Regional settings can be project wide or per point. Resolution When creating a new TAC Xenta 511 project, select to use US values. You can also select conversions to occur per object.

Issue Is it possible to have multiple Xenta 901 controllers from multiple sites in a single LNS network and access the remote sites as needed? This would leave any controllers not connected offline. Environment TAC Xenta 901 LNS Network Cause TAC Xenta 901 is an "LTA" and in TAC Vista there can only be one per LonWorks network. Resolution Create one LNS database per TAC Xenta 901. You can have up to 240 TAC Xenta 901 networks per TAC Vista Server (all can dial up the same TAC Vista Modem(s)). Add another TAC Vista Server if you need more dial up connections.

Issue What network troubleshooting tools are available for use with Lon systems. Environment Vista LON systems Cause Option in tools to monitor error tracking in packets. Resolution We recommend the LoyTec network data analyzer as a very important tool. It is available from Engenuity.com. It is a very user friendly tool that is windows based.

Issue Version control issues with Echelon LonMaker Environment LonMaker Cause When a LonMaker database is opened by a PC using a version of LonMaker that is more current that the version used to create the database, the database will be automatically updated. The previous version of LonMaker can no longer be used to open the database. Resolution Control the version of LonMaker being used by all of your personnel. Keep all PCs on a project at the same revision to avoid problems and loss of efficiency.

Issue Are there any special concerns I should have with respect to making changes in Menta applications on my installations? Environment Menta programming Vista database Cause After a Menta application is downloaded to a controller, the file is imported into the Vista database. The file also typically remains on the technicians laptop. If the technician makes a change and downloads a new load to the controller but does not update Vista problems will occur. Resolution It is good practice to let Vista be the file cabinet. When a change is required, export the application from Vista, make the changes, download to the controller and then re-import to Vista. This will keep your field environment in concert with the operator interface.

Issue How does a Menta application execute? Environment Menta Cause Menta applications use parallel computing. All updates are simultaneous. There is no order by object name or number. Location of objects on the page has nothing to do with execution. Resolution Menta applications update all objects simultaneously. On the first program cycle, the outputs of all objects are updated based on initial values within all of the blocks. On the next sweep, all inputs are updates from external values or outputs from upstream objects. All outputs are then updated from the new inputs. This process then continues.

Issue What is the significance of initial value settings for some blocks in Menta? Environment Menta PVR, PVB, PVI Cause Initial value settings are used on the first program cycle after a download or the first program cycle after power has been off for more than 72 hours. Resolution The most common error in programming a value for the "initial value" is programming a value that causes some unique aspect of the program to execute. For example, if the initial value of the mixed air temperature is programmed at 0°F and a low limit alarm value of 40°F is part of the logic, a mixed air alarm will be generated on the first program cycle and the fan may be locked in the off position. Always program "safe" initial values.

Issue It is possible to stop the execution of the application in a programmable controller. Typically, this is done accidentally. Environment Xenta programmable controllers Directly connected Menta Cause When you are connected to a controller using the RS232 cable and you are in the online mode you can stop the application by pressing and then releasing the execution button. Resolution  If the application has been stopped while directly connected through a serial cable, and the cable is then disconnected, the application will remain paused. When directly connected to view a Menta application it is best practice not to use the execution button. If an application has been stopped, you must connect directly to the controller again to start the execution.

Issue How do you keep others from using my TAC Vista IV licenses? Environment Vista IV Licensing Cause Networked PCs will look for licenses outside of their local drives. On a shared engineering drive, this can cause problems. Resolution In order to have your PC set up so that it does not share its license over a network: Go to Start > Run > Type in regedit Click OK Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Aladdin Knowledge Systems > Privilege Licenser > Applications Click on PLServe Double click on Network Change the 1 to a 0

Issue Disable TAC Vista IV license sharing over a network Environment TAC Vista IV Licensing Vista Server on an open network Cause Sharing licenses across a network can be a cost effective mechanism to enable several users to use a pool of seats. However, if yours is the only license on the network, it can accidentally be "stolen" by someone else running Vista Server on the same network and you will be unable to connect, or will have to wait a long time for your PC to find an available license elsewhere on the network. Especially in an engineering setting, it is better to disable this feature. Resolution In order to have your PC set up so that it does not share its license over a network: Go to Start > Run Type in regedit, Click OK Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Aladdin Knowledge Systems > Privilege Licenser > Server Addresses Enter the computer name in the TCP/IP Change Broadcast to NO.

Issue In Vista, alarms are not appearing in the alarm handling window. Environment Vista Workstation Alarm Queue Cause If the alarm is set up for a priority of Zero the alarms will not shown in Vista alarm window. Resolution If you are online in Vista, you can change the priority directly in Vista. The changes will be done in your MTA file when you export the file. Go back into Menta change the priority level in the alarm block Redownload the Menta file. Go into Vista Open the object selection box Double click on the alarm object Click on the button Status button Change the priority level Click OK

Issue Recommission a device in LonMaker causes the loss of Configuration Parameter setting that were changed in the browser. Environment Echelon LonMaker Cause These values exist in the device, but not in the database. Resolution When recommissioning, select use Current Values in Device instead of Default. After you have Made all the changes to the CPs in the browser that you want: Close the browser Right click on the device Go to Resynch CPs Select the Option – Upload values from the device Click OK. This will upload the Value that you just sent to the device and insert those values a CP defaults into Lon Maker’s browser. This way every time you recommission a device it will not lose any of these changes.

Issue What can be connected to a UI on an Xenta controller? Environment Xenta programmable Xenta I/O modules Universal Inputs Cause The name "universal input" implies that anything can be connected to it. In reality, it just accepts several different types of inputs (not all). Resolution Thermistor 0-10 volts Open/Close contact

Issue Can you use the thermistor inputs on a 451 for Digital Inputs? Environment Xenta 451 Cause Thermistors can only be used on B inputs and U inputs, not X inputs.  Resolution The associated software does not allow anything with an X input to report anything but an on/off based on a voltage or no voltage.

Issue In LonMaker, how do I get rid of multiple message tags within a base unit virtual function block? Environment Vista Site Cause In LonMaker, how do I get rid of multiple message tags within a base unit virtual function block? Resolution Right click on the VFB and select to delete NVs & MTs. All unconnected message tags will then be deleted.

Issue In the event of an alarm can TAC Vista Server dial out using RAS to another TAC Vista workstation? How does a local site call a remote Service Center? Using RAS? Environment TAC Vista Server IV RAS Cause In the event of an alarm, a service technician can be paged using an email service paging system and then call up the remote location using RAS or PC Anywhere. Resolution Service centers will need to use the mail receiver functionality within TAC Vista.

Issue Should we recommend Message tag bindings be performed after the commissioning of the device? Environment I/NET Site Cause Should we recommend Message tag bindings be performed after the commissioning of the device? Resolution No, this should not be necessary. It may be preferable, however, for a dialed network as the 901 device must be added to the network when connected to the network.

Issue The 901 modem is dialing multiple times (6-8) before successfully registering a change on the alarm window. Environment 901 Modem Cause Normally it only takes one dial-up attempt to establish the communication link. If it takes 6-8 times, it indicates modem or telephone line problems. Resolution In the dial-up parameters, define the number of dial up attempts before line block. 10 is the default value.

Issue Why is the 901 dialing once for each time the alarm is tripped or reset? Is there a way to request that the alarm queue be emptied with one call? Environment 901 Modem Cause This is because the dial up parameters have been configured to do this. Resolution Check the "Alarm delay" parameters where tripped/reset/ack is specified. If you don't want the TAC Xenta 901 to dial up when an alarm is reset or acked, just uncheck the options. Note that the options are per alarm priority.

Issue How do you get the system information of a Xenta Server from a web browser? Environment Xenta Server Xenta 511, 527, 701, 711, 721, 731, 913 Cause View the most up to date system information for the firmware version loaded into a Xenta Server. Resolution Getting system information using a web browser: Menu Utilities-System Information Displays all system information such as software versions etc. Use cut/paste to save information. Menu Utilities-Error-Error-System Error Log Displays system information and all error messages in the system error log. Use cut/paste to save information.