Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue There used to be an Inovonics wireless sensor solution available in our product catalog but this is no longer available. Is there another solution available? Environment All Controllers Inovonics Cause Inovonics devices are no longer distributed, and are only available through third party sales channels. Resolution Unfortunately, we no longer provide these sensors through our distribution channels.  Inovonics and other third party wireless devices are available through external distribution channels only.

Issue Some of the older access controllers do not support 2 card credentials for the personnel objects, which are these? Environment Cyberstation V1.90 and above Access Controllers : ACX700, 780 CX9900, CX9940 CX9702 ACX5740, 5720 Netcontroller II CX9680 Cause Older controllers do not have the facility to support 2 credentials Resolution You require a minimum of Cyberstation V1.90 to support 2 Credentials in a personnel object, this is known as Transitional Card Support. The ONLY controllers that support dual cards are the ACX5740, ACX5720 and Netcontroller II (CX9680).

Issue When creating the Continuum database Database Initialization displays a Windows Logon error. Environment CyberStation 1.9x WebClient Database Initialization Cause Continuum single user can no longer be installed if the local administrator password is left blank. Resolution Configure a password for the workstations local administrator user account.

Issue Can a door switch input be configured to operate without the input resistor? Can supervised inputs be configured to work without an input resistor? Environment NetController ACX5720 ACX5740 AC_1 AC_1 Plus Cause When designing or troubleshooting a security access job, it is important to know if the hardware requirements are absolutely mandatory. Resolution Within the Continuum door object class, the input type is not selectable - it is a supervised input. As supervisory inputs they require an input resistor to be installed.

Issue Can B_Link Fiber devices be used on the IP network? Environment Network Topology Windows XP B-link Repeater BCX 4040 B4920 BACnet Repeater RS-485 Cause Configuration of Fiber Network Resolution No. The B-Link Repeater is used on the RS-485 Network not IP.

Issue Continuum will not start.  "Continuum is running please wait and try again" Environment Continuum 1.92. Windows 2008 Server. Cause Domain Policies are in place. They are restricting active X and registry changes. Resolution Remove the Computer from the domain. Install Continuum Rejoin the Domain.

Issue Not receiving SNMP point value in the Trap Message. Environment Windows XP BCX 4040 Hp Pro Tools Cause Current BACnet MIB's not installed Resolution Download and install the latest MiBs Version 2.0

Issue Alarming on specific card swipes Environment CyberStation CX9702 CX9900 CX9680 ACX5720 ACX5740 ACX700 ACX781 Cause Need for alert alarm when a given credential holder(s) is attempting access at a door Resolution Write a PE program in the controller that monitors the door for access attempts and check whether the last card presented at the door is in a list of cards that been designated for alarming. In the sample program below CardAlertList is an InfinityNumeric array containing the list of card numbers to alarm on. An Alarm Enrollment configured to alarm when Value > 0 is attached to CardAlertList It is assumed that all cards have the same site code, if multiple site codes are used then the program needs to be modified to take site code in consideration. SAMPLE PROGRAM: 'This program triggers an alarm when any card which number is contained 'in the CardAlertList array is presented at the door. 'Program flowtype is fall thru 'Triggered by the Second system variable Numeric n CardAlertList = 0 'If a card has been presented at the door If Door1 InvalidEntryTime > Dr1LastInvalTime or Door1 TimeEntered > Dr1LastValidTime then 'Check to see if the card is in the list   For n = 1 to CardAlertList Size  'if the card number is in the list send alarm     If CardAlertList[n] = Door1 EntryLastCard then CardAlertList = Door1 EntryLastCard   Next n Endif 'store last card transaction time for comparison next time program runs Dr1LastInvalTime = Door1 InvalidEntryTime Dr1LastValidTime = Door1 TimeEntered Stop E:

Issue Unable to connect to webClient using Mac and Safari as the browser. Environment webClient (all versions) Mac OSX Safari Cause Using an unsupported browser and operating system configuration. Resolution The only browser supported is Internet Explorer (IE), see the Compatibility matrix for details of supported hardware and software for webClient.

Issue Continuum 1.9x and above will not install correctly on a PC / Laptop that is on a domain, One example: When trying to run the Continuum Database Initialization program the following error message may pop up: You must have local NT administrative privileges to run this application. Environment Windows OS 7 8 10 Continuum 1.9x 2.x Inet SQL 2005 SQL 2008 SQL 2012 Cause Microsoft has introduced the use of a higher level of security in the install of their SQL database software SQL 2005 / SQL 2008 / SQL 2012. When you install Continuum you need to make sure you are logged onto the PC / Laptop as a local administrator, in the case of a lot of a corporate networks, you are most likely logged on as ether a restricted user or a domain administrator, these logons do not have the privileges you need to install an SQL database. Resolution Step by step guide to creating a local administrator user on your PC / Laptop Go to "Start" then "Control Panel" in Windows (Windows 7 and above, top right corner change "view by" to "small icons" this will show all icons) Go to "Administrative Tools" Go to "Computer Management" / "Local Users and Groups" In users, right click on the right panel and add new user Fill in the user name and password, un-tick user must change password Tick password never expires then ok it Now go back into control panel and click on "User Accounts" Click on the name you just created, this will open the properties screen (Windows 7 and above click on "Manage user accounts") Click on "Group Membership" then select others, and highlight administrators (Windows 7 and above double click on name you created, click "group membership" click "other" then in the drop down select "Administrator") Apply this and then ok it. Log off your normal account and log back on as the new user you have just created

Issue Communication status between Continuum BACnet device can be verified by checking controller's CommStatus attribute in InfinityView(Infinity View / Infinity Path).    But how can I check the communication status of other 3rd party BACnet devices? Environment BCX4040 BACnet controllers B3xxx BACnet controllers. Continuum Workstations. Cause Having unstable BACnet  IP or MSTP connections and want to check the communication status of the target devices before read/write data from/to the them. Resolution Create a PE program in the our BCX (or B3) controller as below: '= = = = = = = = Line Checking    If BACnetDevices\BNet_2765\MyB3VAV System_Status = Operational then Goto Wait15Secs Line Wait15Secs    If TS > 15 then Goto Checking Line E    ' Do something to set off the alarm from the b3 controller.    Goto Wait15Secs '= = = = = = = =

Issue When setting up a Video Server the option for Pelco Type 2 (Endura) can not be selected. Environment Continuum V1.91 and above. See the Video Compatibility matrix for supported Pelco Endura products on the various Continuum versions, link: Video Matrix link Cause Continuum requires the security key to be enabled for Endura video to allow this option to be available. Resolution The Endura option cannot be purchased from the Factory.  In order to obtain the Endura option you must contact our Upgrades department. The upgrade part number is: UPG-ADD-ENDURA You can reach Upgrades by email at upgrades.continuum@schneider-electric.com Note: for testing purposes a Single User may be run in Demo mode for a few hours which will allow the Endura option to be selected.

Issue Re-executing user defined alarm PE functions that have failed to execute and have been pushed into a call stack (buffer) Environment CyberStation Cause System busy or out of resources on alarm delivery. i.e All video controls busy when a video alarm comes in. Resolution User defined alarm PE functions that have failed to execute and have been pushed into the buffer will not execute automatically, you need to invoke the PEPopAlarm function in order to re-execute the functions. You can invoke the PEPopAlarm from the command line, PE program or from a Graphic that uses a PE script control. You may need to increase the size of the buffer (PEMaxBufferedAlarms registry entry) if your alarm functions frequently end up in the buffer as a full buffer will cause alarms to be dropped.

Issue Cannot Open Graphics Error. "The operation was not performed" Environment Continuum 1.90 Windows XP Cause Continuum 1.90 Sp1 not installed. Resolution Install Continuum 1.90 Sp1 Install all hotfixes Save the old DLL files to another folder, then delete them in the Continuum folders after the system is updated

Issue What does the Infinity System Variable named Rdr1Connected through Rdr8Connected detect   Environment CX9702   - Rdr1Connected through Rdr2Connected ACX5720 - Rdr1Connected through Rdr4Connected ACX5740 - Rdr1Connected through Rdr8Connected ACX57x0   Cause Information on Infinity System Variable named Rdr1Connected through Rdr8Connected Resolution The  Infinity System Variables named Rdr1Connected, Rdr2Connected, Rdr3Connected, Rdr4Connected, Rdr5Connected, Rdr6Connected, Rdr7Connected and Rdr8Connected are only found on controllers CX9702 and ACX57xx. The value (true or false) can be used to indicate which card reader channels have card readers connected to them. 1. The Controller checks the connection of card readers by physically checking the voltage applied to the reader. This can make the LED appear to flickering with high frequency, although this is normally not visible. 2. LED1 is monitored, if the LED1 connected correctly then RdrXConnected value is true, otherwise it is false.

Issue How to reverse and/or complement the bits as read from a Wiegand access card in a custom card configuration Environment CyberStation CX9702 CX9900 CX9680 ACX5720 ACX5740 ACX701 ACX781 Cause Some Wiegand cards are encoded with the bits in one or more fields reversed and/or complemented. It is then necessary to operate on the fields when decoding the data in order to obtain the correct data. Resolution In the AccessFormat array a control field is provided to configure the system so that the bits in a field in the access card data can be reversed and/or complemented. The control mask is located at AccessFormat[2] Control Mask The bits of the control mask will be used by the parsing routine to reverse or complement selected fields. Setting the appropriate bit to a 1 will enable the special action:       Field Issue Code Card Number Site Code Manufacturers Code Feature Reverse Complement Reverse Complement Reverse Complement Reverse Complement Bit # 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Bit Value:           128                64                  32               16                   8                      4                    2                  1   Examples: To reverse the bits in the site code field set AccessFormat[2] = 8 To reverse the bits in both the card number and site code fields set AccessFormat[2] = 40   Reversing the bits makes the first bit in the field become the last. Complementing the bits flips the bit's value, 1 becomes 0 and vice versa.

Issue Access Events not being delivered to the database. Environment Continuum 1.9x CX 9680 Cause No access events reported to the database Resolution The workstation setup for primary access server had several processes that were running that appeared to be related to a virus on the workstation. This workstation was fully open to the internet and it is suspected that this is where the virus launched. After stopping several of the suspected executables through task manager the access events started coming in. Run antivirus.

Issue Can a b4920 send out alarm emails? Environment Continuum Controllers BCX 4040 BCX 9640 Netcontroller II (9680) ACX 57xx Cause Controllers that support sending of emails Resolution The B4-920 does not have the capability to send out emails. 2nd generation controllers do have the capabilities to send emails.

Issue When creating a CX controller receiving error "This object class requires an attached device" Environment Continuum Cyberstation CX controllers (9900, 9680, ACX 5740 ie..... ) Cause Trying to create the controller outside of a network folder (directory) Resolution Create a network folder and create the CX controller under the network folder.

Issue CyberStation program that prints to a file does not produce the expected results. Environment CyberStation. Cause Program configuration. Resolution In the program configuration properties, select the "Run on any WorkStation" option.