Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Customer has an application to control a heat pump and would like to use the b3867. The concern is that the triac outputs switch the 24v common, not the 24v hot. Most heat pumps will expect the 24v hot to be switched not the 24v common that is grounded. An interposing relay could be used on these outputs but it is more cost effective (both labor and materials) if the relay could be eliminated.   Environment b3867 Cause Customer has an application to control a heat pump and would like to use the b3867. The concern is that the triac outputs switch the 24v common, not the 24v hot. Most heat pumps will expect the 24v hot to be switched not the 24v common that is grounded. An interposing relay could be used on these outputs but it is more cost effective (both labor and materials) if the relay could be eliminated. Resolution In this case a relay will be required.   The i2 controller technical reference does not specifically mention that you cannot switch X1 (hot) but the output terminal block on the controller itself has the following label: "Note: Triac outputs must switch the grounded leg only. See manual." If the load was wired on the X2, the hot leg (X1) would be shorted to ground and the load would not see 24V.

Issue Need to change the same attributes of a large number of the same object class all at once. Environment Continuum Cause Some object attributes are not able to be modified from a Listview. What is a method to change these attributes? Resolution In the example below we will be modifying the InfinityInput objects LogType, Size, and LogIntervalSecs attributes to change the logging parameters using the "Import from Dump File" method. Before importing anything backup the database, do this now. Go into Offline Mode. Use a ListView to get all the inputs you want to modify. This could be All_Inputs but I'd suggest creating a new one that has the same fields and maybe a filter to weed out the inputs you do not want to change. (you can also use the default listview and just select the inputs you want to modify) In the Listview; select "Edit -> Select All" and the "Object -> Send To -> Text File...". Give the file a name and press Save. Edit your Dump file with Notepad++ or similar text editor and change the fields that you want to change. Search and Replace may save time. Save the file. In ContinuumExplorer; go to the Root, Right-click and select "Import Into..." and select the file you just modified. This will import the Dump file and overwrite the objects with your changes. Checking the Distribution Properties window you will find that there may be errors about duplicate channel numbers - disregard this for now. Go back into Online mode. Confirm the changes have been applied by rerunning the ListView. Select your inputs that were changed and Right-click "Send to -> Controller" to send these changes down to the controller.

Issue When reloading a controller the Distribution Properties displays: timestamp "The operation 'Reloading objects to Controllers' is starting. then just 5-10 seconds later timestamp "The operation 'Reloading objects to Controllers' is finished. The reload is not successful. Environment CyberStation All controllers Cause The "Send to Controller" Options are not set correctly. Resolution In ContinuumExplorer select  Options >> Send to Controller Options... In the Send to Controller Options dialog box change the Source Object Options from "Do not reload attached objects" to either of the other two choices, depending on whether or not you want to reload just the network controller (Reload attached objects, but not attached controllers) or you want to reload the network controller and all of its field controllers (Reload attached objects and controllers). Note: The last choice may take a long, long time depending on the size of the system. That option is rarely used as it resets all field controllers at once, and then reloads them one at a time.  The first option (Do not reload attached objects) only reloads the controller's dictionary - not the full objects/attributes. 

Issue What is the maximum cable length between a card reader and an ACX controller?   Environment Continuum ACX controllers (all versions) Cause -none- Resolution The ACX controllers support Wiegand, ABA, or CardKey readers, and the maximum cable lengths are 500 ft. (152.4 m) using 18 AWG cable or 200 ft. (60.96 m) using 22 AWG cable.

Issue The Save to Flash exclamation point (bang) shows on a Continuum BACnet controller object. Hovering over the icon, a tooltip comes up indicating that the controller 'requires flash backup'. However when performing a backup to flash, a result comes back that the 'controller doesn't need flash backup' and the exclamation icon remains. Re-loading the controller and performing a send to database have no effect. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment bCX4000 bCX4040 B3 Field Devices Cause Controller's restart mode not configured to use cool start (cool start = restoring DB from flash backup) Resolution Set controller's ACCRestartMode system variable to one of the modes below that includes cool start. The available re-start modes are (except in the b3885 and b3885-V): ACCWarmStartOnly (0) ACCCoolStartOnly (1) ACCWarmToCool (2)

Issue Do not want a particular Workstation to receive Device Offline alarms. Environment Continuum Cyberstation Cause Device offline alarms are not to be delivered to specific Workstations. Resolution There are a couple methods that can stop these alarms from being delivered: You can stop all alarms from being delivered temporarily by; R-click Continuum icon in task bar, select Properties, and un-tick "I want this Workstation to receive alarms in this session". This will stop all alarms from being delivered to this Workstation until it is re-enabled or you log off then back on. Stop this Workstation from receiving just Offline alarms. Browse to the Templates folder and open the ControllerStatus EventNotification, remove this Workstation from the Delivery tab. It will no longer receive any alarms from offline Devices (this included Workstations and Controllers).

Issue How are inputs configured on two AC-1, AC-1A, or AC-1 Plus modules when configured as dual (entry / exit) reader doors? Are there any restrictions on which input channels can be used and for what purpose? Environment Continuum IOU Door Module's AC-1 AC-1A AC-1 Plus Cause There are differences to how the inputs can be configured on AC-1, AC-1A, and AC-1 Plus modules when being used in a dual (entry / exit) reader door configuration. Resolution The below information can also be referenced  in the I/O System Reference Guide. 1. AC-1's in Dual Reader Mode (page 141) The inputs are fixed for a specific purpose. Channel 1 is an Auxiliary input that can be configured as an InfinityInput outside of a door object, whereas channel 2 is the Door Switch and channel 3 the REX which can only be configured in the Door object. The Door Switch is only physically connected to channel 2 of the Entry AC-1 module. Although, the Exit AC-1 module must have the same resistor configuration on its channel 2 as what is being used for the Door Switch on the Entry AC-1. Channel 2 and 3 on both the Entry and Exit AC-1's cannot be created, and used, as InfinityInputs - they are to only be configured and used in a Door object. 2. AC-1A's in Dual Reader Mode (page 159) Same as the AC-1 except the resistors are not required at the Exit AC-1A's Door Switch channel. 3. AC-1 Plus in Dual Reader Mode (page 186) Any of the supervised input channels can be configured in the door object. Whichever channels are used for Door Switch and Bond Sensor on Entry AC-1 Plus must be wired into the same channels on the Exit AC-1 Plus and these must have the same resistor configuration. Both of these channels on both AC-1 Plus modules are now unavailable to be used as InfinityInputs. Any Supervised input channels not used in the door object can be created and used as InfinityInputs.  

Issue What are the correct settings for the i2 controller input reference resistors for different input types? Environment i2 Controllers Cause What are the correct settings for the i2 controller input reference resistors for different input types? Resolution See the section starting on page 71 of the i2 Controller Technical Reference. As a general rule, the reference resistor switch is ON for 10K thermistors, contact closures (including supervised) and counters; it is OFF for voltage inputs (which includes 0-20mA and 4-20mA current inputs since the use of the external resistor makes the input signal a voltage).

Issue Information for UL 864 Smoke Control for Continuum Environment Continuum Cause Information is needed for UL 864 Smoke Control using Continuum Resolution There are a number of documents available on Exchange Online, click the following links to navigate to the document: Documents listed in the section include: UL 864 Power Supply Install UL 864 IO module Install UL 864 i2/b3 8xx-V Install UL 864 Infinet Smoke Control Design UL 864 Bacnet Smoke Control Design UL 864 Continuum Smoke Control Design UL 864 Fire Alarm Annunciation System Guide

Issue Unable to save any program in a workstation giving error  "Unable to lock an object because it is already locked"   Environment Cyberstation Programs Cause This is usually caused by the FiringOrder attribute being locked, often due to a PC crash or other unexpected operating system shutdown. Resolution This is due to the firingorder attribute being locked, start the Continuum Command Line application, select the problem workstation from the network button. At the R> enter: firingorder editlock = false This should clear the edit lock and allow the programs to be saved. **Check to make sure that another program that accesses this program is not disabled.

Issue Certain versions of Cyberstation use a different number of indexes by default. Environment Continuum Microsoft SQL Server Cause Some IT departments like to know how many indexes are used in their application databases Resolution 1. The amount of indexes used is based on Cyberstation version To see the number of indexes and additional information use Enterprise Management Studio to run a query on the Continuumdb select * from sys.indexes 2. Additional indexes can be created by DBAs for optimization and performance reasons, but these are not the defaults.

Issue When creating Modbus RTU X Driver points any alarms attached to them or logging set up do not operate at all. Environment Modbus RTU X Driver All  XDriver enabled controllers Cause The Modbus RTU X Driver is a Poll on demand X Driver which means it is not within the normal Controller Scan process, so alarms and logging will not update. Resolution As these points are outside of the controller Object Management System (OMS) these functions do not update. Built into the X Driver is the capability to put an Annex point in the parameter 6 that will be updated along with the X Driver point, these annex points can then be alarmed or have logging attached as they are within the OMS and the controller scan process. See the Modbus RTU manual for full details on setting up annex points.

Issue bCX4040 has trouble staying online, taking a reload. Environment bCX4040 Cause BCX4040 is shown online in web browser but offline in Continuum. When resetting the controller from web browser, the controller comes online for a short time in Continuum but unable to take a reload (transaction time out). Also, it's not showing up when performing find new BACnet device. Resolution There's more than one issue that can cause this symptom. In this case the controller error log had over 5000 entries in less than 2 days. All the same error: 1 W 10/09/2011 22:26:55.26 0x00001408 0x04e51900 0x02111cfe 0x000001fc 0x00000e48 The '1408' corresponding error text is 'Not enough memory'. There was a T-tap on the bCX's MSTP -  for another enclosure with b38xx controllers, approximately 25 meters away. Once reconnected as a daisy-chain the problem was solved.

Issue Several fields appear edit locked or grayed out in SiteScan schedules. Environment SiteScan Cause Schedules are operating as designed. Resolution The fields that are grayed out appear so because of the event type selected. Each event type selected in a SiteScan schedule restricts or allows specific combinations of data to be manipulated.  

Issue CX 9200 comm4 has 5 wires instead of 3, so the wires have to be jumpered to work with RS-485 Environment CX 9200 Xdriver Cause The issue with comm4 is that it is a 4 wire RS-485 interface and the xdriver ends up attempting to decode its own messages Resolution Sometimes this scenario will work, but other times values do not come across properly. Alternatives for this would be:  Use a media converter which may do a better job of jumpering the signal Move the xdriver to a different port

Issue A university customer has two personnel "types" - faculty/staff and student. They would like to link a different Personnel Manager profile to each type of personnel so that when the record is edited it opens using that profile. Can this be done? Environment CyberStation Personnel Manager Cause A university customer has two personnel "types" - faculty/staff and student. They would like to link a different Personnel Manager profile to each type of personnel so that when the record is edited it opens using that profile. Can this be done? Resolution Unfortunately, this is not a feature in the current (v1.93) or older CyberStation versions. You can open the Personnel Manager and then switch to a different profile and enter the personnel data, but that profile is not linked to the saved record. So, subsequent editing of the record will open in the default (current) profile.

Issue Unable to edit an object because fields are grayed out. Environment CyberStation Cause Object is edit locked. When an object is opened for edit the object is locked in order to give the process editing the object exclusive access to it. If an object editor shows an asterisk next to the name it indicates that the object is current under editing by another process. Resolution Wait for the process that has a lock on the object to complete. If the object is locked because of an unexpected Continuum shutdown while the object was under edit follow these steps to unlock it: In the Continuum Explorer right click the object's name and select properties. In the Current Status tab, click on the 'Force Object to Unlocked' button. Click OK to exit.

Issue Database Initialization Program Cannot Create a Database on the Server. Environment CyberStation v1.93 SQL Server 2008 R2 Windows 7 Pro Workstation Cause Database Initialization Program Cannot Create a Database on the Server. Resolution Server install went fine. CyberStation install went fine on new Windows 7 Pro Workstation. Could "see" server from the workstation. One or more of the items listed below maybe necessary to solve the problem: -Configure Write permissions on the server, specifically the folder where SQL server was installed.  -Make the workstation and the database server members of the same domain. -If using Windows Workgroup make sure the Workgroup in both the SQL server and the workstation machine have the same name, also make sure the user name and password is the same on both machines. -In the Continuum Database Initialization, in the server name field, enter the server's IP address instead of the name. -Also try creating another Windows user

Issue Tried to flash uprev the controller.  Continuum indicates "Initializing" but will go no further.  Environment BCX9640 Cause Unknown Resolution Method 1 Upgrade controller firmware using a RoamIO Method 2 Create a test Stand Alone Continuum DB. Bring the problem controller online on the test cyberstation. Flash uprev controller.

Issue Personnel distributions failing due to illegal card numbers configured in personnel objects. Environment CyberStation Personnel Objects Cause Each card type has restrictions as to what site codes can be used and the maximum card number that can be used.  Resolution  The following is a summary of card types and the site codes and card numbers that are available to each. Card Format Site Code Card Number Wiegand26 0 – 255 (8-bit) 0 – 65535 (16-bit) Infinity_37 0 – 4095 (12-bit)    0 – 524287 (19-bit) HIDCorp1000_35 0 – 4095 (12-bit)  0 – 1048575 (20-bit) CustomWiegand 0 - 65535 (16-bit)    0 – 4294967295 (32-bit)   Note: Site codes of 0 cannot be entered through the old style Personnel Editor, use Personnel Manager or set attributes through a list view.