Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Mapping a 3rd party bacnet point to a numeric gives 'object attribute not available' Environment Continuum BCX Viconics Stat Cause The path to the object couldn't be found Resolution Deleted the bacnet network Deleted the BCX Find new bacnet Able to map the 3rd party object to the numeric using ReadProperty with no error Note: Mapping a 2nd Viconic stat to the original BCX gave the same error, but mapping either stat to another BCX on the same subnet worked without error prior to the delete/Find.

Issue Can Continuum store a database of biometric data and authenticate based on it without needing an access card? Environment CyberStation Access Controllers Biometrics Cause Desire to use fingerprint only authentication (no card required) with Continuum. Can Continuum store a database of biometric data and authenticate based on it without needing an access card? Resolution Continuum can not store biometric data and authenticate based on it alone. However, Continuum can be integrated with biometrics in several ways. The two most common are: Using smart cards to store the biometric templates. When the card is presented to the biometric reader it transfers the biometric data to the reader and the person's biometric is validated against that stored on the card. Then the card Wiegand data can be sent to the controller for authentication and entry or denial. Using the Security COE Continuum Bioscrypt Integration. Refer to the Continuum - Bioscrypt Integration data sheet.

Issue Trend chart report does not show Trend Chart data Environment CyberStation Cause Maximum number of values in the report not properly set Resolution Make sure to set the 'Maximum number of values' property to include all the data in the log being plotted.

Issue Can 2 comm ports be enabled when using the RTU Xdriver? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum 9680 99xx 9640 4040 Xdriver Modbus RTU Cause At times it is necessary to have multiple ports enabled for Xdrivers Resolution The ability to enable 2 comm ports using Xdrivers can be done, but is not recommended by the Xdriver developers or supported by PSS. The RTU Xdriver is poll on demand. This type of driver can request a lot of data and starve the CPU on the controller which then makes the polling irregular. If 2 ports are being used then there are typically more devices being added and therefore more points increasing the requests and demand on the controller's CPU. Use one program to control the polling on both ports. Two programs attempting to control the polling asynchronously will cause communication issues.

Issue What is the acceptable range of tolerance for resistance on a supervisory input. Environment i1 controllers i2 controllers b3 controllers I/O modules Cause Doors are being retrofitted, and the resistors that are installed are not 10K ohm and are inaccessible. Resolution The tolerance for the resistance on supervisory inputs is +/- 3%.

Issue Can the Anti-Passback rules be ignored for certain personnel cards? Environment Access Control: CX9702 CX9900 with AC1 modules CX9680 Netcontroller II with AC1 Modules ACX5720, ACX5740 Cause Often certain site personnel require free access around a site e.g. Security personnel or management. Resolution If Area Anti-Passback is being used then there is the “AllowEntEntEgr” attribute in the personnel object, it is named “Allow Passback Entry” in the Personnel Manager. This attribute is by default False, but can be set to True in any Personnel to ignore Area Anti-Passback rules. This attribute does not apply to Timed Anti-Passback.

Issue At times error logs are truncated from a controller Environment 9680 BCX 4040 BCX9640 ACX 57xx i2 b3 Cause There is a limited number of records that can be stored in controllers and if there have been a lot of error they will eventually get truncated. Resolution Flash memory for the controller error log is divided into 2 sections (A&B) When section A is filled with errors, section B begins to get filled Once both sections are filled, section A gets truncated and begins to fill with new records Once section A is filled, section B gets truncated and so on... There are approximately 8000-9000 records that can be stored in each section

Issue A requirement at some physical access control sites is that at the beginning of the day all access to an area/door is denied until a particular person shows up. Environment CyberStation CX9900 CX9702 CX9680 ACX5740 ACX5720 ACX781 Cause Requirements Resolution Write a PE program in the controller that disables the door at the end of the day and then uses the door's EntryLastSite and EntryLastCard to determine when the person that enables access has arrived in the morning at which point the door is enabled. Sample PE program 'Program is fallthru and triggered by the Second system variable 'Disable door at end of the day If Hour > 17 then   MainEntrance State = Disabled   Stop Endif 'Enable door when Elvis enters the building If MainEntrance State = Disabled then   If MainEntrance EntryLastSite = 123 and MainEntrance EntryLastCard = 456 then     MainEntrance State = Enabled   Endif Endif 'Keep program from getting disabled due to run time error E:   Stop   If door is a dual reader door the program can be modified to disable the door when the person leaves using door attributes ExitLastSite and ExitLastCard

Issue Using the RD and TD LEDs to help commission and Fault finding a Modbus RTU Continuum Xdriver Using the RX and TX LEDs to help commission and Fault finding a Modbus RTU AS, AS-P, AS-B Product Line Building Operation Automation Server Premium Continuum bCX4040 (BACnet) Environment Continuum Automation server Cause How to use the TD RD(TX RX) LEDs to help commission or check an installation Resolution Continuum The Comm Port LEDs on a net controller can be helpful when first setting up or fault finding an Xdriver (ModbusRTU) Every time the net controller transmits the TD LED will flash and every time another device on the bus transmits (such that the net controller can receive it) the RD LED will flash. Thus if Xdriver seems not to be working correctly this is often the first thing to check A simple check with Modbus RTU would be to stop any automatic polling on the network, then manually refresh a modbus point and watch for a single Transmit (TD) followed by a Receive (RD). SmartStruxure The Comm Port LEDs on an AS controller can be helpful when first setting up or fault finding ModbusRTU Every time the AS transmits the TX LED will flash and every time another device on the bus transmits (such that the AS can receive it) the RX LED will flash. A simple check with Modbus RTU is to create only a  single device (or inhibit polling to all but one device) and watch for a single Transmit (TX) followed by a Receive (RX). Modbus Simulation Another useful technique when commissioning or troubleshooting with Modbus is to simulation software on a PC (with RS232/485 convertor for RTU if required). A Slave device or the Master node can be simulated eg ModSim, ModScan, ModbusSlave, ModbusPoll, Mod_RSsim

Issue Continuum Database Initializer hits an error when an attempt is made to update the database. Environment Continuum Database Server Continuum Database Initialization Cause Technician is using the wrong Andover97 password. Resolution Use the current Andover97 password during the update database process.

Issue Are the current Veeder Root Xdrivers compatible with the TLS450 and TLS2P console? Environment Xdriver Cause The current Xdrivers are compatible with the Veeder-Root TLS350 Console. Are the current Veeder-Root Xdrivers compatible with the TLS450 and TLS2P console? Resolution No. The current 1st and 2nd Generation Continuum compatible xDriver for Veeder-Root TSL300/350/350R is not compatible with the TLS450 or TLS2P. For the current Xdriver see Leak Detection Systems Drivers on The Exchange  Download Center.  

Issue Getting runtime error 312 when in the embedded webpage on both NC2 and BCX. Environment Embedded Webpage NC2 BCX ACX B4 Cause Malware present on PC. Resolution Run virus scan. If virus scan software is not successful at eradicating the virus, format and reinstall operating system.

Issue Can communicate (ping and open controller webpage) when plugged into the controller but cannot communicate from CyberStation over the site network. Environment CX, bCX, NC2, NetController, ACX2, ACX57xx  Cause Can communicate (ping and open controller webpage) when plugged into the controller but cannot communicate from CyberStation over the site network. Resolution In this case the problem was an issue with the end user's IT department. They missed one of the MAC entries in their router table causing the communication to stop at the router

Issue No link LED on a Desktop's and Laptop's Network Interface Card (NIC). Environment Windows OS Cause Network interface card has power management feature enabled.  This will shutdown the network interface card if no activity is present, battery is low on power, or battery is intermittent. Resolution Disable power management features under Device Manager Network Adapters. 

Issue Need to determine which controllers have not had their battery tabs removed without going to each individual controller and removing its cover to perform a visual check. Environment Continuum Controllers bCX1 b3xxx i2xxx CX9680 CX9702 ACX57xx Cause During commissioning, battery tabs were not removed or batteries were not plugged into the PCB. There is no way to see the status of the backup battery by looking at the controller object in Continuum.  Resolution One method is to create a new object in the controller (numeric), do not save to Flash, then power cycle the controller. If the object is still in the controller after powering up (able to be opened without showing an error), then you can deduce that the battery tab has been removed and the battery is operational…if the point is not able to be viewed then the tab is still present or the battery is not holding a charge.

Issue How to implement a simple Man Trap using PE Environment CyberStation CX9900 CX9680 ACX5740/20 Cause A mantrap is an access methodology with an entry door and an exit door. One door of the mantrap can not be opened until the opposite door has been closed. Mantraps are most often used to keep non-secure areas separated from secure areas and prevent unauthorized access. Resolution 'This program implements a Man Trap that allows one person at a time in the man trap. 'Once a person is in the man trap no access is allowed until the occupant leaves the 'man trap via the REX. 'The occupant is allowed to exit at either door but once they have activated the REX 'at one door they are required to leave via that door. 'If occupant stays in the trap longer than TrapMaxOccTime and alarm can be sent via ManTrapStuck 'TrapMaxOccTime and ManTrapStuck are InfinityNumeric objects in the controller. 'Program is Looping and AutoStart TRAP_READY: ManTrap_A DisRdrKpAccess = False ManTrap_B DisRdrKpAccess = False ManTrap_A OpenOnExitReqst = True ManTrap_B OpenOnExitReqst = True If ManTrap_A ValidAccess or ManTrap_B ValidAccess then Goto TRAP_OCCUPIED TRAP_OCCUPIED: ManTrap_A DisRdrKpAccess = True ManTrap_B DisRdrKpAccess = True If ManTrap_B ExitRequest then ManTrap_A OpenOnExitReqst = False Goto WAIT_EXIT_B Endif If ManTrap_A ExitRequest then ManTrap_B OpenOnExitReqst = False Goto WAIT_EXIT_A Endif WAIT_EXIT_A: If ManTrap_A DoorSwitch = Opened then Goto TRAP_READY If TS > TrapMaxOccTime then ManTrapStuck = On WAIT_EXIT_B: If ManTrap_B DoorSwitch = Opened then Goto TRAP_READY If TS > TrapMaxOccTime then ManTrapStuck = On 'Keep program from disabling due to run time errors E: If TS > 30 then Goto TRAP_READY

Issue  The error LED on a CX9900 Controller is flashing.  What does this mean. What do the various NetController Error LED blink rates indicate. Environment NCI CX9900 CX9000 Cause An controller error has occurred. Resolution The ERROR indicator remains OFF until an error occurs. If the NetController fails an internal system test, the ERROR indicator blinks a preset number of times, then pauses, and repeats the blinking and pausing sequence. This blinking pattern will persist until you reset the controller. The number of blinks between pauses identifies the specific problem (as shown in the table below). ERROR Indicator Blink Rates (before a pause) # Blinks                Type of Failure                                                               17                           CX Firmware is corrupt (Bad Flash/ROM or bad update) 18                           LAN Card's memory is faulty - Try replacing the LAN Card. 19                           Problem creating certain System Tasks - Maybe due to lack of memory. 20                           Problem with the NIC - Try replacing the LAN Card 22                           RTC Failed - Possible Hardware issue 24                           Problem with the PIT chip - H/W related 25                           Problem creating Timer Tasks - Maybe due to lack of memory 28                           The RAM memory is faulty or bad. Try replacing the RAM module(s). 29 to 62                                 Problem creating certain System Tasks - Maybe due to lack of memory. 63                           Copy protection - Flash Upgrade file is invalid for this Controller (UPD file is Serial # protected) 64                           Problem creating the Uprev task - Maybe due to lack of memory. Note: If a Plain English program disables due to an error, the ERROR indicator illuminates and stays ON (without blinking)—if this occurs, you can turn the indicator off by setting the ERRORS system variable to zero.

Issue The operation was not performed error pops up when accessing logs or extended log via a group with Continuum 1.9 Environment Continuum Webclient Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause The installation was accomplished according to the instructions in the readme file to rename the original logviewer.exe Resolution Shutdown Cyberstation Install 1.90 SP1 first Copy in the AccSQLSP.dat from the hotfix and upgrade the database Delete all the original logviewer.exe files then copy in the new logviewer.exe from the hotfix. Just renaming the file will not work. Reboot the PC and restart Continuum and the error should no longer appear.

Issue The Alarms system variable in a controller contains a value other than zero but Active Alarm list view in CyberStation does not show any active alarms from that controller, How can I find out which alarms are active in the controller? Environment CyberStation All CXs All I2 devices Cause Active alarm can be determined by creating a column in the default list view to store alarm information from 'Live' source. Resolution Right click on InfinityNumeric and select 'View' to launch the default list view for the class. Edit the list view and add a column for the 'AlarmValue' attribute and set the column source to 'Live' Run the list view and inspect the AlarmValue: Blank = No active alarm on point Alm1 = the first alarm is active on point. Alm2 = the second alarm is active on point ... Alm8 = the 8th alarm is active on the point

Issue How to print a Control back slash (CTRL\) from a PE program Environment CX9900 CX9680 Cause PE device driver expects escape sequence of CTRL \ followed by some code. Resolution The following line will send the expected esc sequence followed by the value of the Minute system variable out of comm1 (assuming the PE program has already opened the commport for printing) Print "|28",Minute to comm1