Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue What is the advantage of having a Doubly Bus Terminated Topology segment VS Free Topology in a LON FTT 10A setup? Environment CX9900 CX9680 LON IOU Modules Cause Unknown Resolution The advantage is bus distance, with the doubly terminated bus you can have a bus length of up to 2700 meters (depending on type of cable used), with the free topology the maximum would be 500 meters. (see page 22 in the Continuum I/O Reference document). The disadvantage is the Doubly Bus Terminated method is that it does not allow free topology, nodes must wired in a bus topology (just like in the LON RS-485 485) to limit electrical reflections.

Issue A system had two BACnet Icons in the ContinuumExplorer - one fully populated with controllers and points and the other empty.  Environment CyberStation BCX MS/TP Cause When trying to save a simple PE program mirroring a third party BACnet point, an error "could not find the object" on the path which included the BACnet Devices folder came up. Resolution There should not be multiple BACnet Devices folders in the ContinuumExplorer. In this case the empty BACnet Devices folder was renamed. The InfinityProgram could then resolve the object name and save the program successfully. Further investigation as to what caused the duplication must be done.

Issue Upgraded a system from v1.74 to 1.93. Credential 1 tab is now grayed out in the personnel editor for users who had access to all personnel editor tabs previously.   Environment CyberStation Access Control Personnel objects Cause After an upgrade from v1.74 to v1.93 the personnel editor Credential 1 tab is grayed out for users who previously had access to all personnel editor tabs. If using the PIM, however, all the attributes, including the ones shown on the Credential 1 tab, are accessible to the same users.  Resolution Continuum creates some new features in v1.93 locked by default. So, any user that did have administrator or Group 1 access (i.e everything unlocked) finds that they are now locked out of the Credential1 tab because it didn't appear in the previous version (in this case v1.74). The resolution is to unlock (change from "locks" to "keys") all the new features for User Security Group 1 as well as any other groups that require this access. If  'Security' is grayed out when right clicking on the Continuum icon then the security settings for the user will have to be reset via s SQL query. (Contact PSS for query) However, if using the new v1.93 PIM (Personnel Information Manager) you will not notice this, because you are allowed access. It is only when you use the personnel editor that this is observed.  

Issue I can see the XdriverError count but where is the corresponding log? Environment XDriver Cause The xDriver tab indicates the count or errors and the last error but where is the error log? Resolution For 1st generation controllers the last error should be shown in the comm port status. There is no error log. A PE program can be written to map this attribute to an InfinityString to create a log. For 2nd generation controllers (like the NCII) the errorlog function does not work correctly.  The ErrorLogTool.exe must be used to extract this information.  

Issue When trying to distribute personnel to Netcontrollers, about half of them fail with the message: Error text undefined (TBD) 0x00002001 under the Last Error column in the Access Distribution View. Environment CyberStation Access Control Cause Access distributions are failing with the same error message in the access distribution view. Resolution Make sure that there are no access controllers that are offline. If there are, and they cannot be brought back online right away, such as during a site renovation, set them to "Out of Service" until they are able to communicate. If they are no longer to be used then delete them - as CyberStation may be trying to distribute to them. This same error message came up on a different project. It was noted that the personnel that failed to distribute (with this error) had schedules attached to their assigned areas, and the schedules reside in the controller that gives the error. The problem was resolved by reloading all the access controllers one-by-one.   Make sure if there are remote area schedules that network issues are not blocking the controller receiving the personnel distribution from getting to the remote controller that own the area schedule point. You can test this by creating test points in each controller and using a program to import the point, in some cases you will see that the program will give the same 0x00002001 error on compilation which indicates network issues. Work with IT to find out what is blocking comm between the two controllers.

Issue Door reports valid access or valid access - no entry but does not physically unlock. Environment CyberStation CX9900 / CX9680 with AC1 or AC1Plus ACX5720/40 CX9702 ACX701/781 Cause Door physically overridden Resolution From the command line print the door override attribute, if the override is reported as TRUE return the channel's override switch to the auto position. If the override value attribute continues to read TRUE even when the switch is in the auto position the hardware may be damaged. Check that the security key is still inserted in the Cyberstation.

Issue When converting controller type in Continuum such as making a CX9900 (NC1) into a CX9680 (NC2) if the System Variable objects contain links such as triggers or alarms and/or configuration edits such as logs etc those links and configuration edits will be lost during the conversion. Environment CyberStation Cause Implementation Resolution Before converting the controller, in the Continuum Explorer click on the System Variables folder and then select ALL the system variable objects on the right pane and export them to a text file. After the conversion is done, import the system variables to restore all triggers/links etc.

Issue There is a 24 character limit for an expression when entered through Epibuilder>layout properties>Encoding> Field Expression Environment Cyberstation webClient Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause ImageWare EpiBuilder has limited this way of entering in the expression, but offers another method for a work around. Resolution To work around this limitation issue. Define the expression first in the following place Edit> Define Expression Ex. [Info1]+[Info2]+[Info3]+[Info4] Click OK Layout Properties> Encoding> Field Expression The drop down now contains [Info1]+[Info2]+[Info3]+[Info4] which could not be entered directly.

Issue Alarms show up in Active Alarm View but do not show up in any Alarms listviews and do not seem to be logging to the Database. Environment Continuum Cyberstation Cause Enhanced alarm logging does not automatically log intrinsic alarms (Controller Offline alarms). Improper time synchronization between Workstations and field Controllers. Due to this, Listviews were not showing most recent entries as they were being sorted on "TimeStamp" (controller time of the alarm) attribute. Resolution Intrinsic alarms (controller offline alarms) need to have a Workstation setup in the delivery tab of the EventNotification (in the Templates folder). The Workstation needs to have the "Log" box ticked so this alarm to be logged in the database. Normally when using enhanced alarm logging, ticking this box is not required as the enhanced alarm logging takes care of the logging. These intrinsic alarms in the Templates folder are the exceptions to that rule. Confirm the times on your controller and WS are configured properly and showing the same time. Add the TimeOfLog attribute to the AllAlarms listview and change so it sorts on this to see if your alarms have been logged but at a different time. If there are no new entries, then try removing the alarm links to your points (on the alarms tab) and then re-add them and save. Reload the controllers as well.

Issue Will a certain badge printer, signature pad or capture device work with Continuum? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment CyberStation Cause Certain badge printers. signature pad and cameras that have been tested and approved by ImageWare are supported. Resolution Note: ImageWare is a third party add on for Continuum, all support on compatibility questions should be directed to ImageWare at the following ImageWare Support Link. Please check the EPISuite compatible hardware list to verify whether a badge printer, signature or capture device has been tested by ImageWare. See also current device driver download page. Update as of August 2015 direct from ImageWare Systems EPI Builder Updates NEW QR Code barcode plug-in ImageWare has recently built a plug-in that provides the ability to create QR Code barcodes within EPI 6.x Designer. If you are interested in testing out this update, please let me know and I will provide you with a link for download. Camera Hardware Compatibility List: Canon cameras EOS Rebel XS, EOS Rebel T3, EOS Rebel T5 and EOS Rebel T5i Tested on Windows 7 (32-bit & 64-bit) and Windows 8.1 (64-bit) Requires IWS custom software plug-in to provide direct control and image capture from the client workstation to the camera. Plug-in is licensed and sold per client workstation. Videology cameras 1.3 MP USB Color Box Camera Tested on Windows 7 (32-bit) Camera can be used out of the box with its TWAIN driver (TWAIN data source SFT-10011 REV2.1.18). No additional IWS software plug-in is needed. 5 MP USB 2.0 Camera with Synchronized Flash and Auto Focus (24C708AF) Tested on Windows 7 (32-bit & 64-bit) Test PENDING for Windows 8.1 Camera can be used out of the box with its TWAIN driver (TWAIN driver version 2.1.22). No additional IWS software plug-in is needed. Sony camera (PENDING IWS custom plug-in release) EVI-D70 Pan/Tilt/Zoom Color NTSC Video Camera Tested on Windows 7 (32-bit & 64-bit) and Windows 8.1 (64-bit) IWS custom software plug-in provides direct control and image capture from the client workstation to the camera. Plug-in is licensed and sold per client workstation. Camera requires the dPict Aexeon LT video capture card hardware to be installed within the client workstation. Webcams EPI Builder works with most Webcams with compatible TWAIN drivers. IWS has worked with both the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 and C920 camera models. Most webcams can be used out of the box with its TWAIN driver. No additional IWS software plug-in is needed. Signature Pad Hardware Compatibility List: ePad-Ink Signature Pad VP9805 Tested on Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit) and 8.1 (64-bit) Requires IWS custom software plug-in to provide direct control and image capture from the client workstation to the device. Plug-in is licensed and sold per client workstation. Topaz SigPlus Signature Pad -L-460-HSB, T-LBK460-HSB-R and T-S571-HSB Tested on Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit) Requires IWS custom software plug-in to provide direct control and image capture from the client workstation to the device. Plug-in is licensed and sold per client workstation. NOTES EPI Builder typically supports the generic TWAIN driver, as well as Video For Windows (VFW). Furthermore, EPI also indirectly supports the WIA drivers, which Windows ports internally to the TWAIN driver. Each device manufacturer will provide drivers of some or all of these types with an implementation of their own specific functions. WIA is supported under certain circumstances. In each case the functions that will be present depend on the Manufacturer's implementation of these drivers. If you would like to internally evaluate any IWS EPI capture plug-in, please let me know and I will supply you with a 30 day evaluation license. Printer Hardware Compatibility List: Below are some of the current printers which we have received in house for testing.  Datacard SR300 Tested on Windows 7 Tested Mag encoder Digital Identification EDIsecure DCP360+ Tested on Windows 7 Fargo DTC 4500e Tested on Windows 7 and 8.1 Tested Mag encoder Fargo HDP 5000 Tested on Windows 7 Tested Mag encoder Magicard Rio Pro Duo Tested on Windows 7 and 8.1 Tested Mag encoder Matica Technologies XID 8300 Tested on Windows 7 Tested Mag encoder NiSCA PR-C101 Tested on Windows 7 Tested Mag encoder Zebra ZXP Series 7 Tested on Windows 8.1 (Windows 7 testing is pending) Tested Mag encoder Zebra ZXP Series 8 Tested on Windows 7 and 8.1 Tested Mag encoder IDP SMART-50L M N Tested on Windows 7 and 8.1 Tested Mag encoder POINTMAN USA  Test PENDING for October 2015 NOTE: We have tested other printers on Windows XP and they may be supported in Windows 7 and 8.1 depending on the available drivers. Also, other printer make/models are being used with the EPI software, but we only list printers that we've received in house for testing. If you are interested in having IWS test a specific make/model printer, please let us know and we will try to work with you and the manufacturer to obtain a demo printer in house to run through compatibility testing.

Issue Most recent access events do not appear in door's events tab. Environment CyberStation CX9680 ACX5740/20 CX9702 CX9900 ACX7xx Cause Events recorded with invalid time stamp in the future (i.e year 2089). At some point and for unknown reasons the controller was using a time stamp with the year set to 2089, these events show up first in the door events tab and fill it up. Resolution From a list view of access events delete all events that have a time stamp in the future.

Issue Open BCX1 from BACnet side result in "error reading database table", and can not delete BCX1 from BACnet side Environment Windows XP Continuum 1.93 Cause May be caused by some errors with Device data table in SQL server. Resolution Select "BACnet Devices," right click and then select "delete." Delete the whole folder. Exit Continuum Run Continuum analyzer report Start Continuum, you will find "BACnet  Devices" folder comes in again Right click Root and select " Find New BACnet Device" When you see BCX1 comes in again, select it and do "send to database" Open BCX1 from the BACnet side and no error prompted.

Issue Continuum LAN controller going offline and logging error 0x00006c0f and 0x00006c10. Environment CX9900 CX9640 CX9702 CX9680 ACX5720 ACX5740 Cause The errors 0x00006c0f and 0x00006c10 are typically logged as a pair and indicate the controller has detected an issue with the physical layer of the network. The errors come from the PHY chip in the controller's network interface adapter. The Controller Error Log Tool gives the following text for the error codes: 34 W 12/12/2011 08:57:47.00  0x00006c0f 0x00002600 0x01901848 0x0000c540 0x00000000                                         buffer passed in was too small (LAN_ERR_BUFFER_TOO_SMALL_ERROR) 35 W 12/12/2011 08:57:47.00  0x00006c10 0x00002600 0x019018b0 0x0000c500 0x00000000                                         buffer passed in was invalid for free (LAN_ERR_ALLOCATION_ERROR) Resolution Make sure the ethernet cable is properly inserted at both ends, the ethernet cable may have to be replaced. Determine whether the problem is in the switch/router, move the controller to a different port on the switch/router. Switches/ports have many different ways to be configured and can affect the controllers connection status. If move to a different switch or hub corrects the issue, analyze the configuration of the ports. Although not a common failure, the issue could be in the controller's hardware, the controller may need to be replaced.

Issue How to clear the controller flash backup from the hardware using the reset IP switch. Environment CX9640 CX9680 CX5720/40 Cause Need to remove any backup in flash but has no access to the controller's web page configuration. Resolution Pushing and holding down the controller's reset IP switch for 30 seconds clears any backup of the database in flash in addition to resetting the IP address and ACC node id.

Issue When ordering a new NC2 controller with 64 Nodes limit, is it possible to choose the desired comm port, or is it only port 2? Environment Netcontroller II CX9680 CX9900 CX9940 CX9200 Cause Clarification on Comm port node limit Resolution All controllers (CX9200,CX9400, CX9900, NCII CX9680) support various upper infinet node counts, on all of these CX controllers you can split your infinet controllers in any combination between Comm1 and Comm2. So on a NCII with 64 nodes you could have:  64 controllers on Comm1 or 64 controllers on Comm2 or any split between Comm1 and Comm2 e.g. 30 on Comm1 and 34 on Comm1. It is a total limit for the CX controller. There is the maximum supported network limit of 127 controllers on a Comm port if you have that many nodes enabled.

Issue Need to configure more than one card format not natively supported in Continuum. Environment CyberStation CX9900 CX9702 CX9680 ACX5720 ACX5740 Cause Documentation Resolution Continuum controllers support up to four (4) custom cards. Custom cards 2-4 are configured in the same way as the first custom card format, the only exception is the name of the magic InfinityNumeric. When creating the InfinityNumeric that contains the array for the card format, use... AccessFormat for the first custom format AccessFormat2 for the second AccessFormat3 for the third AccessFormat4 for the fourth and last one supported.

Issue Original database incorrectly built using an improper collation sequence. Environment Continuum SQL DTS Cause Source database is damaged. Resolution Create new database using Continuum Database Initializer. Use SQL Data Transformation Services (DTS) to transfer the data from the defective database into the new database.

Issue video layout stub error exception pops up when a video layout is triggered to pop up on alarm Exception error: object reference not set to an instance of and object Environment Continuum Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause In some cases having a layout populated with 6 or more cameras may show the error. A remote connection opening a video layout at a quick pace can cause this. Resolution If you are using 1.92 upgrade to 1.93 If you are using a remote connection, the same error will not pop up from the local PC.

Issue Needs to swap out B386x to B865x-V controller. Environment b3865 b3865-V b3866 b3866-V b3885 b3885-V Cause Controller needs to be replaced. Resolution The b38xx-V models can be used as direct replacements for existing Continuum VAV controllers on any Continuum BACnet installations (v1.6 and up).

Issue Sample PE program for setting attributes on all objects of a given class in a controller. Environment ALL CX Controllers. Cause The following PE program is a sample of a program that sets the site codes on ALL the doors found in the controller upon the controller power up. Resolution 'This program sets the site codes on all the doors in this controller 'Program is autostart and fallthru 'Program is triggered by the MINUTE system variable '12/16/2011 Abe Meran 'Sample program Datetime LastStartUp Object theDoor INIT:   LastStartUp = PowerUpTime   Goto WAIT1 WAIT1:   If PowerUpTime > LastStartUp then Goto RESET_SITE_CODE RESET_SITE_CODE:   OpenList("Door", theDoor)   While GetObject(theDoor) is Success     If theDoor Site1 = 0 then theDoor Site1 = 1     If theDoor Site2 = 0 then theDoor Site2 = 2     If theDoor Site3 = 0 then theDoor Site3 = 3     If theDoor Site4 = 0 then theDoor Site4 = 4   Endwhile   CloseList(theDoor)   Goto WAIT1 E:   CloseList(theDoor)   Goto WAIT1 Here is another example of a program residing in a CX that sets the site codes on all the doors of all the ACXs under the CX Object theACX Object theDoor Number OK If OpenList("InfinetCtlr", theACX) is Success then   While GetObject(theACX) is Success     If OpenList("Door", theDoor, theACX) is Success then       While GetObject(theDoor) is Success         theDoor Site1 = 1111         theDoor Site2 = 2222         theDoor Site3 = 3333         theDoor Site4 = 4444       Endwhile     CloseList(theDoor)     Endif   Endwhile Endif Goto 2 2:   CloseList(theACX)   CloseList(theDoor) Stop