Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Where is the information on LVIS Display/Screen Environment Lon Bacnet Loytec LVIS L-VIS L-VIS Touch Panel for BACnet networks   Cause Information on Loytec L-VIS Resolution The L-VIS from Loytec uses bacnet MSTP or LON. See Product Announcement - LonWorks and BACnet Touch Panels release for more information. All support for this product is via Loytec

Issue Which products have been independently assessed by the BACnet International BTL labs? Environment BACnet approvals BACnet Building Controller (B-BC) BACnet Advanced Application Controller (B-AAC) BACnet Application Specific Controller (B-ASC) Other BACnet Device (B-Oth)  Cause The Continuum & I/A Datasheets define that the products are BTL approved, but where can more information be obtained? Resolution Go to the independent BACnet International BACnet Testing Laboratories web site and select Schneider Electric, This shows all of our BACnet approved products and will answer many typical BACnet related questions. See link:  http://www.bacnetinternational.net/btl/

Issue How long can the power to AS be interrupted Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment PS Power Supply Automation Server Cause Question regarding the AS and the power supply module. If the power is interrupted from the 24VAC power supply for say, 100 milliseconds, will the power to the AS be interrupted? There is a cold cap in the PS, and how long does it maintain power supplied to the AS? What about the RTC?   Resolution The power to the AS will be interrupted if there is a 100mS main power fail. The AS will then save the server cache. When the power returns the AS will make a restart that will take approx. 2 minutes. The AS Power supply fully complies with the IEC 61000-4-11 standard and can withstand voltage dips, with a 20mS dip and a 0% residual voltage.  The Power-fail process: When the AS loses power the super-cap keeps the AS alive for 15 seconds. 10 seconds of it dedicated to power-fail process to flush all the data that that are currently in the RAM to the SD card(That data can be anything with any value they have before power-fail). When power comes back that data is retained and are stored in appropriate place on the SD card. Real-Time-Clock(RTC) is maintained when the AS loses power by a dedicated capacitor which backs up the RTC chip for a minimum of 30 days in the absence of power since there is no battery in the AS.    

Issue When any LON device is power cycled the nvi values will change to invalid / null / last changed / default value.   Environment LON Devices Cause Using the device for the first time or after re-flashing the firmware. Power cycling the device. Resolution If nvi has any binding it receives the value from source nvo. If nvi does not have the binding then manually set the value. If nvi is a multistate SNVT it returns to default value.

Issue The reports installation completes without error but Reporting Agent service never gets installed. Without the Reporting Agent service, reports will not collect data and the WebReports login page will not load in a browser. Environment StruxureWare Building Operation WebReports, version 1.1 Cause Error in installation files Resolution The workaround for this issue is as follows: Ensure that in Windows, the Folder Options are configured to show hidden files, file extensions, and protected operating system files. Open Windows Explorer, navigate to the C:\Program Files\Schneider Electric\StruxureWareReports\StruxureWare Reporting Agent directory, and edit StruxureWareReportingAgentInstall.bat. Remove the "%1\" from the first two lines so that it simply reads: installutil.exe SE.WebReports.StruxureWareReportingAgent.exe regedit /s StruxureWareReportingAgent.reg pause   Save the file and exit. Edit the config file, SE.WebReports.StruxureWareReportingAgent.exe.config. Find the section with the following line: Note: They will appear without the "." after the "<" <.add key="uid" value="appuser"> Copy & paste the above line just below it , then edit the copied line so that it reads: <.add key="ServiceName" value="StruxureWare Reporting Agent"> When finished, the two lines should read: <.add key="uid" value="appuser"> <.add key="ServiceName" value="StruxureWare Reporting Agent">   Save the config file and exit. Run the batch file StruxureWareReportingAgentInstall.bat.

Issue Linux source code is public source Environment StruxureWare Building Operation AS Cause Provide source code for AS Linux operating system. Resolution Software License Notices This product contains code that is covered by the GNU General Public License (GPL). In accordance with the GPL, you may request the relevant code for up to three years from the date of original purchase of this product. The code will be supplied on CD free of charge, though there will be a small fee to cover the cost of the CD, plus shipping and handling. For further information on the GNU GPL licenses, please visit http://www.gnu.org/licenses and, for the complete GPL texts, http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.txt and http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html To request a CD copy, please e-mail us at info@buildings.schneider-electric.com

Issue Can an AS or ES also send a SNVT to the bound device, even though the value itself hasn't been updated? Environment AS or ES with bound SNVT to send Cause Just to be clear, a TAC Xenta will send out a bound SNVT's value if it has been updated or by period. For the AS or ES, can it also send a SNVT to the bound device, even though the value itself hasn't been updated? Example: a SNVT_switch that is 100,1... it then writes 100,1 again. Will the SNVT be send again, as it's actually updated, even though the value hasn't changed?  Resolution For devices it shall be send again in StruxureWare Building Operation 1.0 or 1.1. In StruxureWare Building Operation 1.3 is going to be send always.

Issue Support for LON "File based CPT products" Environment LON CP CPT SCPT UCPT Cause Downloads / Uploads to the Roombox LON, and other "File based CPT products" fail. Resolution The Roombox controller uses the File based CPT's, and StruxureWare Building Operation does not support this, this means that uploads / downloads will always fail. SCPT is an acronym for Standard Configuration Parameter (Types). UCPT is an acronym for Used (defined) Configuration Parameter (Types). CPT is an acronym for Configuration Parameters (Types). (Both SCPT and UCPT).   In the LonWorks technology it’s possible for the Vendor of the device, to implement these variables in three ways: As NV's (network variables) As “DMA type variables”, (meaning they just reside in the devices flash memory at known addresses) As “File Type” variables, (meaning they are located inside a logical file in the device)   StruxureWare Building Operation can handle type 1 and 2 above. But not type 3 at the current release (1.5)..   There is a fairly easy way to determine this, which is from the device’s XIF file. If the XIF file contains these variables, (or at least the two first), then the SCPT's / UCPT's in this device ARE implemented as File type variables, and StruxureWare Building Operation can’t handle them. nviFileReq nvoFileStat nviFilePos Most of the devices having this, are using Loytec’s chip, so typically this can be: Lvis, Linx and many gateways from Loytec., but there are other products to. These devices are not easily commission in StruxureWare Building Operation. However Product Support Services can assist you to edit the XIF file, so that the device can be commissioned. Note - The SCPT's / UCPT's will be removed from the device, so these will not be visible (and of course not changeable) from StruxureWare Building Operation. Access to NV's will be as normal.

Issue Why does only one Exception mode work in TAC Xenta 121-FC/HP, even if the conditions for more than one Exception mode is fulfilled? Environment TAC Xenta 121-FC, TAC Xenta 121-HP Cause In TAC Xenta 121-FC/HP, with system program version up to 1.25, only one Exception mode could be active at the time. It will always be the exception mode with the lowest number that will be activated. For devices with system program version 1.26 and above, more than one Exception mode could be active. Resolution If the conditions for more than one exception mode are fulfilled, only the exception mode with the lowest number will be activated, for system program version up to 1.25..

Issue An initial calculation of KWH produced a artificially high value that was captured by a trend log and is now stored in Report Server. This anomaly is artificially skewing the auto scale feature. Environment Web Report Server Trend Log Extended Trend Log Extended Log Cause The trend data anomaly is artificially skewing the auto scale feature of the trend graph in Report Server. Resolution Open the associated extended trend log. Right click on the entry that is to be corrected and select edit record.  Change the value of the entry to some more acceptable value. Enter  a reason for the change in the comment field. Select save. The new value will appear in place of the original entry with an icon to show that the value was altered. Allow up to 24 hours for the data to be migrated into Web Reports Server.

Issue Calendar entries from 3rd party BACnet devices viewable in WebStation Environment StruxureWare 1.1.0.362 Cause Are calendar entries from 3rd party BACnet devices viewable in WebStation? For calendar entries from third party devices that were not created through StruxureWare Building Operation, they are not shown in WebStation. For example: When integrated a 3rd party BACnet device in StruxureWare Building Operation the integrator of this device created a calendar object on their side. Also created are so sample entries like 24th of December. When uploaded this device and viewing the calendar from the Workstation everything was fine but when viewing WebStation, the calendar entries that were created from the integrator are not shown. Resolution In Webstation 1.1 we only support Single date exceptions. We will support date range and calculated events in 1.2.  

Issue Version of I/NET software and StruxureWare Building Operation software Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, TAC INET Environment Windows 7 I/Net versions 2.40 and greater Cause With the release of StruxureWare Building Operation's integration with I/NET, customers want to be prepared for it when it comes out and needs to know which version of I/NET software they need to be running to do so. Resolution For the initial rollout, 2.42 was listed as the preparation build to upgrade to for StruxureWare.  Users can upgrade to this build or the current build (2.43 at last edit) and begin upgrading all bin files. This will be required for StruxureWare integration. The bin files did not change between 2.42 and 2.43. Each release of StruxureWare may have a corresponding release of I/NET.  For the time being users will be required to upgrade both I/Net and StruxureWare at the same time. The upgrade from 2.42 to 2.43 is a no-cost upgrade. It should be considered a best practice to upgrade I/NET and StruxureWare at the same time even when not required.  The 1.3.0.938 release of StruxureWare requires I/NET 2.43. If the site upgraded to 2.42 they will not need to upgrade bin files for the controllers.

Issue Cannot bind an input with the name Intern.Temp. Environment StruxureWare Building Operation Binding Point Naming Cause While a "." may be used as a separating character within a point name, it is an illegal object name character when it appears as the last character. StruxureWare Building Operation will generate an Illegal Character error when you attempt to name an object with a trailing "." character. Resolution Rename the object without a "." at the end of the name string and rebind it to the object.

Issue Not all commands in Plain English are available in Building Operation Script. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Script editor in Building Operation Cause Conversion of PE to Building Operation script is unsuccessful. Unsupported Script commands. Resolution Plain English may be imported into Building Operation; however, there are some minor edits that must be performed to make it work. Bindings must be applied. There is some automated manipulation of PE to Script upon import and it should continue to improve in future releases. By creating a "dump" file in Continuum and editing the file to remove the Header and Footer areas, the remaining code can be imported into Building Operation as Script. There are some functions Continuum uses that will not be used in Building Operation, the Script will error upon event to save if unsupported code is used in the imported script. Notification of each line of code is in error will occur upon a save attempt. Navigate to the lines in error and correct the code. The following link has information on PE to Script changes. Log in is required to access full online help: StruxureWare Building Operation Online Help

Issue The limits on how many AI/AO/BI/BO/RI/RO, Function Block number, Constant number, public signal number...etc.. one can create in one Functional Block Application? Environment StruxureWare Building Operation site with Functional Block Application Cause What are the limits on how many AI/AO/BI/BO/RI/RO, Function Block number, Constant number, public signal number...etc.. one can create in one Functional Block Application? Resolution There are no limits about how many blocks that could be created, but the Function Block parser has a memory limit. When this limit is exceeded an error text is prompted to the user. There is no way to tell if a site is getting close to that limit.  

Issue Can I use a uninterruptible power supply for controllers? UPS Environment site requiring constant power supply or unstable power from grid and need to take into account power supplies Cause Can I use the CX99-PSU-BATT for an ACX5720 controller? If not, then what can I use if the customer wants a UPS for each controller. Should I use a big UPS for the system and supply the controllers from it?   Resolution The CX99-PSU-BATT is 70VA 120/240VAC and really designed for the CX9900 PSU. It is suggested to get one of our APC UPS and run the proper voltage transformer to the ACX5720. The ACX 57xx series is rated with a 24VAC 90VA or 12-28VDC 50W on the power supply which I recommend due to devices which connect to this controller and require power. i.e. door readers UPS or uninterruptible power supplies are available from APC by Schneider Electric.  Background The power drawn by computing equipment is expressed in Watts or Volt-Amps (VA). The power in Watts is the real power drawn by the equipment. Volt-Amps is called the "apparent power" and is the product of the voltage applied to the equipment times the current drawn by the equipment. Both Watt and VA ratings have a use and purpose. The Watt rating determines the actual power purchased from the utility company and the heat loading generated by the equipment. The VA rating is used for sizing wiring and circuit breakers. The VA and Watt ratings for some types of electrical loads, like incandescent light bulbs, are identical. However, for computer equipment the Watt and VA ratings can differ significantly, with the VA rating always being equal to or larger than the Watt rating. The ratio of the Watt to VA rating is called the "Power Factor" and is expressed either as a number (i.e. 0.7) or a percentage (i.e. 70%). The power rating of the UPS UPS have both Watt ratings and VA ratings. Neither the Watt nor the VA rating of a UPS may be exceeded. In most cases, UPS manufacturers only publish the VA rating of the UPS. However, it is a standard in the industry that the Watt rating is approximately 60% of the VA rating, this being the typical power factor of common loads. Therefore, it is safe to assume that the Watt rating of the UPS is 60% of the published VA rating. How to avoid sizing errors Using APC sizing guidelines or and APC Configuration can help avoid these problems, as the load power values are verified. Equipment nameplate ratings are often in VA, which makes it difficult to know the Watt ratings. If using equipment nameplate ratings for sizing, a user might configure a system which appears to be correctly sized based on VA ratings but actually exceeds the UPS Watt rating. By sizing the VA rating of a load to be no greater than 60% of the VA rating of the UPS, it is impossible to exceed the Watt rating of the UPS. Therefore, unless you have high certainty of the Watt ratings of the loads, the safest approach is to keep the sum of the load nameplate ratings below 60% of the UPS VA rating. Note that this conservative sizing approach will typically give rise to an oversized UPS and a larger run time than expected. If optimization of the system and an accurate run time are required, use APC sizing and Worldwide Web configuration tools.  

Issue What are the alarm response times for StruxureWare Building Operation Environment StruxureWare Building Operation site Cause Requesting information concerning response times and maximum periods. Need to know when the response is met and provide a written description of the way in which they are met. Time from initiation of an alarm at the source to the annunciation on the engineering StruxureWare Building Operation server: Critical alarms (Plant Shutdown and Safety) <2 seconds Non critical alarms <4 seconds Time from initiation of an alarm to all other BACnet devices to StruxureWare Building Operation server: Critical alarm 20ms Non critical alarms 20ms Time from initiation of a change of state or value to all Lon devices to StruxureWare Building Operation Server: 20ms Resolution We have a requirement that says the following: The time from when a value, monitored by an alarm, passes the trigger value of the alarm, until the alarm is visible in a WorkStation logged onto the parent Enterprise Server shall be: - less than 1000 ms in average over 20 measurements -maximum 2000 ms for each measurement This requirement applies to the Performance Target System. This includes any multi-server environment and also if the value is out on a Lon device, BACnet device or any other device we support. The above requirement is met. We also don’t have different response-priorities for critical and non-critical alarms in StruxureWare Building Operation, they are treated the same.  

Issue Many  of our products have Web page functionality, can I test out if my animation plug in's are operating correctly? Environment Web pages, Web Client, Web Server Embedded Pinpoint web pages Silverlight, Flash player, Java and other Web animations. Cause Need to confirm if a web page  Animation plug in operates within the product or just on the Web browser used on the PC.  Resolution See Website: http://bubblemark.com/ for the links to the different animation tests.

Issue Technical support contact information for Design 360 and Studio 360 Product Line Andover Continuum, EcoStruxure Building Operation, Field Devices, Other, Satchwell MicroNet, Satchwell Sigma, TAC IA Series, TAC INET, TAC Vista Environment Design 360 Studio 360 Cause Design 360 or Studio 360 has issues requiring technical support assistance which is not provided by PSS. Resolution Schneider Electric Employees should contact PSS who will provide you with your Branch Administrator and Technical Expert contact information. Partners may contact Smartware directly for any support of the tool at: Email: techsupport@smartwaretech.com Phone: (716) 213-2222

Issue On an input configured with an Engineering Value range of 0 to 5 Degrees Celsius, an electric scale range 470 ohms to 10470 ohms and a reliability range from 470 to 1047 ohms, any input value produces an Under Range in the Reliability Property value. Environment SBO AS Inputs Reliability BACnet Cause The Reliability property references the inputs Engineering Values, not the Electrical Values. Resolution Because the Reliability parameters that are set on SmartStruxure inputs reference the Engineering values, in this example even the maximum value of 5 degrees Celsius would have placed the input value far below the Lower Reliability Level parameter of 470 (ohms).  In this case the solution is to use an Lower Reliability Level of 0 and an Upper Reliability Level of 5.