Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue PE program that locks a door getting disabled with error "Unable to lock door while timed unlock is in effect" or "Unable to lock door while permanent unlock is in effect" Environment CyberStation CX9780 ACX5720 ACX5740 Cause Door has been timed unlock. When a door is unlocked via the PermanentUnlock flag or the Timed Unlock attribute, PE programs are not allowed to re-lock the door. Resolution From the command line print the permanent unlock attribute of the door, if attribute is true re-set it to false. The name of the attribute is PermanentUnlock From the command line print the timed unlock attribute of the door, if attribute is > 0 re-set it to 0 The name of the attribute is TimeUnlock Add a line E to the program to keep it from getting disabled.

Issue When a User logs on to Cyberstation a Graphic can be added to a User to open at logon, can this be done for webClient? Environment Cyberstation webClient Cause The Graphic selected in a User opens on Cyberstation, but does not through webClient logon. Resolution In the User configuration/ Security tab there is a "Default Web Object" field. Select the required graphic panel in this field and when you log on through a webClient browser session this graphic will automatically open.

Issue Will NC2/ACX2 controller warm or cool start after its IP address is changed from the configuration web page? or is it the case that the controller must be reloaded? Environment CX9640 CX9680 ACX5720 ACX5740 Cause Function as designed Resolution Changing the IP address or ACCNetId of a 9640/9680 or ACX5720/40 invalidates the backup in the controller's flash memory. Controller will have to be reloaded from CyberStation after it re-starts.

Issue During extremely high levels of network traffic Ethernet controllers are going offline. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment The following controller versions and above: bCX1 Firmware V4.500065 bCX1-INF Firmware V1.200021 Netcontroller CX9900 V1.530026 Netcontroller II V2.100027 ACX57xx V1.100027 Cause Although the above firmware versions (and higher) all contain a fix to stop the controllers resetting due to excessive traffic levels in a broadcast storm (LAN Errors), they can still be seen to go offline even though they no longer reset and lose their data. Resolution If a controller detects a broadcast storm and receive excessive data traffic that fills up its buffers, then the controller may turn off their receiver to protect themselves and ensure that they do not reset. By doing this it allows the controller to continue controlling and running PE programs as well as retaining the data in the RAM memory. When the storm stops or data traffic levels reduce enough for normal communication to continue, then the controllers will come back online and communicate again to the Workstations and other Ethernet level controllers. Note: A broadcast storm can be generated by incorrect BBMD configuration, i.e. more than 1 device set as a BBMD in one subnet can cause a storm to occur.

Issue Can the xPUI4 and xPDI8 expansion modules be configured in CyberStation to have the supervised ElecType? Environment xPUI4 xPDI8 xPUI-4 xPDI-8 Cause Can the xPUI4 and xPDI8 be used for supervised inputs? Resolution The xPUI4 can be configured with supervised inputs. The xPDI8 cannot be configured with supervised inputs. Note: For UL1076 listed security systems, the xPUI4 Expansion Module inputs must be configured as Supervised. Note: The xPDI8 Expansion Module does not support supervised inputs and cannot be used in UL1076 installations.  The above notes come from Document # 30-3001-504 UL 294 Access Control and UL 1076 Proprietary Burglar Alarm Systems Reference If using an ACX or bCX controller the xPBD4 and xPBA4 modules may also be used for supervised inputs, these are not compatible with the i2 or b3 controllers.

Issue How to re-create the default objects such as default list views and alarm enrollments. Environment CyberStation Cause Not known cause Resolution Run the Continuum database initialization utility then go to the server or stand alone tab (depending on your configuration). Tick the Create Default List Views check box and/or any of the other check boxes that create default objects. Make sure the Update Existing Database is selected in the create or update group. Click Continue to update the database and create the default objects.

Issue Can a supervised input be mapped from a b3 and/or an i2 controller up to a numeric in a BCX?   Environment i2  b3 bCX Cause A project will require some supervised inputs on b3 and/or i2 controllers. Can these points be mapped to a bCX? Resolution Be aware that only certain b3 and i2 controllers support the supervised input type. Supervised inputs on these controllers can be mapped via a Plain English program to an InfinityNumeric in a bCX (or other applicable network level controllers). On a v1.93 system with a bcx9640 we mapped a supervised input on an i2800. The InfinityNumeric editor displayed all three supervised states: On, Off, and Trouble.

Issue Reload fails during the programs portion with an error message similar to: Unable to reload attributes. OMS database is currently unavailable, backing up. Environment i2 bCX NC2 Cause A flash backup PE program is set to autostart. As soon as that program loads, it will start to perform a flash backup and any PE programs that have not loaded will not load and the reload will terminate. Resolution Make sure any programs set to automatically backup a controller cannot do so until after a reload is complete.

Issue How to know if schedules did not download. Environment CyberStation Schedules Cause Is it possible to alarm if schedules do not download. Resolution The following idea assumes you use the standard Sunday 12AM download time. In each controller with a schedule create a schedule called MonitorDownload.sch and attached a numeric to it. Toggle that numeric, only on Sundays, to ON at 12:45am and OFF at 1:15am. Write a fallthru program that triggers on hour and execute a check of that numeric only on Sunday at 1am. If it is not ON then trip an alarm - figuring that none of the schedule updates made it to that controller. If you also use the SendEmail capability of the controller this could also act as a check that the workstation (on a standalone) is not communicating (off, network issue, crash, etc) to the controller.

Issue What specification should the Continuum Infinet bus cable meet? Environment Systems using Infinet comm's  with i2 & i1 Infinet controllers. Cause Often an incorrect cable type is used when wiring Infinet devices (Infinet Controllers), unless the correct cable specification is used it is unlikely you will get reliable communications. Resolution Infinet Cable Specifications : Cables used to form the Infinet should conform to the following specifications: Wire Size: 24 AWG Cable Type: Twisted-pair, copper wire, tinned Shield: Braid Nominal Impedance: 120 Ω Velocity of propagation: 78% Capacitance: <12.5 pF/ft between conductors and < 22 pF/ft between the conductor connected to ground and the next conductor.

Issue Can a workstation communicate to a controller using Ethernet Network Address Translation (NAT) Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Cyberstation All Ethernet level CX and bCX controllers. Cause Some IT Departments may want to use Network Address Translation to connect between different sections of their network. Resolution Continuum does not support Network Address Translation (NAT) the IP address entered in the Cyberstation database must match the address entered locally in the controller.

Issue A Graphic panel or other object needs to be opened by a Plain English program on Cyberstation, what command can be used? Environment Cyberstation Plain English Programs Cause It is often not clear what Plain English keyword can be used to open a Graphic Panel, or other object. Resolution The "Show" command can be used to open a graphic from Plain English For example: Show AirHandler1 This will open a graphic called AirHandler1, enter Show in the online help search for further examples.  

Issue Reloading a BCX4040 causes it to appear offline. Environment bCX4040 Cause After a reload, a bCX is offline.  Resolution Dump bCX to text file. Delete bCX from CyberStation. Clear database backup via controller webpage. Add back the bCX in CyberStation and performed a Teach. In global BACnet Preferences (Cyber icon in Windows tray), add BBMD information and run Teach in the BBMD Registration editor.  Import the dump file from Step 1. Perform a successful reload.

Issue When a NCII 9680 starts up what determines which mode is used, as it does not have an ACCRestartMode system variable as per the bCX1. Environment Netcontroller II CX9680 NC2, NCII Cause Clarification of the way a Netcontroller II starts up is required. Resolution It is only the BACnet bCX1 controllers that allow you to manually set the ACCRestartMode. The NCII however still can do the 3 different start up modes (Warm, Cool or Cold) but it will depend on the situation. When the controller powers up it will try to do a warm start, if the battery is plugged in (it is shipped disconnected) and the internal RAM checksum is valid it will continue the programs from where they were prior to power fail. Also all data and logging will be retained. If the RAM is not valid the controller attempts a Cool start, if you have a valid Flash backup (see Sys Var' ACCStatusBackup) then it will copy over the data from Flash to RAM and all Auto start programs will start up from their first line. If there is no valid RAM or Flash backup the controller will be empty and do a cold start.

Issue Trying to discover Bacnet IP but only some of the devices are brought in. Environment Phoenix Virtual Server Continuum 1.9X Cause Two BBMDs configured on the same Subnet Resolution  Only One BBMD per Broadcast domain / Network is required in a BACnet Network Web over to the BCX and disable the BBMD function  Do a network teach  Delete the Phoenix Network from the Bacnet side in Continuum Do a Find New Bacnet  from the Continuum Root.

Issue Is there a wireless version of the BCX Environment BCX 9640 BCX 4040 BCX 4000 Cause Looking for wireless model for BCX Resolution In order for a BCX to support field bus controllers, the commport must be selected for wireless and also an adapter installed for wireless support.

Issue Using Apollo engineering software and receive an error 'Login failed for user 'Andover97'. Environment Apollo v3.1 Continuum Cause The wrong user credentials are used, Apollo is expecting a standard password. This authentication can fail if the password is different to the default or if SQL is set to for case sensitive passwords.   Resolution It is possible to rectify by performing the following using the Apollo software. 1. Select the option 'Change Database' under the 'Edit' menu. 2. Select 'Non Standard Logon' and try different user name and password combinations, clicking 'Test' to check if the login works. It should be one of the following combinations unless the Continuum SQL install master password has been changed. (removed due to public access) *Try each variation of the default username and password with uppercase first letter and lowercase first letters. 3. When the test in step 2 works, click on the 'Change Database' button to set the new database. Unfortunately this is not saved and it will need to be re-entered each time Apollo is started.  

Issue Does Outlook need to be installed or running in order for ReportCmdLine to deliver email reports. Does ReportCmd interact directly with the Exchange server. Environment Continuum CyberStation WebClient Outlook Report ReportCmdLine Exchange Cause Troubleshooting problems with email delivery of reports. Resolution The ReportCmdLine.exe has no interaction with Exchange mail services whatsoever.  It simply notifies the report object specified by the /o argument that the report should be created and sent in the form of an email, or a file, or both. The effect is similar, though not precisely the same as opening the report object and selecting the Email button on the tool bar. These two actions, i.e. sending a report email using by selecting the report email button or by using the ReportCmdLine's  /t argument differ in the following way. Report Email button: The report Email button embeds the report HTML in an email. The report email must then be sent manually. If Outlook is not installed on the workstation, selecting the email button generates an error Send Mail failed to send message. ReportCmdLine: When the report object receives the email argument from the ReportCmdLine.exe it creates a report email. The email cannot be sent until Outlook is running. If Outlook is not running the Continuum caches the report email so that it can be sent once Outlook is up and running. If Outlook is not running the ReportCmdLine batch file will not display a failure error. In either case you need a mail client that supports Enhanced MAPI protocol (MS Outlook) installed and running on the Cyberstation in order to deliver the report via email.  Since Continuum is not an Exchange client it cannot interact directly with and Exchange server. Note: If the customer doesn't like the DOS box showing when the report runs. Run DOS minimized by using start/min in a batch file  Ex. Start /min Myreport.bat Note: There has been a case where having Google Chrome as the browser has affected the sending of automatic reports. Removing it corrected the issue. This was not reproducible in PSS.

Issue Is there any Continuum solution for hardware (controller) fail over redundancy? Environment All Continuum controllers. Cause System recovery on controller hardware failure. Resolution Currently Continuum does not provide any method for controller fail over redundancy.

Issue A door configured for Entry/Exit reader gets error message "cannot reload remote attribute. Error: null"  & " Cannot set remote infinity object" when reloading the door object to the controller. Environment CX9900, CX9940 and CX9680 AC1, AC1A and AC1Plus Cause Different IOU module (AC1, AC1A and AC1Plus) cannot be used to configure for entry/exit readers for a door. Resolution A door with entry/exit readers should use the same type of IOU module ( AC1 , AC1A or AC1Plus ) for entry reader and exit reader.