Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue I/A Series Micronet BACnet controllers firmware download Environment I/A Series Micronet BACnet (MNB) Controllers Cause The firmware for the MNB controllers is not available on the Extranet. Resolution The MNB controllers' firmware can be downloaded from The Exchange Download Center by searching for MNB firmware.

Issue I/A Series G3 Niagara network points in fault and indicate Subscribed error:invalid permissions. Environment I/A Series G3 (all versions) Cause The credentials being used by the connection does not have the correct permissions to access the data. Resolution Verify username / password and associated permissions related to station to station fox connections.  Modify the associated permissions on the server side or use another set of credentials that have permissions.

Issue A floating control reheat valve is wired to the digital triac outputs of a MicroSmart controller.  After a few hours of operation, the valve position does not match with the expected position as provided by the real-time display.  Is there a way to synchronize the actual position with the real-time display without power-cycling the controller? Environment DMS MicroSmart (any with triac outputs) Cause Intrinsic design issue with floating actuators with built-in feedback. Resolution One option is to write a UDP that toggles valve control using a STOP command and then an AUTO command on the analog output point. Ensure the STOP command action is RANLO (range low) which will swing the actuator to its fully open or fully closed position.  The AUTO command will restore dynamic control via its control loop. In between the STOP and AUTO commands, insert a delay of 120 seconds to give the actuator time to get to its fully open or fully closed position.  If the actuator needs more or less than 120 seconds, modify it accordingly. Run the UDP on a timer of every 4 hours.

Issue Getting "Comm Error 12 - Cannot run this ROM in this hardware" when trying to access a PEM through XPSI. Environment Network 8000 PEM-1 Cause Internal board failure Resolution Ensure the version of PSI being used is Y2K compliant (i.e. at least version 3.11).  The PSI program utilizes the time/date during log in, and it may well be the year 2000 date that is causing this problem.  The PEM PSI version will show as you enter it from XPSI. If that is not the issue, re-install the controller's database.   If that doesn't help, replace the controller.

Issue Customer Care cannot offer a cross-reference or functional replacement to a caller looking to order an ENC-520-2 or ENC-410-1 which are obsolete.  Does one exist? Environment Niagara G3 Cause Product obsolescence Resolution Depending on the jobsite's network architecture and protocol integrations, the functional replacement to an ENC-520-2 or ENC-410-1 can vary.  Contact your Regional Sales Manager for assistance in selecting the correct replacement part.

Issue How long does PSS support a product after it is released? Product Line Andover Continuum, EcoStruxure Building Operation, TAC IA Series, TAC INET, TAC Vista Environment All Schneider Electric Buildings Business software platforms Cause After a few years, the majority of issues with a release product are documented in the Knowledge Base.  At this point, if the customer is having issues requiring Product Support, we ask that they upgrade to the current version. Resolution Please read the following Product Announcements: PA_00271 Software Support Policy - General Overview.pdf PA_00272 Software Support Policy - Supplementary info for_Andover_Continuum.pdf PA_00274 Software Support Policy - Supplementary info for TAC Vista.pdf PA_00279 Software Support Policy - Supplementary info for TAC INET.pdf PA_00280 Software Support Policy - Supplementary info for TAC IA Series.pdf

Issue When attempting to communicate with a MNL controller using the Listen to service pin method, a neuron ID of all zeros (000000000000) is received after clicking on the 'Listen' button. This is an invalid neuron ID and the physical service pin on the MNL controller has not been pressed. Environment I/A Series WorkPlace 5.8.x Microsoft Windows 7 32-bit Echelon OpenLDV 4.0 Echelon Type II PC Card (formerly PCMCIA) LonWorks PC LonTalk adapter (PCC-10) (formerly PCMCIA) LONWORKS PC LonTalk Cause WorkPlace Tech requires that the PCC-10 LonWorks adapter to be configured to use NI Application NSIPCC. Resolution Here are the steps to configure the LonWorks Adapter to use NI Application NSIPCC in Echelon OpenLDV 4.0.  1. Go to Windows Control Panel and launch LonWorks Interfaces. 2. Click the PCC-10 interface in the list view on the left side of the user interface to display the interface's properties in the details pane in the right side. 3. The details pane lists the PCC-10 card’s system image and transceiver properties. 4. Click anywhere in the NI Application property, click the box to the right, and then browse to and select the NSIPCC image.  property, click the box to the right, and then browse to and select the desired system image from interface's properties in the details pane in the right side.

Issue Trying to purchase a Network 8000 conversion from the TAC I/A Series Migrator and the "Add to Cart" button is missing? Environment iPortal and TAC I/A Series Migrator tool Cause This can happen if someone adds a conversion file to a cart and leaves that cart without checking out or if a conversion file is added to a cart and then deleted from the cart. Resolution When this occurs the file migration must be done again.  Once the conversion is complete the "Add to Cart" button will be displayed and the file can be purchased.

Issue Is SIGNAL supported on Windows 2000? Environment SIGNAL version 4.4.1 and 5.0.0 Cause Windows 2000 was not included in testing Resolution SIGNAL 4.4.1 is compatible with Windows 95/98. SIGNAL 5.0.0 is compatible with Windows XP.

Issue Jobsite is visited every few months.  It seems like database elements have changed value since the previous visit.  These are elements that do not need changing unlike setpoints or schedules. Is there a built-in feature with a DMS panel or the programming tool (OPRIF) that provides database analysis? Environment DMS OPRIF Cause Wanting to cross-check current element values in the database with the previous visit Resolution Due to the generation of the product, database analysis tools were not a built-in feature. Supervisory computers allowed for tools to analyse databases and save information to file for future review (i.e. UltiVist, SIGNAL, etc...) With only OPRIF available, screenshots of point configuration screens are the only way to store values for review later. DMS databases are not formatted for offline viewing. Comparing one database copy to another is to use a second DMS panel.

Issue JACE-645-R2: The changing of the time zone in G3 Platform Administration is not being reflected in the R2 station? Environment I/A series G3 JACE-645 R2 Cause The time zone is not getting changed in the time.properties file for the JACE.  Resolution Manually set the Time Zone in the time.properties file as described below.  1. In the G3 platform select File Transfer Client and on the right side go to /niagara/niagaraR2/sys to view the time.properties file. 2. Highlight the time.properties file and using the left arrow transfer it to the pc.  3. Using a text editor like Notepad open this file, manually type in the desired time zone and save the change.  4. Use the G3 Platform - File Transfer Client to transfer the altered time.properties file from the pc to the JACE and reboot the JACE.  5. Open the station with R2 and confirm the time zone has been altered as desired.

Issue On a SE7600 controller, is the nciSccModel snvt read-only or will it modify the controller's profile?  Customer has replaced the HVAC equipment such that the existing profile does not match up with the existing SE7600. Environment SE7600 VT7600 Cause Mechanical equipment was replaced with a different design Resolution The nciSccModel snvt does not modify the SE7600 profile.  It is a read-only. A different model of controller is the best option for the new mechanical design. An external solution may also work (i.e. the use of a relay).

Issue I/A Series Micronet BACnet controllers (MNB) support for BACnet Schedules Environment I/A Series Micronet BACnet (MNB) controllers  Cause There is a requirement for the BACnet controllers to support BACnet schedules.  Resolution Currently, I/A Series Micronet BACnet controllers do not support BACnet schedules. 

Issue What's the best way to clear an existing database from a DMS3500 and DMS350A? Environment DMS DMS3500, DMS350A Cause Re-installing a database and want to ensure existing database is completely gone. Resolution In the DMS3500, connect OPRIF and use Command Mode to type in the following command:  DBCLR. Once complete, log back into the DMS3500 and begin a database installation. In the DMS350A, sign-on the keypad and type the following command:  DBCLR. Go to each connected DCM and set all 8 toggle switches to the ON position.  Cycle power to the DCM.  After 10 seconds, re-address the DCM and cycle power. Once complete, use OPRIF to begin a database installation. The DBCLR command and setting the toggle switches to ON are considered a 'hardware' clear of the database.

Issue A site has a UNC-520 with ibsMs Service and approximately 20 MicroSmart controllers.  A serial tunnel is successfully established to the UNC.  From the Operator Interface main page, MicroSmart is accessed.  After a few seconds, an error appears indicating that there are no controllers under the currently selected DCM. A DCM is a board that works with a DMS350A.  However, the site has no DMS installed, just a UNC and MicroSmart controllers. Environment Niagara R2 DMS MicroSmart controllers Cause Polling is not enabled in the UNC's MicroSmart Service.  Resolution Re-enable polling and reboot the UNC. 

Issue Site has InVue with embedded TreeTech version 1.1.  Now that a newer version of TreeTech is available (version 3.2), can version 1.1 be upgraded? Environment InVue Wonderware for Intelligent Buildings (WIB) TreeTech Cause Product upgrade question Resolution TreeTech version 3.2 is not compatible with InVue.  TreeTech version 1.1 is the only compatible version with InVue. TreeTech version 3.2 is designed to run 'stand-alone'.  It is not designed to run with any other software package. It is used to backup GCM databases.

Issue Can MOVs (metal oxide varistors) be installed on the main AC power connector of a MNL controller? Site has dirty power issues. Environment MNL controllers Cause Site has dirty power issues which are causing damage to the MNL controllers Resolution Although it's not a supported configuration, the MOVs are electronically capable of being installed on the MNL controller's main AC power connector.

Issue On a jobsite, an energy meter was converted from a pulse output to a voltage output.  Can the analog input be totalized in the associated MNL controller like the pulse input was previously? Environment MNL Cause Changes on-site Resolution Analog values cannot be totalized in the MNL controller.  The next best option is to send the real-time analog value to the area controller (i.e. Niagara UNC or ENC) via a nvo and use the features available at that level for totalization.

Issue In order to meet the requirements of a graphic display, the command and status of a fan are to be plotted individually.  A MicroSmart SS point integrates both command and status into one point.  When it's mapped to an ENC, the command "element" is not available.  How can they be separated and represented individually on a graphic? Environment MicroSmart Niagara G3 Cause The 'command' element is CTCMD but the Niagara G3 MicroSmart driver does not map it at the station level.  So, it's not available. Resolution Since CTCMD is not available, the best option is to modify the programming in the MicroSmart controller.  Remove the status feedback from the start/stop point and put it into its own point.  In this case, create a ST point.  Now, the STATS element for the start/stop point can be used to represent the fan command and the STATS element for the ST point can used to represent the fan status.  In Niagara G3, they exist as separate points and can, therefore, be mapped individually on a graphic.

Issue I/A Series G3 mail service error: 'java.net.UnknownHostException: smtp.mail.yahoo.com - Authoritative Answer Host not found.  This error Indicates that the mail service in the I/A Series G3 platform is unable to establish communications to the SMTP mail server. Environment I/A Series G3 - all platforms Cause This error is typically related to the DNS settings where the URL cannot be resolved to an IP address. Resolution Verify and correct the DNS settings for the I/A Series G3 platform.