Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Controller resets sporadically, when it comes back online there is no database found in the controller (all points have been deleted) and it needs to be reloaded. After reloading, the Controller responds very slowly and time SystemVariables such as Date, Minute, Hour, are not updating. Environment Netcontroller II (CX9680) Cause The problem ended up being traced down to some XDriver points that were configured with an annex point that was also configured as an XDriver point. They were fighting each other. Resolution Removed the XDriver point configured as an annex point in another XDriver point and the Controller started to respond normally.

Issue Receive "This Login does not match Windows login" error when trying to login to a client session of WebClient. Environment WebClient User Permissions Cause User account had not been granted Local Admin rights. Resolution Grant Local Admin rights to the account user.

Issue Server does not exist or access denied error when using Continuum DB Initialization. All settings appear to have correct values but the DB initialization fails with the error mentioned above. Environment CyberStation SQL Server Cause Multiple instances of SQL server installed in the server machine. Resolution When multiple instances of SQL are installed in the server the instance MUST be specified along with the server name. Example: In the Server Name field of Database Initialization Server window type: SERVER_MACHINE_NAME\SQL2008 not just SERVER_MACHINE_NAME

Issue Can the ACX57xx be configured to use its RS-485 Infinet comm port to connect to a Netcontroller as an Infinet device? Environment ACX5720 ACX5740 Cause Limited access to Ethernet LAN, want to use the new ACX57xx in the same capacity as the old ACX781 controllers where they were connected as Infinet nodes to a Netcontroller. Resolution Although the RS-485 port can be configured for Infinet communications, this is solely for adding subnet controllers off of this ACX57xx. This does not allow configuring the controller to communicate directly on the Infinet network as a slave device. The ACX57xx was designed to replace, and improve on, the Infinet ACX781. To do this it was given more memory, a faster processor, more Personnel storage space, and secure communications options among other improvements. To accommodate all this it needed to have a larger network pipe for the increased bandwidth. The Ethernet LAN accommodates this bandwidth whereas the Infinet network would have been a major bottleneck.

Issue Pinpoint crashes when jumping between Graphic panels. This then causes the other modules to eventually crash and Continuum needs to be exited un-graciously then restarted. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Cyberstation Pinpoint Cause Too many active data links on the Graphics panels for the Pinpoint engine to deal with. Resolution Reduce the number of active data links to 100 or less per Graphic panel. For stability, this is the recommended maximum number of active data links that one Graphic panel can support.

Issue What is included when the PIR option is ordered? Environment SE7300 series controllers Cause The SE7300 series controllers can be ordered both with and without the PIR option Resolution If the PIR sensor functionality is ordered as included from factory, code 55 (example: SE7600A5545E) should be used. If PIR functionality is not required, code 50 (example: SE7600A5045E) should be used. PIR functionality can be retrofit at any time. For details and part numbers, please see related documentation.

Issue Can an i2920 and an i2857 be used together without a CX controller? Environment Infinet Stand Alone i2 Cause Want to install a control system without a Netcontroller. Resolution Infinet controllers that reside on the same infinet bus are able to share data when the parent Infinity controller is offline or removed from the bus. 

Issue What is the maximum value that the BITAND function able to process. Environment Continuum BCX NCII CX Plain English Function Cause BITAND function is not working as expected. Resolution The largest value that the BITAND function is able to process is 65535 or 1111111111111110.

Issue Can a Continuum LAN Security Key be upgraded to a WEBC key? Environment Continuum Security Key Cause A customer wants to add WebClient capability to their existing LAN setup and is replacing one of the LAN Cyberstations with the WebClient Server but wants to use the existing Security Key.   Resolution A Continuum Security Key cannot be upgraded from LAN to WEBC, you'll need to purchase a new WEBC key to enable WebClient on a LAN system.

Issue Modbus TCP/IP Server is not an option when programming a Modbus Gateway in an Xenta Server. Environment Xenta 913 Xenta 7xx XBuilder Cause There are only 3 Modbus Interface configurations for Modbus in an Xenta Server. Modbus RTU Client ("Master"), Modbus serial line master on a network Server ("Slave"), Modbus serial line slave on a network Modbus TCP Client ("Master"), Modbus TCP client to a server or router on a network Modbus TCP Server is not possible. Resolution Modbus TCP/IP can only be configured to be a Client (Master) in an Xenta Server. A solution if TCP Server is absolutely necessary would be to use an IP to 485 converter, such as an EGX100, and use the RTU interface.

Issue Received Elevator Control Software but no activation code for Continuum Security Key. Unable to use the software without the key. Environment Elevator Control Add-on Software Cause Instructions on how to obtain the activation key have been missed or did not arrive with order. Resolution The packing slip that comes with delivery of the Elevator Control Software CD has instructions on how to obtain the activation code. At the bottom of the packing slip you will see something similar to below. ***************************************************************************** ** Please email Continuum Key S/N to                                       ** ** COE@buildings.schneider-electric.com requesting                         ** ** Software Activation Code for CUSTOMER PO# xxxxxxxx                      ** ***************************************************************************** You will need to send an email to the Center of Excellence Support team with the serial number of the Continuum Security Key you want to activate and the Purchase Order number that the software was purchase on. You will then be sent a serialized code that is used with the "KeyCode_KeyWriter.exe" to activate the key. Detailed steps are described in the Elevator Control Installation and Operation Guide that comes on the CD.

Issue Online Help states that a String can be 255 characters in size but an error is seen when trying to set the size to this number. Changing the String Size of a String object results in an error "Cannot set the StringSize. Attribute value is invalid". Environment Continuum Controllers Cause The size of String objects depends on the controller that the object is being created in. bCX1 and Netcontrollers support String objects with a size of 132 characters, i2 and b3 controllers only support String objects with a maximum size of 32 characters. Resolution The documented value of 255 as the maximum String Size, as stated in the online Continuum Help, is not correct. Network controllers can support String objects with a maximum size of 132 characters whereas subnet controllers can support a maximum of 32 characters.

Issue Unable to find an object in the Database error when Alarm Page is selected in the object editor. Environment Alarm Functions Alarms Cause Alarm Function keys still present in the registry after Alarm Functions have been removed from Continuum. Resolution In order for Alarm Functions to work, special registry keys are created under the Andover Controls HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Andover Controls\Continuum\Settings folder. To resolve this issue on systems where alarm functions are no longer used... Make a backup of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Andover Controls\Continuum\Settings Delete the unused registry keys per Continuum online help article User-Defined Alarm Functions.

Issue When an alarm comes into Active Alarm View the wav file keeps playing after the alarm has been silenced. Environment Alarm Enrollment Event Notification Wave File Cause The wave file location has been moved. Alarm Enrollment or Event Notification wave file association has been lost. Resolution Re-point the Alarm Enrollment or Event Notification to the wave file and retest.

Issue What protocol of the Ziton ZP3 Fire Detection System does our Xdriver utilize? Environment Continuum Xdriver - Ziton Fire Panel Cause Need to confirm that the XDriver is able to communicate to third party fire panel. Resolution The Ziton XDriver has been developed to the ZCP2 communications protocol V2.01. Contact the manufacturer to confirm whether the panel supplied supports this version of the protocol.   Further information on the XDriver can be found at the link below. Clymac - Ziton Fire Panel

Issue Unable to create a new i2/b3 Device object. Getting an error "Cannot set the handle. Duplicate Infinet Id and comm port" when trying to create a new Device object. Environment Continuum i2xxx and b3xxx controllers. Cause The error is seen when trying to create a Device object with an Id that already exists on the network or in the Database. Resolution 1. Create the Device object with a different / unused node Id. 2. Check the Database to see if there any ghost entries for this Device object that may not have been deleted properly. Running the Continuum Analyzer tests may show, and clean, these ghost entries. 

Issue After creating an output point on an XPD02 attached to a BCX the output is not working.  The CPU light of the XPD02 stays solid ON. Environment XPD02 BCX Expansion Modules Cause The expansion module was connected to the BCX while powered. Resolution Reload the BCX.

Warning Electrostatic Discharge Required: Always discharge static electricity from your person by touching metal prior to handling any hardware. Failure to do so may result in damage to devices. Issue In some situations, there is a network connection problem or PC power management issue that causes the b3 firmware update to be interrupted. When retrying the controller update, an error pops up: "The Infinity2 controller is currently being flashed or reloaded." Resetting the controller and even doing a power cycle with the controller will not fix this problem. Environment BCX1 B3 Cyberstation Cause The update interruption may be because the b3 is busy. Resolution Take the workstation offline Delete the b3 controller Reset BCX1 from the editor and reload BCX1 Bring the b3 controller online Try to update firmware b3 again. It should be ok.

Issue Trying to change the Priority level that the Schedule uses from the default 16 to a higher priority. Environment Continuum BACnet Schedule object Cause The Schedule object has not been discovered on the BACnet side. The BACnet attributes can't be viewed or modified. Resolution Find the Schedule on the BACnet side. Right-click Root and select Find New BACnet Devices. Right-click the Device in the BACnet Devices folder and select Send To > Database. Open the Schedule and change Priority from the default 16 to the required priority level.

Issue How to create i2xxx and b3xxx controllers from a CSV dump file. Environment Continuum i2xxx Controllers b3xxx Controllers Cause In this scenario they wanted to create the beginning of a site database from CSV dump files before deploying on site.  Resolution It seems that when creating an i2 or b3 object, the path is also required when defining the comm port. Make sure to add the path to the Port field and this should allow the controller object to be created. See the original CSV I exported below, how it was modified, and then imported back in successfully. Original Export to CSV InfinityInfinetCtlr Name,InfinetId,Port,DeviceId,SerialNum,Alias,CntrlType i2_850,32,Comm1,Network1\ACX11_10th,11111,i2_850,i2920 Modified Import CSV InfinityInfinetCtlr Name,InfinetId,Port,DeviceId,SerialNum,Alias,CntrlType i2_920,32,Network1\ACX11_10th\Comm1,Network1\ACX11_10th,11111,i2_920,i2920 Now, this import does complain about the CntrlType in the distribution Properties window but does create the controller and sets the type correctly. If you don't want any errors you can remove the CntrType attribute and the controller object will still be created but will default to a 240 controller. See below. Import CSV without CntrlType InfinityInfinetCtlr Name,InfinetId,Port,DeviceId,SerialNum,Alias i2_920,32,Network1\ACX11_10th\Comm1,Network1\ACX11_10th,11111,i2_920   This can then be changed to whatever controller you require through the controller Device object dialog.