Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Where are the CE certificates available for the products in the Xenta family portfolio? Environment Xenta family Cause In some applications, CE certificates are required by the end customer or consultant as Declaration of Conformity .  Resolution In general, the CE certificates are available for download on The Exchange Download Center. Download Xenta CE Declarations certificates

Issue Does TAC Vista support the protocol ESPA 4.4.4? Environment TAC Vista 5.1.8 Cause Vista server supports: OPC Lon The Xenta 913 supports: Bacnet Modbus M-bus Clipsal C-Bus Resolution TAC Vista has no support for ESPA 4.4.4

Issue Fan is activating though it is not commanded. Environment Zbuilder Xenta 121FC Xenta 121HP Cause Fan Conditioning is Active. Conditioning can be used to "stir" the air periodically, evening the temperature when the system is not commanded or forced off. Resolution Active fan Conditioning is determined by settings for Inactive time and Active time. (UCPTappOptions bit 8, Active=1) Inactive time - Maximum interval in minutes before the fan is activated, if not used during. Standstill time between Conditioning.(UCPTFanCondOffTime) Active time - Time in minutes that the fan runs at minimum speed during Conditioning.(UCPTFanCondOnTime) If the Fan Conditioning is active, the fan state will be monitored for activity during the specified Inactive time and turned on when Inactive time has passed. The fan will stay on for the specified Active time until reached then turn off, which begins the Inactive time monitoring again. If the fan is called for during the Inactive time before reaching the Inactive time, the Inactive time is started over when the fan is released.

Issue The XIF parser could fail if there is a "-sign in a commented row in the XIF default field. Environment TAC Vista Cause The XIF parser could fail if there is a "-sign in a commented row in the XIF default data field. Example: # ----------------------------------------------------- # ----------------------------------------------------- FILE value 1 1 ##dde1  "1,2,3\x00,1,2;"         // UCPTdownDriveTime                SNVT_time_sec 0x66,0x66 ##dde3 "1,2,23x00,2,2;"         // UCPTupDriveTime                     SNVT_time_sec   Resolution Just removing the "-sign will work: # ----------------------------------------------------- # ----------------------------------------------------- FILE value 1 1 ##dde1 1,2,3\x00,1,2;           // UCPTdownDriveTime             SNVT_time_sec 0x66,0x66 ##dde3 1,2,23x00,2,2;         // UCPTupDriveTime                   SNVT_time_sec

Issue TAC License server can't be started. TAC license server crashes Environment TAC Vista 5.1.8 Cause The license server can't start if there is a DEMO license in the same folder as the "real" license. Note that in 5.1.8 the default path to the license files have changed to: C:\Program Files\Schneider Electric\License Server\TacLic\Licenses Any license files that are in the old directory will be moved to the new one when upgrading. If you need to use DEMO licenses for a site you can add them to a separate directory and add that directory in the license setup.   Resolution Delete any DEMO licenses in: C:\Program Files\Schneider Electric\License Server\TacLic\Licenses Go to services and start TACLicenseServer  

Issue What modems are supported for Xenta 901 dial -up to TAC Vista? Environment TAC Vista TAC Xenta 901 Cause Want to use a dial-up to TAC Vista. The support for dial-up in TAC Vista is mainly for upgrading of older systems. We have not added any new modems to the list in many years Resolution These modems are supported Us Robotics,3Com 56k Sportster(V92) D-Link DFM-560E+ Siemens MC-35 (GSM modem) Siemens M-20 (GSM modem) SRT (GSM modem) Wawecom (GSM modem) SRT DIN 35 (Leased line) SRT DIN (Dial up)

Issue Cannot import an XBuilder project properly into an existing project. Error states: "Template cannot be found" Saving and closing an XBuilder file of the project to be imported, all checks out fine with no errors.  Importing the project into the receiving controller results in "Template cannot be found error." Opening the project again results in the error "Failed to get file, it is recommended you exit XB without saving." Environment Windows Server 2008 R2 ( 64bit ) XBuilder Cause Xbuilder cannot see hidden files when it goes to search for the Device Template.  The default location is a hidden file under C:\Program Data\Schneider Electric\Device Library. Resolution Make your Program Data folder no longer hidden: Explore to the C: drive and in the upper left select Organize Select Folder and search options Click on the View tab Select the Show hidden files, folders, and drives radio button, then select OK

Issue Fail to communicate with Xenta/LonWorks devices under Xenta Server although Xenta Server is online and commissioned. The Neuron ID can't be pinged. Environment Vista Xenta Server Cause The Xenta Server is online and commissioned, but the LonWorks network needs to be commissioned with asterisk symbol on the LonWorks network. Resolution Remember to commission the LonWorks network after the Xenta Server is downloaded in Xbuilder.

Issue SNVT bindings to the LNS Network Interface do not update when viewed in Vista Environment Vista 5 Lonmaker 3.2 NL220 Cause When a binding to a dynamic SNVT in the LNS Network Interface is created or modified, there is no indication in the System Plugin that an update to the Vista database is required.  However, if the Vista database is not updated, newly created dynamic SNVTs will not appear in the $Host folder in Vista and existing, modified bindings will stop updating. Resolution Ensure that the Vista database is updated from the System Plugin after every change affecting bindings to the LNS Network Interface.

Issue How to estimate the thermal load (BTU/hr) that your controllers and equipment will produce. Environment All electrical equipment. Cause Need to know what the thermal load of our equipment will be for calculating air conditioning capacity. Not all of our equipment has this information provided in data sheets. Resolution It is possible to calculate the thermal load based on the power consumption of each device. See here for an online calculator. You can calculate the BTU/hr using the following formula. BTU/hr = Power (W) * 3.1412141633 As an example, looking at the Continuum AC-1 I/O module's datasheet, we see that it consumes 2.6W without the attached reader (you would need to add the power from the reader as well if it is being powered by the AC-1). Which gives us; AC-1 = 2.6W * 3.412141633 = 8.87 BTU/hr Use this same calculation for any other devices that you require the thermal load for.

Issue The SMS Nokia mobile phone simulator does not function in RAM 2.0 and Win7 Environment Windows 7 RAM Sigma Vista Micronet Cause When using the Windows 7 and in RAM 2.0, SMS alarm messages can be tested by using the SMS test interface. The Nokia dummy phone does not appear on the Windows desktop when a message is sent. Resolution Interactive Services Detection needs to be enabled: Goto Windows Start menu, type services.msc. In the Services window, scroll down to Interactive Services Detection and set to either "Auto" or "Manual" and start the service. In RAM allow a message to be sent to the dummy SMS phone. An icon will appear in the task bar, click on "View the message", the dummy SMS phone is now seen with the message sent to it.

Issue Values from an Aaon device not showing up in Xenta Server Web Interface but work fine in the Vista Server Environment Vista XBuilder Xenta Server Cause Vista will correct for xif files that do not strictly follow the LonMark Standard.  The Xenta Server does not include this feature. Resolution The Aaon Chiller is not actually a LON device, but a BACnet IP device which is communicating to Lon Via a Field Server. The manufacturer provided xif file will function in Vista but not in the Xenta Server. The only work around for this is to create the lon network in LonMaker and import that network into Xbuilder

Issue User has a backup of my files that they have restored onto a new workstation PC but now they are unable to edit the files.  For example: A Continuum graphic needs to be edited and cannot save changes but can save as a new graphic. Environment Window OS Windows XP Windows 7 8 8.1 10 Windows Vista Cause This is caused by Microsoft Windows OS. Windows will automatically make a file "Read only" if it has been moved from another PC  Resolution The solution is to change the files back to read / write. Example: Open Windows Explorer and find the folder you want to change, for this example it is "Continuum graphics." Right click on the folder and select properties, which shows a tab that will be ticked next to "read only" deselect this tab and then select apply. Once windows has finished changing the folder and its contents to read/write the user will be able to go into continuum and edit graphics.

Issue The Xenta Group Master is offline in Vista Workstation but  the rest of that masters group is online. Environment Workstation TAC Vista System Plug-In Cause The issue occurs most of the time when dealing with a system that is using a Loytec NIC 852 card. Somehow the address table entry for tag_0 can become corrupted, lost, or not updated.  Resolution Open up the TAC Vista System Plug-In through LonMaker or NL220. Click on the LNS Network menu > Create Group Bindings. Now go to the TAC Network menu and click on Commence Communication. Once the Commence Communication operation is complete, click Close. Update Vista Database. Refresh the system tree in Vista Workstation.

Issue LNS Plug-in for Viconics Thermostats Environment LNS NL220 Lonmaker Cause It is necessary to configure the Viconics VT7000 series controllers with an LNS Plug-in Resolution Download the latest Viconics Plug-in Here. Additional Information on the Viconics product offering can be found at http://www.viconics.com/.

Issue Cannot find manual service pin location Environment Schneider Electric SE76xx, SE73xx and SE72xx Viconics VT76xx, VT73xx, VT72xx Ready7 Commissioning Neuron ID Lonworks ID Service Pin message Cause The Service PIN is used to identify the device at commissioning. There is not a visible service pin button located on the Viconics device. Resolution A Service Pin will transmit the program ID and the Neuron ID (LonWorks Unique ID) contained in the device to the commissioning or service tool. The Status LED will blink when the device accepts the Service PIN command. VT7600 device - Press simultaneously the “Yes” button and the “No” button located on the keypad interface VT7300 and 7200 device - Pressing simultaneously the “Up” button and the “Down” button located on the keypad interface.       Additional Information on Viconics VT7600 series can me found in this Viconics Lon Integration Manual. Additional Information on Viconics VT7300 and VT7200 series can me found in this Viconics Lon Integration Manual.

Issue Why is the LED on the TAC Xenta 422A module on, even when I set the hand switch to off? Environment TAC Xenta 422A Cause The LED on the TAC Xenta 422A module always show the status from the program, regardless of the position of the hand control. The hand controls controls the relay direct, and not via the program. Resolution The LED on the TAC Xenta 422A module always show the status from the program, regardless of the position of the hand control.

Issue Job site has a Niagara G3 station integrated with several Xenta 301 controllers.  Can the Menta programming tool be used via LON tunneling through the station to re-program the Xenta controllers on an as-needed basis? Environment Niagara G3 Xenta controllers Cause Field request for ease of programming Resolution Tunneling via a Niagara G3 station to Xenta controllers is not possible.  A direct-connection is required.

Issue What properties of a signal is exposed in SmartStruxure via TAC Vista SmartStruxure Interface? Environment TAC Vista SmartStruxure Interface SmartStruxure Cause What properties of a signal from TAC Vista can be seen in SmartStruxure? Resolution Value (read/write) Unit (read only) Description (read only)

Issue How does TAC Vista SmartStruxure Interface affect the field bus traffic under TAC Vista? Environment TAC Vista SmartStruxure interface SmartStruxure TAC Vista Cause Does the TAC Vista SmartStruxure Interface ask for all values that are hosted and how often? Resolution TAC Vista SmartStruxure Interface creates subscriptions to the TAC Vista server and only asks for values that are being used. When you set up the EcoStruxure web service interface, you also set up how often the values get polled in the "value poll interval."