Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue How to connect 2-10 Vdc position output signal of an actuator to an analog input of LON or BACnet controllers. Controller’s Analog Inputs are limited to 0-5 Vdc input. Environment WorkPlace Tech I/A Series Lon (MNL) controllers I/A Series BACnet (MNB) controllers Cause Controller’s Analog Inputs are limited to 0-5 Vdc input. Resolution See the WorkPlace Tech Tool Engineering Guide (F-27254-3) Analog Input object discussion (page 129) for reference. Setting up a 2 to 10 VDC feedback voltage divider, use a 120 K (120,000) Ohm in series with a 100 K (100,000) Ohm resistor; connect the UI across the 100K Ohm resistor. As long as the signal never exceed 10 VDC, the voltage across the 100 K Ohm will never exceed 5.0 VDC. Based on the above test results, 10Vdc [actuator output] = 4.545 Vdc [after voltage divider] 2 Vdc [actuator output] = .909 Vdc [after voltage divider] Set-up the Analog Input Object Linput= 0.909 Vdc LScale= 0 Hinput= 4.545 Vdc HScale= 100 Your values maybe different based on the resistor accuracy.

Issue An error was detected while attempting to set an attribute in a remote Infinity object Infinity Controller error: No response from I/O module Environment 99xx 9680 Continuum Cause FTT-10 IOU modules are not compatible with RS-485 Netcontrollers RS-485 IOU modules are not compatible with FTT-10 Netcontrollers Resolution There are a few ways to determine what bus topology type was built into a IOU module or Netcontroller  Take a look at the original purchase order which will indicate the type Look at the inside cover of the IOU module(s) and in the model description RS-485 or FTT-10 may be indicated Inside the cover of the Netcontroller and the IOU module there is a black component on the circuit board that has Echelon FTT-10 on it near the comm bus connector if it is FTT-10 Get the serial number of each of the IOU modules and the Netcontrollers and let Product Support know what they are, PSS can cross reference the number to determine the topology scheme from when it was manufactured If this isn't the issue then try the IOU with only that IOU connect in a different part of the IOU bus or by itself on the Netcontroller Under the cover RS-485 version - CX9900 Netcontroller 1   Under the cover FTT10 version - CX9900 Netcontroller 1

Issue Does Modbus TCP/IP xDriver opens socket connection per each device or the gateway of the devices? Environment NetController - CX9900, CX9940, CX9680, bCX9640. BACnet Controller - bCX4040. Cause As some Modbus TCP/IP gateways have the limitation of maximum TCP/IP connections, if Modbus TCP/IP xDriver opens a socket per modbus device and keeps it open, the gateway might run into a problem due to the limited number of socket connections. Resolution The Modbus TCP/IP xDriver opens one(1) socket connection per server not device. So for a gateway that has a number of devices, the Modbus TCP/IP xDriver only uses one(1) socket connection.

Issue When trying to reload a B3867 controller or add log arrays to existing points, a memory error is encountered. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum 1.xxx B3867 Cause A memory allocation defect that was found in the -V versions of the controller was fixed in drop 51 of the -V firmware. The same issue was resolved in drop 64, but was not listed in the release notes. Resolution Update the B3867 version to the drop 64 rev.

Issue How to show raw card data of a badged card in Security Expert. Product Line EcoStruxure Security Expert Environment Security Expert Custom Card Format Cause Need to configure a custom card format and need to see the raw bit string to determine this. Resolution Displaying a cards raw data is a function that can be set in the Reader expander. 1. Confirm that the Display Card Data When Invalid option is enabled on the Reader tab under Misc Options. Misc options Display Card Detail When Invalid: When enabled, the reader expander will display the actual card data received from the reader when the card number is not known. This can be used to interface with custom third party applications that require their own processing of card information. This option is enabled by default and can be used to add card data to a user when operating Security Expert. When disabled the reader will display the card number not found message. 2. Next, set the Reader format on the Reader tab under Configuration to Any bit (raw). any bit raw 3. Now when badging a card at this reader port it should populate two events. One for the Card Number Raw Data and another for the Facility Code Raw Data.   Example: Read Card Number Raw Data: 46160846 Read Facility Code Raw Data: 436207616 Put the facility code into a Programmer Calculator to convert from Decimal to Binary. This is a 32-bit number. 00011010000000000000000000000000 Of the 32 bit number take the first 8 Binary digits (in the example this is 0001 1010) and convert this back to decimal. 00011010 bin = 26 dec What you should see in the decimal field is the bit length the card uses. Now in the Reader Format, it’s an experiment to find out which of the Bit options would correspond to the cards. (In the example above you would need to look through the 26 bit options.)

Issue Cannot find third party bacnet gateway devices Environment BCX 3rd party bacnet gateway devices Cause Configuration issue will not allow proper communications on Bacnet protocol Resolution The third party Bacnet Gateway devices were setup as foreign device registration and not properly configured. Foreign Device registration is not needed on a single subnet bacnet setup. Disabled foreign device registration and Bacnet communications is now properly established. Also check that the correct subnet mask has been entered for the network

Issue When adding a duplicate card into Access Expert, an error is generated. Environment Access Expert Hosted Instance (cloud) Premise Windows Server 2012 SQL 2012 R2 Version 2 Version 3 Cause Existing customers who may have multiple Tenants using multiple card formats and Facility Codes run into the the problem where there are duplicate cards that may have been ordered or handled differently. In Access Expert, when the card is added an error shows up indicating that the card is already assigned and cannot be added to another person. Card offsets can be introduced in order to ensure no overlapping card number values. Resolution In order to resolve this issue, the following steps need to be followed: 1. Create a new Card Format using the same Tenant Information 2. Add a card number offset, which is added to the original value. ie. a Card Offset of 1000 would make card 100 read as 10100.   3. Save and Close 4. Reboot the controller

Issue Use of the Plain English programming environment and general Plain English programming is covered in the Training courses, what other techniques can be used to debug a program. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Plain English Integrated Development Environment Cause Often additional techniques are required to debug Plain English, especially when attempting to analyze, modify or fault find other peoples code. Resolution Some techniques you can use for debugging your program and isolate problems are: Add in additional line labels to the program to isolate where the program is disabling or failing, if it disables you will be able to see the "CurrentLine" it has failed on and therefore know which line of code is causing the problem. Even if a program does not disable you can use the "Stop" keyword in the program it will act as a break in the code and you can look at the values of the various variables, that should tell you what value could be at 0. Use the Watch window to show the values of the various objects, when used with the above 2 techniques it allows you to accurately trace a program flow. Temporarily create local variables as actual points and comment them out from the assignment at the top of the program, this allows you to use the Watch window to see the points values. Revert them back to local objects when debugging is complete. Ensure none of the Program size limitations as defined in Plain English program limitations on number of characters in program and line labels are exceeded.    

Issue Activation of the Security Expert SSN with a new installation of the client software, software extensions (e.g. SX-VIM, SX-DOR-50) and integration licenses (e.g. SX-NVR, SX-CAM-10) need to be completed manually because there is no Interne access. Product Line EcoStruxure Security Expert Environment Licensing Cause The computer which the Security Expert client is installed on, does not have Internet access to use the 'Automatic License Update' method to activate the license. The manual method must be used to register and obtain the new license. Resolution In the Security Expert client go to About | License | information make a note of your system's SSN In the Security Expert client go to About | License | License Update and select Generate a License Request File for this System Copy the 'ICT_LicenceRequest.req' license request file produced onto a machine that has Internet access. Navigate to https://se.ict.co/license/ and enter your details on this web page. Enter the SSN for your system Upload the 'ICT_LicenceRequest.req' license request file generated previously and Submit. You should then be able to download a 'Security Expert YJWB...............O4PJ5W License.lic' file. Return to your offline Security Expert Client and go to About | License | License Update , Select Browse for your Downloaded License file Select the 'Security Expert YJWB...............O4PJ5W License.lic' file downloaded previously. Once the license update is complete shut down the client and restart the services   Support for manual activation: v4.2.194 - Manual activation is supported. v4.2.216 - Manual license activation's are no longer supported and an Internet connection is required on the Security Expert installation to be able to perform a new activation or update a license. v4.2.243 - Manual activation is supported. v4.3.x - Manual activation is supported.

Issue When logging into Xenta server using Internet Explorer 8 a certificate error is displayed as displayed below: When logging into the web server of a Xenta controller using Internet Explorer 8 an error message is shown stating that there is a problem with the website's security certificate. The error reads: There is a problem with this website's security certificate. The security certificate presented by this website was issued for a different website's address. Security certificate problems may indicate an attempt to fool you or intercept any data you send to the server. We recommend that you close this webpage and do not continue to this website. Click here to close this webpage. Continue to this website (not recommended). More information How to install a self signed certificate. Product Line Satchwell MicroNet, TAC INET, TAC Vista Environment Internet Explorer 8 Xenta 511, Xenta 527, Xenta 555, Xenta 701, Xenta 711, Xenta 721, Xenta 731, Xenta 913 SSL Cause The default certificate in the Xenta web server is a self-signed certificate. Since the certificate is not issued by a recognized Certificate Authority the web browser (in this case Internet Explorer 😎 cannot validate the authenticity of the certificate and suggests that the user not continue to the website each time the user tries to access it. Resolution Click "Continue to Website" to continue to the screen shown below. Click on "Certificate Error" which is found on the right side of the address bar at the top. A dialog similar to the one below will open. Click "View certificates". The certificate dialog will appear. Click "Install Certificate." The Certificate Import Wizard will open. Click Next. Allow Windows to automatically select where to store the certificate. Proceed to Finish the Certificate Import Wizard. A notification appears indicating that the certificate was imported successfully. Restart Internet Explorer for the change to take effect. Note: The certificate will need to be installed in each client computer that accesses the Xenta server but once this complete it does not need to be done again. The exception to this is if the web address of the Xenta server is changed or if Internet Explorer is uninstalled then reinstalled. The alternative is that a certificate issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) may be purchased. These certificates are pre-installed into the web browser and will automatically prevent certificate errors from occurring on all client computers that access the web server. Note that these can be quite expensive and unless the Xenta web server is being hosted on the internet they are not necessary. See "This Connection is Untrusted" certificate error when logging in to a Xenta Server using Firefox for information on installing certificates into Firefox. Update: Starting in September 2014, all major browsers will be disabling 1024-bit roots within their trusted roots stores. Any SSL certificates chained to a 1024-bit root will no longer work on any browsers that takes this action or one that relies on another's root store (the self-signed certificate is 1024-bit). This means that you will still get the security warning even if you have installed the self-signed certificate.

Issue Database exchange with third party databases such as CRM, Oracle's PeopleSoft, SAP, HR Data Manager, OPC Server, Automatic Number Plate Recognition ANPR, or DataCard's ID Works Images and thumbs or thumbnail .jpg pictures and ID Works folder structure Product Line TAC INET Environment Campus' with LAN network with multiple departments keeping individual user information. Cause Need to streamline the individual's information into multiple databases or changes such as removing SSN with Employee ID number, or interface with third party software/database. Resolution I/NET works with a software called ID Works which is a product from Datacard. ID Works allows the database in I/NET to be viewed and individuals to be added, updated, and deleted. As far as extracting the data from datacard to any third party software, such as Peoplesoft, HR Data Manager, or SAP, that is out of the range supported by PSS.  The need for constant interchange of the data for new card production, deletion, and update of individuals in the  I/NET database is easy to setup and link to the tables for each category. Altering the tables in the database would void any support with the I/NET product. Imports and additional information from CSV (comma separated value) or a spreadsheet for example, can be added to existing tenant groups. Keep in mind that tenants groups cannot be added from ID Works. Imports usually run in a script program designed by Expert Services on a cost basis. Scripts that run between the I/NET database and third party databases need to be constantly running in the background and replicate personnel changes on campus.  Images and ID Works Images which are brought in from ID Works via a camera are put in a folder for example C:\IDWorks\Images. Make sure you specify the thumbs directory under the Images folder for example C:\IDWorks\Images\thumbs so that when you go into ID Works Production and it creates that thumb nail, it puts it in this thumb folder and not the Images folder. If you have both going into the same folder, there will already be an image there with the same name. INET does not have an OPC Server. One of the main uses of the OPC Server was to run a TAC I/NET system in the background with a TAC Vista front end as an initial attempt to migrate to a newer system platform. The introduction of the Xenta 913 allows the communication of TAC I/NET to Modbus and BACnet which became the preferred replacement of the I/NET OPC Server.

Issue Create a true PWM output from a Xenta programmable controller using a DOPU block in Menta. Environment Menta Cause Menta does not have a built in PWM functionality, so to control a PWM actuator, some additional programming is required to utilize a DOPO block as desired. Resolution Click the image above to download the Menta Macro. Load the macro into the Menta file. The HFB takes a percent signal input and outputs the required values to control a DOPU block, which in turn will pulse the physical DO on the Xenta controller to control a PWM actuator.

Issue Satchwell D?T sensor temperature to resistance Environment Satchwell DOT DRT DDT DWT DST DOS Cause Find the resistance value of a D?T sensor at any temperature in Centigrade. Resolution Referred to Satchwell T type Sensor resistance chart. Click here.

Issue The Remote Alarm Manager shuts down during use, or cannot be restarted. Environment Sigma BAS 2800+ Vista Micronet Remote Alarm Manager RAM Cause The Log.mdb file becomes too large, and uses excessive memory, this can cause the RAM Engine to shut down. Resolution The Log.mdb can record all system alarms, user actions and the actions that RAM is taking. This file will increase in size and has no restrictions on how big it can get. How fast it increases in size will depend on the logging requirements set in the configuration. This file needs to be managed, and this is achieved as follows: 1 - If the system is running without any problems, then this file should be deleted or renamed on a regular basis. To do this stop the RAM services and locate the Log.mdb record (For Sigma it is most likely located in Sigma\Data\Remote Alarm Manager), and delete / rename it. Restarting the RAM services will recreate a new file. 2 - Ensure that all logging is set to its most infrequent setting. The above screen shot shows the "Debugging" screen for the "GSM Modem" interface. In this instance, logging has been set to "Nothing", but there are four other options. 1 - Errors - Only errors are logged. 2 - Normal - Only low level information is recorded,. 3 - Detailed - More in depth information is stored. 4 - Verbose - All information is logged. If RAM is operating correctly, then choosing either Nothing or Errors, would be appropriate.

Issue An attempt to assign an IO channel results is Infinity Controller Error - Invalid Channel Number. Environment CyberStation All CXs, I2s and B3s Cause The OMS database in the controller does not match the sql database seen from CyberStation. This can occur if the controller has re-started with a stale oms database in flash. Resolution Perform a Send to Controller from CyberStation to sync up the database in the controller, once all is working and the configuration is as desired perform a backup to flash of the controller.

Issue Can HID iCLASS format cards be used with Security Expert card readers? Product Line EcoStruxure Security Expert Environment Security Expert HID iCLASS Cause iCLASS format is a proprietary card format. Resolution The iCLASS format is an exclusive card format for HID readers and will only work on HID readers and will not work with the current Security Expert readers.

Issue InfinityInput configured as counter does not count any pulses. Environment i2 devices B3 devices IOU modules Cause Here are two common reasons why the counter input may not be counting as expected: 1. No accumulation logic used with input. 2. Signal from the count source does not conform to specifications. Resolution 1. No accumulator logic used with input. The value of a counter input is reset to zero at every scan, in order to maintain the count value an accumulation strategy must be used, this can be accomplished via a conversion at the input or by using a PE program to accumulate the count in an InfinityNumeric object. a) Enter the following conversion in the counter input’s conversion field: Value + ElecValue Or b) Use the following logic in a PE program CountAccumulator = CountAccumulator + WaterMeterCount  (Where CountAccumulator is an InfinityNumeric object and WaterMeterCount is the name of the counter input)   2. The signal from the count source (Water meter, Power meter etc) does not have the minimum pulse width required by the input. For example, Infinet 2 devices (i.e. i2687) only support counter signal with a maximum frequency of 4 hertz and a minimum pulse width of 125 milliseconds. The DI8 IOU module has 2 channels that support counts of up to 10Khz with a pulse width as short as 50 microseconds. XPUi modules support counter inputs with a frequency up to 140 Hz and a minimum pulse width of 3.5 milliseconds. Refer to the manual for your count source (Meter) and verify the signal generated by it complies with the requirements of the Continuum hardware. For more information see the attached Infinity Technical Journal article. It describes several ways to reset the counter.   Note: Some meters will put out a pulse with a voltage equal to the supply voltage. In this case add a relay so the controller sees a dry contact per pulse.    

Issue General use of the Wireshark program. Product Line Access Expert, Andover Continuum, EcoStruxure Building Expert, EcoStruxure Building Operation, Pelco, Satchwell MicroNet, Satchwell Sigma, TAC IA Series, TAC INET, TAC Vista Environment Ethernet Networks Cause General Information on using WireShark. Resolution Wireshark is an Ethernet packet analysis programme, Which can be downloaded from: Latest version available from Wireshark Locally stored version 1.0.9 Installing Wireshark If necessary, unzip the WireShark executable file to a suitable location on the PC/Laptop you wish the programme to be installed on. Run the executable file and follow the on-screen instructions. Rules for capturing LAN traffic using Wireshark: Do not use a switch or router to connect the LAN capture PC to the network as these will filter important network activity that you will need to see. You will want to capture everything that is passing over the network at the point of concern. Usually, this means tapping into the ethernet at the Controller or controllers, that is having an issue. midBit-Technologies-LLC-10-100 is an example of a device that can be used to easily tap into the network to take the capture. The monitoring PC must see all traffic from the controller's point of view. The monitoring PC can be connected in either two ways: Connected to the network at the controller The customers IT department can mirror all the network traffic from the controllers port to another port the PC can be connected to. If connected to the network at the controllers, the connection must be made through a true ethernet hub. A hub will not selectively filter important network traffic as a switch or a router will do. More information on what a "true ethernet hub" can be found at http://wiki.wireshark.org/HubReference There are however some switches that feature port mirroring, please see How to Configure a NETGEAR Prosafe Plus Switch for Mirroring. If connected to a mirrored port, the port must mirror 100% of the network traffic to and from the controller. No filtering should be done. Once a complete capture file has been obtained it can be filtered after the fact using WireShark or EtherReal. Using Wireshark Run WireShark Start a trace by choosing the "Capture" menu and then select "Interfaces" Choose the appropriate interface. Generally, this can be identified by its IP Address, but if not, then the packets increasing are an indication. Press the "Start" button. The trace will start and will be similar to the following screenshot. After an appropriate time, the trace can be stopped by selecting "Capture" menu and "Stop" To save the capture file, choose "File" menu and "Save As".

Issue Some X Drivers on the Third Party Interface datasheet are classed as 1st Generation and others are 2nd Generation, which drivers should I use? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment All X Drivers Any controller with XDrivers enabled on a Comm port. Cause Sometimes the incorrect file is being used on a controller and this will stop the X Driver from working correctly. Resolution You can only use a 1st Generation X Driver on a 1st Generation controller and a 2nd Generation X Driver on a 2nd generation controller. - 1st Generation controllers are: CX9200, CX9400, CX9900, CX9940, CMX9924 - 2nd Generation controllers are: Netcontroller II (CX9680), bCX1 (4040 or 9640), ACX II (5740, 5720)   Download the Third Party Interface datasheet Note: Not all X Drivers are available for both generations of controllers, consult the above datasheet for availability.

Issue How to setup user photos so they are shown when accessing through a Door. Product Line EcoStruxure Security Expert Environment Security Expert Server Cause Unsure how to add photos to users and have them displayed when that user is accessing through Doors. Resolution There is an option for User photos in Security Expert and the Photo Id option is included with the base Security Expert license. With this "Photo ID" feature enabled you will see the Photo tab on the User object and will then be able to add photos to your users.   1. You can associate a photo to your users in the Photo tab of Users | Users.   2. In Monitoring | Setup | Status Page Editor, you can set the Style to Display User Image. Doing this will show the users photo with the access event.