Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue What if the NPR 2000 goes away until I cycle power to get it back? Environment I/NET Site Cause What if the NPR 2000 goes away until I cycle power to get it back? Resolution If it continues to communicate on the Ethernet port or the controller LAN port only, it most likely is a firmware (.bin file) issue. If an NPR stops communicating over the Ethernet as well as the controller LAN and the LEDs on the unit are totally abnormal until you cycle power, it very likely may need a new boot load. This is accomplished by ordering a jtag cable and the boot loader software and downloading the flash rom with a new boot load. The latest boot load revision is 1.02. If this load has been installed at the factory, you will find a sticker on the flash rom chip. We recommend that if you upgrade the boot load yourself, that you label the unit appropriately.

Issue What if an NPR 2000 goes away and never comes back even after cycling power to it? Product Line TAC INET Environment I/NET site Cause Cold starting an NPR 2000 is a common troubleshooting technique to clear up a number of communication problems that may arise. Resolution If said NPR stops communicating and doesn't come back no matter what, you should cold start it and do a software restore. (See that procedure in How to cold start an NPR 2000.)

Issue How do I cold start an NPR 2000? Environment Netplus Router - Model NPR-2000-C Cause Cold starting an NPR 2000 is a common troubleshooting technique to clear up a number of communication problems that may arise. Resolution Open the front cover. Depress the Idisk holder (looks like a battery holder) so that the conductors short against each other. While holding that, press the small black button on the front left of the unit. 2 LEDs on the right will begin flashing and continue for about 20-30 seconds (more or less). When they stop and 2 LEDs to the right and left of them come on solid, press the black button again. If you did it right, the 4 LEDs will begin flashing back and forth. The NPR is now in boot state and requires a software restore via the serial port. You won’t be able to connect to the NPR via Ethernet since it is at boot and has no TCP/IP address.

Issue What utility in Windows XP can disable items in Startup? Environment Windows XP Cause Items that run on startup can sometimes make the boot up process for a PC very slow. Depending on which applications have been added to start automatically on startup, it can also cause problems if things load in the incorrect order. Resolution Click the Start button in Windows XP Select Run Type msconfig and click OK.

Issue Can you use Thinnet/RG-58 cabling with an NPR 2000? Environment I/NET Site Cause Can you use Thinnet/RG-58 cabling with an NPR 2000 Resolution Yes. You have to order the AUI NPR with an AUI adapter.

Issue The Station buttons are missing in the MCU Configuration dialog box Environment I/NET 2000 Site Cause The Station buttons are missing in the MCU Configuration dialog box. What happened? Resolution To provide you with the ability to configure or hide the statistical features of I/NET 2000, there are three .reg files included in the I/NET 2000 application root directory. When you double-click the desired *.reg file, it will update the DiagnosticFlag in the registry to the associated condition. Each file and its function is as follows: NoStats.reg - No statistics dialog shown, Stats.reg - Shows statistical data but does not allow back-ground ASC resets or manual MR/ASC resets, Stats&Reset.reg - Shows statistical data with ability to perform background ASC resets or manual MR/ASC resets.  For more information see TCON 217.

Issue What is Gateway? Environment I/NET Site Cause What is Gateway? Resolution A gateway is a method of enabling communications between two or more network segments. A gateway is usually a dedicated computer that runs gateway software and provides translation service, which allows for communications between dissimilar systems on the network. For example, using a gateway, an Intel-based PC on one segment can both communicate and share resources with a Macintosh computer or mainframe. Another function of gateways is to translate protocols. A gateway can receive an IPX/SPX message that are bound for a client running another protocol, such as TCP/IP, on a remote network segment. After the gateway determines the message packet's destination is a TCP/IP station, the gateway will actually convert the message data to the TCP/IP protocol.

Issue Does Event printing in I/Net require a Windows printer driver? Environment I/NET Site Cause Does Event printing in I/Net require a Windows printer driver? Resolution No, unlike AMT printing the Event printing process in I/Net 'dumps' the data to the designated printer port, for example LPT1.

Issue How can I know when new products are released? Environment I/NET Site Cause How can I know when new products are released? Resolution Visit the Building Business Extranet. Email a request to the Buildings Business ExchangeMail marketingadmin@buildings.schneider-electric.com

Issue When entering a value of 1 into Code 08 on a 7780 Hand Held Console to enable all lights on, all the lights do not come on. Environment I/NET Site using the Hand Held Console (HHC) Cause When entering a value of 1 into Code 08 on a 7780 HHC to enable all lights on, all the lights do not come on Resolution Code 08 on a 7780 enables the all lights on function. If you go to Edit/Controller/Configuration and select “all lights on”, this will accomplish the same thing. This setting enables 00DI to be used as a trigger to turn all lights on at once, regardless of time schedule, calculations or anything else. Like wise if you enter “Code” 09 in the HHC, all lights off will be enabled and 01DI can be used as the trigger. This can also be done in Edit/Controller/Configuration setting.

Issue The 901 modem is dialing multiple times (6-8) before successfully registering a change on the alarm window. Environment 901 Modem Cause Normally it only takes one dial-up attempt to establish the communication link. If it takes 6-8 times, it indicates modem or telephone line problems. Resolution In the dial-up parameters, define the number of dial up attempts before line block. 10 is the default value.

Issue Why is the 901 dialing once for each time the alarm is tripped or reset? Is there a way to request that the alarm queue be emptied with one call? Environment 901 Modem Cause This is because the dial up parameters have been configured to do this. Resolution Check the "Alarm delay" parameters where tripped/reset/ack is specified. If you don't want the TAC Xenta 901 to dial up when an alarm is reset or acked, just uncheck the options. Note that the options are per alarm priority.

Issue Within the Network modem object, what settings are required/normal for both the alarm delay and dial parameters windows? Product Line TAC Vista Environment Xenta 901 Vista Modem Manual Cause Problem/tip using modem dial Resolution This depends on the desired functionality. One examples definitions for the TAC Xenta: Dial when priority 1 alarms have been tripped/reset/acked Dial when priority 2 alarms have been tripped/reset Dial remaining alarms only once per day when it is cheaper to dial It always depends on the site requirements. One recommendation is to use at least 5 minutes delay before dial up. Please read the TAC Xenta 901 Handbook.

Issue Some sensors such as the SCR110-H CO2 produce a noisy signal even when wired according to the documented instructions. The following is a trend chart of the unfiltered raw signal from the sensor. Environment Automation Server Continuum controllers TAC Xenta Cause Noisy signal is typically caused by common ground wiring of AC power. Resolution SOLUTION #1 Signal noise can usually be eliminated by using an isolated transformer to power the sensor separately as opposed to using a common transformer that powers up several pieces of equipment. SOLUTION #2 For sensors that support  AC and DC input voltage, signal noise can usually be eliminated by using DC instead of AC power source to power the sensor. SOLUTION #3 Implement a Slew Rate to filter out the noise. As of version 1.7.1, StruxureWare Building Operation does not have a built-in slew rate functionality. Nevertheless, a custom slew rate can be implemented using Script programming. See HowToDebounceANoisySensorSignal.pdf SOLUTION #4 Add a filter (FILT) in a Function Block program after the signal input Description: The function block is a discrete time first order software filter. The filter time constant is specified in seconds with the Time Const parameter. The initial block output value is zero. The filter algorithm is y(k) = y(k-1) + 1 / 1+T/h (u(k)-y(k-1)) where y(k) and u(k) are the filtered and unfiltered values at time k, respectively,h is the sampling interval (i.e. the application program cycle time), and T is the filter time constant. If the time constant is less than or equal to zero, no filtering is done. To obtain a good filter function, the time constant should be set significantly greater than the application program cycle time. This filter algorithm is based on a straightforward backward difference approximation of the continuous time derivative operator. SOLUTION #5 Ensure you are not using older versions of the IO Firmware. As detailed in TPA-SBO-17-0006.00 the firmware should be at least V2.015 in the modules and is available on the Download Center.

Issue How do you load a PCC-10 or PCLTA card into a new computer? Product Line TAC Vista Environment PCC-10 PCLTA PC Cause A LON card has to be installed into each new computer that will connect directly to an FT-10 LON network. Software drivers and physical installation are both required. Resolution Load LonMaker on the computer Load the drivers for the card Shut down the PC Install the Card Reboot the machine Load the Card in Windows Check Plug 'n Play in Control Panel. If there is an error message when the program boots up, then the card is not loaded properly Check to make sure the card is configured correctly. Go to LonWorks Plug 'n Play Diagnostics and choose Restart/Test   Accept all the defaults when doing this. This will reconfigure your PCC-10 or PCLTA card.

Issue Without an Ethernet, how can workstations connect to the controller LAN? Environment I/NET site Cause Without an Ethernet, how can workstations connect to the controller LAN? Resolution Workstations connect to the Controller LAN through specialized communication devices called Taps. (TCON 209, 1-3)

Issue How many workstations and NPRs can be placed on one Ethernet LAN? Environment I/NET site Cause How many workstations and NPRs can be placed on one Ethernet LAN? Resolution 63 workstations and 99 NPRs. (TCON 209 1-4)

Issue How many Host Taps are supported on the Host LAN? Environment I/NET site Cause How many Host Taps are supported on the Host LAN? Resolution A host LAN supports up to 8 Host Taps and 16 Link Taps. Each Host Tap can connect directly to a workstation or indirectly to a workstation through a modem. Use the host LAN to connect multiple host workstations over a large area, segregating functions at each station. Devices on the host LAN communicate with each other at 19.2 Kbaud or 9600 baud. The host LAN reconfigures automatically as devices are added or removed. (TCON209, 1-5).

Issue How many Link Taps are supported on a Host LAN? Environment I/NET Site Cause How many Link Taps are supported on a Host LAN? Resolution Sixteen. (TCON 209, 1-5)

Issue How do Controller LANs connect to Host LANs? Product Line TAC INET Environment I/NET Site Cause Understanding network architecture can help design and servicing of networks. Resolution Controller LANs connect to Host LANs through Link Taps. (TCON209, 1-5). Refer to Explain and define I/NET Ethernet, C-LAN, and Sub-LAN communication for further explanation.