Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Why is grounding important? Environment I/NET site Cause Why is grounding important? Resolution Grounding is crucial for the I/NET family of controllers for 2 reasons: Lan communications require that reference to be successful. Improper controller grounding can take a controller to a boot state, or merely clear the data base from memory.

Issue I can't get my dongle (PSU) license to work. Environment I/NET 2000 Site Cause I can't get my dongle (PSU) license to work. Resolution You have to install the appropriate license file, on your license server. For in-house licenses: TAC Engineer.pfl, you can find it on TARAI or on the TAC software installation CD) For end user licenses: The license file you received via mail from Product Support.

Issue Unable to login to AS directly when using Domain user. It is possible to login to AS directly with "Local" Domain and to the ES with same Domain. Receive error "Can not continue because server is offline or temporarily unavailable" even though ES is online. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Enterprise Server Automation Server Domain Cause AS is unable to communicate with the ES to properly authenticate the Domain user.  If the ES is picking up a WiFi IP address instead of the LAN IP address, this can be the cause. All other communications can still function correctly with the ES but the issue occurs when the AS tries to connect directly to query the Domain, it will be using the wrong IP address. Resolution Changed the order of NIC''s in Windows so that the Local Area Connection was first, confirmed the ES had the correct IP address, confirmed the AS saw the change, and was then able to login to the AS directly using the Domain user. See How to set the Enterprise Server IP address for details on how to ensure you are using the correct IP address.  Another thing to look out for is that you are using the correct port number for the ES communications as seen from the AS.

Issue How many LonWorks Units can you have on Vista system? Environment TAC Vista LNS network LON devices Cause Understanding the LON device maximum limit prior to designing a new system can avoid problems later on. Resolution The official limit is 1000 LWUs on a TAC Vista system. But there are several plants that are using many more. It depends on the amount of communication there is between TAC Vista and the LWUs TAC Vista can support 3200 (50*64) LWUs on each LonWorks network. A TAC Vista system can contain 65535 objects (sum of Logical and Physical).

Issue TAC Xenta does not show the same time as TAC Vista. Product Line TAC Vista Environment TAC Vista Workstation Xenta programmable controllers Cause The time in the Xenta comes from the Vista server. However, it can be adjusted for time zones and daylight savings time settings. Resolution Check daylight savings time and time zone settings in TAC Xenta. The setting should be the same as in the Operating Unit (if they are in the same time zone). Check if a PVR object name XENTASYSREG is in the Menta application with a value of 2. This inverts Europe daylight setting and causes the controller to adjust its time. Note! This is NOT the regional settings on your PC, but the setting in the Vista object in your DB. Here is a quick video showing the regional setting process.

Issue Error message "Access denied" when starting TAC Vista Server Environment Vista Server Cause To start TAC Vista server you have to be an administrator on the computer. Resolution To start TAC Vista server you have to be an administrator on the computer. If you want to log in to TAC Vista with a user that isn't an administrator, you have to run TAC Vista Server as a service. The service has to be started with an account that is an administrator on the computer.

Issue TAC Xenta 901/401/30x won't dial up to TAC Vista system Environment Xenta 901, 401, 30x Cause Incorrectly formatted parameters. Resolution Check that the correct phone number is downloaded to the TAC Xenta. Define network object and click on modem params.

Issue If I add a TAC Xenta device to an existing TAC Xenta group, do I have to update other Xenta devices as well? Product Line TAC Vista Environment Xenta programmable controller (e.g. 401, 301, 281) Xenta groups TAC Vista system plugin Cause Each programmable Xenta device needs to know the name of all the other Xenta groups, as well as all the Xenta device names in its own group. Each time a new group member is added, all Xenta devices in that group need to be downloaded. If a new Xenta group is added, all Xenta devices in all groups need to be downloaded.   This provides new network description files to the controllers so they can communicate properly. Resolution All Xenta devices in that group must be updated. LonMaker or NL220 and your Vista databases need to be updated as well. TAG bindings will also need to be added to the new TAC Xenta device if an LNS database is being used. The TAC Vista System plugin has the feature under the LNS Network menu. "Create Group Bindings" If this is a large site this will take some time and cause offline devices during this process. In this case, these bindings can be added manually to the new controller. This will prevent all the other devices having there TAG bindings deleted and the new TAG bindings created. The following articles show the process for manually adding TAG bindings. Manually adding a Xenta Device with Group bindings in NL220 Manually Adding Xenta device with Group bindings in Lonmaker

Issue Download a new .ndb file to a TAC Xenta Unit in TAC Vista 3 Environment Vista 3 Cause Updating the network database structure for a Xenta unit. Resolution Browse the new .ndb file in Vista (in the $ndb object select file). Open the status dialogue Right click on the desired level (network, TAC Xenta group or TAC Xenta) Select download application and parameters.

Issue How do I get the system information using the serial channel RS-232 B? Environment I/NET RS-232 B Serial port Cause This information cannot be gathered using a web browser. Resolution Get system information using serial channel RS-232 B (See below how to connect terminal emulator to serial channel) Command err a Displays all error messages in the system error log. Print it to terminal emulator.  Command sysinfo Displays all system information such as software versions etc. Print it to terminal emulator. Disconnect and connect power. Print what is displayed on the screen during boot to terminal emulator.

Issue How many trendlogs can the Xenta 511 handle? How many log values can be stored? Environment Xenta 511 Cause Knowing limitations on the maximum number of trends and trend data helps engineer the system properly. Resolution 150 trendlogs are supported. Total 100,000 values are possible to store.

Issue How many messages are buffered on a 7801? Environment I/NET Seven 7801x, 7803x, 7804x External or Embedded TAPs. Cause Even though every device in the system contains a message queue, only a few of the devices will successfully buffer the queued messages for later distribution. All controllers and Taps distribute messages out of their RS485 port even with the absence of any LAN communication. This is due to the fact that there is no requirement for an acknowledgment to be received at the generating device. The RS485 LAN is for both solicited and unsolicited message traffic. The only devices that perform extended buffering are the ones which directly communicate to polling devices such as the 7801 Taps, 7803 Taps, 7804 Taps, and all DPUs/SCUs. The MRs, ASCs, and UCs do not generate messages; messages relating to these devices are generated by the relevant MRI, MCI, etc. Resolution A 78-01/03/04/06 EPROM tap can buffer approximately 1000 messages. A 78-01/03/04/06 MIP tap can buffer approximately 1200 messages.

Issue How many messages are buffered on a 7716xx / 7718xx / 7756xx / 7780xx / 7792xx? Environment I/NET Seven PCU 7716, 7718, 7756, DLCU 7780, MRI 7792xx Cause Even though every device in the system contains a message queue, only a few of the devices will successfully buffer the queued messages for later distribution. All controllers and Taps distribute messages out of their RS485 port even with the absence of any LAN communication. This is due to the fact that there is no requirement for an acknowledgment to be received at the generating device. The RS485 LAN is for both solicited and unsolicited message traffic. The only devices that perform extended buffering are the ones which directly communicate to polling devices such as the 7801 Taps, 7803 Taps, 7804 Taps, and all DPUs/SCUs. The MRs, ASCs, and UCs do not generate messages; messages relating to these devices are generated by the relevant MRI, MCI, etc. Resolution The 7716xx/18xx/56xx/80xx/92xx can buffer approximately 150 messages.

Issue How many messages are buffered on a 7798xx / 7793xx / 7791xx? Maximum number of the Message which can be stored on I/SITE locally? Environment I/NET Seven  7798, 7798B, 7798B1 and 7798C (I/SITE LAN) (SLI) Cause Even though every device in the system contains a message queue, only a few of the devices will successfully buffer the queued messages for later distribution. All controllers and Taps distribute messages out of their RS485 port even with the absence of any LAN communication. This is due to the fact that there is no requirement for an acknowledgment to be received at the generating device. The RS485 LAN is for both solicited and unsolicited message traffic. The only devices that perform extended buffering are the ones which directly communicate to polling devices such as the 7801 Taps, 7803 Taps, 7804 Taps, and all DPUs/SCUs. The MRs, ASCs, and UCs do not generate messages; messages relating to these devices are generated by the relevant MRI, MCI, etc. Resolution Controller software prior to I/NET version 2.xx = approximately 150 messages. Controller software for I/NET version 2.0 Without emulated tap: 100 Messages With emulated tap: 1000 Messages.

Issue How many messages are buffered on a Door Controller 7910A and 7920 DPU? Product Line TAC INET Environment I/NET Seven Door Controllers: DPU 7910A, DPU 7920, and SCU 1284 Cause Even though every device in the system contains a message queue, only a few of the devices will successfully buffer the queued messages for later distribution. All controllers and Taps distribute messages out of their RS485 port even with the absence of any LAN communication. This is due to the fact that there is no requirement for an acknowledgment to be received at the generating device. The RS485 LAN is for both solicited and unsolicited message traffic. The only devices that perform extended buffering are the ones that directly communicate to polling devices such as the 7801 Taps, 7803 Taps, 7804 Taps, and all DPUs/SCUs. The MRs, ASCs, and UCs do not generate messages; messages relating to these devices are generated by the relevant MRI, MCI, etc. Resolution Refer to the Database Caching in the Door Controller Chapter 9-11 in TCON 300-05/17 for full details. For the 7910A and 7920 see the following details:  Controller software before v.2.20 = 100 messages Controller software for 2.20 and later = based on the number of resident individuals (see table below).

Issue Need to know how many messages are stored in the buffer of an NPR Environment I/NET NPR Cause Host workstation disconnected or not masked to receive messages.  Need to know how much data is recoverable Resolution NetPlus Routers = approximately 1000 messages. Once this is full, messages are deleted on a First in First out basis

Issue What is the Standard Cubic Inches per Minute for a PWMP1? Environment PWMP1 Cause Configuration Question Resolution 216 SCIM @25 psi.

Issue What type of BIN is used when selecting “Typical” or the default install of I/NET 2000? Environment I/NET 2000 site Cause Refer to the Communication chapter in TCON209, I/NET 2000 Technical Reference Guide for information on synchronous versus asynchronous communication. Resolution Determine whether you will use synchronous or asynchronous communication. Setup's Typical option (the default) installs asynchronous BIN files. You should choose the Synchronous option to install synchronous BIN files. You may switch from synchronous to asynchronous, or vice versa, at a later date by choosing the Custom option and then selecting the appropriate controller binary files. Instructions are provided in Chapter 2, Installing I/NET in TCON 213.

Issue Which Controllers and Taps are supported by the MIP? Environment I/NET site Cause Which Controllers and Taps are supported by the MIP? Resolution 7700 7740 7741 7760 7770 7720 (8000 RTU) 7730 (P4300 DCU) 78035 LAN Tap 78040 Host/Link Tap (Dial) 78050 Link Tap (Dial) 78060 LAN Tap (Dial) 78041 Host/Link Tap (Dial w/o modem) 78051 Link Tap (Dial w/o modem) 78061 LAN Tap (Dial w/o modem) 7810 Printer Tap 78010 Host Tap 78015 Host/Link Tap (metal enclosure) 78020 Link/LAN Tap (metal enclosure) 78035 LAN Tap 78040 Host/Link Tap (Dial) 78050 Link Tap (Dial) 78060 LAN Tap (Dial) 78041 Host/Link Tap (Dial w/o modem) 78051 Link Tap (Dial w/o modem) 78061 LAN Tap (Dial w/o modem) 7810 Printer Tap

Issue I replaced the EPROMs and RAM in a 7700 DCU with a MIP, but now cannot do a software restore. What is wrong? Environment I/NET site Cause I replaced the EPROMs and RAM in a 7700 DCU with a MIP, but now cannot do a software restore. What is wrong? Resolution Verify that the network configuration is correct in the NET. Con. Editor. The "Dn" field for the TAP or Controller must be configured with a "Y" before the Tap/Controller will appear in the software Restore Editor.