Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue After Click "Time Zoom in"  from the pop-up menu when right click the chart in group, the trend chart maybe fill out the screen, because there is no scroll bar for time scale, it is hardly to move the chart to the right time period for viewing. Environment Continuum 1.81~1.94 Windows XP Windows 7 Group Cause There is no scroll bar on the chart, it is hardly to move the chart to the right time period for viewing. Resolution Left-click the time scale bar at the bottom of the chart, and hold the left mouse button, then move to left or right until the desired time period.

Issue Not all features are seen when a BMS platform is viewed using remote control software e.g. RealVNC Environment Remote Control Software. Cause Not all features are seen when a BMS platform is viewed using remote control software. One example is: When the SmartStruxure License Software application is used, the drop down menu for adding the license detail is not available when viewed remotely using RealVNC. Resolution When the SmartStruxure License Software application is used, the drop down menu for adding the license detail is not available when viewed remotely using RealVNC. The above example is one scenario. There are a number of other remote control software applications where similar instances may occur. If such an issue occurs, check that the BMS software is functioning correctly by both being viewed and ran in the same environment. Because of the number of different remote control software options that are available, anomalies will prevail.

Issue Getting an Unable to save because attached device is not specified error when trying to import a Cyber export file, even when using a file that has just been exported from the same Cyberstation.  Environment Export Import 1.9x Cause Improper path specified. Resolution The problem was resolved by adding the target InfinityController to the path statement.

Issue Selecting the "WorkPlace Tech Tool Help" function from the WPT help menu brings up a Schneider Electric TAC I/A Series product splash screen but there is no way to access the documentation from that menu.  The external web based links are functional but none of them work without Internet access. Environment WorkPlace Tech Tool software version 5.8.x Cause The document browser requires the capability of running local active-x controls on the computer. Resolution Due to tightened application and internet security policies, some computers have the default browser configured to block the use of local active-x controls. To allow these menu functions to run, perform the following steps: Open the Internet Explorer and select "Internet Options" from the Tools menu.  Note: Different versions of the browser use different methods for displaying the tools menu. In the Internet Options window, select the Advanced tab. In the list of settings shown in the settings box, scroll down to the "Security" section. Check the checkbox for the option "Allow active content to run in files on My Computer" Clock the [Apply] button then the [OK] button at the bottom of the Internet Options window. Close the Help (browser) window. When you reopen the WorkPlace Tech Tool help window, the documents menu bar will be displayed in the window just above the TAC I/A Series title bar.

Issue Outside sensor not working on a DC1100 or DC1400 Environment DC1100 DC1400 Cause Outside sensor not working on a DC1100 or DC1400 All wiring and terminations have been checked but the outside air sensor is not working. Resolution On the DC1100 and DC1400, the outside air sensor can be shared between a maximum of 3 controllers. The switch on the rear must be in the up position on one of the controllers. If there is only one controller fitted, the switch on the rear must be in the up position.

Issue After replacing the BCX controller cannot bring b3 controllers online. Environment Node Count BCX4040 b3 Cause BCX was enabled for only 8 MSTP nodes. Resolution Replaced BCX with a 127 node BCX.

Issue Setpoints and Commands from Niagara objects are not being written to the BACnet points Environment I/A Series R2 WorkPlace Pro and UNC I/A Series MNB controllers Cause The BACnet objects are located in a PollOnDemand container. BACnet objects in the PollOnDemand container will only be polled when linked Gx objects (graphics) are viewed. In this particular case, these BACnet objects are not required to be displayed on graphic pages and thus they are not linked to any Gx objects.  being viewed Resolution Create GxText objects in the PollOnDemand container and link the BACnet objects' outputs to the GxText objects. With this, the BACnet objects will be polled when the PollOnDemand container is viewed. 

Issue A badge prints the orientation incorrectly depending on the user who is logged in or the printer selected Environment Continuum EpiBuilder Windows XP Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause Some printer manufacturers bundle multiple badge printer drivers in one drivers installation package and then the driver for the specific model of printer must be selected. Depending on the user logged in and the printer selected and if multiple printers of the same manufacturer are selected, Epibuilder can misinterpret which printer needs to be used and the printer driver Resolution If the printer was working and the driver was updated, reverting back to the older printer drive may correct the problem Try to only install one specific printer driver per Cyberstation instead of printing to 2 different printers If a multiple selection was offered during the install or 2 printers must be installed then the following procedure may need to be followed to get badge printing working properly. Uninstall both printers and uninstall the badge layouts.  Shutdown Cyber and Reboot the PC After restarting verify that there are no printers and no layouts in Cybers  Shut continuum down again and install the first printer.  Reboot the computer Reloaded the badge layouts Test the layouts with the one printer and verify they work.  Install the second printer and verify it works Verify the first printer

Issue Logs are not archiving in the ENC-520 and the error “Cannot append out-of-order or duplicate record” is being displayed Environment Niagara G3, ENC-520 Cause The timestamp of the archived logs were found to have a date code of the year 2106.  The error is because the ENC’s histories Last Timestamp is later that the ENC’s current station time.  Because of the incorrect timestamp, the ENC thinks its duplicating records so it will not append the records.  The ENC will not append any additional records to the histories until the ENC’s station time is later than the histories Last Timestamp time.   Resolution Delete the history folder from the ENC station Make sure ENC current time is correct

Issue When a download is performed on a BACnet controller does SmartStruxure overwrite the entire contents of the controller? Environment SmartStruxure 1.4 Download Cause Wish to replace the entire contents of a BACnet controller Resolution When downloading a BACnet controller from an Enterprise Server or an Automation Server the following takes place... StruxureWare downloads the configuration properties of the device proxy to the BACnet device. StruxureWare updates the object list of the BACnet device with the object list of the device proxy. StruxureWare writes the properties of the object proxies to the objects in the BACnet device. Following the download the contents of the BACnet device match the contents of the device proxy.  If there are objects in an external BACnet device that do not have corresponding object proxies in StruxureWare, the Download operation deletes those objects in the device.  The Download command does not delete vendor proprietary BACnet objects or properties as described by the ASHREA standard.

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 Battery power on an MN50-RTC is low and needs to be replaced. Product Line Satchwell MicroNet Environment Controller PCB Power supply Timeclock Cause Low power in battery Resolution The replacement battery is a standard CR1632 3 volt 125mAh Updated January 2014. The MicroNet 50 series range MN350,450,550,650 LCD and Touchscreen have been withdrawn from sale. Currently no direct replacement is offered.

Issue Infinity Numeric Templates do not allow the BACnet Object type to be specified. Environment BACnet controllers bCX1 b3 Cause The BACnet Object Type is greyed out. Resolution A Workaround for this is to create multiple templates for the different BACnet object types, one template for BACnet Analog Values, one for BACnet Binary Values and one for BACnet Multistate values. You define all of your other attributes as required then create the objects. By default it will create Analog Values, then if you change the BACnet Object Type to Binary Value in one of the objects created from the "Binary value" template, this will prompt you to change all other objects created from this template, so all objects will be changed. You can do the same for Multistate values.   Note: Analog Value, or Binary Value templates can only be applied to Workstations you cannot create objects in the Blue BACnet folders of a bCX controller.  

Issue Both the BACnet Comm and the BACnet IP Port are enabled in an ENC-520, but BACnet devices are not being discovered. The Discover button it grayed out. Environment Niagara G3 all version, ENC-520-2, ENC-410 Cause The ENC’s Object Id number (instance number) setting under the station’s BacnetNetwork/LocalDevice/ property was set to its default value of “-1”. Resolution A valid Object ID (instance number) must be entered for the station.  - Open the BACnetNetwork of the station and go to LocalDevice - Enter a valid instance number in the range of “0” to “4194303” in the Object Id property - save change You should now be able to Discover the BACnet devices.   

Issue After an upgrades to 1.4, units for temperature inputs on Central IO are not configurable. Affected programs no longer work correctly. When there is no client activity to convert to the locale of the client (there is not with the Script engine), the input is assumed to have the number that corresponds to degrees Centigrade. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment SmartStruxure 1.4 Central IO Inputs PE Script Cause Units must be set  in the variables window of the affected script program. Resolution The following program would work fine in 1.3 if the temperature that is bound to the SpaceT input was configured to have units of Deg. F. When the user of this program upgrades to 1.4, this program will no longer work correctly. The input is assumed to have the number that corresponds to Deg. C. You can see it in the variable value listing block: 22.4°C is compared to the setpoint of 70°F and it does not work right. The units MUST be set within the Script program as below: Now it will work.

Issue   Schneider Electric portfolio replacement actuator for Controlli MVF515 Environment Controlli MVF515 Forta M1500 Cause   A replacement for Controlli MVF515 is requested by customer. Resolution MVF515 is replaced by the Forta M1500. Linkage kit required is depending on application, but should not be necessary when just replacing the actuator.

Issue Eventlist in StruxureWare workstation is filled very rapidly with the following messages: - * Modbus group re-factorized - * Modbus group factorized - * Modbus illegal data address Environment StruxureWare Building Operation 1.4.818 Cause The problem is that it is illegal registers in the Modbus register group or groups. Modbus is trying to resolve this by refactoring the factoring and refactoring but is not successful. Resolution The possible solutions are: Identify the illegal Modbus point in SmartStruxure and remove from the subscription. Solution Split the group in to two so that the illegal Modbus point is left out of the groups. Disable group poll and Force individual point polling by setting incorrect function code for the group.   If it is difficult to identify the illegal Modbus point then you can use solution 3 to do this.

Issue What port is used for the Niagara R2 LON and Serial tunnel clients? Environment Niagara R2 Cause Want to modify network routers to allow port forwarding for tunneling Resolution The port used is the same port used as the UNC station. By default, the port is 80.  So, both tunnel clients also use port 80. If the station port is modified, the tunnel clients will use the new port number.

Issue For email alarms to work properly with Continuum, Outlook needs to be started before Continuum and a mechanism is needed to delay Cyberstation startup to allow time for Outlook to start. Environment Continuum Windows XP Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause Outlook needs to be started before Continuum, if both are placed in the startup folder, Outlook may not start first. Resolution Use a batch file (DelayContinuum.bat) to delay the startup of Cyberstation  -Create the file and place it in the Continuum folder It should contain the following lines: @echo off ping -n 30 localhost> nul C:\Progra~1\Continuum\Continuum.exe Note: 30 is the amount of pings, experiment with the number to allow Outlook to open -The shortcut target will be the path to the batch file, but don’t use the .bat in the target (Ex. C:\progra~1\Contin~1\DelayContinuum) Lastly, in the shortcut properties, select run minimized.

Issue A Fieldserver device was successfully commissioned in a Niagara R2 station using LON. The Lon Link Manager shows all related bindings with a status of "service_type_error".  None of them will bind. Environment Niagara R2 Cause Most Fieldserver devices using LON typically require a different service type other than the default 'standard' binding type. Resolution Change the binding type from 'standard' to 'critical'.  Then try to bind them.

Issue Which frequency is used by the Zigbee wireless communication protocol used in the SmartStruxure Lite? Product Line EcoStruxure Building Expert Environment SmartStruxure Lite SE7000 Zigbee Cause 2 different versions of Zigbee (W and P) are used, depending on generation of product. Resolution   W and P are using the same layer IEEE 802.15.4 at 2.4 GHz frequency, only the "language" is different. (they can't talk to each other) For more information and details on the different Zigbee protocols, please see: Zigbee on Wikipedia Zigbee Alliance