Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue The Modbus communication stops from time to time, and never gets back until the COM port is reconfigured. The device is still online; it is only the values that will not update. This is usually only an issue if Modbus groups are used. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment SmartStruxure 1.5 Automation Server Cause If a trendlog with a very long sample time (e.g. 1 hour) is set to log a point and nothing else is bound to the Modbus device, all values from the device will be updated at the same interval as the trendlog. This is solved in newer versions. Resolution Add a single Modbus point to a new Modbus group. Set the group poll rate to the same as the Device poll rate. To enable polling of the Modbus point, add an alarm that will not activate. This will result in polling of the device at the group poll rate.

Issue How many Function block can i add under a Local node Environment Struxureware Server (1.6) Cause Struxureware was built around that 50 function block should be supported under a local node Resolution Struxureware was built around that 50 function block should be supported under a local node however we never added a limit so you can add more, this is however not supported.

Issue What are the definitions for the enumerated value representing CTSTS (control status) for the Network 8000 MicroNet FLO2 controller? Environment IA Series G3 tacAsd driver Cause CTSTS is displayed as an enumerated value and the associated definition is not provide. Resolution The definitions for CTSTS (control status) are: Hex - Decimal - Definition 0x00 0  CAL 0x01 1  UNOFF 0x02 2  WRMUP 0x03 3  REV 0x04 4  COOL 0x05 5  CLMX 0x06 6  CLMN 0x07 7  HEAT 0x08 8  HTMX 0x09 9  HTINT 0x0A 10  FOPN 0x0B 11  FCLS 0x0C 12  FMX 0x0D 13  FMN 0x0E 14  FFAN 0x0F 15  GFOPN 0x10 16  GFCLS 0x11 17  FGMX 0x12 18  GFMN 0x13 19  CALDP 0x14 20  DIAG

Issue B3 program not work properly some time, but be correct at some time, for example, the function called program response slowly, only output the upper limit and lower limit. Environment Continuum B3 Cause This issue caused by lack of freemem for the b3s although there is not too much program and objects or logs entries. Some customer edit the program in Microsoft office word enviroment and paste it into Plain English , this result in a lot of Blank line in the  program and occupies many memory, When the freemem is under 2000bytes, some program will not work properly. Resolution Remove some blank line or comment charcaters in the programs and keep the freemem is above 2000bytes.

Issue Integrating a SE7200F5045E to Niagara G3 / AX. The tenant can change the occupied heating or cooling setpoint locally.  Which snvt can be used to display the current setpoint? Environment Niagara G3 Niagara R2 SE7200 series Cause Application question - wants to plot the proper setpoint on the graphic Resolution The nciSetpts snvt displays the current setpoints used by the SE7200 for heating and cooling in both occupied and unoccupied modes. Note:  The tenant can only change the occupied heating and cooling setpoints from the local keypad / display.

Issue The historical reads will fail from time to time due to process data failure Environment Report Server 1.6.0 and below Cause This is due to the ValueAfter and ValueBefore column in the tbEvents table of Reports db. ValueAfter and ValueBefore Columns were designed as float datatype, When the Reporting Agent tries to convert the NeuronId of a LonWorks device (which is one of the data for ValueAfter and Valuebefore Columns) as a float then this issue occurs. Due to this Reporting Agent will trigger the ES Read again. Resolution With the change of ValueAfter and ValueBefore to nVarChar datatype, the issue gets solved. These changes are included in Web reports 1.6.1. 

Issue 'TotalHistoricalRecords read so far' counter in the reporting agent log does not match the number of records read. Below is an example taken from a Reporting agent log: INFO 2014-12-09 10:41:18 - TotalHistoricalRecords read so far = 59 INFO 2014-12-09 10:41:18 - The log has IncludeInReports = true INFO 2014-12-09 10:41:18 - Trend LoggArray.FirstRecordInSource= 1 INFO 2014-12-09 10:41:18 - Trend LoggArray.LastRecordInSource= 9797 INFO 2014-12-09 10:41:18 - Last record stored in reports database = 9780 INFO 2014-12-09 10:41:18 - Getting records from server: start sequence = 9781, Number of recordsrequested = 17 INFO 2014-12-09 10:41:18 - TotalHistoricalRecords read so far = 75 In this case 17 records are requested: 9797-9780 = 17. Counter for 'TotalHistoricalRecords read so far' = 59 before getting logs. After getting logs, 'TotalHistoricalRecords read so far' = 75. 75-69 = 16.  Environment SmartStruxure WebReports Enterprise Server  Cause This is caused by 'null' values in the extended trend log being read. Any value that equals 'null' in the extended trend log will not be added to the WebReports SQL database. Resolution None. The product is working correctly.

Issue Datasheets indicate that the SE7200F5545P is compatible with the SED-WIN-P-5045 but changes in the switch are not being recognized by the SE7200.  Environment SE7200 wireless version Cause The SED-WIN wireless window switch was confirmed, as of the date of this article, as NOT compatible with the SE7200 controller model. Compatibility will be available at a later date. Resolution If necessary, use the VT7200F5014P-2624 controller with the SED-WIN-P-5045.  This controller has a Honeywell cover but it's functionally equivalent to the SE7200F5545P.  Just swap covers.

Issue WebPinpoint will not install or error finding WebclientPinpointSetup.cab Environment WebClient WebPinpoint Cause Partial WebPinpoint installation or WebClientPinpointSetup.cab is not located in the expected folder. Resolution 1. In the browser machine look in control panel program and features, if you see WebPoinpoint is the list of programs when it is already installed, if you suspect the installation is no right then unistall Webpinpoint then try to open a Graphics which will cause the Webpinpoint installation to run again. 2. If WebPinpoint istallation can't locate the installer then go to the machine where the Web Server Continuum software was installed and... a) Look in C:\Program Files(x86)\WebServer\Redist, there should be a file called WebClientPinpointSetup.CAB if the file is not there you need to locate it on the machine and copy it to said folder.

Issue Invalid Attempt on Card Read Environment Schlage Integration with Continuum version 1.94 and above.. Cause When an ABA card is read on an ABA reader using the X-Driver,connected to a WRI (Wireless Remote Interface) an Invalid attempt is displayed in the Live Events Window. This is because the leading 0's are not being recognized by the driver. Resolution To resolve this there is a rotary switch on the reader itself that needs to be turned to #3. To do this, follow these steps: Remove power or unplug the power source. Slide the reader off the mounting kit. Using a small screw driver, gently pry the circuit board off the reader assembly The switch is a small rotary knob with numbers displayed on it. Using the screw driver, gently turn the dial to #4, this allows the reader to display all ABA digits, plus 10 leading and trailing 0's, as well as clock & data output. Once finished, reassemble the reader and verify functionality. NOTE: Make sure the ABA card is being swiped in the correct direction unless the reader supports card swipe in either direction (not all readers supports this).

Issue Web client does not display ActiveX graphics. Environment web client Graphics to not display. Cause The Sigma web client has been loaded and is the correct version, but when the web client is run, the display shows "Error" Resolution After investigation it was found that Java had not been installed on the PC. This must be installed for the Sigma ActiveX graphics to function correctly. Having installed Java, the Sigma web client must be reinstalled. If during the installation the web page shows a script, then you must add the site to the "Compatability View Settings" in Internet Explorer.

Issue In Dataview and Dynaview, the am or pm is not shown when the time is after 10am to 12am or 10pm to 12pm when crosshairs is used on a graph Environment Sigma 4.08 Cause In Dataview and Dynaview, the am or pm is not shown after 10am or 10pm when crosshairs is used on a graph Resolution The workaround is to use the 24hr clock. Goto Control Panel > Region and Language > Formats and change the Short Time and Long Time to a format that does not have 'tt'.

Issue All Script programs in the AS have status unloaded. How do I get them working again? Environment Struxureware Building Operation 1.5. Cause A script program had an output binding that was linked to a PVR block in a Function block program. It looks like on the server boot up, the script engine tries to start up before the function block engine does and when an output of a script sees that the binding is null, it throws an exception and shuts down the script engine. This only seems to be a problem when binding a script programs output to any PV type in a function block program. Resolution  Bind to a Numeric output instead of a PVR block in the function block program.

Issue A job site is being retrofitted for SmartStruxure. It currently uses Network 8000. When the GCM is removed, the existing MicroFlo II controllers must control individually until a SmartStruxure AS is ready. Can the EMSCO attribute be used to switch to local control until the AS is online? Product Line TAC IA Series Environment Network 8000 MicroFlo II controller Cause Standalone control requirements Resolution From the MicroFlo II Engineering Manual (F-23119): EMS CONTROL [EMSCO] * default = OFF If this input is ON, the MICROFLO II controller will operate from the GCM's setpoints. If this input is OFF, the local setpoints are used. If the input goes ABNORMAL or NOT ACTIVE the controller will treat it as an OFF. Under typical operation, EMSCO is ON and setpoints from the GCM are used. The moment it switches to OFF (ie: loss of communication to a GCM), the local setpoints will be used. At this job site, ensure the local setpoints are identical to the GCM-based setpoints so that when the GCM is removed and EMSCO switches to OFF, the MicroFlo II continues to control. This will provide temporary control until an AS is brought online. There are other 'EMS'-based attributes that should also be reviewed depending on how applicable they are to VAV control at a job site. See the engineering manual for more information.

Issue After changing the sa password in SQL Server Management Studio, subsequent logon attempts fail. Environment SQL Server 2008 Cause It appears that SSMS retains the last saved password in its cache when the Remember Password checkbox is selected, even when the new password is entered into the password field. Resolution Deselect the Remember Password checkbox and login to SSMS. 

Issue Does the Niagara R2 Transition Tool convert graphics? Environment Niagara R2 StruxureWare Building Operation Cause Product inquiry Resolution The tool does not convert graphical images.  It does convert bindings to inputs of a GxPage.  See the R2 Transition Guide (F-27835) for more details.  An excerpt from the guide follows: 3.4.3 GxPage The TAC I/A Series R2 GxPage object is converted to a Building Operation Graphic object. The converted Graphic object contains a Dynamic Text object for each dynamic Gx object at the coordinates of the corresponding Gx object from the GxPage. The Dynamic Text objects in the Building Operation Graphic are named to match the corresponding Gx objects from the GxPage. Graphical images from the GxPage are not converted to the Building Operation database. Bindings to inputs of the GxPage are converted to the Building Operation database as links to the corresponding Dynamic Text objects within the converted Graphic.

Issue Niagara R2 Transition Tool list of R2 Functionality that transitions and does not transition Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, TAC IA Series Environment Niagara R2 StruxureWare Building Operation Cause Quick Reference Resolution From page 15 of the R2 Transition Tool Guide (F-27835): TAC I/A Series R2 Functionality That is Transitioned Certain functionality is transitioned to Building Operation: Common control functions BACnet/IP network BACnet MS/TP networks 1 and 2 BACnet MS/TP networks 3 and 4 as routed networks BACnet device objects BACnet shadow objects Container and object tree structure LonWorks Service LonWorks networks LonWorks device objects V2.x Standard MNL LON devices V3.x Standard MNL LON devices V4.x Standard MNL LON devices and associated application files MNL-800 LON devices and associated application files R2 Local LON Device SNVTs Many type conversion, LON multiplexer and demultiplexer objects IbsASDNetwork Service ASD network ASD Device objects TAC I/A Series R2 Functionality Not Transitioned Not all UNC functionality can be transitioned to Building Operation. This functionality is listed in the Objects report. Functionality that is not transitioned includes: BACnet Ethernet network User accounts Address book Security Trigger mechanisms TRIPL program object runtime Object bundling Command objects Right-click commands Communications other than BACnet, ASD, or LonWorks Configurable routers and repeaters LON manufacturer specific control and conversion objects External LON Network Management Tool support UNC physical points (UNC-410 NDIO)

Issue Bindings on every I/NET point in a converted graphic show the Server 1 instead of the correct server name Environment StuxureWare Building Operation Workstation I/NET 2.42 or higher Cause The INET Interface path parameter set in the Export INET Graphics to TGML converter does not revert to default after each conversion.   If the parameter is set to: /Server 1/INET Interface All binds will use that path even if the Server is named 'Building 1' Resolution OPTION 1 - Reconvert Graphics Change the INET Interface path to reflect the correct location. The most common is: ~/INET Interface The '~' symbol points the remainder of the path to the Server that the user is logged into during the import. If the user is not logged into the correct server, this may cause errors. INET Interface is the default name of the I/Net Interface but can be changed. For a site where the I/NET interface is named 'INET' and the Server is name 'Enterprise Server' the INET interface path could be set to: /Enterprise Server/INET OR ~/INET Option 2 - Change Server Name If every path on the I/NET interface references the incorrect server name: Change the Server Name to match the bindings Verify that the bindings now function with the matching Server Name Change the Server Name back to the desired name. The bindings should follow the name change.

Issue Does the MNB-1000 have a point archiving feature? Environment MNB-1000 (all firmware revisions) Cause Field request (for troubleshooting) Resolution The MNB-1000 does not come with any point archiving features.  That would have to be provided at the network level (i.e. SmartStruxure AS).

Issue Do any of the SmartStruxure Lite room controllers come with a morning warm-up cycle? Environment SmartStruxure Lite SE8x000 SE7x00 Cause Spec requirement Resolution None of the room controllers come with morning warm-up.  It would have to be provided at the network level (i.e. Automation Server).