Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Where are the reports of fixed issues/bugs for the various product lines located? Product Line TAC Vista, TAC INET, Andover Continuum, Satchwell MicroNet, Satchwell Sigma, TAC IA Series, EcoStruxure Building Operation, EcoStruxure Building Expert, Access Expert, Security Expert Environment Technical Product Announcements Cause TPAs contain information of changes made per version of the different product lines. A TPA may report enhancements and/or broken functionality. Resolution Navigate to Exchange Extranet to view all TAC Vista documents tagged as TPA. The documents will be listed in reverse chronological order. Log in to view these documents. See Register for The Exchange Download Center for more information on registration.

Issue What mode must a LoyTec L-IP be configured to work with EcoStruxure Building Operation? Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Loytec L-IP Building Operation Enterprise Server Cause The operating mode limits the capabilities of the LoyTec L-IP when used with an Enterprise Server Resolution Smart Switch Mode Ensure that the LoyTec L-IP is in Smart Switch mode. This is achieved by using the DIP switch settings for switches 1 and 2 in the ON position.     Reset Forwarding Tables Press the status button for at least 20 seconds. This will clear the forwarding group, the subnet/node forwarding, and the router domain table when used in smart switch mode. Important: If the L-IP is operated in smart switch mode and is moved from one location to another or if major changes to the configuration of the network are made, it is recommended to reset the L-IP forwarding tables Important: Wait at least 30 seconds after power-up of the L-IP before pressing the Status Button to ensure that the L-IP has booted properly!     For additional detail please reference the LoyTec L-IP user manual.

Issue Does Continuum have an interface to the KNX/EIB protocol? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment KNX Xdriver Cause There is a need to interface to a 3rd party device/system via the KNX protocol. Resolution There is no KNX Xdriver formerly listed for download on the Schneider Electric Exchange. However a Beta KNX Xdriver has been developed for a number of select sites and can be obtained via PSS or your local Customer Care Centre (CCC) There are also third party gateways available in the market that may be able to help with this connectivity. They can provide an interface from KNX to another protocol that Continuum supports natively such as BACnet.     Schneider Electric Wiser for KNX Loytec Universal Gateway

Issue How long and what topology can the IOU bus be on a Netcontroller? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment IOU Modules Netcontroller Cause Maximum cable distances and topologies required. Resolution The Standard RS485 modules can only be connected in a bus (Daisy Chain) topology, no star or "T" topology can be used. The maximum distance from the Netcontroller to the last module in the bus is 600M using a low capacitance cable like the Belden 9729. If you have to create a free topology network with a star or "T" topology then you must use FTT-10A Netcontroller and IOU Modules. See What is the advantage of having a Doubly Bus Terminated Topology segment VS Free Topology in a LON FTT 10A setup? for details on the FTT-10A module wiring or the I/O System Reference Guide for further installation details.

Issue What is the accuracy of RTC? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Site with controllers using the RTC Crystal Quartz chip (controllers such as the ACX) Cause What is the accuracy of Real Time Clock?  Resolution When the controller is powered down, the battery-backed RTC Chip has an accuracy of +/- 1 minute per month. When powered on, the controllers use the RTC chip as a reference point but keep time in software. Experience has shown an accuracy of 1 – 2 seconds per month when controllers are offline and not re-synched from the Network. Since that is typical and not calculated, a conservative number would be +/- 10 seconds per month. When Online,the accuracy is determined by Cyberstation which can itself be synched to an extremely accurate NST Server. I2 and B3 controllers are re-synched once per hour. For Sync time in Cyberstation(s) and Server check Sync time in Cyberstation and Server. For more information see What are the differences between a hardware and a software Real Time Clocks (RTC)?. For how field controllers keep their own internal time check How do our field controllers keep their own internal time?

Issue An installation has a DMS-3500 with an Ethernet NIM (Network Interface Module) and some MicroSmart controllers.  As part of a regular maintenance visit, a database backup is done.  What is considered a complete backup including the NIM's settings? Environment DMS OPRIF 11.4 & 11.6 Cause Database changes requiring a backup in the event a re-install is required Resolution A complete DMS database backup typically involves two steps:  a backup of the DMS database and a backup of each individual MicroSmart controller database. In addition, on an installation with ethernet NIMs, its configuration data is backed up as a separate step.   All three backup steps are done with OPRIF. Note:  Echelon NIMs do NOT require backing up.

Issue Need to know the connector genders to order the interconnecting ribbon cable. Environment DO-20 DM-20 DIO-20 Cause Not in the documentation for the DO-20. Resolution All three have a female DB25 connector. Also, the interconnecting cable from the DM-20 to the DO-20 or DIO-20 is a straight-through 25 conductor cable.

Issue How to program software for Automatic Windows Environment BAS SIGMA Cause Windows are open and close type, but the requirement is for the Windows to modulate. Resolution The windows can be modulated but only in fixed stages. The window travel time needs to be known from fully closed to fully open and vice-versa. Open and close should be equal time. The example below is for automatic windows in a classroom where the teacher could override the windows open or closed, along with the other interlocks e.g. wind direction and rain. Click here for the word document or here for the pdf containing the objects that are required to achieve this.

Issue When trying to add an automation server underneath an enterprise server the following error is given. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Workstation  Automation Server Cause Something has been left behind in the automation server that causes a conflict. Resolution Reformat the automation server by performing a New database download. Create a backup of the automation server. See Backup of StruxureWare/EcoStruxure Building Operation AS and ES. Launch Device Administrator and add the automation server. Select the automation server and click on the Upgrade Device button in the top left corner.  In the Upgrade device window, choose "New database" in the Type of upgrade field. Click OK. Once the download is complete, log into the automation server and restore the database. See How to restore a StruxureWare Building Operation server backup set. Now add the automation server underneath the enterprise server.

Issue Provide a solution for displaying local server time Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Automation Server Building Operation Enterprise Server Cause Request to display local server time Resolution Example code below can be inserted into a PE Script to allow display of local server time from within the workstation. By converting the time into a string the display of the information is not affected by any localization that is attempted by the client. *************************** datetime output ServerTime, ClientDisplayTime string output DisplayTimeString, DisplayTimeString2 String ampm numeric h1, h2 numeric Adjustment ' Time Adjustment: UTC Offset, DayLight Savings Time Adjustment = 4*3600 ServerTime = Time 'Set the desired Client Display Time ClientDisplayTime = ServerTime + Adjustment 'Set String to ServerTime print ServerTime to DisplayTimeString h1 = TimePiece(hour, ServerTime) if h1 = 24 then h1 = 12 if h1 > 12 then  h2 = h1-12  ampm = "PM" else  h2 = h1  ampm = "AM" Endif print TimePiece(month, ServerTime);"/" ;~       TimePiece(dayofmonth, ServerTime);"/";~       TimePiece(year, ServerTime),~       h2;":"; ~       TimePiece(minute, ServerTime);":";~       TimePiece(second, ServerTime), ampm to DisplayTimeString2 ****************************

Issue How to estimate the disk space required to accommodate a given Security Expert installation. Product Line EcoStruxure Security Expert Environment Security Expert Microsoft SQL Server Cause The Security Expert databases will grow in size depending on the configuration and logging requirements. Therefore, estimating how much a database will grow over time should be done to determine which Microsoft Database solution and hard drive requirements. Resolution The Installation Guide does have some hardware recommendations under the System Requirements section, and these should be used as a baseline for allowing appropriate database storage. 10 controllers w/ 16 modules each - 40GB More than 10 controllers w/ any number of modules each - 100GB. The configuration database (SecurityExpert) is relatively small and will typically not grow much. The events database (SecurityExpertEvents) is what logs all events and alarms, and it will grow over time, rapidly depending on what is being logged and how often. There are many variables in play from one site to another. The space required for a standard Security Expert Database is dependent on, but not exclusive to: The amount of Inputs/Outputs/Readers you have with Log Events enabled. The amount of traffic through the site. The number of Expanders and other Records. The frequency of backups and purging of events from the SecurityExpertEvents database. As a guideline, we can broadly calculate storage requirements based on the size of each event being logged. Typically this will be 564 bytes per event. If you have 2000 Events per day, here is the calculation for how many MB will be used per day: 564 B x 2000 = 1128000 B = 1.07 MB per day If those events that are being logged are alarms as well, then this total would be doubled. Another way to calculate this is to take what a typical usage requirement would be for a site or monitor a live site over a week/month to calculate the sites' average usage and extrapolate that to fit. For example, a site with 130 doors being used 8 hours a day and with door openings and closings 10 times an hour would equate to just under 1GB a month. Please note these are very rough guesses; individual sites might be busier/quieter. Performing regular SecurityExpertEvents database backups and purges will ensure that the database size does not get too large for the installation. For instructions, see the System Backups section in the Installation Guide and AN 279 Security Expert Differential Backups.

Issue Upgrading a UNC 196 outstation. Environment UNC 196 296 Upgrade Cause Customer wishes to upgrade his BAS outstation to a Sigma controller. Resolution To upgrade the outstation the following cards will need to be replaced. Comms/CPU Card Power Supply Card. These can be purchased together as an S-x96-UPKIT If the outstation also contains a Maximum Demand card, this is replaced by a Digital Input card (S-UNC-DI).

Issue When using Conversion Coefficient slope m = 1.0, the return to normal (RTN) Alarm Limit on an AI point appears to have a built-in offset. Environment I/NET Seven - Analog Inputs (AI), all revisions. Cause There is a built-in hysteresis of 3 counts on the return-to-normal settings for both the low and high limit setting of an analog input (AI) point.  When using a conversion coefficient slope (M) of 1, this provides a 1:1 scale between counts and engineering units which could provide undesired results.  So this built-in hysteresis needs to be considered when using a slope (M) of one or higher on analog input alarm points.    Resolution Consider using a conversion coefficient slope (M) of 0.1.  Alternatively if this is not possible, creating an internal AI point (using a m = 0.1) or a DA and applying a calculation to reflect the points value or alarm state as required as a workaround.

Issue Some attributes used within Continuum PE programs on b3/i2 controllers are no longer appropriate with EBO Script programming Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment b3 Infinet Building Operation Server Script Programming Cause Some attributes used within Continuum PE programs on b3/i2 controllers are no longer appropriate or cannot be used with EBO Resolution An example of this would be the ElecValue attribute for an input or output. This can be used within the Conversion field of an input but cannot be used within a Script Program or Script Function. The Continuum example PE program for an STR502 or STR504 includes the line "If STR5xx ElecValue <= 0 then Return Upper" The correct result can be obtained within SmartStruxure by dropping the "ElecValue", so "If STR5xx <= 0 then Return Upper" Then ensure the STR5xx analog input is a Voltage type with no conversion configured. Note: The ElecValue keyword can still be used in the Conversion line of an Analog Inputs (e.g. for Counter input scaling). Some other Attributes not supported in Script Programming are: Size LogType

Issue I/A Series G3 weather service will not connect - error indicates java.net.SocketTimeoutException: connect timed out.  A browser on the same computer is able to access www.weather.gov without issue.  The application director output window displays the following ... WARNING [12:56:28 05-Dec-13 EST][weather] Updating forecast failed for Battle$20Creek java.net.SocketTimeoutException: connect timed out at java.net.PlainSocketImpl.socketConnect(Native Method) at java.net.PlainSocketImpl.doConnect(Unknown Source) at java.net.PlainSocketImpl.connectToAddress(Unknown Source) at java.net.PlainSocketImpl.connect(Unknown Source) at java.net.SocksSocketImpl.connect(Unknown Source) at java.net.Socket.connect(Unknown Source) at javax.baja.naming.BIpHost$SocketFactory.open(BIpHost.java:271) at javax.baja.naming.BIpHost$SocketFactory.open(BIpHost.java:264) at javax.baja.naming.BIpHost.openSocket(BIpHost.java:129) at javax.baja.net.HttpConnection.connect(HttpConnection.java:263) at javax.baja.net.HttpConnection.connect(HttpConnection.java:238) at com.tridium.weather.nws.NwsForecastReader.getFeed(NwsForecastReader.java:76) at com.tridium.weather.nws.NwsForecastReader.getFeed(NwsForecastReader.java:55) at com.tridium.weather.nws.NwsForecastReader.getForecast(NwsForecastReader.java:135) at com.tridium.weather.nws.BNwsWeatherProvider.updateReport(BNwsWeatherProvider.java:450) at javax.baja.weather.BWeatherReport.doUpdateWeatherReport(BWeatherReport.java:269) at auto.javax_baja_weather_BWeatherReport.invoke(AutoGenerated) at com.tridium.sys.schema.ComponentSlotMap.invoke(ComponentSlotMap.java:1357) at com.tridium.sys.engine.EngineUtil.doInvoke(EngineUtil.java:49) Product Line TAC IA Series Environment I/A Series G3 Enterprise Network Server ENC JACE Cause The connection timeout may be related to the proxy server.  By default, the weather service driver contacts the various weather.gov sites (alerts.weather.gov, graphical.weather.gov, etc.) directly as opposed to routing through the proxy server.  The connection times out as the proxy server is unable to route the request. I/A Series G3 (3.4 and higher) provides a service that can be added to the station.  The HttpProxyServer service is used to configure the station so that outbound web services know how to get through an outbound non-transparent proxy server.  The HttpProxyServer service located in the net module. Configure this service to the proxy server that will be routing. The user guide states the following. All services that make use of the bajax.baja.net.HttpConnection class will automatically roll over to using the proxy server once the HttpProxyService has been configured and enabled. The Weather Service is one of the services that is affected by this feature. Resolution Verify the updated weather modules are installed, see Weather information provided through the weather module in I/A Series G3 is no longer updating. weather-3.4.67.3 or higher weather-3.5.39.5 or higher weather-3.6.37.4 or higher To use this component: Open the net (Network API) module in the Workbench palette. Add the HttpProxyServer to the Services of the station. Configure the following properties in the Property Sheet view as required.     Status - This display only property displays the status of the Http Proxy Service. Fault Cause - This display only property provides an error message that indicates the reason for a fault. Enabled - This property has a true (enabled) and false (disabled) option. Server - This property provides a text field for entering the address of the proxy server you are connecting to. Port - This property is for specifying the port number for communicating with the proxy server. Exclusions - This text field allows you to designate addresses that are allowed to be contacted directly, therefore “excluding” them from having to be contacted through the proxy server. The default addresses in the field are typical addresses followed by a slash (/) and the subnet mask designation. Authentication Scheme - This property provides the following two options:      None - no authentication is required at the proxy server when this option is set.      Basic - basic authentication is required at the proxy server when this option is set. User - This is the login name to be used when authentication is set to Basic. Password - This is the password text that is to be used when authentication is set to Basic.

Issue What SNVT_temp_p value in the AS local node is required to force an MNL controller to fallback to a Not Active (NA) condition?  The AS station is configured to use degrees Fahrenheit and standard SNVT_temp_p definition uses degrees Celsius. Environment StruxureWare Building Operation Cause SNVT_temp_p is defined by the standard as a degrees Celsius temperature with a range of - 273.17 to + 327.66 Deg C (0.01 Deg C).  A value of 327.67 Deg C (0x7FFF) will cause the MNL controller to fallback to an NA condition.  The AS station is configured to use degrees Fahrenheit the value must be entered in Deg F. Resolution Sending a Not Active (NA) To write SNVT values, one is to write from programming logic to the local node out of the mirrored network variable to the controller SNVT.  Example: Mirrored variable, local node -> Vav??? -> nvoSetpoint, writes to VAV??? nviSetpoint [MNL-V2RV3] Go to the local node Find the nvoSetpoint Expand to Temperature value Right-click and select Properties Under Basic tab, General Information Section, Limit Section, locate the Invalid value Use the following value for NA in your programming [for SNVT_temp_p it is 621.81]

Issue A new computer has been configured as an InVue Client computer.  In Viewer, when displaying a typical graphic screen, the dynamic values for each OCX is replaced with the words "Access is Denied". What causes this message and how can it be corrected? Environment InVue Wonderware for Intelligent Buildings (WIB) Cause Primarily a Windows permissions issue or incomplete communications setup. Resolution Try each of the following to correct the problem: Make sure DCOM is enabled (Start -> Run -> dcomcnfg) and running on both the client and server computers. Use "telnet" command to see if port 135 is open and available for DCOM. Use dcomcnfg.exe to modify its settings: On Default Properties tab, verify that "Enable Distributed COM" is checked, default authentication level is "Connect" and Default impersonation level is "Identify" On Default Security tab, Default Launch Permissions - click Edit ... button, verify that the Administrators group is shown and has "Allow Launch" permission" On Default Security tab, Default Configuration Permissions - click Edit ... button, verify that the Administrators group is shown and has "Full Control" permission" Windows login account for the client pc must exist on the server as well -- same username and password -- administrative privileges mandatory Ensure wwuser.exe (factorysuite/common folder) reflects the local computer name and administrative user account Re-do the DDE Shares as outlined in Tech Bulletin 02-26 on the client computer. Turn off any firewall and disable/remove anti-virus / anti-spam program or service.

Issue Lua script to convert a thermistor input on a SEC-TE to a temperature reading Product Line EcoStruxure Building Expert Environment SEC-TE MPM Cause When a temperature sensor is wired to a SEC-TE Smart Terminal controller, it can only be displayed as ohms. There is no option to use an AIC (Analogue Input Configuration) object to convert the reading. Resolution A Lua script is required to convert the input to a temperature value. 1. Import the Lua script At the top of the script in Section 1: 2. Edit the ME.AV17 input to the input used. 3. Edit the ME.AV48 to the Analogue Variable used to display the value. At the bottom of the script in Section 3: 3. Edit the AIC number to the AIC used to convert the value. Download here the Import File Download here the Txt File

Issue preventDefault() Javascript function not working on Mouse Up Environment TGML Editor Cause Users want to override the default function showing the StruxureWare Building Operation properties editor by preventing the default action for the Up function. The Building Operation Properties editor is not launched on Mouse Up but on Mouse Click. Resolution Select The TGML Script Add the line "evt.preventDefault();" to the onClick function

Issue After installing the Niagara AX Lon Tunnel Client, the service fails to start and Windows displays the following error: Could not start the NiagaraAX Serial Tunnel service on Local Computer. Error 1068: The dependency service or group failed to start. Environment I/A Series AX Lon Tunnel Client Cause There are two possible causes of this issue. The LON port specified is already in use and assigned to a physical LON adapter.  The LON adapter assigned to this port may not necessarily be currently installed into the computer. One of the underlying Windows functions or services required by the AX Lon Tunnel is not installed or is corrupted. Resolution To verify that the LON port you have selected is not already installed in the computer, perform the following steps: Open the "LonWorks Interfaces" applet from the Windows Control Panel (Procedure describes operation with OpenLDV 4.00 installed.  The procedure for OpenLDV 3.20 or OpenLDV 3.40 is similar to what is shown in the following steps. Under the "View" menu, insure that "Show detached interfaces" is checked. Select a LON port that is not already shown in the list and enter it in the "Lon Port" field of the "Niagara AX Lon Tunneling" Windows control panel applet. If the LON port name is valid and the NiagaraAX Lon Tunnel service still displays the 1068 error message, an issue could be occurring with another Windows service or DLL file.  Microsoft provides a method of diagnosing and possibly correcting this type of issue. Open the Windows Start Menu and in the "Search Programs and files" box enter the command:       cmd In the Command Prompt window, type in the following command:       sfc /SCANNOW This command "scans integrity of all protected system files and repairs files with problems when possible". In the event that this process finds an uncorrectable issue, the program will stop, displaying an appropriate diagnostic message.