Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue How to configure the Security Expert system to use multiple Custom Credentials on the same door Product Line EcoStruxure Security Expert Environment Custom Credentials Cause The older inbuilt Card Formats used Primary and Secondary Reader Formats to allow two Card Formats to be used on the same Door.  But how is this functionality achieved with Custom Credentials? Resolution It is possible to add two or more Custom Credentials to a single Door.  However, when you do this it is instructing the system to request the First Credential AND the Second Credential before granting access to that Door (perhaps even in sequence) If in fact the system is required to request EITHER the First Credential OR the Second Credential before granting access, then the Fallback Credential feature is used. This allows for as many Custom Credentials on a single door as needed.   Please see demo video below:

Issue Enterprise Server IP address does not match the IP address of the Local PC. SmartX Server is showing online but there is a "Communication failed" alarm showing for this server(s). Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Enterprise Server Automation Server Cause The IP address of the Windows system has been changed. This can be from a DHCP renewal or a manual change of IP address. This also may be an issue if an Enterprise Server backup is restored and the backup was from another PC with a different IP address. Resolution Update the Enterprise Server IP address from the Enterprise Server communications Tab and then the properties windows.  Refer to the video below for details on how to do this.     It is also possible to specify the Network Interface used by the Enterprise Central/Server.  Refer to the following WebHelp topic Configuring Network Interface Card for an Enterprise Server or for an Enterprise Central   

Issue EcoStruxure Building Advisor does not connect by default to the Automation Server and the request to EWS returns a HTTP 401 error Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation SmartX Server EcoStruxure Building Advisor Cause Required configuration in EBO to enable EcoStruxure Building Advisor Resolution An EBO connection to EcoStruxure Building Advisor requires MD5 authentication to be enabled, disabling it in EBO will result in EcoStruxure Building Advisor being unable to connect. The “Allow authentication with MD5 hash” can be enabled under the EBO Security manager. During the TLS handshake process, both the EcoStruXure Building Analytics Data Transfer Service (DTS) and EBO negotiate to use Sha384 encryption regardless of whether MD5 is enabled/disabled in EBO. With MD5 enabled, the use of Sha384 encryption works as expected. With MD5 disabled, the use of Sha384 encryption does not work and the request to EWS returns a HTTP 401 error. MD5 is disabled by default in EBO v2.0 and later.

Issue Inventory and Serial Numbers for each of the Host Computers Product Line TAC INET Environment I/NET sites or Multiple I/NET sites under your responsibility Cause Desire to be organized and have site information quickly available Resolution The easiest way to collect the Serial Number and Version is from Help > About INET. Request a screen capture of each workstation with I/NET installed. This will give you the exact release, build, User/Site names and the serial number. Below is the splash screen which is seen when I/NET is opened: Then organize in a spreadsheet or folder structure which is kept up to date with any changes in the field. The trick is to have the correct screen capture from the correct computer. Designating as a File Master, Equalized Client, Remote Client, or Stand Alone would also be beneficial to have. Host Number for each Host Computer and a Static IP address would be excellent to keep in the spreadsheet.

Issue What type of SIM is a Type 40? Environment Network 8000 Cause Service call to an older installation of Network 8000 product Resolution Type 40 is a SIM-TRANE. Click here for the SIM-TRANE Integration Manual.

Issue Which stem heater should be used with V222 and V292? Product Line Field Devices Environment 8800112000 8800113000 Cause In some applications, a stem heater is required. Resolution For V222/V292, DN65-100, stem heater 8800112000 should be used. For V222/V292, DN125-150, stem heater 8800113000 should be used. For more information on stem heaters, see Stem heater for Forta actuator.

Issue Do the I/ A Series (MNL- or MNB-) controllers support more than one S-Link sensor? Environment I/A Series controllers: MNL-50, MNL-100, MNL-200, MNL-V1, MNL-V2, MNL-V3, MNL-800, MNB-V2, MNB-300, MNB-1000 S-Link sensors; MN-S1, MN-S1HT, MN-S2, MN-S2HT, MN-S3, MN-S3HT, MN-S4, MN-S4HT, MN-S5, MN-S5HT Cause Want to connect 2 S-LINK sensors to an I/A series controller Resolution No, only one S-Link sensor per controller is supported. Currently, there are no plans to add the capability of supporting a second sensor.

Issue Receive an Error message "Outlook not installed"  when starting  Continuum Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Windows 7,  64Bit Continuum  1.9X Microsoft Outlook  64 Bit. Cause Outlook 64 Bit is not supported at this time. Resolution Uninstall 64-bit Outlook.  Then install 32-bit Outlook.

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).

Warning Potential for Data Loss: The steps detailed in the resolution of this article may result in a loss of critical data if not performed properly. Before beginning these steps, make sure all important data is backed up in the event of data loss. If you are unsure or unfamiliar with any complex steps detailed in this article, please contact Product Support Services for assistance. Issue Many alarms showing up during site commissioning for controllers that were not configured properly. Some duplicate id's and controller offline alarms for controllers that are no longer online and the alarms can't be removed. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Enterprise Server Automation Server SmartStruxure 1.3 Cause Alarms are orphaned in the database and are not removed once the duplicate id issue is resolved. Resolution The first thing to do is to attempt deleting the PersistedData.dat file (Purge Alarm from SmartStruxure Building Operation Database) and restarting the AS. If the orphaned alarms are still showing up then the next option is to completely clear the AS. Backup the AS, configuration only. Clear the AS and commission. Once it comes back up, restore the configuration.

Issue Online Device shows "0" for one scan, but the device is still online from TAC Vista. This is enough for the unit to stop and close dampers. Product Line TAC Vista Environment Vista Server Xenta 281 Xenta 301 Xenta 401 Cause The Online Device function depends on your network.  If two controllers are within the same TAC Xenta group, there should be no extra traffic the asking device could just check in the online table if the other device has sent out its poll lately. If it is outside the actual TAC Xenta group, it will be like a TACNV connection, within the limits for TACNV. However, there are no re-sends. A single missed message will result in an Offline status. If there is a lot of traffic, there could be a collision on the network traffic and this could result in an Offline status. The next scan time, the messages might work correctly again, and resulting in online status. Resolution The best solution is to have a Delay block in the TAC Menta code, to get a delay-off (when the value goes from Online (1) to Offline (0)). Make sure the device is offline for at least a few program cycles before taking any action in the application program logic.  

Issue I/A Series G3 HTML navigation tree example   Environment I/A Series G3 graphics Cause Need an example of creating a HTML navigation tree for I/A Series G3 graphic pages. Resolution The demo station that is installed with the I/A Series G3 software includes an example of a HTML navigation tree. Open the demo station in Workbench and go to Config > Services > UserService. Open up the user 'adminFrames'. From here you can see that the Web Profile used is the Handheld Wb Web Profile. The Nav File used is 'frames.nav'. In the station, go to Files and then the nav folder. Expand the folder and open the 'frames.nav' nav file. From here, we can see that the target ord for the home page is frames/home.html.  In Windows Explorer, navigate to \niagara\niagara-3.x.xxx\stations\demo\frames. You can see 3 files here, home.html, top.html and tree.html. Look at these 3 files to see how the tree and frames are created. The images folder contains the images used on the page.  Major steps. Engineer your station database and graphics as what you would do normally.  Create user(s) that uses the Handheld Wb Web Profile.  Create a nav file that points to home.html. Assign the nav file created in step 2 to user(s) created in step 1. Edit the home.html, top.html and tree.html according to your requirements.  User(s) created in step 2 will have the tree view when they log on from a web browser. 

Issue In applications where heating is not required is it possible to change the thermostat operation to cooling only? Product Line Field Devices Environment TC300 thermostat Cause By default the TC300 thermostat is configured for heating and cooling. It should be possible to lockout operation of heating in cooling only applications so that the user cannot inadvertently change modes. Resolution In thermostat model TC303-3A2DLS parameter item 7 allows selection of cooling or heating only mode.

Issue MultiTech MT5656 serial modem codes. Product Line Satchwell BAS2800+ Environment MultiTech Modem Cause The MultiTech MT5600 is no longer available and is replace by the MT5656. Resolution The Multitech MT5600 modem has been made obsolete and has been replaced by the MT5656. We have experienced communication problems when mixing these two models of modem. It has been found that the most consistent and reliable AT codes for the Multitech MT5656 modem when communicating with an MT5600 modem connected at the BAS 2800+ front end are:- AT&F0 ATS0=1 ATE1 AT\N5 AT%C0 AT+MS=V34,1,300,9600,300,9600 AT&K0 ATQ0 AT%E2 ATX4 AT&D3 ATM0 AT&W0 AT&W1 Note: If any of the remote sites are using an MT5600 modem then the BAS 2800+ front end modem should always be an MT5600. If a replacement modem is required at the front end then it is recommended that one of the remote sites MT5600 modem is replaced with an MT5656 modem. This will release the MT5600 modem for front end duty. If the whole installation consists of MT5656 modems only, there are no known communications issues. When manually connecting from either front end or remote site a connection was established successfully every time.

Issue Use the trend calculation value in a program like FBP or script. Environment StruxureWare Building Operation 1.4.1 Cause Once a value has been calculated by a trend, it might be useful to pull it into a piece of programming. Resolution Unfortunately, this is not possible. The Value of a Calculated trend is only accessible from the viewer as a chart or list.

Issue Fixing MD actuators to a damper. Environment MD10 MD20 Damper Accessories Cause How is the actuator fitted to the damper? Resolution To attach the MD actuator to the damper, it is clamped to the damper shaft, and the anti-rotation bracket (supplied with the damper) is fitted. The following range of damper accessories are available.   To review the accessories, please click HERE. To review the MD datasheets, please click on the appropriate MD. MD10A-24, MD10B-24 (230), MD20A-24, MD20B-24 (230)

Issue Viewing the Foreign Device Table in an ES or AS. Environment BBMD FDT Foreign Device Table Cause Unable to locate where the Foreign Device Table can be viewed. Resolution The Foreign Device Table is located  under the server  in the System/Modules/BACnet Devices/FDT folder First create the BBMD, which will be located under the BACnet Interface/IP Network folder.        The Foreign Device Table can then be viewed by going to System/Modules/BACnet Devices/FDT. Note that the foreign device table is read-only, it displays information about what other devices have been configured as foreign devices pointing to this device (the BBMD).     NOTE: In 1.5 the Foreign Device Table has been moved as a new tab on the BBMD object.

Issue There are two variables: INDIT =0 koll1_p=1 - When using AND: DEV700.BO1=(INDIT and koll1_p) --prim sziv1 The result is DEV700.BO1=1 - When using *: DEV700.BO1=(INDIT * koll1_p) --prim sziv1 The result is correct DEV700.BO1=0 Product Line EcoStruxure Building Expert Environment SmartStruxure Lite Multi-Purpose Manager (MPM) Cause The simple issue here is that the and keyword is a logical operator, however the variables being compared are numeric. Contrary to many other languages, a Lua variable is not typed, which means that the kind of value it stores are not constrained and can actually change during a program execution: Boolean Designates a variable which can hold the true or false values. It is important to note that true or false are not numbers and do not equal 1 or 0. That is why the mathematical multiplier * keyword works in this instance but the logical and does not. Resolution The logical operators are and, or, and not. Like control structures, all logical operators consider false and nil as false and anything else as true. The operator and returns its first argument if it is false; otherwise, it returns its second argument. The operator or returns its first argument if it is not false; otherwise, it returns its second argument: print(4 and 5) --> 5 print(nil and 13) --> nil print(false and 13) --> false print(4 or 5) --> 4 print(false or 5) --> 5 Both and and or use short-cut evaluation, that is, they evaluate their second operand only when necessary. Essentially to use the and operator with numeric values they will first need to be evaluated into true or false states. For example: If INDIT ~=0 then x= true else x= false end If koll1_p ~=0 then y= true else y= false end DEV700.BO1=(x and y)

Issue Automation Server stuck in Reboot Cycle Environment Automation Server Cause This experience is not typical so below is a list of solutions that have worked in the past. Resolution ES - AS Communication Issue - This fix works when the boot cycle only occurs while the ES is online. You can prove this is the case by stopping the Enterprise Server through software administrator, then attempting to log into the AS Log into the Enterprise Server Click on the Root Server Object in the System Tree Pane Click on the Communications tab Verify that the listed IP address for the Enterprise Server matches the IP address of the machine In the System Tree Pane, expand the Servers folder Delete the Affected Automation Server. NOTE: This will break all binds to/from this server. Log out of the Enterprise Server and Log into the Automation Server to verify that it is stable. Log out of the Automation Server and back into the Enterprise Server Re-add the Automation Server to the Enterprise Server

Issue One of the following errors is thrown by the Hasp Key Utility when attempting to update the Continuum License key using the V2C file received from Schneider Electric. Invalid Parameter Update failed: KeyIdNotFound Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum 2.0 Hasp Key Utility License Cause The V2C file that was emailed to the customer is corrupted. When Web based email is used to receive the v2c file from Schneider there have been cases where the file is not received in its original form.  When this happens the file size of the attachment appears to be correct.  When the c2v file is save to a folder on the workstation PC however, the file size reported is 0kb.  Resolution The solution to this is to use a non-web-based email application like Outlook or Outlook Express.