Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Can a b4920 send out alarm emails? Environment Continuum Controllers BCX 4040 BCX 9640 Netcontroller II (9680) ACX 57xx Cause Controllers that support sending of emails Resolution The B4-920 does not have the capability to send out emails. 2nd generation controllers do have the capabilities to send emails.

Issue The New Search window shows a set of predefined attributes to search on, can additional attributes be added to this list? Environment Cyberstation Personnel manager, Versions 1.80 and above. Cause There is no option to add/ remove fields from the New Search window. Resolution 1) The New Search Window entries are fixed, there is no option to add / remove fields in this window. 2) To search on one of the other attributes not listed; use a List View of Personnel to show the required attributes and use a Qualifier on that attribute to prompt the user for the search criteria. 3) The * character can be used as a wildcard, so for example if searching on the Vehicle Info attribute entering Ford* would find all Ford vehicles if the field is used to hold the make & model of vehicles.  

Issue General information about the Impact on an IT network, when Sigma utilizes it. Environment Sigma IT Networks Communications Speed Cause General Information. Resolution 1 - Sigma is very IT-friendly and complies with the following IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) standards: RFC 791: Internet Protocol (IP) RFC 972: Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) RFC 826: Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) RFC 950: Subnet Mask RFC 1256: Router Discovery RFC 768: User Datagram Protocol (UDP) RFC 1058: Routing Information Protocol (RIP) 2 - Sigma will utilize 1 - 2% of a 100M Ethernet connection. 3 - The Sigma system use peer to peer communications, therefore communications between devices will only occur when required by the system or user. 4 - Devices can operate as stand alone for long periods, in the event of network problems. 5 - Controllers can be restricted on how often global data is passed to other controllers. 6 - Sigma Remote Clients will poll the Sigma Server to ensure the connection is still there. 7 - Messages between the server and the controllers / DNN's / IC's all use UDP (User defined protocol) messages, their sizes will vary dependent on the message. 8 - Client to Server messages are TCP Transmission control protocol), and again the message size varies. 9 - Sigma uses ports 49152, 3614, 80 and 8080. 10 - Sigma V53 devices communicate at 10M half Duplex. 11 - Sigma ARM devices negotiate a communications speed, starting at 100M half Duplex, then moving to 10M full Duplex, and finally 10M half Duplex.

Issue How to troubleshoot email from controller Environment CX 9680 BCX 4040, 4000 BCX 9640 Cause Troubleshooting SendEmail function. Resolution Below are the error codes that can be returned when using the SendEmail function. Sample code: Example 1 Program File 'Fall-thru program that sends a simple email message to a recipient Numeric EmailStatus Sending: EmailStatus = SendEmail ("addr1@abc.com", "Lights", "We need to save energy") Checking: If EmailStatus is 0 then EmailErrorString = Success"     Error Code Description 0 No error 1 Not called from a program 2 Illegal argument value 3 Illegal argument count 4 Not enough memory to complete the operation 11 Failed to create SMTP user session to the email server 13 Email queue is temporarily full. The user should retry later 14 Cannot connect to the email serve 15 Error in sending the sender information 16 Error in sending the TO recipient information 17 Error in sending the CC recipient information 18 Error in sending the BCC recipient information 19 Error in sending the subject 20 Error in sending the message 21 Error in sending the end-of-message 22 Error in disconnecting from the SMTP server 23 Failed to resolve SMTP server address 24 Invalid dialup settings 25 Failed to connect remote SMTP server 26 Modem port is in use 27 Email settings are not configured

Issue Unable to access door schedule from an I/NET Graphic.  Attempts to modify the schedule bring up the time schedule point extension for the point instead of the door ATS. Environment I/NET Graphics Cause When adding a door to a graphic page you can either add it using the Point tool or the Door Tool. If you are using the point tool you will only be able to edit point extensions from the graphics page.  If you wish to use Access features you must use the Door Tool Resolution Edit the graphics page Right click on the point object and click properties. A Discrete Point Drawing Styles Window will pop up.  Note the Point Address Click Cancel Select I/NET>Doors to activate the I/NET Door Tool Click next to the point object and select the appropriate door. Click okay Right click on the door and select Properties. Configure the Door Point Drawing Styles as desired. If desired, delete the Discrete Point  object from the graphics page. Save your work and View the Graphics page To modify the ATS, right click on the Door and select Door Schedules.

Issue I have an older model DCX-250 that the touchscreen has dead spots on the screen but the main board and power supply are working fine. It was wondering if the newer touch screen is compatible with the main board and power I have for the older model DCX-250 Environment DCX - 250 Cause When replacing DCX250 Touch Screen in the field you must check compatibility of your Main board. Resolution The black inverter located on "U6" of the Main Boards PCB was changed out to a newer inverter.  The old style inverter will not work with the Touch screen. If you have the older inverter labeled E205-E821D then this will need to go back to repair to fix because the Touch Screen will not work with this older style inverter. If you have the black inverter that is labeled E2536 it is newer and you can just order a new touch screen from customer care.   Customer Care ordering website http://iportal2.schneider-electric.com Repair Department Contact Information Email: industrialrepair@schneider-electric.com

Issue Setting up clients to communicate to multiple server sites. Environment Sigma, server and clients. Cause Routing Resolution You can only connect a Sigma client to one Sigma server at a time. The Start Sigma Client utility is available allowing you to select which Sigma server to connect your client to.

Issue 7756 Input Equipment Counts Cross Reference Environment 7756 Upper Board and Lower Board Cause Need to calculate conversion coefficients for a 7756 Resolution 7756 Lower Board Inputs Point Type Resistor Type Resistor Location Range In Counts 0-5 Volts None None 0-32767 0-10 Volts None None 0-65535 2-10 Volts None None 13107-65535 0-20 mA 249 ohm, 1/8 W, 0.1% A 0-32767 4-20 mA 249 ohm, 1/8 W, 0.1% A 6553-32767 0-40 mA 249 ohm, 1/8 W, 0.1% A and remove B 0-65535 Thermistor 10K ohm, 1/8 W. 0.1% B 0-32767 Discrete 1K ohm, 1/8 W, 0.1% B N/A Pulse 1K ohm, 1/8 W, 0.1% B 0-65535 High-speed Pulse 1K ohm, 1/8 W, 0.1% B&D 0-65535   7756 Upper Board Inputs Point Type Resistor Type Resistor Location Range In Counts 0-5 Volts None None 0-4095 0-10 Volts None C 0-4095 0-20 mA 249 ohm, 1/8 W, 0.1% A 0-4095 4-20 mA 249 ohm, 1/8 W, 0.1% A 819-4095 Discrete 1K ohm, 1/8 W, 0.1% B N/A Pulse 1K ohm, 1/8 W, 0.1% B 0-4095

Issue TGML graphics Editor will not open even though the Engineering Dongle is connected. Environment TGML Graphics editor Vista IV Cause The Vista IV engineering Dongle is not licensed to allow TGML Graphics Editor to open. It will only allow OGC Graphics Editor to open. This Feature was not included until Vista 5. Resolution Use a Vista 5 Engineering Dongle or download the Demo License to edit TGML files.

Issue A Niagara R2 UNC has been operating for more than two years communicating with ASD devices.  Recently, the station stopped polling them without any external influence.  The ASD devices remain online and operational but the UNC station stopped polling them.  A reboot of the UNC resolved the issue.  What caused it? Environment Niagara R2 UNC-520, version 522 or older Cause An issue related to a timer rollover event caused the UNC system time to stop updating if the UNC has not had a reboot in 2.26 years.  This, in turn, stopped the ASD driver from polling since it relies upon the system clock. This issue affects other drivers as well. Resolution The short-term solution is to reboot the UNC before 2.26 years (or 828 days). The ideal solution is to upgrade to version r2.301.529.  The polling issue was fixed in this version.

Issue A GCM has lost its database and an older backup exists. The backup was done with SIGNAL software. Since then, the SIGNAL host computer was replaced. After placing a copy of the older backup in the UPLOAD directory, SIGNAL's download feature does not recognize the file. Environment SIGNAL for Windows 95/98 (version 4.4.1) SIGNAL for Windows XP (version 5.0.0) GCM-84000 series GCM-86000 series Cause The updown.dat "index" file used as reference by SIGNAL's download feature does not exist. It must contain at least one entry indicating that a backup copy of the GCM database exists in the UPLOAD directory. Resolution Even though the GCM lost its database, use SIGNAL's upload command to create a new backup copy of the GCM.  This process will create a new updown.dat "index' file and a file containing a backup copy of the GCM database.  The filename will be similar to:  UP016724.G1 Using Windows Explorer, go to the SIGNAL\UPLOAD directory and rename file UP016724.G1 to test.G1 Paste a copy of the older backup file and rename it to match the filename created in step 1 (UP016724.G1) Return to the SIGNAL desktop and perform a download.  SIGNAL will proceed to use the older backup file that was renamed. When the download is complete, review the database in the GCM with Terminal Mode to ensure all blocks are working and to make any programming changes. 

Issue Error Message pops up when opening DbCreate: Microsoft Visual C + + Debug Library Debug Error! Program: C:\INet_DVR\Debug\DbCreate.exe abnormal program termination (Press Retry to debug the application) Environment I/NET DbCreate Cause Error occurs when opening DbCreate Msaddo15.dll needs to be registered Resolution Open the Command Prompt Type "cd\" Press enter Type "cd program files\common files\system\ado" Press Enter Type "regsvr32 msado15.dll" press enter

Issue Change the path of acctrace .csv file Environment Continuum Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause There are permission restrictions to the Continuum folder or there is a need to change the path to the acctrace .csv output file. Resolution If permissions are restricted to Continuum, you can change the path to this file. A good troubleshooting step is to send the file to c:\temp When starting acctrace there is a field called "Filename for trace output:" To change the path for the .csv file add the path in the field called "Filename for trace output:" Ex. C:\Temp\ACCTrace_datetime.csv   (leave the actual datetime that the program creates and only add the path C:\Temp ahead of the filename) * On a Windows7 PC, the User Account Control changes the default path where files are created by ACCTrace. If Continuum is installed on the C drive, look in the following path for the trace file that is created: c:\users\username\appdata\local\virtualstore\program files\continuum

Issue Some b3 system variables have been renamed in StruxureWare as have some of the special labels. Environment StruxureWare WorkStation b3 BACnet devices Cause System design Resolution When programming the b3 devices care should be taken to use the StruxureWare Building Operation name of system variables and special labels to avoid compiler errors. All system variables that in Continuum have the prefix ACC in the name have been re-named to remove the prefix so that ACCStatusBackup is StatusBackup and ACCStatusFlash is StatusFlash. Also all value labels that in Continuum have the prefix ACC have been re-named to remove the prefix so that ACCBackupNeeded is BackupNeeded and ACCBackupNow is BackupNow.

Issue What keypads work with ACX781 controllers? Environment Continuum ACX781 Cause Require a keypad interface for ACX781 but do not know what to use. Resolution The ACX781 has only ever supported the "3x4" matrix dry contact keypads. The circuitry on this discontinued controller is unable to support a wiegand keypad (widely available) of any kind and will not work with a voltage matrix such as the "2 of 7" keypads (this reference in the ACX781 cutsheet is wrong).   The only solution is to use a keypad that supports the "3x4" matrix such as the Essex Keypad or HID model (5355AGS00). If wanting to use wiegand keypads only that do not support the "3x4" matrix then the only solution is to use a controller that does support a wiegand keypad - a new ACX57xx, CX9900 + AC1, or CX9680 + AC1.

Issue The engineer is unable to select the Lon communications option in Visisat. Environment Visisat Lon Communications Cause The Lon Plug and Play driver has not been installed. Resolution Install the Lon Plug and Play driver. This driver is available as part of the Visisat Installation process, but to upload this driver click HERE.

Issue There are times when random events require adding an exception for an Infinity schedule for the 2nd and 4th Thursday only The recurrence may also be for a certain day, week, month or year. Environment Continuum Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause Bacnet schedules/calendars and programs like Microsoft Outlook allow scheduling for the 2nd and 4th Thursday, so it seems like this should be allowed in the Infinet schedules. Resolution In Infinity type schedules contained in Netcontrollers and infinet devices, there isn't a way to automatically ask the schedule to come on at a given time based on the 2nd or 4th Thursday, i.e. a recurrence of a day, week, month or year. The specific date needs can be accessed by the yearly view and configured manually.

Issue Received error message indicating "Neuron application has stopped running.  Reinstall the NXE application file." "Service" LED on controller is solid red. Environment MNL family standard controller: MNL-5xx, MNL-10xx, MNL-15xx, MNL-20xx, MNL-11xx, MNL-13xx Cause MNL family standard  controller Neuron processor application PROM has failed or has been damaged. Controller installation manual states that if the Service LED is solid red, that the Neuron processor application is not running.  The document also indicates that the controller is not field repairable because the Neuron application is not field replaceable. Resolution Replace the controller.  The device is not repairable.

Issue Will an i2 device work on an existing installation that uses a CMX241 controller? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum CMX241 Infinet Cause An installation that has a CMX controller with Infinet and the Infinet 1 controller needs to be replaced with an i2. Resolution The CMX241 controller will recognize an i2 controller, but it will handle it as if it is an infinet1 controller. Some infinity system variables and their functionality will not be recognized such as accrestart mode, accstatusflash, etc... The replacement for the CMX241 is the BCX9640

Issue Troubleshooting guide for DMS-Microsmart bus communications Environment Microsmart controllers (all models installed with revision 9.x, 10.x, or 11.x firmware) Cause Troubleshooting guide for DMS-Microsmart bus communications Resolution TPA-RKFD-09-0010.00 is a checklist which provides several settings/configurations to review when faced with a communication problem at the controller level. The content was compiled from different resources, summarized, and laid out in an easy-to-use manner so as to provide a quick-reference document.