Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Need to execute a special sequence within an Infinet controller when it loses communication with its parent controller. Environment Infinet Controller i2 Comm failure Communication failure Plain English Cause Need to commence a special control sequence when controller loses communication. Resolution In the Infinet controller create the following objects. DateTime: TestTime Numeric: CommFail InfinityProgram ImportTime.Pr InfinityProgram CommTest.Pr In the ImportTime.Pr Program Create a line named CALCULATE On the CALCULATE line add a line that calculates the TestTime to be equal to the Date System Variable in the parent controller + 60 seconds. Create an E line In the CommTest.Pr Create a WATCH line. Create a COMMLOSS line. On the WATCH line set COMMFAIL to OFF, then compare the local Date system variable to TestTime .  When Date is greater then TestTime goto COMMLOSS On the COMMLOSS line Switch COMMFAIL On.  Then add a goto statement that sends the program to WATCH when Date is greater then TestTime and TS > 180 All relevant programs should monitor the COMMFAIL numeric.

Issue The Vadsbo plug in transformer series is no longer available through Schneider Electric.  Environment Vadsbo transformer Cause Replacing product that was formerly included in product portfolio. Resolution No replacement product is currently listed. Replacement purchase needs to be done locally.

Issue The PIN attribute of personnel objects has some limitations on visibility since it is considered sensitive information, this is the reason why Personnel PINs  do not show up in the personnel editor (it shows as ****) or List views. Environment CyberStation Cause Function as designed. Resolution One way to generate a report that shows all personnel objects PIN is to create a CyberStation program that prints the PIN to a file (or some other print destination) The following is a sample of a Looping CyberStation program that accomplishes the above. -------------------------------- Numeric CNT, OK File NEWDATA Object thePerson OPENINGFILE:   OK = OpenFile("C:\Temp\ALLPINS2.TXT", WriteOnly, NEWDATA)   If OK = Failure then Goto ENDING Else Goto PRINTTOFILE PRINTTOFILE:   OpenList("Personnel", thePerson, Root)   While GetObject(thePerson) is Success     Print thePerson PIN to NEWDATA   Endwhile CloseList(thePerson)   Goto CLOSINGFILE CLOSINGFILE:   OK = CloseFile(NEWDATA)   If OK = Failure then Print "CANNOT CLOSE TEXT FILE" else goto ENDING ENDING:   Stop --------------------------------

Issue Needs to replace older actuator on V282 valves that are still working. Environment Forta V282 V294 V384 V386 V394 V298 Cause Replacing old actuators on valves that are still in good working condition. Resolution The Forta series actuators are direct replacements, with the exception of DN15 valves.

Issue Can a MNB-1000 be configured to get an IP address via DHCP? Product Line TAC IA Series Environment MNB-1000 Cause End user does not want to use fixed IP addresses on their network. Resolution The MNB-1000 does not support the use of DHCP for setting the IP address.

Issue DO2202 outside air temperature sensor replacement. Environment DO2202 Cause DD2202 sensor has gone faulty, what replaces it? Resolution The sensor is no longer available from Schneider Electric. However they are available from: Sontay, part no. TT531-V website:www.sontay.com                    telephone:01732 861200 Titan, part no. TPSOS/2202 website:www.titanproducts.com        telephone:0161 406 6480

Issue What user account type does Continuum require to run correctly What could be causing Continuum or parts of Continuum to stop working or crash Environment Continuum, XP keywords: Account, user, Power User, Administrator Poweruser, Pinpoint, Graphic Cause User log in account may be blocking access to programs or files, can stop Pinpoint graphics from being edited. Resolution XP Once Continuum is installed using a Windows "Administrator" account, a Windows "PowerUser" account will give sufficient access to allow Continuum to run. If a Windows "User" account is used, some parts of Continuum will not operate correctly or may crash. We publish no information on what needs to be enabled/allowed/unlocked to allow a windows "User" or other such account to operate correctly. It is possible to set up an account correctly to run, but this would need to be set up by an IT expert on site, and updates/upgrades to Continuum may require the account setting to be changed.

Issue After setting InfinityOutput to a pulse value the value prints as ON even when the relay is physically OFF Output print format is set to $### and output is NOT inverted or overridden. Environment All CXs All b3s All i2s Cause Function as designed Resolution When an output is commanded to a pulse value (i.e. 5) the relay energizes and then de-energize after 5 seconds, the value property retain the last value the output was commanded to, in this case 5. The display format $### displays values greater than zero as ON, zero values as OFF,  and values less than zero as -ON. The print format should be set without the '$' to display the pulse value (5) To make the system show the actual physical value of the output print the OverrideValue instead of the Value.

Issue Can not edit the graphic pages of a Niagara G3 ENC station via a Web Browser Environment Niagara G3, ENC-410, ENC-520 Cause The PxEditor Module must be loaded on the ENC in order to edit PxViews via a browser. Resolution The PxEditor Module must be loaded on the ENC in order to edit PxViews via a browser. Open the Platform of the ENC Double-click on Software Manager Scroll down and highlight the PxEditor module (is will read “not installed”) Click the “Install” button and then “Commit” button at the bottom of the screen. The PxEditor module will now be installed to the ENC. Once the module installation is completed, the ENC’s graphics can then be edited via a web browser.  

Issue In older versions of Vista (<5.1.5), LMTools version 11.4 is used, and seems to crash sometimes when using the diagnostics functions.  Environment Vista 5.1.4 and older Cause Unstable software Resolution Upgrade LMGRD.exe and LMTools.exe by replacing them with files of version 11.6 that can be found in TAC Vista versions 5.1.5 and later.

Issue Analogue input channels do not display the correct value. Environment Sigma Analogue Input AI Channel Cause Analogue Input values do not display the correct value. This issue is not confined to one card, or even one controller. Resolution The fact that the problem is spread across several analogue input channels, cards and controllers, suggests that the problem is not due to the specific objects themselves, and that some external influence is having an affect. Carry out the following checks; The issue is only seen on one controller. Disconnect all inputs to the card except for one. This should be a resistive input. If this has helped, then investigate the other inputs. Disconnect the wiring to the connected analogue input and replace it with a fixed resistor. The reading should be stable. If this input still reads incorrectly then change the object lookup table entry to 2000, measure the voltage across the resistor and compare it with the maximum input voltage of 2 volts. Example measured voltage of 1.5 volts. - 1.5/2.0 = 0,75 * 100 = 75. AI object should display 75 Confirm that the controller earth bar is connected to a good earth. Consider replacing the AI card. Consider replacing the CPU card. The issue is only seen on one controller, but with multiple analogue input cards. On all of the cards disconnect all of the analogue inputs, except for one input on one card. This should be a resistive input. If this has helped, then investigate the other inputs. Confirm that the controller earth bar is connected to a good earth. Consider replacing the AI card. Consider replacing the CPU card. The issue is seen on multiple controllers. It is very likely that there is an earth issue, confirm that the controller earth bar is connected to a good earth on all controllers. Older type Power Supply boards (Bas-to-Sigma upgrades) can also cause many different (seemingly unrelated) problems, especially when the voltage regulator IC's start to overheat due to the bolt securing the tab of the regulator to the heatsink becoming slightly loose: the regulator IC's go into 'current limit' mode. Re-tightening these (and also the bolts securing the TO3 type regulator) and allowing the heatsink to cool-down will often cure problems.  

Issue Which power supply options are specified on the MD10SR-TS actuator? Environment MD10SR-TS Cause The data sheet may be a bit unclear at some points regarding the requirements on which power supply that can be used on this Universal actuator. Resolution AC 50/60Hz: 19,2-264 V DC: 21,6 -137,5 V

Issue The error message "BACnet is not enabled!" is displayed in the Standard Output Window of the UNC when a whoIs is performed in BACnetService. No devices are displayed. Environment Niagara R2, UNC-410, UNC-520 Cause The BACnet instance number in the UNC was set at its default of -1. It must be configured with an unique number between 0 - 4,194,302 Resolution Assign the unique instance number for the UNC. Open the UNC’s station and expand its Services container Right-click BACnetService and select Properties Open the General and Config tab Enter a unique number in the Instance Number property and then click Apply The BACnet devices will be populated when a whoIs is performed.

Issue This alarm is trigged every day "trendlog object...log point can not be read" how do I get rid of it? The trendlog is a Vista server trendlog logging a point in a Xenta 400 Environment Vista 5.1.6 Cause When a Vista server trendlog is started Vista reads the chosen value according to the log interval, if one reading is missed you will see this alarm. The missed reading could have several reasons but the most common is a bad Lon network or high traffic on the Lon network.  Resolution Investigate why the logged value can't be read, check the Lon network with a analyzer.  

Issue Jace 8000 versus Jace 9000 WiFi specifications Product Line TAC IA Series Environment I/A Series N4 Jace 8000 I/A Series N4 Jace 9000 Cause Defining WiFi feature differences Resolution The JACE 9000 includes a WiFi 5 radio supporting Bluetooth 5.2LE that is currently disabled.   Below is a table of the differences between the JACE 8000 and JACE 9000 WiFi:   Feature JACE 8000 WiFi JACE 9000 WiFi WiFi Standard WiFi 4 (802.11n) WiFi 5 (802.11ac) Switch Type Hardware Switch Software Switch Modes Off, Access Point (WAP), or Client Off, Access Point (WAP), or Client Security WPAPSK / WPA2PSK supported WPAPSK / WPA2PSK supported Bluetooth Not Supported Yet Bluetooth 5.2 LE WiFi Disabled at Factory Depending on SKU Depending on SKU   SKU Details: JACE 8000: JACE-8000-CSE-001 US JACE-8000-CSE-002 WW JACE-8000-CSE-003 NON WIFI JACE-8000-CSE-004 China JACE 9000: JACE-9000-CSE-001 US, CA JACE-9000-CSE-002 WW JACE-9000-CSE-003 NON WiFi JACE-9000-CSE-004 China JACE-9000-CSE-005 EU The JACE 9000 includes a button behind the door that can be configured as "Access Point Controlled" mode, enabling the use of an inactivity time limit for access point availability.  Selecting this mode activates a configurable time limit property for inactivity and the use of the Wi-Fi button to toggle on or off the Access Point availability.   This is similar to the hardware switch of the JACE 8000.    Figures Figure 1 shows the front panel of the New JACE 9000 WiFi Figure 1.1 shows the JACE 8000 hardware switch indication Figure 1.2 shows the JACE 9000 software switch indication  Figure 1 - Front of JACE 9000 panel – WiFi LED and button location   Figure 1.1 - JACE 8000 hardware switch indication   Figure 1.2 - JACE 9000 software switch indication   NOTE: WiFi will not be supported in Jace 8000 with N4.15 release. Blackberry QNX chipset support has been dropped in the Jace 8000. Details and Summary 

Issue Get error message "bad quality" reading values from Vista OPC server with a OPC client. Environment Vista OPC server 1.x.x Cause The problem was that the LON license which is a part of the Vista server license was missing. Resolution Installed the Vista server license and the OPC client could read the values fine.

Issue The STS safety feature for Forta actuators is obsolete since a few years. Environment Forta STS M700 MG900 Cause With the Forta STS battery safety feature no longer available, a replacement actuator with similar safety function is requested. Resolution Depending on torque requirements, the Forta M700 and Forta MG900 spring return actuators are available. Just make sure the correct closing direction (stem up/stem down) is defined when ordering these actuators.

Issue An attempt was made to add a node that is already defined. Received the error: The device is already defined. (Subsystem: NS, #52) Environment NL220 LonMaker Vista LNS Cause A device in the TAC network has been assigned the same neuron ID previously as the device that is attempting to be downloaded. Resolution In the system plug-in: In the TAC network pane, delete the Xenta group that the controller belongs too. Update the TAC network. Download the controller again.

Issue When you look at I/NET points in a 527 though the web browser the points do not update and remain at a value of 0. This occurs if viewed from a graphic page or with a values page Environment Xenta 527 Cause The access level for the new user is set too low to enable the I/NET points to be displayed correctly. The root user will be able to see the points as the root access level is set correctly to allow the read function of the I/NET points. Resolution Under the Access rights part of the Web browser on the 527 navigate to the root level of the controller using the UP button When at the root level select the required user and check the R and R/W if write access is required.

Issue Since the M-SM actuator no longer is available, a replacement is requested. Environment M-SM 8700000000 MD20B-24 8751025000 AUX Switches: Old: S1-B 9141000000 S2-BB 9141010000 New: MD-S1 9141060000 MD-S2 9141061000 Cause Replacing obsolete actuator  Resolution The M-SM is replaced by the MD20B-24. If AUX switches are used, S1-B is replaced by MD-S1, and S2-BB is replaced by MD-S2.