Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue What data type are the "Alarm Type" and "Secondary Value" fields? Environment ODBC Fields Data type Cause The data types are not specified. Resolution Both of the "Alarm Type" and "Secondary Value" fields are "Text". The screen shot below shows the new entries in the Sigma ODBC editor, these will need to be selected to be entered into the ODBC database.  

Issue The transmit and receive lights on BCX comm 2 stay lit continuously minutes or hours after the Infinet bus is connected. Environment BCX9640 i2920 Infinet Cause Electrical interference or noise being introduced into the Infinet bus. Resolution Removed the to i2920 controllers from the infinet.  Since these were the only controllers powered by 120 volts it seemed likely that they were a potential source of interference from the power wiring to the Infinet cable. 

Issue The duplex mode is not specifically mentioned in the controller documentation. Product Line EcoStruxure Security Expert Environment Security Expert Ethernet TCP-IP SP-C, SP-ACX, SP-ACX-V2, SP-AC1, SP-C-WEB Cause The documentation describes the type of ethernet supported by the controller but not specifically the duplex modes supported. The communication between the Security Expert system and the controller uses a 10/100 ethernet network operating the TCP/IP protocol suite. Resolution The controllers support 10/100 Full Duplex, Half Duplex and Auto-Negotiation ethernet modes.

Issue How to configure search object to display SpaceLogic controllers IP settings "Changes pending" in the search's list view Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Space Logic IP controllers  Cause Confusion when attempting to find the appropriate type to include in the search  Resolution The IP settings "Changes pending" property is not a property of the device but rather a property of the IP Network Port as seen in the screen shot below  

Issue When starting Continuum the following error is seen after successful activation of a software license (V2C file): “You have a key that has not been programmed for this version of the software. Please contact your Schneider Electric sales representative for an upgrade. Click OK to exit.”   Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum CyberStation Software License Cause After replacing the CyberStation PC hard disk, the “Status information” was collected from the PC using the “RUSKeyUtility.exe”.  The V2C file was updated by the “Andover Update Service” team, and successfully activated on the PC. The V2C file included the finger print of the PC before the hard disk replacement. A check of the Gemalto Sentinel web page shows the “Secure Storage ID Mismatch” message in the Key Type column as below: Resolution The finger print needs to be cleared by applying a special V2C file. Obtain the most recent C2V file from the PC using the RUSKeyUtility.exe or the “Gemalto Sentinel web page”. Send the C2V file to support Support will supply the special V2C file  

Issue License is installed on computer but software still says that the computer is not licensed. Environment I/A Series G3 software installed on a Windows computer. Cause Tridium software certificate was not installed properly or has been damaged. Resolution Copy the file "Tridium.certificate" from the certificates folder of another version of the I/A Series G3 software into the certificates folder of the current version. The correct file location is C:\niagara\niagara-3.x.xx\certificates where 3.x.xx is the software version number.

Issue A graphic displays the values of 50 points from a Third party controller. The graphic launches normally and all point values update normally while the graphic is running. Once the graphic panel is shut down the controller drops offline.  Environment 3rd Party Device BACnet Pinpoint Graphic Cause While pinpoint graphics poll point values sequentially, when a graphic is shut down pinpoint will unsubscribe from all of the points at once. While some 3rd party devices can handle large numbers of unsubscribe requests, other devices may overwhelmed when too many requests to unsubscribe occur in close succession. Resolution Use Plain English to mirror points form the 3rd party device to local numerics.  Display mirrored points in the graphic panel rather than the actual points in the device.

Issue When swiping on reader of door 3 or door 4 on one SCU1284, door 1 or door 2 will be open instead. The transaction shows "Reader Exit". Environment I/NET Cause Door 1 or door 2 is set to dual direction entry. So the reader on door 3 or door 4 is regarded as the exit reader of door 1 or door 2. Resolution Set the "Exit Reader" option for the door to "None".

Issue Can the MNB-Vx be mounted upside down? Environment MNB Cause Unusual site installation - VAV boxes mounted upside down for better access to the damper shaft Resolution There is no mounting orientation specified for the MNB-Vx controller.  Ensure that all other mounting instructions are followed for proper operation.

  Issue When attempting to add a downstream device to an SSC the error "exception of type \'Feenics.Keep.DomainModel.KeepException\' was thrown" Product Line EcoStruxure Access Expert Environment  Access Expert V3 Cause The SSC has a limitation of 32 downstream devices no matter what port(s) are being used either RS485 or virtual.  Resolution The SSC specification data sheet indicates the SSC can manage up to 64 downstream devices. However, R&D has corrected our understanding of this limitation which is only 32 downstream devices. Attempting to add a 33rd downstream device will result in the   \'Feenics.Keep.DomainModel.KeepException\' error. An additional SSC or Mercury upstream controller will be necessary to commission greater than 32  downstream devices.   From R&D: "The SSC can support a Total of 32 downstream devices no matter what port they are connected to either RS485 or Virtual. The SSC can also support 64 doors total." SSC data specification sheet  *Note: The specification sheet will be corrected in the future by the Product Owner.

Issue With the valve obsolete, are the spare stuffing boxes available? Environment V294: 7219406000 7219410000 7219414000 7219418000 7219422000 7219426000 7219430000 7219434000 7219438000 7219442000 Cause Obsolete products and their spare parts Resolution V294 and all accessories/spare parts are obsolete since the end of 2010. No direct replacement parts are listed.  

Issue The TAC Xenta Operator Panel does not hold steady when navigating down into programmable controller point lists. At random times the OP will back out and return to the main screen with the list of programmable controllers. Environment Operator Panel (OP) Vista Cause The XENTASYSREG bit 0 does not work in version 3.87 of the Xenta programmable controllers.  Resolution The latest firmware hotfixes need to be downloaded and installed for the corresponding TAC Xenta programmable controllers. For all Xenta Versions, download Hotfix version 3.87-02 on The Exchange Download Center.

Issue On many occasions with PC upgrades and replacements, there is the need to re-download the link for the application software as it gets somewhat difficult to know where to go and find it from the Feenics website Product Line EcoStruxure Access Expert Environment Access Expert Hosted software V3 Cause Unable to find the correct link Resolution The following steps show the URL address that is needed as well as how to log on to the instance once the software is downloaded and installed: 1. Enter https://www.feenics.com/training/lesson/downloads/ on internet browser as seen  2. Once completed and installed, launch the app and log on the instance

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 for assistance. Issue Note: To enable Windows Authentication login in Security Expert, the following are required:   SX-AD-USR: Active Directory User Integration License. During Security Expert installation, "Enable Windows Authentication on Data Service / Client Communications" must be enabled. In Security Expert Client: enable "Use Windows Authentication" Found in Global | Operators| Configuration section. A site has the domain abc.xyz.com (Where ABC is the domain and XYZ is the sub-domain) When Windows Authentication is enabled, users on the sub-domain (i.e: XYZ\username) are not visible in AD Search (found in  Security ExpertX Client: Global | Operators| Username field| ellipsis [...]). Because of this, It is not possible to directly connect operators with AD sub-domain users. Product Line EcoStruxure Security Expert Environment Security Expert Server Cause This is an Active Directory design. The Search feature for Active Directory users will have the same visibility as the machine it's installed on. (In this case, the machine was joined to the ABC domain and this is the domain Security Expert is able to pull information from). XYZ Sub-domain users might have permission to access the ABC domain but they are not on the domain. Therefore, Security Expert can't search for them. Resolution Security Expert, the machines and the users must be on the same domain: Solution 1: Manually adjust the domain on the login page ex: "XYZ\username" The XYZ sub-domain users must have ABC privileges.   Solution 2: Create duplicate users on the ABC domain This is a temporary solution because you will be left with duplicate users   Solution 3:  Change the domain structure in Active Directory to match the users, workstations and Security Expert client/server on the same domain  

Issue IOU modules connected to an NC2 and powered by Continuum PS are randomly dropping off-line and returning on-line. Environment NC2, AC-1, DO4 Cause IOU modules randomly dropping off-line and on-line Resolution In this case the maximum power output of the Continuum PS was exceeded once the card readers powered by the AC-1's were taken into consideration. The problem is exacerbated when cards are presented as the reader power spikes at this time. The 28 AC1-Plus's were grouped together in several panels. The voltage at the end of the line was measured to be under 21VDC. When a second PS was inserted to power the last 18 AC1Plus's, the voltages at the ends of both runs came up to above 22.5VDC and the offline issues stopped. Note: There are other conditions that could cause this behavior like grounding, comm bus that does not meet specs, poor terminations, induced voltages, etc)

Issue Pinpoints crashes when selecting object properties of an Active Animation. Environment Continuum Pinpoint v1.93 Cause Image files used in the Active Animation do not exist or mapped through to the wrong path. Resolution Check that the Image Files used in your Active Animation are actually located at the path indicated. If the image files have been moved from the initial location used when creating the graphics then this could be the cause of the error. Copy the files back to the original location, now you should be able to edit the Active Animations and change the Image Files paths to the correct graphic location. This problem was found in Continuum v1.93 Pinpoint after an upgrade from an undetermined version and the cause able to be identified after importing those graphics into a v1.94 system. Presumably v1.94 does not have the same problem when attempting to view the Active Animation Image Files.

Issue How can a deleted Pinpoint graphic be restored that was mistakenly deleted. Environment Pinpoint Graphic Cause A Pinpoint graphic was mistakenly deleted. Resolution In order to restore a deleted graphic and hope to have it restored with all the points from the database attached, in addition to the PIN file and background being in the correct drive and folder, you will need either a text export (.dmp) of the graphic file (which you would import) or you would need to restore the database from before the deletion. The PIN file has all the control objects but no link to the points that were attached on a certain graphic file. The database has the links to the points in the ObjectList of the Panel table. This is how you could have just one VAV.pin file and use it for hundreds of VAV boxes in a building. If you cannot restore a backup of the database and you do not have a text export of the graphic you will need to use the PIN file and background (if applicable) and manually attach the points to the control objects in the graphic.  To do this create a New >> Graphics in the location of your choice in ContinuumExplorer. Then using the menus go to File >> Import Panel File... and navigate to the PIN file and import it. This will bring in all the control objects in the locations they were before the deletion. Then add the background to the graphic by going to File >> Configuration and the Canvas tab. You then have to attach the points to the controls.

Issue Is it possible to see a list of all the signals in the vista system that are overridden manually? Environment Vista 5.1.X Cause It is important for the customer to know which signals are manually overridden to be able to make appropriate decisions about a plants' status. Resolution There are 2 main options available: 1. Use Vista's search tool -the screen shot below shows which criteria to use. You can of course include other points in the filter. 2. Create a report and link to the signal's 'manual control' property. This option would have the advantage of being able to trigger the report via a button in TGML and that the layout can be configured according to the customer's specifications. However, it will take a bit longer to configure the report initially. -Open the report and via the Vista reports addin configure a vista link to a value as shown below.  

Issue When "Enforce acknowledge response with signature" is marked in the alarm control object the user should have to write in a cause and action when an alarm is acknowledged. This does not happen. Environment TAC Vista 5.1.8 Cause In the alarm control object, if you mark booth: "Enforce acknowledge response" and "Enforce acknowledge response with signature" It will work but if only "Enforce acknowledge response with signature" is marked it does not work.   Resolution If "Enforce acknowledge response with signature" should be used mark also "Enforce acknowledge response" in the alarm control object.  

Issue Using a VPN, the Building Commissioning Tool is unable to recognize the network adapter Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Building Commissioning Tool Cause VPNs have not been specifically tested and therefore are not supported Resolution Though VPNs have not been tested and are not supported, some sites have found that this is possible. If the VPN adapter IP is available then it may work, if you have a VPN adapter that does not show up, please enter an enhancement request If the above isn't available, run the tool after turning off the VPN application or Global Protect.