Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue When disconnecting the IP cable to a 911 which  act as a RSPD the RPUs goes offline, when connecting it again the RPUs stay offline.   Environment Vista 5.1.6 Xenta 911 as RSPD, PLB and RPU 6751 Cause The PLB object in the Vista database have somehow become corrupt. Resolution When creating new PLB objects and move the RPUs to that new object it works like it should.

Issue Is it possible to use the TAC Xenta 110-D device with room unit STR150? Environment STR150 TAC Xenta 110-D Cause It is not possible to use STR150 together with the TAC Xenta 110-D device. Resolution TAC Xenta 110-D does not support STR150.

Issue When attempting to start the programme an error indicating that the communications port is already open, is generated. Environment BAS 2800+ BAS2800+ Sigma Visisat Comms port open Comm 1 Cause The communications port is already being used by another programme. Resolution One of the most common programmes to cause this issue is Microsoft Active Sync, if this is found to be installed, either disable it or remove it if the programme is no longer required. The screen shot below shows the Active Sync connection settings window.   Ether change the Serial port number or de-select it. If Active Sync is not the problem, then disabling communications port 1 in the system Bios, may cause the programme to generate an error when it starts up. Once the programme is identified it can be disabled. The System Bios is accessed during start-up by pressing the F2 function key. You should then follow the on-screen instructions.

Issue Cannot log on to Web Client with an I-Pad    Environment Continuum  1.9X Web Client Cause At the present time we do not offer support for Apples I-Pad   Resolution IE 7, 8  and 9 is supported with Web Client 1.9X

Issue Why is the 901 dialing once for each time the alarm is tripped or reset? Is there a way to request that the alarm queue be emptied with one call? Environment 901 Modem Cause This is because the dial up parameters have been configured to do this. Resolution Check the "Alarm delay" parameters where tripped/reset/ack is specified. If you don't want the TAC Xenta 901 to dial up when an alarm is reset or acked, just uncheck the options. Note that the options are per alarm priority.

Issue How can I give other users and SYSTEM the right to filter events in the Event viewer? Environment Vista Workstation Cause For a user to be able to filter events in the Event viewer it has to have at least authority level change (RWXD) on the $EVENTVIEW object. Resolution For more information on how to change authority on an object see Chapter 3 - Authority Levels for TAC Vista Workstation in the Administrating TAC Vista Workstation Manual.

Issue If a widescreen monitor is used, graphics will display properly in Vista, but if you open them for editing in Graphics Editor, they appear stretched horizontally. Conversely, if you create a graphic in Graphics editor that looks proper, it will appear to be squished horizontally in Vista, and the alignment of any text will be off. Environment Vista IV OGC Graphics Editor Cause The computer being used has a widescreen primary display. Resolution Resize the primary widescreen display to a resolution with a 4:3 aspect ratio, 800x600, 1024x768, etc. or, if a secondary display with normal aspect ratio is also connected, it must be set as the primary display.

Issue Restoring a NL220 Backup might "Wipe out" some data on your hard drive. Environment NL220 Vista Cause When restoring or creating a new database in NL220, files can be overwritten. Resolution When restoring a database in NL220 you need to be aware of that any existing files and subfolders in the path specified as "Project's path" will be deleted. Always make sure to specify a folder that is empty or that does not contains any files you don't want to lose.

Issue The ProView for LON Display shows the enumeration definitions for SNVT_tod_event even though the wizard is set up to use SNVT types with different enumerations. Environment Niagara R2 & G3 Proview Cause Display conflict Resolution Although the schedule does not display the desired enumerations, the schedule's "value" is successfully sent to the bound controller. This issue has been observed on both Niagara R2 and G3 platforms. It applies to version 2.62 of the ProView display. Distech Controls, the makers of the display, have been informed of this "display-only" issue. For now, OCCUPIED and UNOCCUPIED are the enumerations that will work.

Issue Testing operation of a CSC1701 compensator. Environment CSC 1701 Compensator Climatronic Cause Help with testing controller operation. Resolution The controller operation can be tested as follows; 1 - Testing the actuator operation. This is achieved using the controller +/- settings. Select + and the actuator will drive fully open. Select - and the actuator will drive fully closed. 2 - Testing the sensors. Isolate the power to the controller, and detach the controller front from the base. For each of the sensors disconnect one sensor wire. Using a multi meter measure the resistance between the disconnected wire and the sensor terminal with the wire still connected, this should give you a resistance reading. Refer to the resistance chart to confirm the temperature reading. Because of age the accuracy may not be perfect. Repeat for all sensors. 3 - Controller operation. With the sensors reconnected and the controller powered again, set the controller to "Day mode and Auto". Confirm that for the current outside temperature, the compensated flow water temperature is correct. To download the controller data sheet please click HERE. To download the sensor resistance charts please click HERE.

Issue When the sample code supplied under Continuum Help for the Select Case function is pasted directly into a program a controller the function does not work. Continuum generates the following error.  "Process not supported" Environment Plain English functions Select Case Cause Some PE functions are supported in specific Continuum products only. For example, Select Case is supported only in CyberStation. Resolution Check the Products Supported section of the Continuum Help on Select Case functions.  Select case is supported in CyberStation only.

Issue Error message displayed when booting the Network 8000 HOST computer indicating that the DOS file system cannot be initialized or a message displayed indicating that QDOS file is busy.  If these type of messages are displayed while the HOST system is booting, the DOS applications including PSI will not be available from within the HOST system. Product Line Other, TAC IA Series Environment Network 8000 HOST Software versions 6.x or 7.x Cause During bootup, the HOST software initialization checks for the presence of a PC-DOS partition on the computer's hard drive. If this PC-DOS partition is found, the command files needed to access PC-DOS are created or modified based on the partition number containing the PC-DOS operating system.  If the system is physically rebooted by power cycling or a power fail occurs, one or both of the PC-DOS control files may be left in an unusable state. Resolution The following steps can be used to correct this issue. Exit the Host by entering a q at the Host Login. At the QNX Login enter superman for both user and password. At the $ prompt enter the following four commands, pressing the Enter key at the end of each command: chattr /cmds/start_dfs s=-b chattr /net_8000_cmds/mount_xdos s=-b frel / cmds/start_dfs frel /net_8000_cmds/mount_xdo Re-boot the HOST

Issue On a MNL-800 controller, are resistors required on the universal inputs when wired for pulse counting? Environment MNL-800 controller Cause Knowing the resistor requirement helps implementing pulse count using universal inputs. Resolution UI1 does not require an external resistor. If using UI2 through UI8 as a pulse input, an external 10K resistor to +5.1 V is required.

Issue How can an AI object be scaled to display to 4 decimal places in Workplace Tech? Environment MNL controller MNB controller Workplace Tech Cause The AI object in a MNL or MNB controller can only display to 2 decimal places and this cannot be increased. Resolution Change the "scaled high value" and "scaled low value" represented by the input signal. For example: Given a transmitter that provides 0 to 5 VDC representing 0.0 to 0.1 inches of water column. Rather than putting in a "scaled low value" of 0.0 and a "scaled high value" of 0.1 make the "scaled high value" 100. Then take that value up to a Niagara station and divide it by 1000 to convert it back to inches of water column.  This will display it to 4 decimal places.

Issue Export personnel pictures from the database and create a report Environment Personnel records in a database Cause Exporting data from the database can be used for auditing purposes. Resolution Exporting personnel pictures from the database Run the List_AllPersonnel listview Select the personnel of the pictures that are needed Right click and select Send to> Text File Create or select a folder on the hard drive and indicate a file name (*.dmp) Click OK on, Are you sure you want to save these objects to a dump file? This will create a dump file of the personnel AND send the personnel pictures to the same folder To get a report of the list of personnel with their pictures Run the same list view from above Select the personnel you want Right click and select Export Selected Create or select a folder on the hard drive and indicate a file name (*.csv) If you need a report all of this on the same page Highlight the cell you want the picture in Select Insert> Picture> From File and navigate to the appropriate file

Issue Can the MNB controllers be powered by DC voltage? Environment MNB controllers DC voltage input Cause Using DC voltage is not recommended or supported. Resolution The MNB controllers are not specified for DC operation and all agency approvals were submitted using a power source of 24 VAC 50/60 Hz.

Issue In Niagara R2, when using the chart/log servlet in a browser, can the legend size be extended or widened? Environment Niagara R2 Cause The name of log objects selected for a chart are truncated in the legend. Resolution The legend size cannot be adjusted manually.  However, the descriptor used for the logged object can be customized somewhat. When using the /chart/log servlet, use "Logs Only (Description)" or "Logs Only (Swid)", the Log Object's description displays in the Legend. There are about 26 digits available excluding units which can be used for customizing.   The descriptor field can also be cleared of any text and the /chart/log servlet will use the object's name in the Legend.

Issue  Tacos not responding when starting Workstation Environment Vista Tacos.exe Cause If a trendlog is manually on but does not have a value to log, it can cause Tacos to crash (not responding). Resolution Go to the TAC Vista Installation folder Find the file named TACaddon01.DLL Rename TACaddon01.DLL to TACaddon01OLD.DLL and start Vista Server and Workstation again. Search for all trendlogs and make sure they have a point to read from, if not set them to manually off.

Issue How can I/A Series G3 be configured to monitor local setpoint changes on the LON based SE7000 Series Room Controllers? Environment I/A Series G3, SE7000 Series Room Controllers Cause Setpoint values on the LON based SE7000 Series Room Controllers are maintained as a network configuration property (nciSetPts).  Local setpoint changes will not be seen at the I/A Series G3 station unless the value is polled or read. Resolution I/A Series R2 had an object (PollSnvtTempSetptCmd) in the lonextras jar that could be set to poll the nci values on a configurable time basis.  The same functionality can be setup in I/A Series G3 through the use of an interval trigger. Open the kitControl palette and expand the ControlPalette - Trigger folder Add an Interval trigger object and configure as Trigger Mode with the Interval required.  The Interval will determine how often the nciSetPts is updated (polled).  The recommendation would be 60 seconds. Right Click on the Trigger and select “Link Mark” Right Click on the SE Room Controller and display the property sheet for the device Locate and Right Click on the nciSetPts parameter.  Select Link From “Name of Your Trigger”. When the link window appears, select Fire Trigger and then select Force Read.  Select OK to complete the link. All setpoints included in the nciSetPts parameter will be updated at the time interval configured to read what has been set at the local device.

Issue If power is removed from a UNC, how long before the UNC shuts down? Environment UNC Cause A UNC will not immediately shut down after power is removed. Resolution By default, the number of seconds to elapse after detecting an AC power failure and beginning the shutdown of the UNC or ENC is 60 seconds. This can be adjusted by opening the drivers.properties file and changing the value referenced in the power.shutDownDelay entry. For more information refer to the NiagaraSysmonEngNotes.pdf