Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue How to transfer values between Menta object within the same Xbuilder project Environment TAC Xbuilder Cause Sometimes there is a need to transfer values between Menta applications in the same Xbuilder. To do this you create an input in the receiving node. Resolution In Xbuilder open the Menta application that you want to read a signal from another Menta application Add a input block of the type the signal will be (II, RI or BI) save to  Xbuilder. Right click on the input in the system pane and select "select signal" Browse to the signal you want to transfer.

Issue Cannot restore SAV file to Controller be it a 7798, 7793, 7716, 7756, 7718, etc. and possibly cannot save controller in Netcon Environment I/NET site with controllers Cause Need to restore database to controller but cannot save in Network Configuration Resolution Problem is the database does not have what Network Configuration sees, then you have the + symbol in Cnf on the far right. If you save, then exit Netcon, then go back into Netcon and it still shows a + symbol in Cnf, then the save is not being saved to the database. Remove SQL database and create fresh clean database. Then save the controller in Netcon then you can restore the SAV file to the controller. 

Issue Is there any CRN (Canadian Registration Number) available for the Satchwell DWA pockets used for STP sensors? Environment Satchwell DWA Pocket STP Cause For some applications, a CRN number is requested for components that are part of a pressurized system.  Resolution Unfortunately, no CRN numbers or certificates are available for the DWA pockets.

Issue How to add entries in the host’s routing table Environment Command Prompt Cause Routing Table Errors Resolution As an example: add the address 157.0.0.0 Go to a DOS screen and type the following: Route add 157.0.0.0 Then type: Route Print This address should appear.

Issue Can the I/A Series R2 or G3 BACnet object_name be changed? Environment I/A Series R2, G3, UNC-410, UNC-520, ENC-410, ENC-520 Cause The BACnet object_name property for an I/A Series R2 or G3 station is derived from a combination of the station name and assigned BACnet device instance number.  For example, a station named BldgA with an assigned BACnet device instance number of 500 will provide an object_name of BldgA_500 upon BACnet request. Resolution The object_name cannot be modified by the user.

Issue Once a backup to flash is successfully performed, will the restore be successful if the acc net id changes? Environment bCX9640 CX9680 ACX5740 ACX5720 Cause System design Resolution Upon attempting to restore a backup of its DB from flash, the controller checks its acc net id against what is in the backup, if a mismatch is found the restore operation is aborted. The error log will error 0x000014fb in the error code column and 0x1442000c in the Data1 column.

Issue Points from on b3 controller will not update on pinpoint graphics.  Environment b3 0x00001427 HardwareErr__ Bad RTC chip RTC Cause Error 0x00001427 denotes a hardware failure of the real time clock.  Resolution Return controller to Schneider Electric for repair.

Issue How long will it take for a MNB controller to drop to 'Read-Only' mode when the AC power supply voltage drops below 20.4 Vac? Environment MNB controllers Cause Site installation using one AC transformer for multiple controllers.  Site is also suffering brownout conditions. Resolution Factory testing confirms that it takes only one AC cycle of power (i.e. one complete sine wave) of voltage below 20.4 Vac for the controller to drop into 'Read-Only' mode. It is difficult to view with a standard digital multimeter.  A scope may be required to capture the voltage dip.

Issue What are the Continuum door's attribute which values persist for ONE scan only. Environment Plain English Cause Documentation Resolution DURESS VALID ACCESS VALID ATTEMPT ENTRY EGRESS VIOLATION INVALID ATTEMPT DATABASE FAULT ENTRY KEYPAD TAMPER EXIT KEYPAD TAMPER

Issue Cannot get BCX or 99xx to successfully dial out through a phone line modem. Environment BCX4040 BCX9640 CX9600 99xx Cause The BCX was not initializing the modem. The modem was not properly set to negotiate the dial out request.. 99xx wasn't hanging up the last call Resolution The Initialize Modem Upon Reset option must be set to YES under controller Modem Settings on the controllers webpage.  Using a 99xx,  it may be necessary to initialize the modem twice to hang up the modem.

Issue Identify part number EMSC-603 Environment SIGNAL software Cause Replacement Resolution Part # EMSC-603 is the hasp plug that's installed on a LPT1 port of a Windows XP or Windows 95/98 computer. It is no longer available for purchase.

Issue When exporting a c2g file, the "Save As" window does not appear Environment SmartStruxure Lite Cause When exporting a C2g file, the "Save As" window does not appear  Resolution For Firefox ensure the ESR (Extended Support Release) version is installed. Update / Install the latest release of Adobe Flash Player

Issue Installing TAC Config on a PC that already has I/NET using MSDE SQL server installed. Environment PC that already has I/NET using MSDE SQL server installed Cause The installation will ask if SQL server is already installed. This can be confusing if it is previously installed for I/NET. Since a new instance is required, the correct procedure is to install new. Resolution When you install TAC config, the installation program will ask you if you want to install MSDE SQL server or "a Microsoft SQL server is already installed." You have to pick "Install MSDE SQL server..." even though you already have one instance of MSDE. TAC config will install a new instance of MSDE for Vista. You should only pick “a Microsoft SQL server is already installed” if you have another (not MSDE) SQL server installed on the machine that you want to use for Vista.

Issue When starting SIGNAL for Windows XP, an error message appears stating "Can't run 16 bit Windows program, insufficient memory". This occurs when the SIGNAL program "Startup Type" is set for Automatic. Environment SIGNAL for Windows XP Cause Multiple versions of SIGNAL for Windows XP are trying to run simultaneously. The “active” user profile, as well as, the “All Users” profile are both trying to start SIGNAL. Resolution When it is required to have SIGNAL startup automatically for ALL users, either make the entry for each user profile or only make the entry in the “All Users” profile.

Issue Roam IA will not work via Bluetooth. Environment MNB-ROAM-IA Cause RoamIA only support Belkin Bluetooth adapter model# F8T016/F8T017 Resolution Roam IA interface was proven to work reliably with the Belkin USB adapter - F8T017. Other Bluetooth adapters have been known to work with Roam IA, but the Belkin adapter stated previously is the only adapter supported by Schneider-Electric.

Issue Modifying alarm tripped text and reset alarm text on a Xenta programmable controller under a Xenta Server is not reflecting these changes. Environment Vista 5.x.x/4.5.0 Xbuilder 5.x.x/4.5.0 Cause When the Xenta programmable controller is added to the LonWorks network under a Xenta Server an alarm object is created in Xbuilder with the Tripped Alarm Text and Reset Alarm Text from the MTA file. Updates to the MTA file or alarm object in Vista server does not update the Xbuilder project. Resolution Edit the Xenta Server object and modify the Tripped Alarm Text and Reset Alarm Text for the in the Alarms folder under the programmable controller in the Network pane of Xbuilder.

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.

Issue Can the RoamIO service tool be used to view/edit physical access control objects (personnel, areas, doors) Environment RoamIO Cause RoamIO documentation Resolution The RoamIO service tool does not support working with physical access control objects. Door, personnel and area objects in the controller are not exposed to the service tool.

Issue When a OPC client is connecting to Vista the updates of values in Vista get really slow. The OPC client is asking for values from a Lon network Environment TAC Vista 5.1.7 Vista OPC server IFix OPC client in this case but could be any Cause The problem here is that the OPC clients asks for more values per second from the Lon network then the Vista server can deliver. The Visa server can read around 40 values per second using a Loytec network interface in a classic Lon network.  Resolution Make sure the OPC client doesn't read more then maximum 30-40 values per second from Vista.

Issue Immediately after conversion from 9900 to 9680 an attempt to edit a system variable from the Continuum Explorer causes an access denied error Environment CyberStation CX9680 Cause Conversion process was not completely successful Resolution In the Continuum Explorer change the controller type to 9681, when the warning comes up that this is irreversible click OK Change the controller type backup to 9680, when the warning comes up that this is irreversible click OK