Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Users are adding areas to a person which should be blocked by a security level. Environment Continuum V1.93, V1.94 Cause Object level security is allowing the personnel profile to attach areas that should be blocked. Users with limited access to the sites areas are having additional areas added when applying a profile. No problems are encountered if no object level security is applied to the areas. Resolution This issue is resolved in V1.94 SP1 release of Cyberstation.

Issue Can't find AREAPURGE part number in parts list or iPortal. Environment Continuum Add-on Software from COE Cause The AREAPURGE is an Add-On application made, and supported, by the Security Center of Excellence (COE). It has also had the part number "AE-PURGE".   Resolution Unfortunately, COE has informed us that this product is discontinued and is no longer available for sale.

Issue Is it possible to have multiple Xenta 901 controllers from multiple sites in a single LNS network and access the remote sites as needed? This would leave any controllers not connected offline. Environment TAC Xenta 901 LNS Network Cause TAC Xenta 901 is an "LTA" and in TAC Vista there can only be one per LonWorks network. Resolution Create one LNS database per TAC Xenta 901. You can have up to 240 TAC Xenta 901 networks per TAC Vista Server (all can dial up the same TAC Vista Modem(s)). Add another TAC Vista Server if you need more dial up connections.

Issue Do 7716 inputs have any protection against power spikes? Environment 7716 Cause Protection against power spikes ensure longevity in the controller. Resolution Yes. All inputs on the base card are equipped with transient suppression components.

Issue Limitation of Groups/Units in one Vista DB Environment Vista database Xenta groups LonWorks groups Cause Network design limitations, maximum number of controls used on a network. Resolution No more than 30 TAC Xenta groups per LonTalk Adapter. No More than 30 TAC Xenta base devices per TAC Xenta group. Maximum of 400 TAC Xenta base devices per LonWorks network No more than 50 LonWorks groups per network. No more than 64 LonWorks units per LonWorks group. Maximum of 1000 Devices using standard SNVT communications.

Issue How many ASD buses can exist on a Niagara R2 UNC 520? Environment Niagara R2 UNC 520 Cause Knowing the total number of ASD bus supported helps with system architecture. Resolution The ASD driver only supports 2 ASD buses on a single UNC-520.

Issue Do we need to power cycle an I/A Series BACnet controller after changing its address using the DIP switches? Environment I/A Series Micronet BACnet (MNB) controllers Cause There is a need to change the DIP switch address on a MNB controller. This could be due to several reasons such as DIP switch address being wrongly set or if there are gaps in addressing which needs to be fixed. Resolution No, there isn't a need to power cycle the MNB controller after changing its DIP switch addressing. The MNB controller should reset itself approximately 10 seconds after changing the address.

Issue Changing a value from a WebStation. Environment Web Changing a value Changed value returns to its original value Cause The value appears to have been changed correctly, but when the page is refreshed, or changed and returned to, the original value is shown. Resolution There are two ways to change a value as shown below; 1 - Using the edit option. -  Select "Edit" which is located on the right-hand side of the current value.   The "Edit" box is displayed.     Enter the required value and select "OK". Now go to the lower right-hand side of the window and select "Apply".   2 - Typing over the current value -  Wipe over the current value to highlight it, and enter required value. Now go to the lower right-hand side of the window and select "Apply".  

Issue Problems associated with the install of the Enterprise Server on the Swedish language version of Windows Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Windows computer with the Swedish language Cause In Swedish Windows there is no directory named "Program Files". It's named "Program". That's the path that the ES tries to register for the Windows service for ES. Check this log upon installation failure: C:\Program Files\Schneider Electric\StruxureWare x.x\Software Administrator for the SE.softwareAdministrator.log If that log contains:"Hittades inte" it means "Didn't find". In other words, the Software Administrator couldn't find the service. Resolution Find out what the registry key HKLM\SOFTWARE\Schneider Electric\StruxureWare x.x\Enterprise Server\InstallDir has for value. If using a truly Swedish version of OS, it should be " C:\Program\Schneider Electric\StruxureWare x.x\Enterprise Server\bin\SE.EnterpriseServer.exe". Change the value and start the ES as a Service. Often the problem is that Software Administrator cannot create the windows service for ES. One solution is to manually create the service for the ES. The Software Administrator is typically supposed to create the service in the OS.

Issue Do i2600 Series controller support expansion modules? Environment i2608 i2624 Cause Documentation Resolution i2600 Series controllers are input only devices (8 or 24) and DO NOT have an expansion port.

Issue Programme to provide a 48 hour average value. Environment Sigma Programme Program Average 48 hour Cause The customer requires a programme that will record the outside temperature every hour, on a rolling 48 hour basis. Resolution This programme has been produced to operate in a UNC632 controller, but can be modified if required to operate in an X96. If modified, it is important to keep the sequence of objects in the same order as at present. This programme was created at Sigma 4.05 SEB (build 3.42.18). Please click HERE to download the programme files.

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 Services for assistance. Issue Reloading ACX2/NC2 produces error when reloading the following system variables AllowedCreds PersRecordCount PIVReaderFormat Environment CyberStation ACX5720 ACX5740 CX9680 Cause The system variables in question (AllowedCreds, PersRecordCount, PIVReaderFormat) only apply to versions 1.1xxxxx and 2.1xxxxx of the ACX2 and NC2 respectively. Resolution Make sure the controller is running the appropriate version of the firmware. If the problem persists even with the correct firmware version then... Export the controller to text file Edit the dump file and remove ALL system variables Delete the controller Import the file to re-create the controller (the system variables will be created when the controller is created) Reload the controller, the errors should not longer appear.

Issue There are many situations that a remote computer wants to monitor and control local Vista values. C/S construction (Client/Server) and B/S construction (Browser/Server) are the two solutions for these situations. Environment Multi-PC environment Vista Cause In many cases this application is needed. Resolution The C/S solution for Vista is Remote Workstation and Vista Server. On the client computer, only the Vista Remote Workstation software needs to be installed. Then it can connect to the Vista Server on the server computer. The Remote Workstation software can be downloaded from here. The B/S solution for Vista is Webstation and Vista Server. On the server computer, Vista Webstation software needs to be installed. Then on the client there is no need to install any software. Just open the IE browser, and type the IP address of the server computer, all the content in the Workstation of server computer can be shown in the client computer. The Webstation software can be downloaded from here.

Issue Can the ACX57xx be configured to use its RS-485 Infinet comm port to connect to a Netcontroller as an Infinet device? Environment ACX5720 ACX5740 Cause Limited access to Ethernet LAN, want to use the new ACX57xx in the same capacity as the old ACX781 controllers where they were connected as Infinet nodes to a Netcontroller. Resolution Although the RS-485 port can be configured for Infinet communications, this is solely for adding subnet controllers off of this ACX57xx. This does not allow configuring the controller to communicate directly on the Infinet network as a slave device. The ACX57xx was designed to replace, and improve on, the Infinet ACX781. To do this it was given more memory, a faster processor, more Personnel storage space, and secure communications options among other improvements. To accommodate all this it needed to have a larger network pipe for the increased bandwidth. The Ethernet LAN accommodates this bandwidth whereas the Infinet network would have been a major bottleneck.

Issue Migration of DMS-3500 to SmartStruxure Solution Environment DMS-3500 SmartStruxure Cause Not all products have been selected for migration to the SmartStruxure platform. Resolution None of the DMS-3500 databases or controller databases can be converted directly to SmartStruxure.  This is an unsupported migration without the use of a Niagara device to act as a gateway.

Issue The column labeled "Name" in the BACnet device discovery window is mislabeled. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Workstation (All Versions) Cause BACnet device objects have two different names: An object display name that shows in WorkStation A BACnet name that represents the object in the device These names have different character and length restrictions. For example, when you create a point or value in a BACnet device, you are prompted to enter an object display name. You can enter more than 16 characters here and are not restricted to using only letters, digits, and underscores. For the BACnet name, you can enter up to 16 characters. The BACnet name specifies how an object is identified in a BACnet device and is composed solely of letters, digits, and underscores. If you leave the BACnet name box empty, the EcoStruxure Building Operation object name is truncated and spaces are removed for the name to fit in the box. The object display name and the BACnet name are not linked, so changing one does not modify the other. As a result, when you rename a BACnet device point or value, you need to change both the object display and BACnet names. You rename BACnet device points or values if you wish to change the name to something more specific, or if the point or value was initially named incorrectly. Because the binding templates require a naming convention, you may also need to rename a point or value to match a convention imposed after they were created. Instead of having to delete the point or value and configure a new one, you do a rename instead. Resolution The "Name" column within BACnet discovery actually reflects the BACnet Name and not the object display name.

Issue What are 7806 Site Taps? Environment I/NET site Cause What are 7806 Site Taps? Resolution These series of Taps connect one or more controller LANs to a workstation through a companion 7804/78041, or to a host LAN through a 7805/78051 Tap using a Direct Distance Dial telephone network. (Refer to TCON 101, Model 7806 Site (LAN) Taps).

Issue How can an override of a nciMinFlow SNVT be done directly from a container in Niagara R2 WorkPlace Pro? Environment Niagara R2 WorkPlace Pro nciMinFlow SNVT Cause A direct override of a nci is not possible. Resolution However, a change to a nci can be done by doing the following in WorkPlace Pro: Copy and paste the DynamicCmd object from the Local Library\tridiumx\lonworks\conversion folder into the Workspace Link the nciMinFlow property on the VAV shadow object to the Link property on the DynamicCmd object In the Config tab of the DynamicCmd properties, configure the floatConversion properties as follows: 1st dropdown: Volumetric Flow, 2nd dropdown: liters_per_second, 3rd dropdown: cubic_feet_per_minute In the Visual tab, type "MinFlow" in the float box Apply the changes In Monitor mode, right-click on the DynamicCmd object, and select MinFlow Enter the desired value in CFM.  The nciMinFlow SNVT in the VAV controller will update the value

Issue Can an alarm be generated if a Niagara R2 Enterprise Server loses connectivity to the Vykon Alarm Service (VAS)? Environment Niagara R2 VAS client Cause To trigger an alarm when VAS connection changes, create a program object and link to clientActive. Resolution In order to alarm on the status of a VAS connection, do the following: Create a program object in WorkPlace Pro, and paste in the following code: //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// // VAS Active clients // This object monitors the number of active VAS clients. // Revision History: // 07 August, 2007 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// // Inputs // flex input int ActiveClients // // Outputs // output FloatStatusType Clients // Processing Clients.value = ActiveClients Link the clientActive property of the VykonAlarmService to the ActiveClients property of the program object Create a comparison object, and link the output of the program object to Input A of the comparison object In the comparison object, configure the function so that A < B, and set defaultB to 1 Create a BI object, and link the status out of the comparison object to the status in of the BI Configure the alarm properties of the BI

Issue The Workplace Tech Tool 4.0 Engineering Guide (F-27254), Chapter 3 - "S-Link Sensor Tags", states "PBOccMode" is 0 following a download or reset.  This is incorrect.  Following a download or reset, the PBOccMode tag comes back as NA. Environment Lon and BACnet controllers with MN stats Cause error in documentation Resolution There is a work around if a 0 is required following a download or reset. If the existing logic is not able to handle the "NA", then link PBOccMode into Input[1] of a two input "Priority Object". Set Input[2] to a constant of 0. The Priority object will output a 0 following a download or reset.