Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue What parameters are used to regulate the speed of the LON trunk in a Niagara R2 integration? Environment Niagara R2 Cause Configuration of LON devices create unnecessary network traffic from changing values. Resolution There are two settings that can regulate LON traffic: 1. In the LocalLonDevice properties, the maxSendTime parameter specifies the maximum amount of time the local lon device (which is the UNC station) waits to send out a value that has not changed. 2. Also in the LocalLonDevice Properties, the minSendTime parameter specifies the minimum amount of time that must elapse between network variable updates for values that are changing rapidly. Consult the Niagara LonWorks Integration Guide for more information.

Issue With the MNL VAV controllers, does the integral damper motor perform a self calibration during which it cycles fully closed or fully open? Environment MNL VAV controllers Cause When main power is applied to the MNL VAV controller, the damper motor will cycle to a full closed position. Resolution Automatic Calibration: An internal calibration feature automatically synchronizes the actuator position whenever the actuator is commanded to the full closed (0.0%) or full open (100.0%) position by continuing to drive the actuator in the requested direction for a time period of at least one additional complete full stroke drive time. If during this “end of stroke” drive period the Input value changes to a value within the control range, the output drive to locate the true end of stroke operation is terminated. Drift Compensation Enable: Setting the Drift Compensation Enable configuration property to On (1) compensates for floating actuator mechanical drift whenever the actuator remains at the full open or full closed position for extended periods of time. Drift compensation is done by periodically driving the actuator in the commanded direction for a time period derived from the Drive Time assigned. Drift compensation does not occur whenever the actuator is within the actual control range between full open and full closed. Refer to the Floating Actuator Object in F-27254 for additional information.

Issue Use of Universal Input UI1 on a Microzone II as a pulse counter requires an external pull-up resistor. Environment Microzone II Cause High speed count input required a 10 K ohm shunt resistor. Resolution When UI1 on the Microzone II is used as a Pulse Counter, an external pull-up resistor must be added between UI1 and the 5.1 VDC output terminal. The resistor shall be a 10 K Ohm, 1/4 Watt or higher, +/- 10% tolerance or better. Universal Inputs UI2 - UI8 do not require the resistor.

Issue Can a Master schedule in a Niagara R2 Enterprise server station trigger slave schedules residing in a PollOnDemand object in a UNC station? Environment Niagara R2 Enterprise Server UNC station Cause To trigger slave schedule, be sure to link a slave calendar to the slave schedule. Resolution Schedule objects do not care that the folder is PollOnDemand. Only driver points (ie. shadow objects) will be affected by the fact that their parent is a PollOnDemand container. Be sure that there is a slave calendar linked to the slave schedule in the same station. Calendar to schedule links do not work across an external link.

Issue Installing Vista 5.0.x on Windows Vista and it failed. Environment Windows Vista Vista 5.0.x Cause Vista 5.0.x is not compatible with Windows Vista Resolution First, uninstall anything Vista 4.3.x to 5.0.x installed including Microsoft SQL and Microsoft Visual Runtime C++ stuff. If they won't all uninstall, you may have to do a system restore to some point previous to the TAC Vista install. Next remove the c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data assuming that TAClogdata.* is there. It might be in MSSQL.2 or other. You should then be able to install.  

Issue Vista WebApps install incorrectly claiming that IIS is not installed Environment Windows IIS Cause On some custom configurations of Windows we have seen where Internet Information Services (IIS) is running on another driver letter and Vista WebApps is not finding the IIS operating directory and claiming that IIS is not installed. Resolution Open the Registry Editor (Start > Run > regedit) Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\InetStp\ for the PathWWWRoot key. This registry key should show the directory that IIS is using for storage of the web server. (Default is C:\inetpub\wwwroot\) Correct the registry key with the correct path and the install should now succeed.

Issue A Niagara R2 UNC-520 time clock cannot maintain proper system time.  It is losing approximately 1 hour daily. Environment Niagara R2 UNC-520 Cause Inadvertently calibrated with an incorrect time clock. Resolution This issue can be corrected in the field.  For details, read TPA-RKFD-08-0003.00 "Slow Time Clock on UNC-520-2 and UNC-520-2-N" on The Exchange Download Center.

Issue What is the Analog to Digital Output resolution of the MNL controllers? Environment MNL Controllers Cause Analog/Digital conversion resolution Resolution The MNL controllers (with the exception of the MNL-800) have a 10-bit equivalent UI resolution and an 8-bit output resolution. The MNL-800 has a 12-bit equivalent UI resolution and an 8 bit output resolution.

Issue TAC Vista 5.1 installation hangs on installing Video Functions. CPU is at 100% and the installation will never finish. Environment Vista Installation Cause It seems like the MSI process for the Video components sometimes gets into a loop. Resolution Start the installation and let it run until it “hangs" Go into Task Manager-Processes and end the process “msiexec” that is using all the CPU. The installation should proceed and everything should be installed correctly

Issue On a computer, when booting up WorkPlace Tech, this error message appears:  "License date is newer than computer date". Environment WorkPlace Tech Cause Date change on host pc operating system prior to licensing date Resolution WorkPlace Tech keeps track of the time and date it was last accessed to prevent back dating to defeat the license. To regain access, run the Purchase WorkPlace Tech software icon, purchase the next available renewal and send the renewal file to Customer Care to obtain the unlock code.

Issue A previously functional MNL controller is not communicating and the RED LED is on solid. Environment MNL controllers - all revisions Cause Internal hardware failure Resolution The solid RED LED indicates that the LON processor Neuron application is not running. This is a hardware failure and is not field repairable. Replace the controller.

Issue Xenta 913 is communicating to BACnet MSTP device fine (shows online status), but no data will show up on values page.  All of the data will be zeros.  XBuilder does not give you an error or warning of this problem. Environment Xenta 913, Xenta 731, Xenta 511:B XBuilder Cause When using BACnet or Modbus in the 913/731/511:B you can not name the Modbus or BACnet port the same name as any of the devices below it. For example, if you name your BACnet MSTP port "RTU" and then name the slave device "RTU" the device will show an online status, but you will not see any information on a values page. All of the data will be zeros.  By default, XBuilder attempts to prohibit this from happening by adding a numeric to the end of a new device.  So by default the device name would be "RTU 1" and you would have had to rename it to "RTU." Resolution Name the slave device below the BACnet or Modbus port something different than the port itself. 

Issue When opening ZBuilder "Invalid OLE collection index(Subsystem: LNS, #15)" pops up a hundred times – seems to be one for each configuration value.  Exmucpt, exmappop, etc.  Environment Zbuilder Vista LNS Cause unknown Resolution Restoring a LonMaker backup should fix the issue.

Issue Right-click on a device in LonMaker and choose "Browse...."  This should launch the LonMaker Browser.  Instead of launching, an error pops up that says "Unable to find a matching plug-in for device, use network properties to register the correct plug-in." Environment LonMaker Cause Echelon LonMaker Browser is a plug-in that must be registered like any other.  If it has not been registered properly, it will need to be registered, or re-registered. Resolution In LonMaker, choose the LonMaker toolbar menu Go to Network Properties > Plug-In Registration Tab Find "Echelon LonMaker Browser (Version X.X)" either in Already Registered or Not Registered window. Double click the plug-in, which adds it to the To Be Registered window. Click Apply or OK to register to plug-in. Launch the LonMaker browser again.

Issue Cannot enter a "." (period) into an Object Name of an application drawing using WorkPlace Tech 5.7.4 and newer.  It was possible with previous versions. Has this ability been removed? Environment WorkPlace Tech 5.7.4 and newer Cause The change to not allow a period in an Object Name was to make WorkPlace Tech compatible with StruxureWare. Resolution If a period must be use in an Object Name, do the following:  Open Notepad. Type the desired name (including period). Copy and paste it into the object's name.

Issue Can a door switch input be configured to operate without the input resistor? Can supervised inputs be configured to work without an input resistor? Environment NetController ACX5720 ACX5740 AC_1 AC_1 Plus Cause When designing or troubleshooting a security access job, it is important to know if the hardware requirements are absolutely mandatory. Resolution Within the Continuum door object class, the input type is not selectable - it is a supervised input. As supervisory inputs they require an input resistor to be installed.

Issue In a Graphic panel configured with a background image and several controls including a combo box control when the list is exposed (pulled down) it snaps back closed before a selection can be made. Environment CyberStation Cause Interaction between combo box control and other graphic object components such as back ground image can cause the combo box control to behave inappropriately. For example, an overlap of the combo box control with other controls and/or images in the canvas may cause the issue. Resolution Switch graphic to design mode and re-arrange controls and images until combo box works as expected.

Issue How to interpret a M-Bus point details in a VX communication log such as External Temp [C] {1:0:0}. Environment Xenta Server 913 Cause The  External Temp [C] {1:0:0} message is providing important information about the point. External Temp = Field Type [C] = Unit {1 = Storage # :0: = Sub-Unit 0} = Tariff # Resolution Use the details of the communication log message to correct configuration problems in the device editor. MVAL External Temp [C] {1:0:0} value not required This message provides device details that a point exists, but the Device Editor is not looking for it. !MVAL External Temp [C] {2:0:0} =not received A point is expected but was not found.

Issue Compressor will not activate blocking the cooling or heating of the Xenta 121-HP. Environment Xenta 121-HP Cause A compressor temperature lockout exists in the Xenta 121-HP application. The lockout has a minimum and maximum temperature the source signal must be between for the compressor to activate. The source signal changes depending on whether the application uses a air source or a water source. Air Source - nviOutdoorTemp Water Source - nviSourceTemp Resolution Ensure that the source temperature signal is between the compressor lockout minimum and maximum.

Issue Workstation is alarming that the SQL has reached the 4G limitation, but the Version of SQLServer is a Full version which is unlimited in size. SQL should be able to grow until the hard drive capacity is reached. There seems to be normal functionality of the SQL Server and there are not any $queues building. Environment SQL Vista 5 Cause When Vista is installed, The parameter how large SQL can be is written into the properties of $Backup_LDB. If a Free version of SQL is used, such as the one included in Vista, A limit of 4G or 3820MB is written to this Value. Even if you Install a Full Version of SQL at a later date, this Alarm Limit will remain. Resolution In Workstation, select the Vista Server, this displays the contents of the Vista Server in the Main pane. In the Main pane, double-click on the object $Backup_LDB, this displays the properties of $Backup_LDB in a new window. In the $Backup_LDB property window, Scroll to the last property, "DB Size Alarm Limit (MB)" Increase this value to a higher logical value of your choice considering limitations of the system hard drive space. Note: 1 Gb = 1024 Mb, 1 Mb = 1/1024 Gb and 1 Mb = 0.0009765625 Gb