Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Xenta Server installation on a LON network Environment LNS Network Cause Installing a Xenta Server on a LON network Resolution The Xenta Server can be installed anywhere along the LON channel as long as the terminators are located at each physical end of the wire. The server will function the same as any other LON node.

Issue The stop watch object operates erratically when set to days. If you set the stop watch to issue a pulse once a day it can issue a pulse 2 or 3 times during the day. Environment VisiSat Bubbleland Stopwatch   Cause Software/firmware error. No fix planned. Resolution When programming a stop watch do not use days. Instead of 7 days  use 168 hours  Instead of 14 days  Use 336 hours  If there is a requirement to convert the value back to a day for MicroNet View graphical representation, A suggested method follows: -   In VisiSat find the stopwatch object.  Add the Stopwatch Rollover to the VisiSat points list. Under the menu topic Tools Export your points list to MicroNet View.   In the MicroNet View project manager and load the new points. To view the hour value received from the controller as weeks on the graphical interface. Open MicroNet View in Development mode (Window Maker) Open the window that the value will be added too. Add some text to the Windows you want to display the value. For example “###” To view the rollover value, add the tag for the stop watch rollover value. To show the value as weeks add /24 after the tagname. Below is an example of both showing the results. This can be achieved using a data change script. In MicroNet Window Maker (Development mode) add a tag and data change script. The tag could look something like this. The minimum and maximum values of the tag can be changed to provide limits. The data change script could look something like this.  To display and allow the user to change the value in weeks. Add some text to the Windows you want to display the value. For example “###” Inside the "###" should be set for "user inputs Analog" (Analogue)  Click on "user inputs Analog and select the data change tag created earlier.  Using the example from above, the window will now look like this  To set the rollover in days click the days set area.  Change to the required amount of days. Hit the return key to enter the value.  The Rollover is now set to 14 days. It is important to remember the rollover value in the controller its not 14 it is the hour value 336. It is just at the MicroNet View front end/user interface window where it is displayed as days.

Issue The Analogue output card only produces 9.9 volts dc. Environment Sigma Analogue Output Voltage Cause The Analogue output card only produces 9.9 volts dc, can it produce 10 volts? Resolution No, although the card is said to produce 0 - 10 volts, it will produce slightly less. For the data sheet please click here.

Issue Can SIGNAL send alarms to a pager? Environment SIGNAL all versions Cause End customer has requested pager numbers be added to alarm notification.  Currently just visual display on the SIGNAL computer via Alarm Manager and printouts to the connected printer are available. Resolution SIGNAL does not have the ability to dial out alarms to a pager.  Years ago, a 3rd-party product called Alarm Flash was used to provide this capability.  If a similar product is available today, it may work with SIGNAL's Alarm Manager. Another alternative is to use a modem connected to the field panel (GCM or DMS) that can dial a pager number via a modem when an alarm occurs.  There are also several 3rd party products which can interface serially to the field panels and be programmed with several phone numbers and customized text messages.

Issue File Equalization, what passes between the Filemaster and Equalized Client Environment I/NET with Filemaster and Equalized Client snapshot, equalize, tables Cause What transpires between the Filemaster and Equalized Client Resolution File equalization is essential in TAC I/NET Seven systems where multiple host workstations will be used to manage access control or TAC I/NET Seven’s network configuration. It allows host workstations connected to an Ethernet LAN to share certain database information while still maintaining their own TAC I/NET Seven database. File equalization is a function of the SQL server that is installed on TAC I/NET Seven workstations. The SQL server ensures that each individual workstation has up-to-date copies of equalized information. The equalized information includes: Network configuration (links, sites, stations, etc.) Host passwords Controller passwords Tenant data User-defined tenant field labels Individual records Group door assignments Elevator floor assignments Trend plot data The following tables are equalized: Tenants Individuals IndivCustomData IndivImages IamUser DoorsGroups Groups SecondaryGroups XRefTenantDoor XRefGroupDoor XRefIndivGroupDoor Cards CardTrans Floors FloorPoints Visitors Operators OpWindowPosition XRefOperatorDoor PwdHistory AmtFilters MultiPlot MultiPlotPnt PwDCU DpuRestore DoorScheduleTypes DoorSchedules PerSchedNames PerScheds GlobalOptions DispatchStrings Tools UserButtons NetConLink NetConSite NetConDCU NetConMCU NetConDoor

Issue Choosing the correct range of sensor is important in order to provide the most accurate value. Environment SPD310 SPD360 Cause Only the max value is specified for each range. How low is the lowest accurate value? Resolution The reasonable minimum pressure in the 100Pa range should be equal or greater than 40Pa (typically), otherwise the max. error becomes bigger.

Issue Need to know if Continuum account passwords are encrypted Environment Cyberstation and webClient (all versions) Cause No cause - information only. Resolution Continuum passwords are encrypted with an algorithm. Being salted and hashed before being saved in the Continuum Database.

Issue Lookup table downloads. Environment Lookup tables AI Objects Downloading Cause Analogue valve is not correctly displayed, due to a missing lookup table in the controller. Resolution When a lookup table is assigned to a Sigma object, it is not automatically downloaded with the object. The lookup table must be downloaded via "System Diagnostics" and "Download Files" where Lookup.rec is selected from the options.  

Issue The process of merging two Index files. Environment BAS 2800+ BasFiles Merging Indexes Cause BasFiles in it's basic form cannot be used to merge Index files. A switch is required. Resolution When starting BasFiles normally the options presented are as follows; To merge two BAS site Index files together, BasFiles needs to be used in a different mode, this mode is not normally available, and a switch is required. To start BasFiles in the mode that enables merging, carry out the following.. From the Windows "Start" button select the "Run" option. Browse to where BasFiles is located and select it. To BasFiles.exe add the extension "space"scs as follows  - BasFiles.exe scs When run a new menu option is now available. Having selected the "Merge" option, you will be presented with the window below. Note - The directory structure used must be present before merging takes place..

Issue Communications with the controllers is very slow. Environment Slow communications Displaying objects seem to lock up Globals V53 hardware Cause Communications with the controllers is very slow. Objects will display correctly once, but if the display is carried out several times, or if an object is overridden, the server appears to lockup. Resolution The issue was caused by two Sigma objects being globally transmitted at the rate of 12 per second. The two objects were Programmable and the programme had been incorrectly written as follows; 10 IF POINT 0|108 = 0.000000 THEN RETURN "Ch1  Off" 20 IF POINT 0|108 = 1.00000 THEN RETURN "Ch1 Start" 30 IF POINT 0|108 = 2.00000 THEN RETURN "Ch1 Running" 40 IF POINT 0|108 = 3.00000 THEN RETURN "Ch1 Shutdown" 50 IF POINT 0|108 = 4.00000 THEN RETURN "Ch1 Service" The above object is incorrect because it does not specify True or False. Because globals are transmitted on "change of state" the global was being transmitted with every scan of the object file. It is recommended that the object is changed as follows. 10 IF POINT 0|108 = 0.000000 THEN RETURN FALSE "Ch1  Off" 20 IF POINT 0|108 = 1.00000 THEN RETURN TRUE "Ch1 Start" 30 IF POINT 0|108 = 2.00000 THEN RETURN TRUE "Ch1 Running" 40 IF POINT 0|108 = 3.00000 THEN RETURN TRUE "Ch1 Shutdown" 50 IF POINT 0|108 = 4.00000 THEN RETURN TRUE "Ch1 Service"

Issue A displayed on main display. Environment CMC CSMC A Alarm Cause Showing A for alarm on the display Resolution Set code B61 to 1 Click here to download the data sheets.

Issue Since the Forta M500B actuator is no longer available in our portfolio, a replacement is requested. Environment TAC Forta M500B M400 M800 Cause Replacing old, obsolete actuator. Resolution Depending on valve size and required force, Forta M400 or M800 are the recommended replacement actuators.

Issue How do we specify the amount of memory (base or extended) when ordering a UNC-520-2 or ENC-520-2? Environment UNC-520-2 or ENC-520-2 Cause Customer request Resolution All UNC-520-2 and ENC-520-2 controllers shipped since April, 2010 have been shipped with extended memory.  

Issue When an object is created in a controller, Continuum throws an "Unable to insert row in Database Table" error. Environment SQL Continuum CyberStation ContinuumDb Cause New database user created with restricted permissions Resolution When Continuum DB initialization creates the Andover97 user in SQL, it grants essential database access permissions to the user.  Restricting these permissions can impair routine functions in Continuum.

Issue Encountered a 'Drop failed' error when adding a component to the ENC station database Environment I/A Series Enterprise Network Controller (ENC) Cause The module which the component belongs to has not been installed in the ENC. Resolution Install the timesync module into the ENC using the following procedure. In Workbench, open the ENC's Platform. Open the Software Manager. Find and select the required module and click on the 'Install' button. This will select the module for installation. Click on the 'Commit' button to start the module installation process.

Issue No offline alarms No system messages Xenta offline Link alarms to event object Environment Vista Xenta Cause You cant directly trigger an alarm object located on another server by "Link alarms to Event object" This alarm object needs to be locally. Resolution You will have to configure a system alarm to trigger an alarm object located locally

Issue Is it possible/suitable to mount the MF20 or MF40 actuator in 90 degrees angle out from the valve VF208W? Environment MF20 MF40 VF208W Cause In some applications/environments it is hard to fit in the actuator on top of the valve due to space limits. Resolution There should be no problem mounting the actuator / linkage in a 90 degree angle out from the valve.

Issue When Actuator M22 / M50 is purchased separately from valve, an adapter is sometimes required to connect valve and actuator. Environment M22 M50 Adapter 100108240 Cause In some applications this adapter is necessary to purchase separately. Resolution The adapter needed is available for ordering. Part no 100108240. Contact t your Orders Dept rep for more details and information.

Issue Is the error LED on the ACX781 linked to the errors system variable in the controller? What events constitute and error that would cause the LED to be illuminated? How is the nature of the controller error determined? Can this value (and the error LED) be cleared by setting it back to 0? Environment LCX780 LCX781 Error Light LED Cause The error led is associated with the errors system variable.   Resolution Try using Command Line to set the Errors system variable  to 0 and see if the error led goes away. The most common reason why the error would be non-zero is because there is a program that went disabled.

Issue Does TAC Vista Support for trending based on the COV (Change of Value)? Environment TAC Vista Cause Other BMS systems support COV for trending. Does TAC Vista support the same? Resolution No, TAC Vista do not have any provision to trend based on COV. It is only possible based on time interval.