Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Can I change the display of an attribute using the old Personnel Editor or in the Personnel template editor Environment Continuum Cyberstation Cause Change the display of a personnel attribute. Resolution The old personnel editor or the personnel template editor there is no way to change the attribute name. In the new Personnel Manager you can change the display of an attribute name. Example:  Changing attribute Info1 to BuildingNumber Open up a personnel record Select configure and select customize attributes Select the display name for the attribute to be changed Change the display name and select Ok.

Issue During an electrical storm, a component labeled MFC27 was damaged.  It is one of many similar components on the MNL-800 backplane or base circuit board.  What purpose does it serve and which circuit was it a part of? Environment MNL-800 Cause High voltage spikes from an electrical storm.  Sample of MFC damage in image below. Resolution All the MFC components on the backplane are Multi-Function Ceramic (MFC) protectors.  They are designed to absorb high voltage introduced into the circuit to which they are a part of.  In particular, MFC27 protects universal input six (UI 6).   See a sample image of MFC damage below. Although damaged, the backplane can still be used but that specific circuit won't have any further high-voltage protection.

Issue Can the RPTR-ECH-WW repeater be used on a TP/FT-10 LON trunk? Environment RPTR-ECH-WW; a wire-wire repeater for use with Echelon NIMs (GCM-ECH-001, GCM-ECH-001, or DMS-ECH-001) TP/FT-10 LON trunk ( under a UNC, ENC, or LNC-100, for example) Cause The RPTR-ECH-WW is for use on a trunk using the Echelon TP/XF-1250 transceiver, which use a different communications protocol than the TP/FT-10 transceiver does. Devices using different transceivers will not communicate with each other. Resolution No, the RPTR-ECH-WW cannot be used on a TP/FT-10 LON trunk such as the UNC, ENC, or LNC-100s support.

Issue When an optimiser point is displayed the value minutes to next switch is large. Environment BAS, Sigma Cause The optimiser is unable to calculate minutes to next switch correctly. Resolution The time schedule may be in a "Manual" condition or The optimiser point has been correctly crossed referenced to a time schedule. However the time schedule has been crossed referenced to another point e.g. a programmable point either by the Low Action (LA) or High Action (HA) or the Holiday point where the holiday schedule is not a holiday point. Therefore the Optimiser is unable to calculate the next switch and applies a large value. Consider putting the overrides or actions at a lower level in the software. Example 1 Instead of: Holiday > Overrides (e.g. Prg points) > Time Schedule > Optimiser > Plant Level Consider: Holiday > Time Schedule > Optimiser > Overrides (e.g. Prg points) > Plant Level Example 2 Instead of:  Overrides (e.g. Prg points) > HA or LA xref > Time Schedule > Optimiser > Plant Level Consider:  Time Schedule > Optimiser > Overrides (e.g. Prg points) > Plant Level  

Issue Installing VisiView on Windows 7 Environment Windows 7 VisiView   Cause Supported operating systems Resolution VisiView will not work on Windows 7. Windows XP Pro is required. The upgrade path would be to use a Xenta 555 or Xenta 731.

Issue Customer wishes to shunt a motion sensor alarm during the day when the building is occupied. Does this require PE code or is there an easier way? Environment Continuum Cause Looking for an easier way than writing Plain English code to shunt a security alarm. Resolution Use an Alarm Point. In this example, attach the schedule occupancy point in the Alarms tab of the InfinityInput editor for the motion sensor. The alarm algorithm expression for the AlarmEnrollment object will be: Value = On and Point1 = Off (assuming AlarmPoint1 is used). In this way, if the motion sensor is on and the occupancy schedule is off, the above expression is true, and the point will go into alarm.

Issue Zbuilder will not launch from LonMaker on Windows Vista. If running LonMaker in elevated mode or with User Access Control disabled then trying to launch Zbuilder will result in an error: Unhandled exception thrown. Message: Object reference not set to an instance of an object. StackTrace: at TAC.Xenta100ConfigTool.Framework.LNS.LnsNetworkManager.OpenNetworkAndSystem(String network) at TAC.Xenta100ConfigTool.Framework.LNS.LnsNetwork.InitLNSPlugIn(String objectPath, String mode, String networkInterfaceName) at TAC.Xenta100ConfigTool.Program.RunAsLnsPlugIn(Assembly frameworkAssembly, String[] args) at TAC.Xenta100ConfigTool.Program.Main(String[] args) Environment LonMaker 3.2 Vista 5.1.0, 5.1.1, 5.1.2 Windows Vista Cause When the Vista Toolpack 5.1.0 was developed, LonMaker did not support Windows Vista limiting the ability to test for compatibility and all problems. As a result this problem is only experienced when launching Zbuilder from LonMaker. Resolution Upgrade the TAC Toolpack to version 5.1.3 or higher. If Vista Server is being used as well then ensure that the Toolpack and Vista Server versions are still the same revision.

Issue Need to order packing Kit for the MZX valve Environment MZX Valve packing kit Cause Valve leaking Resolution The specification number for the packing kit for valve size half inch to two inches is 626-9-204 

Issue When installing UltiVist on a new OS/2 computer, it fails to begin stating there's not enough space on c: drive.  However, c: drive has plenty of free space. Pop-up error message reads as follows: Setup is unable to copy the installation support file a:\~ins0762.lib to a temporary location.  Error 420 Environment UltiVist Cause The primary partition size is an issue for UltiVist. OS/2 can support partition sizes greater than 2 gigabytes if HPFS is selected over FAT.  UltiVist will NOT support a primary partition size of 2 gigabytes or greater and, as a result, it will think that there's insufficient capacity for writing data to the partition. To confirm, open a Win-OS/2 window, go to file manager, and check the drive space.  If a partition of greater than 2 gigabytes has been created, the available drive space will display as zero. Resolution Create a primary partition size of 1.99 gigabytes.  It can be HPFS or FAT. Best practice:  Install only OS/2 on the primary partition.  Install UltiVist on an extended partition (typically d: drive).

Issue Using a card reader to Unlock and Secure a Building Product Line TAC INET Environment I/NET Seven 7798 Cause Site requests the ability to have a user card in at the beginning of the day locking the door and card out at the end of the day unlocking the building Resolution Create and AIC triggered from the card reader to start an event sequence as outlined in Using AIC to trigger an event sequence The AIC should trigger an event sequence (sequence1) Line 1 of sequence1 should be skip if 0, looking to see if the door is lock and skipping to sequence2 Line 2 of sequence1 should be skip if non-0, looking to see if the door is unlocked ad skipping to sequence3 Sequence 2 should unlock the door(s) Sequence 3 should lock the door(s) You may need to change the delays until you get an acceptable response. Ideally Line 1 of sequence 1 should be delayed long enough for the door to return to lock after the reader entry. As an option you could have sequence 1 check the status of the door. A badge read when the door is closed unlocks the door(s). A badge read when the door is open locks the door(s).

Issue The new programmable object should read an existing object (1) and a time schedule (2). When the time schedule switches off the value from object 1 will be held and outputted. This output will be maintained until the next time schedule off period, when it will be reviewed again.   Environment Sigma Programmable object Prog Point programming Cause Assistance required to create a programmable object. Resolution The object below will fulfill the requirements. Use appropriate controller and object numbers. Object 1 = Existing programme to be monitored Object 2 = Time Schedule. 10 IF P (2) ON THEN XINT = 1 ELSE XINT = 0 20 IF XINT DOWN THEN GOTO 40 30 GOTO 50 40 IF P (1) ON THEN YINT = 1 ELSE YINT = 0 50 IF YINT = 1 THEN RETURN TRUE "HW" 60 RETURN FALSE "CW"  

Issue Is the DC1100C still available? Is the DCCOMMS software still available? Environment DC1100C DC1100 C DCCOMMS DC COMMS DC1100 DC1400 DC1000C DC1000 C Cause Is the DC1100C and the DCCOMMS software still available? Resolution The DC1100C had the communication module so that the controller could be interrogated remotely. This controller is no longer available. The DCCOMMS software ran in a DOS environment and is also obsolete. The DC1000C or DC1100C must not be confused with the DC1100 or the DC1400, these are the same controllers but without the communication interface and are still available.

Issue Is it possible to email a temperature value twice a day to someone via Continuum? Environment SendEmail ACX2 NC2 bCX Cause A customer would like to get an email twice a day on a critical temperature in a lab. Emailing alarms is already done via CyberStation and Outlook. Can this be done, too? Resolution Yes, it can be done. And if you want it to NOT be emailed as an alarm, a good way to do it is to set up a bCX/ACX2/NC2 to be able to send email. Then write a Plain English program that uses the SendEmail function. You will need to write the temperature value to a string point. You can trigger the program to run twice a day. The syntax for the function is: SendEmail (to_string, subject_string, message_string, cc_string, bcc_string, signature_string)   See the CyberStation online help and search for SendEmail for more information.  

Issue How big of a number can a Vista analog object hold? Environment Vista all versions Cause In Vista, an analog value is of the type "float" and: Single precision, called "float" in the C language family, and "real" or "real*4" in Fortran. This is a binary format that occupies 32 bits (4 bytes) and its significand has a precision of 24 bits (about 7 decimal digits). Resolution A number with more than 6 digits in Vista will be shown as 1.23456*10e+006. If the value has more than 7 decimal digits, the digits over the 7th decimal will have poor precision.  

Issue Looking for the cheapest and simplest Vista Server/Workstation package in version 5.1 Environment TAC Vista Cause Needs the simplest/cheapest TAC Vista Server and Workstation package to be able to work with ZBuilder Resolution The Standalone package contains Server (limited functionality, see data sheet for details) and Workstation, and is the smallest available package.

Issue Equalization Failure.  Unable to promote remote or equalized client Environment I/NET Seven Cause I/NET Seven creates and used the user account INETSEVEN within SQL. This account is given full admin rights during installation and any change in these rights will prevent I/NET from correctly using SQL.  The password for this account is encrypted and is specific to each I/NET installation so this password cannot be provided. Resolution Do not change settings on this account.  If modifications are made you will need to uninstall and re-install I/NET Seven.

Issue Drayton DC 2000/2100 and 3000 controller series. Environment Drayton DC 2000 2100 3000 Cause Are replacements available for the Drayton DC 2000/2100 and 3000 controller series? Resolution The Drayton DC 2000/2100 and 3000 controller series are obsolete, and there are no direct replacements for these controllers.

Issue Locating partners Environment Partner Sigma Cause Require engineer to visit for maintenance, servicing, installation or advice. Resolution Click here to be linked to the available UK and Ireland Sigma partner list.

Issue AVG Internet Security Suite Business Edition 2012 has been installed on Enterprise Network Server computer at customer site.  After the installation, no connection can be made between either the ENS or Workbench from that computer even though all Windows firewall functions have been disabled. Environment I/A Series G3 ENS installation on Windows computer. Computer protected with AVG Internet Security Suite Business Edition 2012 Cause The Link Scanner function of the AVG Internet Security Suite Business Edition 2012 acts as a smart firewall Resolution The Link Scanner function of the AVG Internet Security Suite Business Edition 2012 must be configured to allow point to point Ethernet connections between the ENS/Workbench computer and each ENC used on the jobsite.  Refer to AVG Internet Security Suite Business Edition 2012 documentation for more information and instructions.

Issue Can I add BACnet MSTP to an I/A Series R2 or G3 JACE-NXT hardware platform? Environment I/A Series R2, G3, JACE-NXT Cause The JACE-NXT platform is based on a Microsoft Windows software platform (Windows XP) that is unable to support the token passing required for BACnet MSTP. Resolution Options are ... 1. Use another device that can act as a router between BACnet MSTP and BACnet IP or BACnet Ethernet (e.g. MNB-1000, etc.). 2. Use a different R2 or G3 hardware platform that provides direct connection to the BACnet MSTP device (e.g. UNC-520, ENC-520, etc.).