Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue A Docutrend setup has Docutrend cells that will not update. Environment Docutrend Cause Points storing information to docutrend cells (including Event cells) must have at least a priority of routine when attached to a direct connect host, or the cell will not receive the data. On a dial out Tap system, points storing information on Docutrend cells (including Event cells) must have at least a priority, or the tap will not send the data. Resolution Check the system settings to ensure that points storing information to Docutrend cells have a priority of at least routine.

Issue What effects do processor loading have on controller communications and operation? Environment I/NET controllers Cause Knowing the potential consequences of overloading the processor will help with network design and controller selection. Resolution If the processor hits 100% during the time that controller receives the token on the LAN, the controller will ignore the LAN in favor of continued operation of the equipment connected to it. If the processor gets overloaded with too many tasks to perform at once, it will buffer the commands to executed. Therefore, the worst that should happen is that an event or calculation will be performed late or delayed but everything should still happen in the intended sequence order. 

Issue What is a Smoke Control System supposed to do? (TCON 231, Designing a Smoke Control System) Environment Smoke Control System Buildings Management System Cause In the event of a fire, the most immediate danger is most often the smoke. Building controls can play a big part in a fire safety system by manipulating building pressures to control the migration of smoke and give inhabitants valuable extra time to escape. Resolution A Smoke Control System should meet one or more of the following Objectives: Maintain a tenable environment along the evacuation routes Control and reduce the migration of smoke from the fire zone into other areas Reduce deaths and injuries from smoke Reduce property loss from smoke damage Aid the effort of fire-fighters

Issue Protect DCUs and PCUs from sensors shorts Environment DCU PCU Cause If Distributive Control Units (DCUs) and Process Control Units (PCUs) have sensors in critical areas and one of the sensors shorts, it may affect the readings of the other sensors on the controller. Resolution Isolate the input signal into the controller: Add an in-line 20 milliamp fuse or circuit breaker Use an Isolated DC to DC transmitter. For an example of such a device go to the Kele 2000/ 2001 Parts Catalog, model DT13, or go to their web site www.kele.com, or call them at 901-937-4900, International 901-382-6084.

Issue On Screen Indication of a Telnet session into a NPR Environment Telnet NPR Cause Indicating to the user when a telnet session has been initiated into an NPR. Resolution "CSI NetPlus Router Telnet Server" "Connected to remote NPR” (Name of the NPR) followed by version number, build, and date "Type help for a list of commands"

Issue Access Initiated Control (AIC) and Event Sequence (EV, Seq) do not work reliably on site, but the applications work on my simulation test equipment. Environment I/NET site with Access Initiated Control Cause My customer's Access Initiated Control (AIC) and Event Sequence (EV, Seq) do not work reliably on site, but the applications work on my simulation test equipment. Resolution An AIC or an Event is executed once. They are not "re-enforced." An otherwise small communication problem could inhibit the application. So if the control process is critical, use a calculation or module to re-enforce the triggering process. Refer to TCON 237, Calculations, page 7-4 and TCON 236, Direct Digital Control 14-1.

Issue What network troubleshooting tools are available for use with Lon systems. Environment Vista LON systems Cause Option in tools to monitor error tracking in packets. Resolution We recommend the LoyTec network data analyzer as a very important tool. It is available from Engenuity.com. It is a very user friendly tool that is windows based.

Issue Can I share a 24 VAC Transformer with a 7798 and a 7910 or 7920 DPU? Environment 7798 7910 DPU 7920 DPU Cause The 7798 is a half wave DC board and the DPUs are full wave boards. The grounding is different and this will cause power problems that will destroy the 7798. Resolution You will burn up the 7798 board if you put it on the same transformer as a 7910 or 7920 DPU.

Issue Does a site need to define a Link in the Configuration Profile for Integrated Dial? Environment I/NET Site Cause Does a site need to define a Link in the Configuration Profile for Integrated Dial? Resolution Yes, a site does need to define a Link in the Configuration Profile for Integrated Dial? Refer to TCON 226.

Issue Tap not communicating with Host. (Refer to TCON 101 and TCON 226) Environment I/NET 7801 Tap Cause Multiple causes are possible.  Resolution Check connections at the host port Verify Switch settings Ensure you are using the correct cable Check the Tap version Check the Baud rate set in the set up Check the Comm Port defined in setup

Issue When Zbuilder is opened from LonMaker the setpoints revert to default values: US - 50°F SI - 10°C Environment LonMaker 3.x Zbuilder 5.1.4 - 5.1.5 Cause If the Region format is English (United States) but the Measurement system is Metric then the value provided to Zbuilder from LNS server is handled improperly. Resolution Change the Region Settings Open the Windows Control Panel and access the Region and Language settings. Click the Additional Settings button to change the Measurement System to U.S. Change the format of the Setpoints Open the LNS browser for any Xenta 121 controller in this database. Find the scptSetPnts and right click and select Change Format. Change the format to scptSetPnts#US.

Issue Sometimes internal parts of the STR1xx wall modules are broken due to excessive force on the adjustment wheel. Environment STR1xx 004600100 STR100 004600110 STR100 004600200 STR101 004600300 STR102 004600700 STR103 004600400 STR104 004600500 STR106 STR106-B STR106-3 004600600 STR107 Cause Internal spare parts request Resolution Unfortunately, we do not have any spare parts listed for the STR10x wall modules.

Issue Unable to pass data to an Enterprise Server from a UNC Environment R2 Niagara Cause bad subscription access denied 401 error Resolution Check address book and system properties.

Issue One of the properties for the LON object in the 511 is 'Use subnet node addressing' what does this do? Environment Xenta 511 LTA LON Network Cause If you import a LNS network into XBuilder and are going to use polled values from a LonWorks devices, you can choose if the Xenta 511 is going to use subnet/node or neuron ID to address the current LonWorks devices. Resolution The advantage to using subnet/node addressing is that importing the LNS network into XBuilder again if node is replaced in the LNS network is not necessary, provided that the node keeps the same subnet/node and the same application.  

Issue  The Platform Software Manager shows that the History module is installed in the ENC, but a HistoryPointList object cannot be added to the ENC.   The error message “drop failed: java.baja error” is displayed in the Program Director window. Environment Niagara G3 all version, ENC-410, ENC-520 Cause The HistoryPointList object requires that the ENC’s Module Content Filter be set to  ui+runtime. Resolution Set the ENC’s Module Content Filter Level to ui+runtime. 1. Open the ENC’s Platform and click on Set Module Filter 2. Select ui+runtime and then click on Finish. The HistoryPointList object can now be added to the ENC.

Issue Which versions of SIGNAL can be migrated to SBO? Environment SIGNAL Cause The migration manual does not identify which versions are accepted. Resolution Two versions of SIGNAL can be backed up and migrated to SBO:  Version 4.4.1 (for Windows 95/98) and Version 5.0.0 (for Windows XP).

Issue The need to know what voltages will a Sigma controller operates under. Environment Sigma Power Voltage Input Cause The need to know what voltages will a Sigma controller operates under. Resolution For Sigma controller the specification for the power supply is shown as: Supply voltage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .230Vac ±10%. Supply frequency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50/60Hz ±10% Power consumption. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25VA maximum

Issue Can I use one alternative schedule in TAC Vista Workstation over several days? Environment Vista Workstation Cause When you set a Range, From 2011-11-30 to 2011-12-01 and a start time 23:58 and stop 00:02 it will actually start 23:58 and stop 00:02 every day in the range 2011-11-30 to 2011-12-01. So it will actually start 23:58 both 2011-11-30 and 2011-12-01.   Resolution Create one alternative timechart for each day.

Issue Creating a failure recovery option for Scheduled Reports Environment Web Reports Cause By default, reports will attempt to run at their scheduled time without accounting for failure recovery. Resolution Open Windows Server manager Expand Configurations Expand Task Scheduler Select the Task Scheduler library You will see a list of tasks which include all Scheduled Reports Browse to a Report Task In the Select Item Pane, click on Properties On the Setting Tab, check the box for "If the task fails, restart every" Change other settings as desired Click Ok. For additional logging, you can also look under the Action Pane to Enable logging for all tasks.

Issue What is the maximum number of Docutrend cells a workstation can have? Environment I/NET Cause Configuration Resolution 1023 Cells.