Building Automation Knowledge Base

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 Need to add some RTD sensors to a 7716 PCU. I need a P8RTD expansion card. Environment I/NET site Cause  Can I order a P8RTD expansion card? Resolution This expansion card is obsolete. Please refer to the TCON096 for current information on accessories and expansion for the 7716.

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 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 UNC was upgraded to R2 release 529 from an older version and when the station was started, the following error message was displayed in the Standard Output Window: ---------- Station Starting:   THU MAR 26 14:43:09 2009 ---------- Tridium Niagara Station, r2.301.529.v1 [GafbBldg857] ERROR: Reading FlexSnvtTempSetpt [3928] FlexSnvtTempSetpt#link: 60 *************************************************************** FATAL: Cannot boot station from sns java.io.UTFDataFormatException   Environment UNC-520 with release 522 or 529 software installed. Cause Incompatibility in the FlexSnvtTempSetpt object between the release 514 and release 529 versions of the jar file. Resolution The best way to correct this issue is to perform a manual upgrade of the existing version 514 station. Use the release 514 WorkPlace Pro "Admin Tool" DbAdmin function to backup the running station and get the station as a .sns file to the computer. Use the DbAdmin function to convert the station from .sns to .xml. In the release 529 installation folder, use the AdminInstall command to start the release 529 version of the NiagaraD service. Copy the station folder containing the station to be upgraded from the release 514 stations folder to the release 529 stations folder. Start the release 529 AdminTool and open the Localhost. Highlight the station to be converted. Select the DbAdmin tab and use the convert local function to convert the station from .xml to .sns The converted station is now ready to be installed into the UNC that has already been loaded with I/A Series R2 release 529 software. This same procedure can be used to convert a 514 station to 532 by substituting release 532 for the release 529 references. above.

Issue Using a large number of values in a Vista Report Environment Vista Reports with more than 100 individual values (not trends) Cause While Vista Reports are mainly used for reports on trend logs, it is possible to display values from your Vista database. If you elect to link to a large number of values in your report it is common to receive time out errors when it tries to validate the links or polls for the entire list of values.  Resolution The way to avoid these errors and speed this process up is to change the Watch Setting property to either WATCH or ALARM for each value in your report. This will instruct Vista to monitor the point values so that the validation of values or links can be accomplished much quicker when Excel and Vista Server interact. As a reference these types of errors were experienced with reports that included 100 point values.

Issue Where can the specifications for the MNB-300-ENC be found? Environment MNB-300-ENC Cause There is no separate specification sheet for the MNB-300-ENC. Resolution See the Installation Instructions for the MNB-300 (F-27345).

Issue How to calculate the polling time at the netcontroller / OPC server? How many nodes/ controllers can be put on each netcontroller to get to specific polling time. Environment Netcontroller OPC Server Cause The OPC server was designed to be performance tuned. Resolution It is hard to determine just how many controllers / polling time. It would be determined better by looking at the programming of the controllers, for example, Inputs / Outputs how many points in each group and the interval of the data that is required to be received. The "OPC Server Guide" has performance options and guidelines on setting up an optimal system. You can also add another OPC server if you need to do load balancing.

Issue Does the Xenta 555 update the time on MicroNet controllers under its LAN? Environment Xenta 555 MicroNet Controller Cause Time sync to Xenta 555 Resolution Yes, the Xenta can update the controller times. The Xenta utilizes a NTP (Network Time Protocol) server. A TCP/IP protocol used to synchronize the real-time clock in computers, network devices and other electronic equipment that is time sensitive.

  Issue Understanding the size of individual tables within the Security Expert databases is essential for effective database management. This insight helps optimize system performance and supports archiving strategies. Product Line EcoStruxure Security Expert Environment EcoStruxure Security Expert Microsoft SQL Server Cause Managing SQL database size is critical to maintaining system performance. Identifying which tables consume the most space provides actionable data for optimization and archiving. Resolution To determine table sizes in the Security Expert and Security Expert Events databases, follow these steps using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS): Open SSMS Right-click on the relevant database (e.g., Security Expert or Security Expert Events). Navigate to: Reports > Standard Reports > Disk Usage by Table Review the report to identify tables with the largest data footprint. Examples: Security Expert DB Security Expert Events DB Exporting the Report You can print or export the report for documentation or analysis: Print Export to Excel, PDF or Word Right-click on the data results and select Export Note: The “Disk Usage by Table” report is available in SQL Server 2008 and later.

Issue SCU 1284 won’t communicate to the controller when you turn power on to the device Environment SCU 1284 Cause Product Support Services investigation of SCU12xx field failure returns has revealed that the significant majority of the returns are due to a failure of the RS-485 transceiver IC. Most of the failures are also being described as initial installation failures or "out of the box" failures. Close examination of the failed circuits and the conditions that will prompt failure of the RS-485 IC currently in use on the SCU indicates a significant probability that many, if not most, of the failures are the result of momentarily connecting the TB1 terminal block onto the SCU header with it shifted 1 position to the right. Connection of the TB1 block in a shifted manner will typically cause some relay buzzing noise prompting the installer to recognize the error and correct the position. Unfortunately the RS-485 transceiver will be damaged before you ever hear the relays buzz. Other than TB1 misconnection, the predominant other candidate would be induced transients on the LAN. However, the frequent description of the problem occurring during installation or out-of-the-box tends to point toward TB1 misconnection. Resolution Caution your installation personnel to pay extra close attention to the connection of the TB1 terminal block in order to reduce the SCU failures being precipitated by misconnection. TAC will also be investigating RS-485 transceiver selection and the use of more tolerant versions, and possible end caps on TB1 to inhibit misconnection.

Issue How do I build Vista graphics pages offline from the system running my Vista database? Environment Vista IV OGC Graphics Cause Engineering graphics on an offline database allows the work to be completed away from a customers site after the installation phase of the project has been completed. Resolution Make a backup of the Vista database so you will have the necessary points for the graphics pages. Restore backup on the PC that you want to build the graphics with. Build the graphics pages and save them as .ogc using file-save, not db save. When all pages are complete, copy the saved files to the system running the database. Create the necessary graphics objects in the Vista database. For each of these objects, right click and go to Properties and browse in the new files with the Source File button.