Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue An  active video event will appear on the top of Video Monitor interface when there is an alarm triggered the video. But all the video events will  be gone when close the Video Monitor and you can't find any of the video events forever. Where does the video event list save? How can I find it to search and replay. Environment Continuum 1.91 above Cause It is a design Resolution For the video event list,  we never save it anywhere in the system, you can do search and replay with the active events only, not history events. there maybe some improvement about this  in the future version. By now, you can use an add-on application software, Continuum Video Inquiry to search the recorded videos according to the alarm event etc.

Issue Typically the master controller is at the end of the bus, but is it possible to place it in the middle? Environment AS b3 Cause Depending on the buildings wiring there could be a need to place the AS in the middle of the bus. Resolution The AS can be placed in the middle of the bus, but the terminating resistors must then be placed at both ends of the bus. This method wasn't officially tested in this manner by SQA, but it works similar to how a BCX 4040 does which can be placed in the middle of the bus in this fashion.

Issue What is the maximum number of lighting circuit relays that can be used on a 7780 controller? Environment 7780 Cause Configuration question Resolution 64 relays.

Issue After running a listview of Personnel records and sorting it by card number, the sort is incorrect. What is the proper procedure to sort Personnel records by Card number? Environment Personnel records Cause The sort is looking at the wrong attribute. Resolution Edit the listview and change your sort to sort based on the attribute NonABACardNumber.

Issue Run to file fails after an upgrade to versions 1.74 and above. You no longer can write to file using the run command. Environment Cause Enable write to file Resolution Instructions to enable write to file: 1. Create a workstation program named "Test1": (Example) Line Here1 Print "Hello There" Print PowerUpTime Stop Open the configuration and make it a fall thru program IMPORTANT check the "Run on any workstation box" The Run on any workstation required is what was changed from prior versions 2.Create another workstation program (Sample Program) Line There2 Run test1 to "c:\TestPEOut.txt" Goto There3 Line There3 If TS > 9 then Goto There2 Line E Stop

Issue Sigma - Delayed alarms. Environment Alarms Delayed alarms Cause When Sigma alarms are manually tested, they are displayed at the Sigma server normally. Sometimes, when an alarm occurs normally, this alarm is not displayed until other activities are carry out. Resolution This issue is caused by the Windows firewall. If the Sigma server is being used to communicate with the Sigma controllers, then the Firewall will be open, and any alarm messages from the Sigma controllers will pass through it and be displayed as normal. When the Sigma server is not being used, the Firewall will close, and no alarm messages will be allowed through. There are two options available; If the Sigma server is not connected to the Internet, then disable the Windows Firewall. Depending on the computer operating system the ways to achieve this will vary, but the help option will assist you in this process. The screen shot below shows an example on Windows XP.   The second option is to make an exception to the Firewall rules. This is achieved by opening the Windows Firewall, selecting "Exceptions", and choosing to "Add Port", the screen shot below demonstrates this. Please note that Sigma port 49152 is a UDP port number. The screen shot below shows this exception having been added.

Issue It appears the Dynamic DEMUX object in R2 - LonWorks jar - Conversions folder is not setting the output bits incorrectly for some SNVT_State values? Environment R2, all versions Cause Third party definition of the SNVT_State bits. Resolution The dynamicDEMUX object takes a "SNVT_State" value in and breaks it into representative output bits 0 to 15.  This object assigns the bits from bit0 to bit15 with bit0 on the left and counting left to right.  For example a SNVT_State value of 1000 hex is 1000000000000000 in binary, therefore the DEMUX object would show bit0 on.  Some third party manufacturers define their SNVT_State bits starting with bit15 on the left and counting down left to right ,so in this example their documentation would indicate bit15 should be on .  Once this is understood the DEMUX output bits can be interpreted correctly.

Issue Is it possible to include the Comments field from Extended Logs into Report Server Reports? Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Reports Server Cause Regardless of the new Reporting Features in EcoStruxure Building operation (EBO) 3.2, users of existing systems up to and including EBO 3.1 are asking if it is possible to include the Comments field in Extended Logs within the Enterprise Sever to enhance the data in RS Reports? Resolution Extended Log Comments within the ES are not available to Report Server reports today and given the move to new Reporting Features now available in EBO 3.2 it is unlikely that an Enhancement Request for such a feature would be implemented quickly. Therefore, the suggestion here would be to migrate the Extended Logs to External Storage via TimeScaleDB where all the Extended Log data (including the comments) can be freely manipulated by 3rd party Reporting Products.

Issue When the AS is connected to the ES we never have problems to login but sometimes when the AS have been disconnected from the ES it is not possible to login to the AS. Environment StruxureWare Building operations 1.4 Cause If a user do one invalid logon attempt this account will be locked until the AS is connected to the ES again. Resolution If the AS is not connected to the ES don't do invalid logon attempts. Make sure to type in the correct password. 

Issue What is the easiest way to tell if a point is being exported due to alarm attachments or programs? Environment Listview Cause Run a quick report on which points are exporting data outside of the system. Resolution The easiest method to determine what points are exported is to run a listview of points and have the column "Export" in the listview. Every point that is being exported will have a "True" in the export column.

Issue When communication is lost to an AC1 module, the doors lock down even if they are unlocked by schedule. Environment AC1 module Cause The doors will attempt to default to a secure position. Resolution When you lose communications to AC1 modules they will automatically fail to a secure position.

Issue Without a Niagara R2 UNC, Enterprise Server, or MNB-1000 on a BACnet/MSTP network, can the MNB controllers communicate reliably peer-to-peer (i.e. sharing outside air temperature between multiple MNB-300 controllers)? Environment MNB-300 controllers Cause Some site would like to avoid the use of Niagara R2 UNC, Enterprise Server, or MNB-1000. Resolution Yes. The implementation of COV subscriptions in the MNB controller line, with the 1.4x (or greater) firmware, allows for every MNB controller to function as both a COV server and a COV client. This allows peer-to-peer communications between all MNB controller models. To create peer-to-peer links, review Chapter 4 in the WorkPlace Commissioning Tool and Flow Balance Users Guide (F-27358) that details how to use Link Builder.

Issue Is Niagara R2 compatible with Windows Server 2003? Environment Niagara R2 Windows Server 2003 Cause Compatibility Resolution Niagara version 514 and higher was officially certified to operate with Windows NT, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003. As a side note, if using Windows Server 2003, there are two issues to be aware: Windows Server will use IIS services causing a conflict with TCP port 80. This will have to be addressed when engineering the station database. There is an issue with Niagara and Windows Server 2003. Tridium released a Tech Tip as follows: R2 Web Supervisor on Windows 2003 Service Pack JDE will not start. If fui.exe is run from within the Windows command prompt, the following error is displayed: Error occurred during initialization of VM Could not reserve enough space for object heap. The problem is limited to instances where the user is accessing the computer with a Remote Desktop connection. On 8/8/2006, Microsoft issued an update KB921883 which unintentionally causes problems with applications that use large amounts of contiguous memory on a Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1-based computer. There is a Hotfix now available to resolve the issues generated by this update. Hotfix KB924054.

Issue After copying sections of logic from one application to another the pointers from that logic won't connect to other objects and therefore show up as red lines. Environment WorkPlace Tech Cause Copying sections of logic from an older application has been known to cause this. Resolution To recover the application remove all objects and reference tags that exhibit the connection issue, compile the application and then re-create the deleted logic by pulling objects from the Shapes window.

  Issue Replacing a SHR humidity sensor when set as  4-20mA loop powered (2 wire). Product Line Field Device Environment SHR100-T* SpaceLogic SLA**** Cause When replacing a SHR100-T* sensor, there are only 2 wires and the sensor is set to loop powered for measuring humidity. Resolution The SLA sensor when used for measuring humidity and is only available as a 3 wire device when used with both 24Vac or 24Vdc (20-30Vdc) for measuring humidity, these are: power, ground and signal.   Either use a 3rd wire if available or use an alternative device.   Download the SpaceLogic Sensor Installation Sheet        

Issue Display Window in AMT for all open Windows in I/NET Environment INET site Cause In AMT, how does one see all the open windows that I/NET has open? Resolution In AMT, there is a new Window in the Task Bar which allows the user to see all the open windows that I/NET has open. This includes Alarms, Messages, Transactions, Graphics and Tools. To use this, the following steps should be followed: Open AMT, on the task bar to the far right next to the "?" there is an Icon that looks like a window. Click on it and it opens an Editor that lists all the windows that I/NET currently has opened. The user can choose whether they want to close a window or leave it open based on the amount of information he wants to see on his screen. Note: Having multiple windows of the same information (AMT) may cause AMT to lock up and or shut down.

Issue All Card Readers on a DPU are not working.  Messaging is not working, but able to release door points manually. Environment DPU 7920 - non-mipped DPU 7910 7793 Cause The DPUs and 7910 have limited memory resources for storing access control data.  If the system tries to allocate to much space for card data then the doors will not work properly. Resolution Option 1 Upgrade Hardware to SCU 1284s. You may also need to upgrade to a 7798C. Option 2 Reduce memory allocation to the door. Backup the Database to function as a restore Point Select Access>Individuals Modify a tenant's individuals Note the range of individual numbers. (lowest number and highest number) Close windows Select Access>Tenants Modify the tenant Change the number of individuals allocated to the lowest possible value Repeat these steps on all Tenants Perform an SLI restore and DPU restore on affected controllers Test badges. (the key difference to look for is the restoration of AMT messaging)

Issue Which type of thread is used on the VZ*19E valves? Environment VZ219E VZ319E VZ419E Cause There are different types of standards on the market for pipe threads, often depending on regions. Resolution All threaded VZ*19E valves are using BSP (British Standard Pipe) male threads. 

Issue Logs in the UNC are not archiving to the Enterprise Server Environment I/A Series R2 Universal Network Controller (UNC) and Enterprise Server Cause The UNC station and the Enterprise Server station have their LogService 'archiveMode' property set to 'archive_disabled'.  Resolution Change the LogService 'archiveMode' in both the UNC station and the Enterprise Server station.  1. Set the UNC station's LogService 'archiveMode' to 'archive_remote'. The 'archiveAddress' property should have 'Supervisor' checked.  2. Set the Enterprise Server station's LogService 'archiveMode' to 'archive_local'. (The “archive_local” selection is valid only if the station is running the DatabaseService) The following have to be also correct in order for log archiving to happen: AddressBook entries should be properly setup in the Enterprise Server and UNC stations. Refer to Page 1-15 and 1-16 of the Niagara Standard Programming Reference for further information.  Supervisor checkbox in the UNC's LogService 'archiveAddress' property should be checked. In the Niagara Log Object properties, the 'archiveSetup' property should have 'nearFull' or 'daily' checked. It is recommended that both of these be checked. 

Warning Potential for Data Loss: The steps detailed in the resolution of this article may result in a loss of critical data if not performed properly. Before beginning these steps, make sure all important data is backed up in the event of data loss. If you are unsure or unfamiliar with any complex steps detailed in this article, please contact Product Support for assistance. Issue Unable to view PINs in the User screen if “Allow PIN Duplication” is checked   Product Line EcoStruxure Security Expert Environment Security Expert Server Cause This is viewed as a Site Security Enhancement feature Resolution Disable both the "Require Dual Credential for Keypad Access" and "Allow PIN Duplication" options