Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Can I edit the "covIncrement" of a BACnet point in a BACnet controller from the ENC? Environment G3 ENC's Cause This may be necessary to increase the covIncrement of a BACnet point if it is triggering excessive "cov notifications" to the ENC. Resolution In revision 3.2 and newer under the Device object a new selection called “Virtual” was added. BACnet virtual points are transient and are created and subscribed only when accessed. Expand Virtual and all the BACnet objects in the device are listed. Right click the object of interest and all of its properties are displayed, including covIncrement. Expand covIncrement and its value can be changed. When the Save is done the value is written to the controller.  

Issue Can MOVs (metal oxide varistors) be installed on the main AC power connector of a MNL controller? Site has dirty power issues. Environment MNL controllers Cause Site has dirty power issues which are causing damage to the MNL controllers Resolution Although it's not a supported configuration, the MOVs are electronically capable of being installed on the MNL controller's main AC power connector.

Issue Launching I/NET automatically on startup of the PC. Environment Microsoft Windows I/NET Cause There is a feature where the user can automatically launch I/NET when they start their PC. This keeps operators from having to remember to start I/NET after a reboot or power loss. Resolution Go to Windows Explorer > C:/Documents and Settings/Users/[select the user]/Start Menu/Programs/Startup Create a shortcut for I/NET Select I/NET, right click and select properties, at the end of "C:\Program Files\INET Seven\INetW.exe" place a /winuser. Now it should look like this "C:\Program Files\INET Seven\INetW.exe" /winuser. Log off or shut down the PC Restart it again and I/NET should automatically be started.

Issue Can Signal XP run with a limited user account in Windows XP? Environment Signal XP Limited local user account Cause The application will not run properly with limited local user account. Resolution In order to run Signal XP, the Windows user account must have local administrative privileges.

Issue Are the following SNVTs supported in Vista 5.1.6? SNVT_Amp_ac SNVT_Count_32 SNVT_Volt_ac Environment Xenta X5XX, X7XX, X9XX with firmware 5.1.6 Cause The SNVTs  SNVT_Amp_ac, SNVT_Count_32 and SNVT_Volt_ac are not included in the Xenta 5.1.6 firmware. They will be included in 5.1.7. There is however a workaround available in 5.1.6  Resolution Locate the SNVTtype.def file in the Xenta server. Connect to the Xenta server using an FTP client and locate the SNVTtype.def file under configdb/Lon/SNVTTYPE.def. Copy the file to your PC and make a backup copy Edit the file with a suitable text editor (notepad, notepad2 etc) -Locate the SNVT_amp definition -Add the following lines after SNVT_amp definition (see screenshot below): //---// amp_ac 139 2 1   INTEGER,,2,0,65535,1,0 //---// Repeat the process with the other 2 SNVTs - SNVT_count_32: Add the following lines after SNVT_count definition: //---// count_32 183 4 1 INTEGER,,7,-2147483648,2147483647,1,0,raw //---// - SNVT_volt_ac: Add the following lines after SNVT_volt definition: //---// volt_ac 138 2 1   INTEGER,,2,0,65535,1,0 //---// Replace the SNVTType.def file in the Xenta server using the FTP client.

Issue Request for Schneider Electric version of Controlli VMBP2M Environment Controlli VMBP2M Cause Some products of Controlli are also available through Schneider Electric.  Resolution Unfortunately, no cross reference to Controlli VMBP2M is available in the Schneider Electric portfolio.

Issue What is the purpose of the battery/coin clip on some of the I/NET Hardware Product Line TAC INET Environment TAC INET Hardware  7718, 7716, 7798C  Cause The initial development path plan was to include an additional feature to allow communication with Dallas Semiconductor ID tag/coin, similar to that used with the I/NET Access Control I/DISC.  This development was never implemented Resolution This battery/coin tag serves no active purpose or functionality

Issue An owner customer has purchased a non-expiring copy of WorkPlace Tech.  It is installed on a 64-bit Windows 7 computer within the XP 'mode' virtual machine.  Can it be copied to other Windows 7 computers and work or does the WorkPlace Tech license prevent it from working? Environment Windows 7 WorkPlace Tech 5 Cause Loss of potential sales Resolution WorkPlace Tech licensing is not designed to identify a virtual 'hard drive' from an actual hard drive.  As a result, an installed copy of WorkPlace Tech will work in the virtual machine no matter how many Windows 7 computers into which it is installed.

Issue Analog inputs on a MicroSmart controller are all reading a negative value. Environment MicroSmart controllers (all versions) Cause Hardware issue or sensor failure Resolution If the connected sensor is a RTD, a negative reading reflects an electrical short somewhere between the controller and the sensor.  Note that a high positive reading reflects an electrical open circuit. If the connected sensor is a 4-20 mA device, it typically reads a high positive value which reflects an electrical open circuit.

Issue Is the power supply in the ProView LON Display a half wave or full wave rectified? Environment ProView LON display Cause This information will help power ProView with other 24 Vac devices or if a dedicated 24 Vac transformer is required. Resolution ProView is a half-wave rectified device.  Since ProView has no physical inputs or outputs, there are no precautions to take with power supplies.

Issue What is the process required to upgrade application drawings done with Workplace Tech 3.1? Environment Workplace Tech 3.1 Cause Use the application drawings done with Workplace Tech 3.1 on newer Workplace Tech. Resolution The first step is to convert the drawings using Workplace Tech 3.2 Service Pack 1 (and Visio 2000). Then the drawings can be converted using Workplace Tech 5.x and Visio 2002 or Visio 2003.

Issue Inactivated alarm messages are received by recipients, the message will be similar to that shown below. Environment Sigma RAM Remote Alarm Manager Inactivated Cause Sigma alarms are not acknowledged in the Sigma Alarm Manager. Resolution These aren't nuisance messages, they are caused because Sigma alarms have not been acknowledged via the Sigma alarm manager. The Inactivation messages occur after 3 days (default setting), and this happens because a Sigma alarm has not been acknowledged. You cannot stop this message, but you can extend the time before the alarm is removed from the RAM active alarm list. Please see attached screen shot. This screen shot is taken from the Sigma R4 interface configuration, set to the number of days required.  

Issue How can I delete logging configuration from a controller, in release 4.04? Environment Sigma Release 4.04 4.04 Logging Data set Cause Sigma 4.04 does not provide an option to download an empty logging configuration file. Resolution The easiest way is to delete the logging configuration from a controller is as follows; Select the Sigma "Logging configuration" option and then delete the unwanted logging data set. Using Explorer, go to the appropriate controller folder and delete the logging config file, ( an example of this file could be  T0025400.100, where T00254 is the server and 00.100 is the controller). In Sigma "System Diagnostics" select to download the logging config to the appropriate controller. Another way to delete the configuration could be; Select the Sigma "Logging configuration" option and then select and open the required log data set. Delete all of the objects in the log dat set, except one, and then set that to log very infrequently, save and download in the normal way. If you wished, you could then delete the log data set. This will mean that the controller will still be logging one object, but very infrequently. If you have deleted the data set, then the next time the controller files are downloaded, the logging will be removed. 

Issue AccDataservices.Exe  not found on startup. Environment Continuum  1.7x, 1.8x,  1.9x AVG Anti Virus. Cause New AVG Virus definitions installed on 2/15/2012  marked the accdataservices.exe as "Malware" and placed the file in quarantine. Resolution Add accdataservices.exe to the exception list in the AVG Antivirus program.

Issue Bindings made under the Infinet interface using Import/Export system (IE) stop updating. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Automation Server Premium Continuum i2920 Controller Cause Objects under the Infinet interface sometimes lose their Object IDs for reasons that are not yet fully understood. The issue has been seen during up revision of the AS-P from 1.9x to 3.x Resolution Under the Infinet interface, right-click on the Application folder of the AS-P or Infinet device and select "Resolve object ids" The system automatically re-assigns the missing ids Download applicable i2 devices

Issue The 901 modem is dialing multiple times (6-8) before successfully registering a change on the alarm window. Environment 901 Modem Cause Normally it only takes one dial-up attempt to establish the communication link. If it takes 6-8 times, it indicates modem or telephone line problems. Resolution In the dial-up parameters, define the number of dial up attempts before line block. 10 is the default value.

Issue How to modify, save, and install Microsmart UDPs in UltiVist Environment UltiVist (any version) Cause n/a Resolution Procedure: Highlight the Microsmart controller. Click on the Functions drop-down menu and select UDP Status. Double-click the UDP number of choice.  Click overtop the UDP descriptor or UDP status portion of the line. Select PROGRAM from the pop-up window. A Watson Works Editor (EPM) appears with a blank screen. Press Enter and begin adding the program code. When complete click the Save button in the toolbar and exit the window.  Alternatively, click on the File drop-down menu and select Save and quit.  NOTE:  Do not do a "Save As" and do not change the name of the file.  The filename at the top will appear as D:\FI\E4000000 or similar.  Do not modify it. Back on the UDP Status screen, double-click the just-programmed UDP.  Select INSTALL from the pop-up window. When the INSTALL completes, double-click it again to ENABLE it.

Issue "??12293" error message when trying to log into Vista Workstation Environment Vista Workstation Cause If a message window appears stating "Could not connect to TAC Vista Server." in the title and "??12293" in the main window then you are trying to log into Vista using the wrong authority style. Resolution Trying to log into Vista using a Windows account when Vista is in Low authority. Trying to log into Vista using a Vista account when Vista is in High authority.

Issue Executing a Project Builder File should launch Visio and open a drawing. Instead, Visio opens but stops short of the file opening. Environment Project Builder Visio Cause Project Builder is disabled in Visio. Resolution In Visio go to Help>About Microsoft Visio Click on Disabled Items button in the pop up. Ensure Project Builder is not listed If so, select the Project Builder Listing Click the Enable button. Restart Visio.

Issue Is there a way to display only points currently in alarm in the Alarm Console? Environment G3, Workbench (all versions) Cause Only want to display points currently in alarm in the Alarm Console? Resolution Yes, the Alarm Console’s filter is used to control what alarms are displayed in the Alarm Console window.      Double-click on the ConsoleRecipient object Click on Filter at bottom of window Check the Source State box. Click on the Source State chevron to show filter options Select the alarms states, Offnormal and Fault. Only alarms currently in the Offnormal and Fault states will be displayed in the alarm console window.  (Items not checked will not be displayed.)  Click OK and OK to save.  Click File from the menu and Refresh to update change. Only alarms that are currently in a Fault or a Offnormal state will be displayed in the Alarm Console window.