Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue When emailing an alarm from the ENC the timestamp is always the time the alarm occurred; even when the Alarm email is due to an acknowledgement or return to normal. Environment G3, ENC's, JACE's Cause The default "body" property of the EmailRecipient contains only the %timestamp% which represents when the alarm occurred. Resolution Additional parameters can be added to the EmailRecipient "body" property to provide the "return to normal" and "acknowledged" timestamps. The return alarm timestamp can be added with %normalTime%. The acknowledged timestamp can be added with %ackTime%.  

Issue When importing a Xenta server to another it is important that they have the same version but is it also important that the hotfixes(if installed) is the same? Environment Xenta server up to version 5.1.7 Cause In version 5.1.7 and prior versions hotfixes have not changed this part of the code so if the Xentas have the same version it should work. Resolution It is enough if the version of the Xenta servers is the same

Issue Not all changes in a Notes file are saved. If opening and edit a Notes file, save and then continue writing only the changes before the save will be changed. Environment Vista 5.1.x Cause The Notes file will only be saved once then you need to close it and open it again. Resolution When editing a Notes file only save once then close the file. If you need to write some more close the file and open it again.

Issue Doing a R2 to G3 oBIX integration.  The alarms in the R2 station have been successfully imported into the G3 station.  However, they are as 'normal' in the G3 Alarm Console when they are actually in alarm.  How can they be configured to change color? Environment Niagara G3 oBIX integrations (any version) Cause R2 native alarms are NOT oBIX 'Stateful Alarms', meaning there is no defined 'lifecycle' of an alarm event (unlike native G3 alarms). As a result, R2 imported alarms appear as "normal" (green alarm bell) source state events when routed to the G3 Alarm Console. Resolution Add native G3 alarming proxies to provide the red color of an alarm.

Issue When trying to access TAC Webstation a message saying 'Service unavailable' occurs. Environment Webstation Cause The problem is that the application pool in the IIS where TAC Vista Webstation is located is closed down when trying to access it. Resolution The workaround for this is: Go to Properties for the application pool which contains TAC Vista Webstation Choose Identity and change the predefined 'Network service' to 'local system'

  Issue Understanding the EP1501 and LP1501 downstream device limitations Product Line EcoStruxure Access Expert Environment Access Expert Hosted V3 Cause Downstream device limitations determine how many upstream controllers are required when using these controllers Resolution When choosing to use the EP1501 or LP1501, knowing the limitations of the downstream devices plays an important part in determining the number of controllers needed for a job. The limitation is 8 I/O devices, so if the downstream controller is an MR 50 then a total of 9 readers including the onboard reader can be utilized. Keep in mind that no matter what the mixture is, including MR51e's or MR52's, a total amount of 17 readers can be used or licensed on these controllers  

Issue CALC is not an option in the DDC editor of a 7700 or 7716. Environment DDC Editor 7700 7716 Cause The Calculation module exists only in MR controllers and ASCs. Resolution Use the DCU or PCU Calculation editor. Refer to TCON 209 or TCON 237 for more details about Calculations and DDC modules.

Issue The Alarm Priority does not display the correct value (110) in the Alarm View or Event View when the Alarm is in the "Alarm" state and displays 100 Value instead. It displays correctly in the Alarm view when the alarm state is "Acknowledged" or "Reset", and it displays correctly in the Event view when the alarm state is "Reset Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Workstation Building Operation Automation Server Building Operation Enterprise Server Cause Incorrect configuration Resolution There is an"Alarm decorator override" that seems to override the priority for the alarm If in alarm state and priority is 110, then the priority is overridden to 100 as configured in the alarm decorator object Removing the override in the decoration will resolve this issue

Issue The room controller is replaced on-site, and you need to copy the same configuration of the faulty Controller. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, EcoStruxure Building Expert Environment Building Operation Workstation Building Operation Automation Server SSL SE8000 SSL SE7000 Cause The wrong file format might have been used Resolution This Video explains detailed steps to copy the configuration to a new or a replacement controller:   Please note that the older controller will probably have an older firmware version, and thus, you might have to downgrade the new controller to the same version. Also, note you can’t downgrade to below 2.0.0. If the older controller has a version before 2.0.0, this solution will not work and will have to configure the new one manually. Only After the configuration has been transferred successfully you can upgrade the controller to a new firmware version.

Issue What are the effects of points that are flagged for export on a wireless bus. Environment Continuum wireless solution Cause Information on points export over wireless bus. Resolution If there are many points configured on a wireless bus that are having their values exported it could have an adverse effect on the bus stability. The reason for this is because if a point is exported every time the value of that point changes even if it is only set for export due to an alarm it can overwhelm the wireless network. Wireless network exports are not broadcast messages like Wired Infinet, they are point to point communications similar to Bacnet exports. The way to limit this amount of traffic is to put thresholds on the points that are exported. When adding a threshold the point's value will only be sent out on the bus when the value change exceeds the threshold value. It is important to add this threshold to alarmed points if they are analog type points, because the exports will happen every value change, not just when the alarm goes active.

Issue I2V graphic conversion has unpredictable results Environment I/NET Site Cause Sometimes the graphics being generated by the I2V conversion do not seem to match the original I/NET graphic pages or include additional graphic items or the size and position of the recognizable I/NET page is significantly different. These problems are typically caused by hidden items in the I/NET graphic page. Resolution To verify if this is the case open the I/NET graphic page in the I/NET editor and use the View-Page Properties option to change the page size. By increasing the page size to 4 times the current values you should be able to see if any of the unexpected items are present. If these object should not be in the graphic then you can delete them and then reconvert the graphic page after returning the page size to normal.  

Issue What properties are updated in a MNB Controller COV Client objects? Environment MNB Controller Cause Information about the properties sent to the COV client when a value of the point changes. Resolution COV Client objects can only update Present Value & Status properties.

Issue In Workplace Tech 5.x, the properties of any object on the drawing do not appear. The properties option is selectable, but nothing appears. Environment Workplace Tech 5.x Cause Possible cause: COM add-ins is enable cache issue Resolution Try the following two changes: 1. Uncheck the com add-ins checkbox within the Visio security settings. Open Workplace Tech and uncheck the Com Add-ins box in the Visio options area. For Visio 2003, the Com Add-ins is located in the Visio - Tools - Security tab area. Under Macro Security, uncheck the "Enable COM add-ins" checkbox. 2. Close Workplace Tech and search for the content.dat file (typically located under the C:\Documents and Settings\ \Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Visio directory). This is a hidden file, so make sure the search is setup to include hidden files. Move this file out of the directory and run Visio 2003 (not Workplace Tech). This will cause Visio to force a rebuild of the Visio cache. Then close Visio 2003 and open Workplace Tech. The cache may update again.

Issue What is the supported DC voltage on Xenta controllers? Environment Xenta controllers Cause DC Voltage is available for power. Resolution The table below list the supported Voltage DC specifications for Xenta controllers For more information check Data sheets for Xenta controllers located on The Exchange.   Xenta Controller Volt DC Support 411 19-40Vdc 421 21.6-40Vdc 451 21.6-40Vdc 471 19-40Vdc 491 19-40Vdc 400 Series 19-40Vdc 300 Series 19-40Vdc 200 Series 19-40Vdc 500 Series 19-40Vdc 700 Series 19-40Vdc 900Series 19-40Vdc 101 No Vdc Support 102 No Vdc Support 103 No Vdc Support 104 No Vdc Support 120 series No Vdc Support

Issue What if any voltage can be measured on a Micronet 2000 U-Bus? Environment MicroNet 2000 U-Bus communication Cause Information about voltage helps implement multiple MicroNet 2000 controllers in U-Bus communications interface. Resolution The U-Bus is a Wired-OR open collector communication bus talking at 2400 baud. The MN-ASDI has the U-Bus current source.  It supplies the current for the U-Bus communications. It should supply about 45 ma. with short circuit protection. Under normal communications, the U-Bus voltage will be around 15 volts +/- 2 volts when measured with a voltmeter.

Issue Is it possible to calibrate a Controlli TQ-A31 Air Quality sensor? Environment Controlli TQ-A31 Cause In field calibration procedure. Resolution It is not possible to calibrate the TQ-A31 sensor on the field. You should read a 0..10Vdc voltage between B and C terminal. If the signal between these two terminal is not in the 0..10Vdc range than it can be the product is defective and therefore I suggest you to send it back to us through the usual claim system.

Issue SysmanSMS stops sending SMS from Vista Environment SysmanSMS Vista   Cause It is not uncommon that anti-virus software perceives perfectly clean files as viruses. This is a growing problem as the amount of viruses are continuously growing, and the likeliness that they may share similarities in the code with a SysmanSMS file thereby increases.   Resolution Check if the terminal is running an antivirus, and look in its quarantine. Recent updates to some antivirus applications incorrectly identify parts of the Sysman application as a risk. Investigate the antivirus' quarantine folder and note the files and paths which they originally came from. Restore the quarantined files either using the antivirus' restore feature, or manually return them to their original locations. Restart the Sysman services In Windows services, restart TAC Vista Server and Workstation  

Issue Xenta 102-B nviManOverride allows for flow or percentage overrides. But since this controller is intended to be used along with a Belimo flow controller/actuator, how do these modes of operation differ? Environment Xenta 102-B Cause Flow control is not actually an option for this controller. Flow values will be interpreted as desired percentages of airflow. Resolution nviManOverride.state = HVO_PERCENT, nviManOverride.percent = 35% The controller fixes the Airflow output (Y1) at 35% (3.5V) nviManOverride.state= HVO_FLOW_VALUE All of the flow values are actually being treated as percentages ... there is no way to set it to a desired flow. (nviManOverride.flow X nciNomFlow / 100) is limited to 0-100% and sent to the Airflow output (Y1). Emergency Override can override these setting, as can setting the controller to slave mode (the overrides would have to be performed on the master controller in that setting). The way to release these states is to set the nviManOverride.state to any value other than HVO_PERCENT or HVO_FLOW_VALUE. Those are the only two values accounted for in the logic.

Issue Vista Workstation crashes when the content of a column in any View (Alarms, Events, Search Results etc.) exceeds 259 characters. Environment Vista 5.1.7 Cause In the unlikely event that the content of a column in a Vista View exceeds a limit of 259 characters, Vista Workstation crashes and must be restarted.  Vista Server is not affected. The problem was discovered while doing a search for TGML graphics, with the property "Bindings" selected.  The search returns one graphic on each row and all the bindings for that graphic are displayed in the property column on that row.  Resolution Upgrade to Vista 5.1.8, when available.  The issue is fixed by truncating the contents of any View column to 259 characters. The issue is highly unlikely to occur in normal use.  In the case of the Bindings search, the workaround is to use the "Change Reference" tool instead

Issue SevenTrends custom report - portions of the printed report are blank Environment   SevenTrends Report Cause The links between your database tables may not be correct or you may be sorting the wrong tables. Resolution The links between your database tables may not be correct. Check your links. You may be sorting the wrong tables. Make sure you are sorting the tables that have the correct information.