Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Specifying engineer wants to know the input impedance of the voltage inputs on the MNL-10Rxx / 15Rxx / 20Rxx controllers.  This information is not in the data sheet. Environment MNL-10Rxx controller MNL-15Rxx controller MNL-20Rxx controller Cause Job specification requirement Resolution The minimum input impedance for a MNL-10Rxx /-15Rxx / -20Rxx  UI configured as a voltage type input is 20K ohms.

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 According to the documentation the max cable lengths for the sensors connected to a Multical device are : Temperature sensors : 10m Flow Sensor : 2,5m Is it possible under any circumstances to extend the cable length up to 15m?   Environment Multical Cause The sensors come in pairs and are calibrated. They must never be extended. The longest length available is 10 metres. Resolution It is not possible to extend the cables to the sensors, as the devices are calibrated with the sensors delivered from the factory.

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 In some cases the event and trend database can grow really big although not all the space in the files is used Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment SQLite Building Operation Enterprise Server Cause Frequent inserts, updates, and deletes can cause the database file to become fragmented - where data for a single table or index is scattered around the database file. Running VACUUM ensures that each table and index is largely stored contiguously within the database file. In some cases, VACUUM may also reduce the number of partially filled pages in the database, reducing the size of the database file further. Read further information here: https://www.sqlite.org/lang_vacuum.html Resolution Stop the Enterprise Server Open SQLiteStudio (link to download) Select "Databases" --> "Add database" Select the event.db or trend.db file from the "historical" folder of the SmartStruxure database folder Execute the following command: vacuum;

Issue Is there a specific type of printer used with a 7810 printer tap? Environment 7810 printer tap Cause 7810 printer tap is only compatible with serial dot-matrix or impact printers. Resolution It must be a serial dot-matrix or impact printer. If your printer is parallel, some manufacturers make and sell a serial conversion card.

Issue Is there a limit to the alarms, messages and transactions a printer tap will receive and print? Environment AMT Cause You cannot get them from another link that is Ethernet connected. Resolution It is limited to alarms, messages and transactions that originate on the same controller lan as the printer tap.

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 What is a Parent Point in a UC (Unitary Controller)? Environment Unitary Controller Cause Feature information Resolution A parent point is nothing more than the AO or DO point to which you add a UC extension: VAV, AHU, PID, FLT, or HPMP. The functioning of the extension is directly tied to the state of the parent point and the command pairing. Refer to TCON 209 or TCON237 for important details.

Issue In LonMaker, how do I get rid of multiple message tags within a base unit virtual function block? Environment Vista Site Cause In LonMaker, how do I get rid of multiple message tags within a base unit virtual function block? Resolution Right click on the VFB and select to delete NVs & MTs. All unconnected message tags will then be deleted.

Issue Should we recommend Message tag bindings be performed after the commissioning of the device? Environment I/NET Site Cause Should we recommend Message tag bindings be performed after the commissioning of the device? Resolution No, this should not be necessary. It may be preferable, however, for a dialed network as the 901 device must be added to the network when connected to the network.

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.

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 Need information on programming holidays and special dates Product Line EcoStruxure Access Expert Environment Access Expert Hosted software V3 Resolution Programming Holidays and Special Dates   Overview   Holidays are exceptions to a normally scheduled interval. Feenics has made several fundamental changes to the holidays within the Keep by Feenics System. This article will walk through how the new holiday sets work and how to implement them. The holidays apply globally to all schedules.   Updating    The launch of the new holiday system requires a system upgrade within your instance. This upgrade only needs to occur once and is irreversible. To upgrade, click the "Update Holidays" button.   Note: Before you begin converting holidays, there can be no more than 8 holiday sets in the older system for the update to work.   Once that button is clicked, a warning will pop up letting you know that the process is irreversible. Click OK and your instance will be updated.     ***Note: Customers within an Enterprise instance will need to apply this update to ALL shared instances and the Enterprise instance separately.   Adding Holidays   Holidays are added to the system through the "Add Holiday Duration" button. This will add a holiday interval to the system. Holiday Durations   Holiday Durations are days in the system on which, the schedules should not activate. To add a Holiday, click "Add Holiday Duration", then name the day. This day will prevent all schedules from activating unless added to the "Always Active On" column in a schedule. Holiday durations are limited to 255 per instance.  Display Name: The name of the holiday interval, i.e. Valentine's Day, Halloween, Veterans Day. Start Date: The date the holiday interval begins on. End Date: The date the holiday interval ends on. (If the start and end date match, the holiday will be for that day only). Special Date: This flag inverts the behaviour. If this holiday interval is assigned to a schedule interval (via Holiday Groups), the schedule interval will activate for that day. Holiday Group: This selection allows the user to group holiday intervals into sets.  Tags: As in the rest of keep, tags allow for organization and permissions to be set by these groupings.   Holiday Groups   Holidays can be grouped together by using holiday groups. These groups are edited by selecting the "Edit Holiday Groups" button and modifying the Group Name. Holiday intervals are then added to the group by assigning them in the Holiday Group column of the holiday interval. ***Note: The shared holidays between groups should be in their own group. This will allow the non-shared holidays to be applied to schedules correctly.   Applying Holidays   Holidays apply globally to all schedules. A holiday Group can be added to a schedule interval to tell that interval to ignore that holiday.   ***Note: If a holiday exception is added to a schedule interval, the schedule will activate on the day of the holiday, regardless of the day selection on the schedule interval. Special Dates   Special Dates can be used to activate a schedule interval for a day or group of days regardless of the other intervals within the schedule. To add a special date, open the Holidays page and add the day(s) as a holiday interval, then check the "Special Date" box. Add the special date(s) to a group on its own.

Issue Guidance is needed for creating a PE program for announcing access by VIP to a door Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Cyberstation Continuum Net Controller II Continuum ACX 2 Controller Continuum ACX 4 Controller Cause Need a way to identify a sub-set of credential holders, (Personnel Objects), with access to the site and take some action when one of those individuals gain access to a door. Resolution The subset of credential holders is defined via the Department Code which is an attribute of the personnel object.   PERSONNEL CONFIGURATION   Any person with a Department Code of 600 will be identified as VIP by the PE Program.   DOOR CONFIGURATION  The door(s) need to be configured with a department point (InfinityNumeric)  *** In this example we are only doing the entry side of the door, the program can be easily modified to handle the exit side of a door as well. Upon valid access, Continuum will automatically place the department code from the personnel object in the value of the InfinityNumeric configured at the door for department point.   INFINITY PROGRAM CONFIGURATION (Program resides at the controller)  ***In this example an alarm is sent when VIP enters a door, program/configuration can be easily modified to take other actions such as sending email, sounding an audible alarm, etc.   Here is the code for the InfinityProgram  'This program monitors the Front Lobby door for access by VIP individuals 'an alarm is dispatched upon door access by VIPs 'Program is LOOPING/AUTOSTART Object theDOOR Numeric theCODE Object theDepPOINT Line INIT theDOOR = MainLobby 'PUT THE FULL PATH TO THE DOOR TO MONITOR HERE theDepPOINT = theDOOR LastDepEntrdPnt theCODE = 600 'PUT THE DEPT CODE THAT DENOTES VIP HERE Goto MONITOR Line MONITOR VIP_Flag = False If theDOOR ValidAccess then If theDepPOINT Value = theCODE then Goto SendALM Endif Line SendALM VIP_Flag = True Goto MONITOR Line E If TS > 0 then Goto INIT

Issue When a TGML graphic is opened from Webstation and the user right clicks on a value in the graphic to open properties, it can take up to 20 seconds before the properties dialog is displayed. During the 20 seconds the working area is just grey. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Webstation 2.0.4 and earlier versions Cause This problem only occurs when the signals in the graphic resides in a TAC Xenta; The problem has not been observed with Modbus or BACnet signals, and is only present in Webstation, not in Workstation. Resolution This issue is fixed in EBO 3.0. There is also a hotfix for version 2.0.4. It is labelled 2.0.4.5801. Contact you local technical support organisation if you need the hotfix.

Issue Getting error message when selecting Character set file for the TAC  Xenta Operator Panel (OP).     Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, TAC Vista, Xenta OP Environment TAC Xenta OP EcoStruxure Building Operation Microsoft Windows 10 Cause Microsoft Windows 10 does no longer allows the software to change files in all directories. Resolution Manually open up the directory C:\Program Files (x86)\Schneider Electric EcoStruxure\Building Operation 3.2\WorkStation\CharSet.lib Select the Charset you want to use, depending on the language, and copy the file. Remove the extension, so that the file is named Charset, without any extension. Manually open up the directory C:\ProgramData\Schneider Electric EcoStruxure\Building Operation\WorkStation\Function Block Editor Paste the copied file here.

Issue Unable to drag and drop the Application folder into the include types box while performing a search of application files.   Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Workstation v3.0.x  Building Operation Workstation v3.1.x  Cause Searchable interface not implemented on the Application folder (nor on other devices like b3). This is a known issue in v3.0.x and v3.1.x Resolution Rather than using the left mouse button to drag the application folder, right-click the application folder to drag and drop into the include types box. This is to be fixed in 3.2.1.x.

Issue What is Life Reporting? Product Line EcoStruxure Security Expert Environment Security Expert Schindler Elevator HLI Integration Cause What function does the Life Reporting feature in a Schindler Elevator HLI Integration perform Resolution Life Reporting is a feature in the Security Expert Schindler Elevator HLI Integration. The life reporting interface is how Access Events from the Schindler system are reported back to Security Expert via TCP port. When enabled, you can receive "floor unlocked" events. Multiple loggers can be configured for the life reporting interface using the same IP address. Up to 32 loggers can be configured for the life reporting interface. You can also use Schneider Electric card readers for elevator access control alongside the Schindler system. For more details including prerequisites and configuration, please read AN - 196 - Security Expert Schindler HLI Integration    NOTE: Security Expert Software v 4.1.180 or higher is required. SX Controller Firmware v 2.08.919 or higher is required. One Security Expert Schindler Elevator High Level Interface License (SX-ELV-HLI-SC) per controller is required.

Warning Hazard of Electric Shock: Remove all power from all devices before removing any covers or doors of the system. Disconnect power at the device and at the power source. Electrostatic Discharge Required: Always discharge static electricity from your person by touching metal prior to handling any hardware. Failure to do so may result in damage to devices. Issue ACX57xx Continuum controller frequently reboots itself, loses configuration and/or stop granting access to doors until reloaded.     In the controller error log frequent and spontaneous re-starts of the controller can be observed without an apparent cause such as power failure for example.     Here is another error log from different controller with same issue, a similar signature can be observed in the following screen shot   Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum ACX 2 Controller Continuum ACX 4 Controller Cause Electrical noise coming from door striker corrupting controller's memory.   Resolution An external Varistor may be installed for Noise Suppression of a Door Strike. Here is a link to a part that may be used for this purpose:   https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/bourns-inc./MOV-07D470KTR/13420467?utm_adgroup=General&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PMax:%20Smart%20Shopping_Product_Zombie%20SKUS&utm_term=&utm_content=General&gclid=Cj0KCQjwteOaBhDuARIsADBqRei7ZmpR8CRYf12zRH1bfTIK7GHk3NC6XStbVoCBrPizkZvEPDlCaFEaAjLFEALw_wcB    The part should be installed at the Door Strike, from the switched 24VDC terminal to the common 24VDC terminal, like this:  

Issue When trying to browse for Areas to assign to the Area Inside Door and Area Outside Door fields in Door records, not all Areas are shown or available to be selected. Product Line EcoStruxure Security Expert Environment Security Expert Cause The Programming Mode selector is set to "Local" which is the default value. This will only show objects that are already attached to the controller this record resides in.   Programming Mode Resolution Change the Programming Mode to "Global" which will now show all Area records, including those unassigned or assigned to other controllers.   Programming Mode Global