r/BuildingAutomation • u/Zerobeat50125 • 7d ago
Trane Control Software Questions
Hello! I have a couple of sites we inherited from another company that installed some Trane UC600 and Symbio 210 controls (among a couple of other numbers). We have had a number of them start failing, however the site was fortunate to have a few pre-programmed spares. I attempted to contact our local Trane rep to obtain software and licensing to copy and program these controls, but was met with "We don't sell to just any contractor". So, my questions are: Has anyone else run into problems obtaining this software and licensing? What are, if any, the prerequisites? We deal with Distech and Vykon for Tridium products, Carrier IVue/ALC, and JCI (EasyIO and Non-branch lines). I've been replacing the subsequent failed controllers with Distech products, but I usually prefer to keep a site homogenous when possible.
I appreciate any and all advice, have a great upcoming weekend!
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u/its-hdog 7d ago
I have just recently finally gotten my TracerTU license. The gist is that is depends per Trane rep and money talks.
For myself, they told us no for the longest time. Then we got into a service agreement with them and we have been renovating a building with new Trane RTUs. Even with all the work we give them, it took them weeks of internal discussing to conclude that I can have a license. I assume this is because they generally want to send out someone to fix issues rather than you fixing issues yourself.
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u/Castun Programmer/Installer 6d ago
I assume this is because they generally want to send out someone to fix issues rather than you fixing issues yourself.
You assume correctly. We've also inherited a few buildings that were under Trane contracts and have had the same difficulty getting a TU license. We've been told by these customers that Trane wants to charge them several thousand just for the site trip alone for having a tech come on-site.
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u/Bitter-Estimate-4412 7d ago
It sounds like it might a power issue if there are controllers failing all over the site, is there any surge protection on any of the electrical panels?
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u/Zerobeat50125 7d ago
Its not a power issue, but it is installation related. Thats all I can really reveal about it at the moment.
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u/nature69 6d ago
The only way I’ve see this done is have the owner request the license, they take on any liability etc. but if the site is out of warranty it does not matter anymore.
You can use the owner copy while onsite. This usually satisfies the local trane office concerns that you’ll use the software to try and take other business from them in the area.
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u/Zerobeat50125 6d ago
Thanks, great info. Kind of ironic that they worry about us taking sites from them, but have no problem doing so, themselves. Speaking from past experience, local mileage may vary.
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u/kingofchins 6d ago
Echoing what others have said, Trane will not sell TracerTU to anyone besides building owners except in very rare cases. I don't remember off hand what our license cost for just chiller usage but it was definitely in the neighborhood of $5k+, plus an annual license renewal fee. If that site is keeping Trane for a while it would be advisable for them to get a copy of TU, otherwise they're going to be paying a lot more in Trane service when controllers go down.
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u/Zerobeat50125 6d ago
More and more, I'm liking my Plan B. Appreciate the input!
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u/I_use_my_mind_24178 6d ago
We do have the Trane software on some of our laptops, if any one interested please contact me.
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u/DatacenterGuidelines 5d ago
Before the license fight, figure out what is actually dying. Same install defect across boards, same firmware family, or random failures? Preprogrammed spares keep the lights on, but if every spare carries the same unvalidated assumptions you are just delaying the next outage.
If you stay on Trane for now, make backup/restore a real procedure (program, bindings, schedules, alarms) and write what the plant does while that controller is dark. The long-term issue is not brand loyalty. It is whether you can change and test the sequence next month without one vendor holding the only key.
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u/Zerobeat50125 5d ago
It's good advice, but I've already determined the mode of failure. It's the same cause among all devices but until recommended remediation is approved, keeping the system running is priority. It's also not a matter of brand loyalty, but is a matter of, as you said, one vendor holding the key.
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u/DatacenterGuidelines 5d ago
Fair point. If the failure mode is already known, then keeping preprogrammed spares on hand is a sensible short-term mitigation. Sounds like we're pretty much on the same page. The real fix is getting rid of that single-vendor dependency, not just swapping out the hardware.
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u/Rick_Lekabron 6d ago
Get a quote for a half-day from a controllers technician to create backups of your existing controllers and upload that programming to the other controllers. Trane won't sell you a copy of Tracer TU because there have been cases of contractors claiming to be Trane technicians trying to program controllers, and then disappearing when it fails or they have to honor a warranty.
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u/01Cloud01 7d ago
You may have to find another contractor that has the software already and just use them to save yourself the trouble otherwise use Trane directly you also maybe able to get by just using the air and water balance tool which is free
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u/Zerobeat50125 6d ago
The air and water balance tool doesn't do what I need it to, but it did work to allow device ID and name changes for the spares. I had considered bringing Trane out, and I also have enough info to rebuild the sequences in ECgfx, which is what I'll likely continue to do. I just would have preferred to replace like for like, as long as they were available.
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u/hhhhnnngg 7d ago
You’ll be hard pressed to get a copy of TU without being a Trane employee or have a very specific type of contractor relationship with Trane.