Essential Install | HVAC
DID YOU KNOW: The single highest land temperature recorded was in the Lut Desert in 2005, 159.3 F or 70.7°C
RTI says it has a strong commitment to integrating with
market leading technology partners from audio visual
to lighting and increasingly with Building Management
Systems (BMS).
To deliver more flexibility here, RTI has worked on
delivering comprehensive integration with KNX systems
which are becoming more popular in no small part due to
their open architecture. KNX compatibility can be a useful
conduit in delivering HVAC compatibility. Using the iKNiX
gateway provides a comprehensive free RTI driver with
the ability to control 1,000 data points.
CoolMaster is another brand highlighted by Invision
which specialises in creating RS232 gateways that talk
directly on the chosen HVAC bus system. The range of
CoolMaster options means automation systems can
talk to some of the most popular HVAC brands around
including Daikin, Mitsubishi and Fugitsu. With full
two-way integration with RTI, the CoolMaster approach
provides two-way feedback to the control systems for
on/off control, cool, heat, fan, dry mode selection, set
temperature control, fan speed control, swing control,
filter reset sign and also group operations. Invision
says it has a long-standing relationship with Tenways
Engineering, UK distributor for CoolMaster, and the two
companies work together to help dealers correctly identify
and then specify the exact CoolMaster module needed to
integrate within any RTI project.
The CoolMaster gateway simply connects to the BMS
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2 interfacing
or home automation
system over
RS232.
RTI offers a
number of HVAC
compatibility options
Advanced HVAC controls for the home
in this way, the control options widen
by being able to schedule timings
for turning on and off units as well
as monitoring and controlling while
away from home using remote
system logins. Having the ability
to access their system at any time,
obviously adds an extra layer of
support and control the installer can
offer if appropriate.
Software specialist, Janus
Technology has developed two
drivers for controlling the Heatmiser
HVAC platform from RTI, one for
integration with the brand’s Neo
hub product (via Ethernet) and
a second for integration with
Heatmiser’s Wi-Fi thermostats and/
or an RS485 interface (using either
RS232 or Ethernet). There is full two
way support, including feedback
of current temperature, set-point
value, run mode and hold status. An
innovative set ‘current zone’ function
allows a single zone control page to
be created to control the currently
selected zone, rather than requiring the programmer to
design individual pages for each zone. In addition, a full
complement of discrete controls (with corresponding
feedback) for specific heating zones provides the
installer with the ability, for example, to construct a page
providing an overview of the whole system, or to use
timed events to send commands to particular zones.
This approach works by using TCP/IP communications
protocols so the drivers can communicate directly with
the Heatmiser Wi-Fi thermostats or Neo hub, or via
Ethernet to an RS485 convertor to communicate via
an RS485 interface. Equally, the driver supports RS232
to allow communication to the RS485 interface using
an RS232 to RS485 convertor. Check direct with the
company is you are not sure which driver to download for
a particular project. Full two-way control (both discrete
and current zone) adjustment and feedback of run mode,
hold status and holiday mode as well as support for
scheduling and hot water demand, are all included.
The drivers come packaged with demonstration
remote control designs, enabling straight-forward
integration and testing with any existing system.
The Nest platform, whilst no new products have been
announced, has been busy building its ‘Works With
Nest’ initiative and works with RTI, Control4, Crestron
and URC. By working with these systems, like many of
the products backed by larger global corporation now
entering the automation space, Nest is at least making
the right moves to integrate with the existing automation
[email protected] www.sensibleheat.com
sensible heat
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