3rd Party Device Interfacing

Based on the success of our Translink C-Bus Gateway, we are looking to develop further C-Bus related products.

From time to time we get asked about interfacing to specific devices 3rd party devices to provide monitoring and control.
These devices are often one off systems specific to a particular installation, but sometimes can be more generic.
They are devices that need more than contact closure signalling and typically have some sort of interface (e.g. Serial, IP, I2C, SPI,4-20mA)

Some of the devices we have been asked about include;

• Air Conditioners (serial & IP control).
• Weather Stations (display of data on the measurement application).
• Ethernet Gateway (used in a pair to send C-Bus messages across an Ethernet segment).
• Irrigation controllers (serial & IP).
• Various sensors (pressure, humidity, light etc.)
• Window actuators.
• Prox Card Readers (i.e. secure switch).

So my question is what devices would you like to see have C-Bus interfaces?
What devices do you commonly install (or have been installed) on your jobs that would benefit from C-Bus integration?

Cheers

Rohan

 

Ethernet Gateway for sure, could sell these on almost every job if they were around.

Also a CMU style unit, but as a 240v AC voltmeter. Without having to muck around with transformers and ect....

 

When you say CMU are you saying Current Measurement Unit?
If so, Im not sure what you mean by "as a 240v AC voltmeter".
Can you give me a bit more of a description.

Cheers

Rohan

 

Yes, well just as you used to do for current measurement before they came out with the CMU, to measure mains voltage you need to have a transformer and rectifier connected into a General Input Unit.

It would be nice to have this in a package where it is all built in and you don't have to have all the extra stuff hanging off a GIU to just measure your voltage at a switchboard! Takes up a huge amount of space to do it too.

Does that make more sense?

 

So just to be clear, your talking about measuring voltage with a simple box like the CMU now does for current. Is that right?

Cheers

Rohan

 

How about interfacing into something like this?

http://openenergymonitor.org/emon/

And broadcasting all the data on the measurement app.

Cheers

Rohan

 

What Irrigation Controllers are people seeing installed these days at cbus sites.

Hunter ? Holman ? Toro ? Irritrol ? Rain Bird?

Would an interface to these for manual control be useful ?

IE controller does the scheduled watering but you can also manually control from cbus or disable

Most of these controllers have an external protocol for manual control.

Are people using the CBUS ELV relays and doing irrigation completely in touch screen ?

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I would like to see a simple Cbus to Ethernet gateway. You select group addresses to be bridged between 2 two c-bus networks via Ethernet.

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You could have one of these http://www.peetbros.com

And then broadcast on measurement app. Outside Temp/Outside Humidity/Rain fall/Wind speed/Wind direction/Wind Chill/Barometric Pressure/Inside Temperature/Inside Humidity. All in one unit.

Great for the displaying on Touch screen and the New EDLT.


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How many SAMSUNG WIFI split systems are being installed ?

Cbus to Samsung Aircon Wifi control via the network useful ??



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Existing Shipping Translink C-BUS to IPAD/IPHONE APP

More Support for AirCon Application ??
More Support for Security App ??
More Support for Audio Application ??
Is there a need for a Android app ?
Is there a need for a Windows Phone app ?

Charles

 

Just noticed I never replied to this, Sorry!

Yes!

 

Has anyone used a CBUs enabled INIRT yet?

Www.inirt.com

I would be interested in hearing about experiences..

 

Hi Roosta

A number of us have been field trialing the product for some time now. For me, it's solved a problem with controlling the air conditioner from C-Bus as well as an iPhone. The things I like about this product are...

-The mapping of the codes to HVAC and lighting groups in C-Bus
-The use with the eDLT
-The ease of configuration on C-Bus (using the unit address as the default settings for the unit
-The '2-way' operation between iPhone and C-Bus (you change the setpoint on the smartphone and it updates on C-Bus)
-The fact I can use their API if I want to do something on another product (not that I ever would)
-Feedback in the form of a temperature sensor and CT (CT tells me the AC is on or off)
-The way they (inIRt) support the product with regards to their libraries.

Must admit, I haven't played with it for some weeks but with summer about to hit, I might need fire things up again.

A neat product that has been well thought out, works very well with C-Bus and from what I'm hearing, has a rich development roadmap.

 

Thats great to hear conformist.. I was pretty excited when i heard about it and did a bit of research but always better to hear of first hand experiences.. It certainly resolves some of the niggling issues around controlling IR based climate control.. I was particularly impressed with the CT concept, so simple, yet effective.. Would love to see more of these sort of developments come to the market..

Technology is in such an exciting place at the moment i cant wait to see what another few years brings..

Rheem have some interesting products coming with eco-net : http://www.rheem.com/EcoNet/Home

Will wireless retro fit solutions like environexus or insteon take off here and be the next wave (excuse the pun)..

 

Got any pics of an eDLT in action?

Surprisingly none on their website or marketing brochures!