C-Bus and Air Conditioning

The 5031TS C-Bus temperature sensor interests me in it application. I am designing a new house at the moment and looking for a solution to control air conditioning as part of a home automation system.

I will be using a Ness/ELK homeautomation controller with a C-Bus interface and would like to explore more fully how my airconditioning requiement can be meet perhaps using C_Bus.

Reading the blurb on the 5031TS it appears that all you can do is turn ON and OFF A/C plant via relays which seems kinda kluncky and I would have thought the types of inductive loads would see relay contacts worn out in a fairly short period of time. Also the loads of a resonable sized air condition would challenge the ratings og the C-Bus relay units.

Have I missed something here? Is there a more elegant way of using C-Bus to control A/C units and in particular multi split systems. In my situation I am wanting to install 8 indoor heads in 8 rooms and ideally would like under home automation control on a room by room basis switch individual units not only on or off but also be able to adjust the temperature on a room by room basis.

Has anyone had experience with the temperature sensing and controlling multi split systems using C-Bus?

Thanks Fleetz

 

I beleive that Clipsal are in the process of developing a high-level controller that interfaces with a few major brands.

I beleive it has features like a 7 day program etc.

Can anyone at Clipsal confirm this?

 

CBus AC controller ?

Have you moved from Riotville ??

Have a look here..http://www.cbusforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1940

 

What would we do without you Phil?

In the off chance that Clipsal management may read my posts I have made a conscious effort to improve the perception that people may have of me. This extends to all areas of my Cbus forum escapade; including the location in which I reside. Professionalism is what is needed here, not some young up-start that thinks he knows it all; yes I am a changed man. I see it as my duty to ensure that the little known Adelaide company which Clipsal is; rises above the small time niche players and becomes a true force in the Canberra home automation market - the fastest growing segment in the world. And as Clipsal now have my number; I will work tirelessly until they are not only number one in Canberra, but number one in Cooma, Condobolin, Cootamundra and Coonabarabran...

 

Peter, are you only working on the C's ? There's a whole world of other letters out there ready for conquest !

 

One small step at a time John!

 

Type of AC unit

Fleetz,

What type of AC unit you thinking of using and a/c control unit. I ended up controlling my ac unit all via 240 volt contacts. The only problem by controlling your unit in this manner is that is can void warranty. Preset emp controlled dampers are a go but i've been told are a costly item

 

Sale number 2 just over the horizon

A little birdy told me whilst I was at my coaching lesson learning how to spell, that the cardboard C-Bus display in Canberra is going to be dusted off and dragged out of the corner so that sale number 2 is just over the horizon. All I can say is watch out club members of X-Ten.
I am considering chucking in my business and joining the leading niche players down there as I don't want to be left behind and not be part of the ground breaking second sale.
With your commitment Peter, how can I lose.
PS I got chucked out of the comedy festival because a couple of clowns did not like my jokes.

 

Hi mrava,

The best solution I can currently find is Daikin and Mitsubishi split sytems. They both offer an optional interface board that enable the indoor unit to switch on or off via a dry contact. This would overcome the warranty issue as it is their product and designed interface.

I would much prefer to find a split system (and multi at that) that I could control by interfacing a thermostat back to the system. In a home automation environment I would read the room temperature and be able to set the temperature and also control the on and off function. I have not been able to find a solution to date. I as I started drilling down into the C-Bus product I wanted to explore what C-Bus intended to interface to with regard to A/C.

It is surprising that given home automation is here and getting stronger that A/C manufacturers have not embraced the opportunity. Who every does first is likely to get a bigger slice of the pie!

Just frustrating that I have not been able to find an elegant solution so far. I hope someone might know of one.....you live in hope!

Regards,

Fleetz

 

When I built my first home-automation system back in '85, I was able to easily control the heating and cooling with a couple of low-voltage relays, by connecting them across the contacts in the honeywell wall-mounted HVAC controller. In short, the controller (just a fancy thermostat with some timers and stuff) closed an output to call for heat, or a different output for cooling, and a 3rd output (optionally) for the fan (although the fan ran automatically whenever heat or cool was called for).

My home controller which had temperature sensors in each room, the ceiling space, outside etc, did all the calculations for building lag, pre-emptive turn on (and off) of the HVAC, worked with the "alarm clock" so it knew when we were planning to get up, worked with the security system so it knew when we went to bed etc. Simply turning on or off the appropriate output relay worked fine.

I always intended to control the 3 zone-motors, but never got around to it.

Hope this helps, or gives you another avenue to persue.

 

Hey Ashleigh, I think there's a echo in the room - room - room.

 

AC Daikin IR code base

Hello experts!
Please resolve my problem!
I have remote control (of AC Daikin of course).
Model ARC433A41.
This is a new model, i think.
I need ir codes of this remote control for my C-bus network.
All database of old codes (Daikin-1 ... Daikin-5) in Circa (version Circa 2.2.0.59) not understand mine AC.
Please help!
Happy New Year and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

Hello, Dmitry! =)

 

PSC - wot the!!!

Pete,
Is it true - your relocating to the great southern territory of the three P's (porn, pot and pollies)???
Good luck with the new life.
In response to several posts re A/C control, i have recently completed a residential install in Canberra with the new Daikin VRV system.
In this particular install, the system conprised two outdoor units and fourteen ceiling cassettes.
The ceiling cassettes come with what Daikin call fire trip inputs which can switch the fan coils ON and OFF.
The system still uses wall mounted Daikin controllers in each zone for fan speed, motorised louvre control and temp, but can be easily turned ON and OFF with simple dry contacts to the fire trip inputs. This allows central control from the Crestron system, C-Bus colour touch, and interfaces to the security / Access control system. Although no temp control is facilitated centrally, my expereince is that most people, once they have found their comfort temp, they very rarely want to adjust it.
Many modern AC units have a similar facility.

 

AirConditioning

Have we progressed the Airconditioning Control beyond this discussion 12 months ago?

Does anyone know of any brands of A/C that have embraced CBus and allow it to be controlled by it?

 

Not sure I would call it embraced, but AdvantageAir have released the protocol docs for their GENIII system, which means that you can use a PAC to send it commands to run/control the system.

It also means that any other automation system can do whatever it likes with it.

I have placed my order for a system, and it appears that the home automation gateway that gives you the interface has not yet been released (as of late December) - but it is very very close (if not released by now).

Thats the best info I can offer on the subject,

Mick

 

What da???

Hey Darren,

Not me mate, unless you know something that I don't know

 

Fleetz,

I have integrated my aircon into my HA setup using Homevision (www.csi3.com) and an RCS thermostat setup (www.resconsys.com), however, the RCS serial is fairly simple so I imagine it could be controlled by any other controller including C-Bus. I have C-bus also integrated into my system but I do not use it to change ac settings.

I use the RCS 6 zone controller for my 6 zones. There is a thermostat/controller in each room that measure and reports temp and also allows you to change modes/setpoints etc. I use the controller with an Actron system utilising the standard 6?? wire HVAC interface. I bought the system through my local aircon guys and they were happy to use my controller rather than the other brand ones they use.

With my setup I can control all modes of my aircon collectively or individually across the computer/internet or any mechanism I wanted to setup. For example I have a close contact wall switch next to each room controller and if you press it it will take the setting from the thermostat and apply it to the whole house.

I am no expert on C-Bus but I dod not imagine it would be difficult to either interface the open serial protocol from RCS or setup some relays with logic in a PAC controller or touchscreen.

The RCS setup was purchased in the US from a company called worthington distributers (www.worthdist.com) who will ship to Australia.

From my setup RCS seems to be very common across HA setups as a HVAC. The system will use either RS232 or 485.


Cheers
Glen