Combining Building Automation systems both in commercial buildings and in the process plant area is becoming a hot topic. Companies have already found that by combining the HVAC and DCS systems, and controlling heat and air conditioning like they were continuous processes, they can save literally millions of dollars per year. Like HART and Foundation fieldbus, Profibus and Modbus, the building automation folks have their own preferred data highway: BACnet.
We are starting to see the traditional automation companies starting to offer products aimed specifically at the building automation marketplace. Here's one such, from Advantech.
Advantech Launches Four New BACnet I/O Modules(Cincinnati, OH –March 2011) – The Industrial Automation Group of Advantech has released four modules in the new BACnet I/O module series.· BAS-3018BC 8-channel Universal Input Module· BAS-3024BC 4-channel Universal Input, 4-channel Analog Output, and 4-channel Digital Output module· BAS-3050BC 8-channel Digital Input and 8-channel Digital Output module· BAS-3051BC 16-channel Digital Input moduleThe BAS-3000BC series can serve as BACnet MS/TP remote I/O modules through an RS-485 network to be integrated with BACnet DDC Controllers. Featuring 24 VDC or 24 VAC input and 3,000 VDC isolation protection, the BAS-3000BC can be expanded as remote I/O modules for 3rd party BACnet MS/TP DDC controllers. The BAS-3000BC series provides I/O models with predefined BACnet objects and services to ensure seamless communication with each other.Included with these modules is the Advantech Domain Focused Configuration Tool, a BACnet Utility specially designed for Building Automation. This powerful graphical configuration tool allows general technicians to configure their Advantech BACnet I/O modules easily, greatly reducing the cost of project development and shortening development cycles.For more information or to purchase, please contact Advantech directly or your regional Advantech authorized distributor
