Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:07:09 -0400 http://www.hvacc.net/ PostNuke Powered Site en-us http://www.hvacc.net/images/logo.gif http://www.hvacc.net/ ddrury@hvacc.net http://www.hvacc.net/Article97.html HVAC Concepts, Inc. has recently received some national attention for our work with Wawa on their building automation project. Wawa is a leader in the C-Store market and recognized as a company that leads the way with innovative use of technology to improve business efficiency. Wawa, Tridium, and HVAC Concepts won the Silver award in the Retail section of the M2M (Machine to Machine) Value Chain Awards. The Value Chain Awards recognize the most successful adopters of M2M technology and their enablers, the teams of solution providers that made their successes possible. The awards highlight the successful and innovative process of combining multiple technologies to create a winning solution. Wawa, Tridium, and HVAC Concepts were also a 2007 Buildy Award Finalist at the 2007 Builconn show. The Buildy Awards recognize the individuals and organizations who have stepped up the challenge of integrating a system into the entire scheme of a building. Sat, 23 Jun 2007 12:35:46 -0400 http://www.hvacc.net/Article93.html Microsoft repushed a new release of this "update". To remove the "click to enable" behavior for now remove patch "Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer for Windows XP (KB916281)". Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, (make sure Show Updates box is checked). Find update, remove. Reboot. Click to update should no longer be an issue. Tue, 20 Jun 2006 15:19:03 -0400 http://www.hvacc.net/Article92.html Local control and display for Turbocor retrofit of 270 ton Carrier 23XL Screw Chiller. Tridium JACE-2 Controller running Niagara AX using hardwired I/O, Modbus for full status reporting from compressors, BacNet/IP for integrating data with building automation system. A HVAC Concepts, Inc. Field Display directly connected to the JACE-2 via its second Ethernet port is used for a local display. The chiller controller provides a full featured sequence to properly run and manage a centrifugal chiller and associated equipment. Why a Turbocor Retrofit? Efficiency is of utmost importance in today’s world of escalating utility costs and chillers are by far the biggest energy consumers in the building. However, replacing the chiller is not always the best option, especially when the mechanical equipment is difficult to reach with a crane or is below grade. The largest chiller efficiency gains are accomplished through compressor technologies and intelligent digital control. Retrofitting an existing chiller with Turbocor compressors can often show the best life-cycle return on investment. Thu, 15 Jun 2006 21:50:42 -0400 http://www.hvacc.net/Article91.html Microsoft recently pushed an update which causes an annoying "click to allow this active x control" to happen with most current active x controls. Including the microcoft and sun jvms. They have since published a link to fix (undo their patch) this issue. Click Here for Microsoft KB 917425 Fri, 21 Apr 2006 11:56:02 -0400 http://www.hvacc.net/Article90.html The Niagara Summit is an open conference event focusing on the Niagara Framework. It brings together integrators, end-users, consultants, manufacturers, developers and resellers--- the Niagara Community--- to share experiences, get in-depth education, enhance their skills and hear what the future holds from leading industry experts. General Sessions, keynote speakers and comprehensive workshops will focus on educating attendees on the latest developments in creating solutions that integrates today’s diverse systems and devices into a unified platform enabling distributed, real-time communications to machines and between machines. No other event assembles such an extensive array of practitioners using the Niagara Framework. End-users, integrators, manufacturers, consultants and developers will have the quality networking time to discuss needs, real world applications and best practices. Take this opportunity to meet with the top business and technical decision makers working with the Niagara Framework. 2006 Niagara Summit Saddlebrook Resort / Tampa, FL Thu, 15 Sep 2005 20:52:17 -0400 http://www.hvacc.net/Article89.html Due to changes on our servers and network -- all customers using Histview must install a software update to continued history data updates. Click the following link and run / open to install. HistView Update Wed, 2 Feb 2005 13:56:44 -0500 http://www.hvacc.net/Article88.html Niagara AX (rev 3) of Tridium's Niagara framework has been released in beta. AX is the result of several years of refinement of Tridium's award winning JAVA based application framework. Summary = Wow! The framework has been rewritten and improved across the board. Some of the major highlights are: (1) Open / Documented / Expandable API - The niagara framework is now even more open and expandable than before. OEMs and System Integrators (SIs) can now extend the niagara framework and Tridum's Vykon applications to fit any application, including development of custom drivers (serial or tcp) and control components. (2) Thick Client (browser based) Workbench Mode - The Workbench can run in the browser as a JAVA plugin allowing many engineering changes to be made without any Tridium software installed on the user's PC! (3) New Graphic Engine (Px). Many new graphic objects, many to one relationships. Ability to animate (link) to any gx property. (4) New station alarm console, and built-in alarm browser. Mon, 15 Nov 2004 18:45:36 -0500 http://www.hvacc.net/Article85.html Join our team installing and servicing state of the art Web-enabled systems using the latest open systems technology and legacy integrations from Tridium, Siebe, Honeywell, and many others. Top pay and benefits. E-mail Kevin Perdue, President (kperdue@hvacc.net) Tue, 27 Jul 2004 18:19:56 -0400 http://www.hvacc.net/Article84.html The LCI-C is an integrated communication board that enables the Trane chiller controller (530 panel only!) to communicate over a LonTalk network. While monitoring alarms and status, the LCI-C is capable of controlling chiller setpoints and operating modes. The Trane LCI-C adds, to the standard chiller profile, an additional set of points to satisfy a broader range of system interoperable applications. These added points, or open extensions, build on the standard LonMark® chiller profile. The LCI-C provides detailed information about the chiller operation and allows control of start stop, setpoint, and capacity control via the lonworks network. The LCI-C is availiable at a price point where it makes sense to always use this communications interface rather than running multiple hardwired I/O points to the chiller. Screen Shot of Recent Integration Trane LCI-C Specifications Trane LCI-C on LonMark Web Site Thu, 1 Jul 2004 11:56:16 -0400 http://www.hvacc.net/Article82.html Field Display v1.2.0 - Released in BETA! A number of important changes and corrections have been made. Field Display Product Page. NEW FEATURES (1) Tridium Time Schedule and Special Event Editing! (Add Screen Shots) (2) New Idle Modes (Logoff, BackLight Only Off, None) (3) Network setup displayed on power up after successful ethernet open. (4) Invalid Monochrome BMP files flagged BUG FIXES: (1) Screen updates immediatly after an edit (2) Fixed double update in group switching (3) Increased DHCP timeouts (4) Menu Text would flash on update if no background bitmap (5) Enter on JACE PW config creates blank password instead of space password (6) Correctly Display Degree Symbol (7) Network init logic fixed (8) Blank Group Displayed one random item from previous group (9) BMP files larger than 12k would make operation of the FD unpredictable (10) PW for config only would still cause password to be entered to edit items. (11) FD will not function behind some proxy servers. Two problems - 1-some proxy servers return http 1.0 respones to http 1.1 requests, and 2-http get request was being made with extra bytes appended to the packet after the header (invalid). Sat, 22 May 2004 15:17:26 -0400 http://www.hvacc.net/Article80.html May 5th, 2004 - HVAC Concepts, Inc. was presented with Tridium's 2003 Niagara Framework Technology Innovation Award! Excerpt from Award Letter - "There are over 400 Niagara Framework partners worldwide who sell, install, and support Niagara Framework solutions. This award acknowledges HVAC Concepts as a leader in the Niagara community, and among the most progressive organizations in the industry." Ed Merwin (Tridium), Kevin Perdue (HVAC), Daniel Drury (HVAC) Sat, 8 May 2004 12:51:24 -0400 http://www.hvacc.net/Article79.html The first Tridium Niagara Summit was held from May 1st to 4th in Tampa Bay, Florida. The Niagara Summit provided an unparalleled opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and solutions with the community surrounding Tridium's Niagara Framework. Niagara Summit General Session HVACC was involved in the Summit and presented (with a leading industry analyst and TFMC of South Africa) a general session presentation titled "New Business Models Enabled by Smart Device Management"). Both TFMC and HVACC run on a service based business model with long-term customer service and satisfaction being key. Kevin Perdue of HVACC presented our company, business model, and philosophy, and Daniel Drury of HVACC demonstrated some of the web-based business systems that HVACC has developed to serve its customers. HVACC also presented several sites and its Field Display device in the Solutions Showcase. The solutions showcase was a group of system integrators demonstrating some of their sites with unique device integrations, to show the power and flexibility of the Niagara Framework. The overall reaction to the Summit and HVAC Concepts was very positive and enthusiastic. Tridium Web Site Niagara Summit Web Site Tridium Summit Showcase Video Kevin Perdue - General Session Daniel Drury- Solutions Showcase Sat, 8 May 2004 12:49:51 -0400 http://www.hvacc.net/Article78.html April 13, 2004 / Washington, D.C.—Today, the Turbocor compressor, manufactured by Turbocor Inc., was awarded the prestigious U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Climate Protection Award. This is only the second HVAC refrigeration technology to be selected to receive this highest of environment awards. "All of us at Turbocor are indeed honored to receive this prestigious award. We feel that the Turbocor technology epitomizes the goal of the U.S. EPA's Responsible Use vision; a vision that encourages owners, system designers, and manufacturers to invest in highest efficiency/lowest emissions technologies and then provide documented sustainability of this high-level performance over the entire lifetime of the product, system or service. This is a great achievement and reward not only on behalf of our employees who have worked extremely hard to bring this vision to life, but also to our customers who are helping to make this a reality as well," commented Brian Evans, Turbocor President & CEO. Wed, 14 Apr 2004 09:05:38 -0400 http://www.hvacc.net/Article77.html The S7810M Modbus module is a add on module to Honeywell's 7800 series burner and flame safegaurds for boilers. In the past, to status a boiler we would install 3 relays status, flame failure, and low water. With the honeywell S7810M with a 7800 series controller we install the S7810 module and connect our modbus network to the S7810M and we now have exact boiler operation information as seen by the flame safegaurd. Great! The module allows a connected building automation system (such as a Tridium JACE controller) to display exact boiler status, error codes, and flame information. Additiionally, when connected to a Honeywell 7999 Fuel/Air Control detailed information about which fuel and the position of the control actuators is availiable. 7810 w/7999 ScreenShot from HVACC Installation S7810M Data Sheet Honeywell 7800 with 7999 Wed, 24 Mar 2004 07:23:31 -0500 http://www.hvacc.net/Article76.html Richmond, VA. February 2004 – Tridium, Inc. and Carrier Corp. announce a new generation of CarrierOne™. Developed on Tridium’s Niagara Framework®, Carrier’s new product line has been expanded to include new controllers that provide more capacity and flexibility than ever before. Fri, 5 Mar 2004 10:28:32 -0500 http://www.hvacc.net/Article74.html As part of your ongoing services, HVAC Concepts, Inc. periodically holds training sessions to help your personnel better understand and utilize the KPS Open-3 and Tridium Niagara Framework. We have scheduled the classes listed below for your convenience. Please note the communication software program version listed for each training session before choosing the class you would like to attend: KPS CP is for user's of HVAC's CP (Communications Program) and Tridium is for user's of Tridium's JACE Controllers and Niagara Framework. Please contact Ted Ross at (301) 670-0044 to sign up. Due to limited seating a reservation is mandatory. The fee for the class as of March 1st 2004 will be $110.00. We will be serving a working lunch at each session. When Location Program Thursday March 25, 2004 (10:00 am – 2:00 pm) NAPE - Falls Church* KPS CP Thursday April 29, 2004 (10:00 am – 2:00 pm) HVACC- Gaithersburg KPS CP Thursday May 27, 2004 (10:00 am – 2:00 pm) HVACC- Gaithersburg Tridium Thursday September 30, 2004 (10:00 am – 2:00 pm) HVACC- Gaithersburg KPS CP Thursday October 28, 2004 (10:00 am – 2:00 pm) NAPE - Falls Church* KPS CP Thursday November 18, 2004 (10:00 am – 2:00 pm) HVACC - Gaithersburg Tridium *5707 Seminary Road / Falls Church, Virginia Mon, 23 Feb 2004 12:33:14 -0500 http://www.hvacc.net/Article70.html Field Display For Tridium JACE Controllers Embedded Graphic User Interface The Field Display For Tridium JACE Controllers (FD) is an low-cost, embedded, Ethernet panel mount graphic display for Tridium JACE Controllers. FD Network Configuration is accomplished via the display itself. FD Content Configuration is accomplished via Tridium’s WorkPlace Pro (JDE) application, using specially sized and constrained Gx Pages. The FD is intended for applications where a user interface is a requirement and a consumer PC or panel mount PC are not options due to relibility, cost, and support issues. Features: - Displays 320 x 220 Niagara Gx Pages (with limitations) - Displays (Graph and Tabular) versions of Niagara Trend Logs - Displays Active Alarm Conditions - Edit Control Variables (Manual Command BO, AO, MSO and other objects) - Network Config via Front Panel (Static or Dynamic IP) - Display Config via Tridium's WorkPlace Pro Tool. - Panel Mount, Wall Mount Field Display Product Page Fri, 5 Dec 2003 09:30:01 -0500 http://www.hvacc.net/Article69.html Tridium has announced its latest version of its revolutionary web-based JACE Controllers -- the JACE-403. Specifically designed (and priced) for smaller applications. The JACE-403 delivers all the benefits of Tridium's Niagara framework (web-based access, common object model, integration of lonworks, bacnet, modbus, and other proprietary networks) to be realized by the smallest control system. The JACE-403 is perfect for central plant, air handling, or retail store applications. Resources JACE-403 Data Sheet JACE-403 Installation Guide Tridium's Web Site Tue, 21 Oct 2003 09:04:58 -0400 http://www.hvacc.net/Article61.html InvenSys Building Systems has released several new unitary equipment lonworks controllers. They are made for retrofit applications and have 3 heavy duty relay outputs on-board (no pilot relays necessary). Click Here to View Data Sheet InvenSys IA WebSite Wed, 30 Jul 2003 07:05:52 -0400 http://www.hvacc.net/Article59.html Tridium is pleased to announce Release 2.3.4 of its Niagara Framework. All current Tridium products, the Vykon Web Supervisor, the JACE-511, JACE-512, and the JACE-NP are now available to be ordered with Release 2.3.4. Wed, 18 Jun 2003 07:16:15 -0400 http://www.hvacc.net/Article52.html HVAC Concepts, Inc. has integrated support for Distech's EasyControls LonWorks controllers into its KPS Open-3 and Tridium systems. We can custom program any of their lonworks controllers via standard echelon programming tools (the same as the other programmable controllers) which HVAC uses. We believe that the Distech controllers represent a best of breed solution in regard to features, point configurations, programmability, and price. Resources: Distech Controls Web Site Distech Controls Product Catalog KPS Controls Distech Product Data EC-12 Controller Thu, 3 Apr 2003 08:43:51 -0500 http://www.hvacc.net/Article51.html Update - Even more cranes now (17 total). If the number of cranes are an indicator... the economy in Washington must not be too bad.  There are even more cranes visible outside the frame. Photo Credit - Chris Kaufman, NAC. [Full Size 905k] Fri, 28 Mar 2003 13:03:10 -0500 http://www.hvacc.net/Article48.html Excerpt from www.arhrae.org: "A new risk management strategy for building owners to use in determining their level of risk in regard to extraordinary incidents has been issued by ASHRAE. The report, Risk Management Guidance for Health, Safety and Environmental Security Under Extraordinary Incidents, was presented at ASHRAE's 2003 Winter Meeting held Jan. 25-29." Links to Documents on Ashrae.org: Ashrae News Article Executive Summary Full Document Thu, 13 Mar 2003 11:26:09 -0500 http://www.hvacc.net/Article47.html As part of our ongoing support services, HVACC is holding periodic training to help your personnel better understand and utilize the KPS Open-3 Building Automation System. We have scheduled the following training sessions for your convenience. Please note the communication software program version listed beside each session before choosing which class to sign up for and if you are uncertain, do not hesitate to ask us. The KPS CP sessions are for phone line dial up communications without Tridium. The Tridium training is designed for those using the World Wide Web including dial ups with Tridium. Please contact Ted Ross at 301-670-0044 to sign up. We will be serving a working lunch at each session in the inertest of conserving your time. Thursday March 20, 2003 (10:00am - 2pm) Gaithersburg KPS CP Thursday April 24, 2003 (10:00am - 1pm) NAPE Falls Church KPS CP Thursday May 29,2003 (10:00am - 2pm) Gaithersburg Tridium Thursday June 12,2003 (10:00am - 2pm) Gaithersburg KPS CP Thursday September 25, 2003 (10:00am - 2pm) Gaithersburg KPS CP Thursday October 23, 2003 (10:00am – 1pm) NAPE Falls Church KPS CP Thursday November 13, 2003 (10:00am – 2:00pm) Gaithersburg Tridium Fri, 7 Mar 2003 14:38:15 -0500 http://www.hvacc.net/Article46.html Click Here to View/Download PDF Version *** IMPORTANT NOTICE *** To: Our Valued Clients Re: Emergency Shut-Down of Air Moving Systems HVAC Concepts, Inc. (HVACC) has been receiving many requests regarding the ability of your KPS Building Automation Systems (KPS) to shut down all air moving systems upon command from a workstation (terminal) or other manual input in the event of an emergency. There are several issues regarding this concern that we would like to bring to your attention: (1) It is important to understand that the KPS is not classified as a life/safety protection system! The KPS has the ability to shut down connected equipment to optimize energy consumption, but was never intended to provide life/safety protection. Users should understand that most KPS connections are wired in a manner allowing them to be easily overridden (bypassed) for service purposes, defeating the automatic functionality. Other KPS connections may be installed where other controls or safeties can force the connected equipment on or off. In contrast, a system designed for life/safety purposes is wired so it can never be bypassed or overridden. (2) All ventilation systems are not normally connected to the KPS as they are designed to run constantly or come on automatically. Exhaust fans, specialized pressurization fans and other ventilation units would need to be considered in any attempt to lessen air infiltration into a building. Shutting fans down and closing dampers will reduce the amount of outside air infiltrating a building but would not eliminate it. (3) HVACC is not aware of any formal codes from governmental agencies regarding chemical or biological attacks. Ashrae has released a set of guidelines "Building Health and Safety under Extraordinary Incidents". We also must make it clear that we are not experts in protecting buildings from these or other sorts of attacks. HVACC can perform software and/or hardware modifications to accomplish a specific, customer designed, sequence of operation but cannot consult or advise any action or remedy to provide this type of protection as we do not possess the expertise required. Our only warranty on installations such as this is that we will service the equipment installed if it fails. HVACC will not assume any other liability installations or modifications that could be perceived as life/safety protection. Although HVACC will test the sequence of operation thoroughly upon completion we strongly recommend that any such installation/modification be tested routinely to help ensure all equipment is operating as intended. We strongly urge you to seek a qualified, licensed consultant specializing in these areas. HVAC Concepts, Inc. Wed, 26 Feb 2003 18:24:51 -0500