EIB-BACnet Gateway HRC Homeboy V3®

The HRC homeboy V3 ® is a communication gateway, wich connencted the EIB with host computers, wich use the use the ASHRAE standard BACnet protocol.

This equipment developed due to the fact that the control solutions for smaller EIB projects (to approx. 1500 group addresses) , available at the market, are very expensive and complicated in the operation and care of the system. You will need a lot of different and expansive EIB Units to manage comfort functions like schedules and such things. With the help of HRC Homeboy you are able to realize functions such as schedules, trends, alarms, operation hours, sun protection optimization and much more for you building in shortest time and without advanced training expenditure. You configure the gateway with the help of a {WEB front-end} and a normal Internet Brower such as IE, Opera, Fire fox. No further Software is needed. The Gateway connects to your EIB installation with the help of its RS232 interface and a standard RS232/EIB coupling unit. Over the Ethernet interface the Gateway is connected to the BACnet Ethernet protocol as an BACnet Server. With the help of this interface it is possible to simply connect your EIB installation to a manufacturer independent management level.

Architecture of the intelligent gateway



Central piece of the gateway is a SQL data base, in which all relevant data are stored. This covers all parameters for schedules, trends, operation hour counting etc.. With the help of this Database you are able to reboot the gateway without a loss of information after a power failure.

Beside the SQL data base there are run processes, which realize all the functionality and the actual interfaces to the external world.
First we have an EIB process, which monitors all telegrams in your EIB installation and provide an exact current system image of the EIB Installation in the gateway. Also this process ensures that changes in the Database will transfer into the EIB installation.

Further processes control all inserted comfort functions as well as the processing of all BACnet relevant inquiries etc..

Because of the inbuilt web server, it is possible, to implement a simple web based visualization according to your desires. A small example visualization is already installed and can be used as a starting point for your own visualization.
(see the manual for further information)

Integrated functions in the HRC Homeboy gateway:

The intelligent gateway from HR Controls goes far beyond the functionality of a simple protocol converter. Apart from the normal coupling between EIB and BACnet there are another considerable numbers of powerful and ready to use comfort functions which can be used without further programming. These functions cover a majority of the daily needed jobs in the building. Further functions can later be realized by developing your own programs with the help of a well known scripting Language (PHP).
Schedules

With the help of schedules it is possible to arrange create switching actions in the EIB installation at certain times. For each group address in the EIB one or more schedules can be assigned. All schedules are developed according to the rider principle. If you want for example to switch all exterior lights on daily in the evening at 22 o'clock until in the morning 6 o'clock, then 2 schedules are necessary. One schedule switches daily the lighting on at 22 o'clock, whereas the second schedule takes over a switching off in the morning at 6 o'clock.
Alarms

For each EIB group address a minimum and a maximum limit can be set. If the current value of the data point runs out of this range, then the alarm status of this data point is set and the alarm time is stored as well as the current value into the data base. Also on the BACnet side this condition of the alarm becomes visible with the help of the status flags.
Trends

Trends offer the possibility of recording the current value from a group address at certain times. These values are stored in extra tables with timestamp. A trend can be useful for diagnosis when you want to find errors in your installation as well as for the support of optimization your plant. The recording intervals have a range of 1 minute up to some months.
Operation hours

If you want to determine how long a certain group address runs, then you simply put on an operation hour counting for this group address. From now on all running times are summed minute-exactly. After reach of a certain freely adjustable period a maintenance message is generated and stored into the data base.
Cleaning light function


The cleaning light function is used to automatic shutdown lights, which are switched on by the cleaning people, after a freely adjustable period of minutes. Also this function takes place in stairways. The sense is to save energy with shutting unnecessary burning lights down.
For each EIB Group address you can specify the follow-up time and a range of daytime where this function will be active.
In addition it is possible to specify a maximum value for the repetitions of this function to ensure a durable lighting after expiration of these optimization counts. During the night this counter is reset to 0 so this function is again active on the next day.
EIB Group conjunctions  
An important and very often necessary function is the linkages between a EIB master group address and one or more further EIB slave groups. If the master group changes its value all slave addresses will become the value which is assigned for this EIB slave group. Additionally you can specify a period of daytime where this linkage is active.
Own functions and programs



In order to become fair of all possibly arising requirements, you can write your own functions.
These functions and/or programs are developed on your normal workstation and transferred with upload functions into the gateway. As programming language the PHP Scripting language is used because of its multipurpose functionality and its name recognition. With this language it is possible to implement almost all building-technical requirements without large learning expenditure. Your developed programs have direct access to the heart of the gateway, the database. It is possible to develop complicated algorithms for example PID automatic controllers, adaptive optimized heating curves an further more. You can start your developed functions and programs either directly over the Web Fontend or by schedules. For safety reasons some PHP commands are not allowed to use in your Programs and Functions. This concern accesses to the file system as well as the call of system commands. While uploading your Programs to the Gateway all not allowed function calls are deleted automatically.
(See Manual for further information)
Sun optimization

One of the most important and used functions in the building engineering is the function of the sun-blind optimization. There are generally two reasons, in order to equip a building with sun protection. On the one hand the prevention of the glare of an user while he is working and on the other hand an effective measure for saving cooling energy is the reason for closing the blinds automatically when the sun is shining into this area. In order to consider these two factors sufficiently, it is necessary to be able to close the shutters before the sun shines into the room and after the sun moved further on you will drive up the shutter again in order to use the daylight again in this room. Since the sun changes season-dependently its course, a differentiation of the control should take place dependent on the respective conditions of the sun. If one assumes that the largest radiation energy of the sun is then delivered into the room, when it stands perpendicularly to the window, then it is necessary to have individual optimization values for each room. In addition an individual optimization of each area makes it easy to deal with the special desires of the room user.
To realize all these requirements a knowledge of the following sun and room values are necessary:

Azimuth of the sun
Elevation of the sun
Does the sun shine actual?
The direction of the room window

For the examination of the actual sunshine an externally attached light sensor is necessary.
This sensor decide whether the sunlight intensity is strong enough to switch the binary EIB Group
“Sunshine” on or off. A threshold value prevents changing this value all the time.
In order to determine the position of the sun (azimuth and elevation), it is only necessary to give the
Gateway the position of the building as well as the correct time.
With the help of this information the Gateway is able to calculate internally the position of the sun.
For each room a minimum and a maximum degree of angle number (0..360°) can be specified.
If the position of the sun lies in range and if the sun shines actual, then this shutter is closed by
the Gateway with the help of its EIB group address. An optimization counter, which logs the
number of the optimization for each area separated, prevent the room user from opening and closing
the shutter all the time.
With the help of a maximum value an exact optimization number of the shutters can be arranged.
This counter is set to zero once a night to ensure the optimization on the next day.
An shutter optimization takes place in the following steps:



Examination of the light intensities



Examination of the position of the sun



Comparison of the position of the sun with the angle ranges of the
individual rooms

Examination of the optimization counter of individual rooms

Switch the respective actuator in the room

Increase the respective optimization counters, in order to prevent
repeated driving.

The HRC Homeboy gateway possesses a small, robusstes housing, which was conceived for the employment in rough environments, as for instance high temperatures or dirt. The housing is manufactured from substantial 5.5 mm thick aluminum.

Dimensions : 210(W)x254(L)x56(H)mm

Supply voltage: 12 V-24V DC

Power conumpiton: max.5A
DC-Jack:   2.5*5.5*10 mm

Maximum EIB Groups: 1500 EIB group addresses

Temperature range: 0-40 °C

Dampness range: 0-80%

Operating noise: 41 dB

Enclosure: IP 40

Datasheets:
{Data HRC Homeboy engl.pdf }

{Data HRC Homeboy dtsch.pdf}

Brochure:

{HRC Homeboy engl.pdf}

{HRC Homeboy dtsch.pdf}


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© 2007 HR Controls Ltd. & Co. KG