Control Network Newsletter
BAScontrol Toolset for Remote HVAC Training
Contemporary Controls designs and manufactures the system building blocks for networking, integrating and controlling automation processes where performance and reliability are important. Our products are built upon open technologies such as BACnet, Ethernet, Modbus, Sedona, and are typically found in building and industrial automation industries. Our products do not require a license and are available to all without restrictions. Years of field-proven reliability plus a complementary educational discount make our products perfectly suited for training and education. To support HVACR programs, Contemporary Controls has worked with several affiliated colleges and technical schools to create an automation classroom/lab experience that mimics the real world. We pride ourselves in customer satisfaction and offer free award-winning US-based technical support on all our products.
Modern HVACR classrooms use technology to network, control and analyze automation processes and require equipment which is intuitive and easy to use and understand by students. Equipment which is difficult to access or understand will distract students from learning the core concepts and causes students to have less time to focus on experimental work in the lab. Our BAScontrol Family of controllers, featuring the BAScontrol20 or BAScontrol22, as well as our BASpi Edge Controller, provides the building blocks for HVACR controller training.
Students manipulate their controllers by downloading the free BAScontrol Toolset, which is a set of tools to develop, store and restore application programs for the BAScontrol series of controllers and the BASpi. The controllers are built on Sedona - a license-free software environment where components deployed in kits are assembled onto a wire sheet to create applications. The toolset is stored in a Contemporary Controls folder on a Windows PC sharing a common data folder of general-purpose kits along with Contemporary Controls' custom hardware-dependent and hardware-independent kits. Kits can be updated or added to the data folder at any time without impacting the toolset. The toolset includes the following:
Sedona Application Editor (SAE)
The Sedona Application Editor (SAE) is a tool used to create custom applications in the Sedona environment. Using graphical means, components residing in kits are dragged onto a wire sheet, configured and interconnected with other components to create applications. By keeping the kits database updated with the latest kits, SAE can program any model within the BAScontrol and BASremote series of controllers.
BASbackup – BAScontrol Project Utility
BASbackup, the BAScontrol Project Utility, provides a convenient way of storing and restoring a BAScontrol project to a desktop or laptop computer. Although you can store and restore a Sedona application with the Sedona Application Editor, a BAScontroller has IP addressing and BACnet configuration files that are unrelated to Sedona. With BASbackup you can save both Sedona application files and configuration files on the BAScontrol making a comprehensive copy of your BAScontrol project.
BASemulator – BAScontrol Emulation on a PC
The BASemulator is a handy utility that works in conjunction with the Sedona Application Editor (SAE) and BASbackup. BASemulator can emulate the operation of any of the controllers in the BAScontrol series on a Windows PC. All real, virtual and web points including Sedona logic in a BAScontroller or BASpi can be viewed with SAE as if it was the actual controller. All web pages used for displaying point status and for configuration appear on a web browser as if it was the actual controller. The files are sufficient to completely backup a BAScontrol project.
Study from Home
While the BAScontrol20 and BAScontrol22 controllers are best utilized as classroom tools, the BASpi Controller allows students the opportunity to work from home as well as participate in classroom study. The BASpi Controller is built upon the popular Raspberry Pi single-board computer. Complete systems are available from Contemporary Controls, or students can utilize their own Raspberry Pi and a BASpi I/O board, a 12-point BAS expansion board (HAT) for the Raspberry Pi which is available at a student discount. The I/O board, plus the firmware files provided by Contemporary Controls turn a Raspberry Pi into a BACnet-networked, Sedona-programmable controller with 6 Universal Inputs and a choice of 6 Relay Outputs or 4 Relay and 2 Analog Outputs (depending on model) for a total cost of less than $200. Using the free to download BAScontrol Toolset and their laptop, students can download instructions and complete assignments from any location with internet access. Assignments can then be uploaded to the instructor for grading or assistance.
Learn More
Visit the Classroom and Lab Resouces page to learn more.