Control Network Newsletter
Best BASpi Application Will Win Pi Day Contest!
To celebrate our favorite holiday, Pi Day on March 14, we're holding a contest! Tell us how you are using your BASpi. We'll share the most interesting applications and the winner will receive a 20% coupon good for 30 days on any product available on our website.
We want to hear how you are using our BASpi-IO and BASpi-Edge. We'll share our top five stories the week leading up to Pi Day. The engineers who designed our BASpi products will pick the application they think is the most innovative.
Competition will be fierce! But don't worry—we aren't asking for dissertations. Just email katthomas@ccontrols.com with a paragraph or two explaining the problem and how you used the BASpi to solve it. Here are some examples of applications we've received from customers in the past.
Customer Feedback: Chiller Pump Room Fancoil Application
The BASpi Univeral Inputs are used for three 10K Type-2 thermistor curves and one for fan status – setup as binary input. Three of the BASpi relay outputs are used, one for heating, one for cooling and a simple 2 position open/close valve – the only time it is off is when the unit shuts off at night. Programming was done in Sedona, the setpoint value is written to the BASpi based on a schedule from a supervisor over the network using a BACnet virtual point. BASpi point values are served over BACnet/IP to the supervisor for a graphic.
"It only took 2 hours or so to install, and I did not run into any issues. Very cool product, worked very well, and it has been running for over a month now in this nasty hot pump room. It is in a chiller plant that actually has openings in the walls (why they have this I do not know but it gets hot in there so it's a good test!). I would certainly consider it for my future projects."
Customer Feedback: BASpi Lead-Lag Control Panel at a Remote Unmanned Broadcast Site at 12,000 ft. Elevation
A BASpi-6U6R was installed at a broadcast site located at 12,000 ft. elevation to monitor and control a lead-lag application of 2 AC units based on run-time.
"I am using the BASpi to control 2 latching relays to swap the AC units every 24 hrs. of actual runtime in a remote, unmanned broadcast site. I used the LeadLag component from the CControls_HVAC Sedona kit to program 2 BASpi units for use as AC Lead-Lag with latching relays. I like the run-proof built into the LeadLag component—it simplifies the programing. I am also controlling the air dampers and exhaust fan from the BASpi. I am using the damper and exhaust fan as an economizer separate from the AC for better control. Controlling the Econo with the BASpi will reduce the electric consumption by approx. 50% because it lets the shelters cool via outside air when the temperature allows. The outside air seldom gets above 65°F at this site… it is the solar intensity that heats the building the most."
A 24VDC to 5VDC power supply was installed in order to utilize the battery-backed power supply already in the control panel. This allows alarms, cameras, and system status to be accessed in the event of power failure.
"I really like the ability to program the controller for stand-alone operation using Sedona and be able to grab the points from BACnet/IP over Ethernet or Wi-Fi instead of using a "dumb" IO box—helps save processor power in the supervisor as well. I am excited about the potential for the BASpi in many applications for a lot of reasons, but most importantly—Sedona programming and cost-effective solution. Works very well, thanks!"
Contest Details
Now it's your turn. Email katthomas@ccontrols.com with details about how you used one of our BASpi models. Entries are due by Monday, March 1. We'll share the top five stories in the week leading up to Pi Day on March 14. We look forward to hearing your stories. Good luck!