Trane + Lon (Is it really)

[nickolas]

We recently visited a building with Trane controls installed, other buildings on the campus will be JCI with FX40's and Enterprise Server. The split systems with gas furnaces, have a tracer ZN-517 controller with an Echelon FTT-10A chip. The rooftop units have the LCI Comm module. There is also a Tracer BMTW at this location. My question is, what are the chances of replacing the BMTW panel with an FX40 an being able to access the field controllers using the LON Protocol

Thanks

[contrltech]

We recently visited a building with Trane controls installed, other buildings on the campus will be JCI with FX40's and Enterprise Server. The split systems with gas furnaces, have a tracer ZN-517 controller with an Echelon FTT-10A chip. The rooftop units have the LCI Comm module. There is also a Tracer BMTW at this location. My question is, what are the chances of replacing the BMTW panel with an FX40 an being able to access the field controllers using the LON Protocol

Thanks

The FX40 is able to access a Trane Comm5 network. If the FX40 database doesn't have the plugins you can get them from echelon's website.

[mallron]

Is there anything other than the lon devices that reside in the BCU? If so then you're out of luck.

-JB

[nickolas]

Is there anything other than the lon devices that reside in the BCU? If so then you're out of luck.

-JB


No other devices as far as I know, I will be trying to obtain the construction documents. What type of devices "other than lon"should I expect to see on a Trane installation. There is an Intellipak that does not appear to have the LCI module installed, only a hardwired occupancy command. No VFD's etc.

[scrooloose]

The most simple way to check would be to look at the BCU and see how many Comm trunks come out of it. If you only see one comm trunk then you just have Comm5, if you see 2 or more then you most likely have other items in the BCU.

If it is a BMTX it should actually be labeled Comm5, Comm4, etc.. if it is a BMTW you should only have 1 comm card installed, usually on link 1.

[nickolas]

The most simple way to check would be to look at the BCU and see how many Comm trunks come out of it. If you only see one comm trunk then you just have Comm5, if you see 2 or more then you most likely have other items in the BCU.

If it is a BMTX it should actually be labeled Comm5, Comm4, etc.. if it is a BMTW you should only have 1 comm card installed, usually on link 1.

I rounded up the "as built" documents, I've got BMTW with slot 1 using
comm5, slot 2 using comm4. All of the ZN517 controllers are on comm5, a few roof top units on comm 4. What is up with comm 4. Why would these rooftop units be on a different trunk? The prints show this the terminations on a "TCI" module. I'm quessing that this is Trane's proprietary communcations protocol. I will do a little research, as you can tell, I don't know Trane's stuff. Is it possible to install an "LCI" on these few rooftop units, and end up with all LON communications.

[oldhweller]

I rounded up the "as built" documents, I've got BMTW with slot 1 using
comm5, slot 2 using comm4. All of the ZN517 controllers are on comm5, a few roof top units on comm 4. What is up with comm 4. Why would these rooftop units be on a different trunk? The prints show this the terminations on a "TCI" module. I'm quessing that this is Trane's proprietary communcations protocol. I will do a little research, as you can tell, I don't know Trane's stuff. Is it possible to install an "LCI" on these few rooftop units, and end up with all LON communications.

TCI stands for Intellipak controls interface on an RTU. You cannot just take out the TCI and substitute a LCI unless it is a LCI-I and not a LCI-R and then change out the buss wiring to a comm5(Lon)

[roadgear16]

Is it possible to install an "LCI" on these few rooftop units, and end up with all LON communications.

Yes it is possible, if the units currently have RTCI boards in them, the RTCI is a reliatel communication interface, and the TCI is for the older UCP controls. You can tell by the board itself. The older TCI boards were more square with a square daughter board, and the newer RTCI boards are more rectangular with a triangular daughter board(the daughter board is the board that mounts on top with the 3 screws, you change its position depending on the comm being used). Unless you have IPAK's, then you can replace them with no probelm. If you have the RTCI, all you need is the appropriate LCI board depending on the RTU that you have, most typical would be LCI-R for reliatel, or LCI-I for IPAK. Very easy to replace. Also, when you order the LCI-R there is a DAC and an SCC option. I believe the LCI-I is a "one size fits all"