Building automation systems, thoughts comments, recommendations?

[NewEd2112]

First off let me say I am new to this forum, so if I am posting in the wrong location I apologize. After posting this message to the "commercial HVAC" area, it was suggested that I might want to also post it here for the control tech point of view. Hope the mods don't think that is excessive!

I just started a new job and the company I am working for is running their comfort systems (roof top air/heat as well as some base board heat) the old fashioned way with thermostats. We are looking into a building automation system to help control things. Our roof top systems are a mix of Trane and Carrier units. One of the engineers here was looking into a Tracer Summit system (software I am familiar with through a past job) but was told that it "doesn't play nice with non-Trane systems".

Anyone have any experience with this or care to suggest a better system?

Thank you in advance for your input!
Ed

[joey791]

Please put your email in your profile, you will probably get alot more good info that way

[ControlsInMT]

While I personally like Tridium for the front end, IMHO it is more important to find a company that is going to provide you with the support you will need. A good integrator can make any system look nice, but after the installation is when the learning starts.:.02:

[NewEd2112]

While I personally like Tridium for the front end, IMHO it is more important to find a company that is going to provide you with the support you will need. A good integrator can make any system look nice, but after the installation is when the learning starts.:.02:

I definitely agree about the support, and we are going to need it here! But what I am looking for on the forum is more input on what tech's in the field have had experience with. I will give it a few more days and then try posting in the controls area... unfortunately the moderators deleted my duplicate in that section.

Thanks again,
Ed

[ControlsInMT]

Look again, we are in controls.

I can speak from a user stand point. I control 60+ buildings from a mix of R2 and Ax Tridium systems. I love it. I have used Wonderware, MS1800, and the good ole JCI Facility Explorer. By far I have found Tridium not hard to understand. Starting a station from scratch is some work, but if you are having someone else install and you are going to maintain, I think you would like the Tridium front end.

[sysint]

Many are coming out with systems or have systems. Many companies that have been using Tridium solutions are migrating to their own systems or making plans to move. So, this is nice but not a magic automation bullet.

So, it comes back to your business model and flexibility you desire to have because now this industry is starting to move a little faster.

My opinion is some of these recommended solutions are simply too complex for your first entry into the market based on your target. Therefore, the first thing you need is a plan for your exposure and then see what is out there you can utilize comfortably.

The best thing is not to fail with your customer base.

For your implementation many of our smaller customers go in with a touch panel on the wall. Works extremely reliably, has remote access and just about any technician can work with it. No PC issues like viruses or IT departments if you don't want to deal with that.

[ControlsInMT]

If you aren't dealing with the IT dept. then how are you providing remote access? Just curious..

[sysint]

The touch panel has the capability to be on IP.
You can use it there.
You can use the VNC Server and connect to it remotely via a VNC Client.
You can use email for alarms and sending trends (need IP).
You can use the web server interface.
But, you don't have to use any of that.

Since they are LON and BACnet devices you also can simply put them on the wall and skip anything IP, make your graphics, animations, transparencies, add your schedules and trends to the screen, make on screen visual and audible alarms (voice alarms if you like that) and walk off the job if you do not want to deal with IP and the device just runs.

[ControlsInMT]

Just confused because you mention remote access, but then say don't have to deal with IT. Got it now. Stand alone or IP capable.

[simsd]

What Sysint meant to tell you was that you can simply get a separate DSL or cable line if you don't want IT involved and have a static IP go directly to the touch screen. If you want more info PM me as we have a lot of experience with these devices.