Gesytec GmbH’s Easylon EMC4 is a multipurpose controller for building automation using LON. This universal control node is already being used in many applications. Today, around 2000 devices are the basis for convenient light control in commercial buildings and underground parking areas. And the controller can do much more.
Comfort is essential – so bring on everything which is high quality and expensive. Expensive? To reach this goal one must accomplish the difficult task of going through the catalogue of products on the market and find the right one which provides the required functionality with an affordable price tag.
In certain instances it is necessary to purchase two or more devices to fulfill to the set requirements. What is needed is an “all-rounder” product. However, the “jack of all trades” product all-in-one-device-suitable-for-every-purpose is unfortunately part of a Utopian world. Moreover, today’s needs might be out-dated tomorrow. Despite this, we are taking on the challenge with the LON-Multipurpose Controller Easylon EMC4—which almost makes the all-in-one Utopian product a reality.
The Multipurpose Controller EMC4 offers 8 digital inputs, 4 analog I/Os and 4 relay outputs for overlapping assembly automation with LonWorks.
In the operation of lighting, for example, switches and sensing devices can be connected. The relay output is then used for the control of conventional lamps with a load of up to 10 A. The analog output is used for electronic control gear with a voltage range from 0 to 10 V.
The Easylon EMC4 also functions as a sun blind controller. It has 2 gears that can be controlled independently from each other. The controller has an extensive library of LonMark objects, which are assigned and combined with each other via plug-in configuration of the physical outputs. The numerous combinations offer an enormous variety of solutions for building automation.
The acceptance of the EMC4 in LON building automation is reflected in the demand for the device and first 2000 items sold of the new product. On the basis of two applications, we will look at the EMC4’s functionality.
800 EMC4s alone are in use in a foreign bank building to control and regulate the lighting. In the offices, among other rooms, an EMC4 is responsible for the ceiling and wall lighting of two rooms.
The occupancy sensor sends an “in use” message to set the lighting level in the room to the default level implemented by the LonMark object “Constant Light Controller”. The lighting level is then further adjusted in accordance to the room light sensors.
Should the office occupants want to increase the lighting level, they can adjust it using a wall panel which, through a digital input, communicates with the assigned EMC4 function “Dim Up”, to brighten the room.
When the office is empty, the occupancy sensor delivers a “not in use” message which shortly thereafter triggers the switching off of the lights. If the people come back again, they expect that the lighting will be set to exactly the same level they set before leaving the room.
Another application area is underground parking. Should the presence detectors on all levels of the car park send the status “unoccupied”, the EMC4 Light Controller sets the lighting at 33% (in other words every third light bulb is lit).
When a car enters level 1, for example, a presence detector sends a signal to the digital input of the EMC4. The controller switches on all the lights on this level and at the same time sends a message to the adjacent EMC4 on level 2.
The secondary input calls for a lighting sequence/scenario in the adjacent level of the car park, for example increasing the lighting from every 2 to every 3 lamps (66%). The visitor now moves from the first level to the second. The presence detectors cause the light controllers to react on all the relevant levels. All the lights on level 1 stay on for a preset amount of time before reducing to 66% and all the lights on level 2 are immediately illuminated. The EMC4 on level 3 receives a signal from the secondary input of a presence on level 2 and sets a lighting sequence/scenario of 66%. When after a preset amount of time the EMC4 registers no presence, it sets a lighting sequence/scenario of 33%. In this way the visitor is followed through the building by a cone of light.
Since the EMC4 sends its commands over “normally open” and “normally closed” output relays, the chance of a device failing to set the correct lighting intensity on one of the car park levels is safeguarded. In addition to the retrieval of lighting sequences/scenarios, the lighting on each level, as in a staircase circuit, can be adjusted via the EMC4 function “Monoflop, retriggerable or disengagable”.
Among other places, the EMC4 can also be found in Auditoriums. Try counting all the possible lighting scenarios: presenting, reading, presentation with a beamer, blinds open, blinds closed, and so on. These are just some of the 16 settings, which the EMC4 can send out on each of its 4 channels.
In another application the EMC4 manages the closing time/store key switch: from the central computer a sequence of settings are sent in succession that shut down the lighting on the showroom floor in stages. Through the wall panel the sequence can be reset, for example on special occasions, or changed opening times.
A brief outline of the uses for the EMC4 in lighting control. The possible application areas derived from the standard version of the Easylon Multipurpose Controller allows a meaningful combination of implemented LonMark functional profiles and their respective implemented functions:
Thereby the object „switch“ regulates six different functions:
Naturally the EMC4 Mulitpurpose Controller can be delivered with firmware variations for individual room regulation, sunblind control or loaded with other use oriented software
From a technical point of view the EMC4 is a combination of input, controller and output objects which are configured and combined as channels. In addition the software must, according to the task definition, by allocation interpret the hardware input.
The complete configuration takes place in the included Plug-In. The picture shows the configuration of a channel; the selection and the link of the input, the controller and the output object.
