ControlTalk Now The HVAC and Smart Building Controls Podcast

neptronic_logoControlTrends thanks Neptronic, this week’s ControlTalk NOW Platinum sponsor. Founded in 1976, Neptronic has a rich history of HVAC industry firsts, beginning with the earliest adoption and advancement of the direct coupled actuator (DCA) conversion in the North American market. Neptronic continued its industry innovation with the introduction of the ball valve and the capacitance fail safe feature (1996 Patent) — and more recently, won a coveted 2014 AHR Expo Innovative Award for their SKD Humidifier. Neptronic is a private corporation that designs, manufactures and distributes products for the HVAC industry, whose product line includes intelligent controllers, electronic actuators, actuated valves, humidifiers and electric heaters.

smartgrid.govU.S. Department of Energy Webinar on Smart Grid Data Privacy: A Voluntary Code of Conduct. ControlTrends Community, here it is. Participation is requested (and important)! DOE information release, November 17, 2014: On Wednesday, December 11, 2014 the Energy Department’s Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability in coordination with the Federal Smart Grid Task Force will conduct a webinar to conclude the development phase of a Voluntary Code of Conduct (VCC) related to privacy of customer energy usage data for utilities and third parties.

High Pressure ControlsControlTrends Training: High Pressure Refrigeration Controls: A special thanks to Mike Glenn from Johnson Controls for putting this training video on High Pressure Refrigeration controls together. You can also check out Mike’s video on low pressure refrigeration controls by clicking here. These switches regulate critical functions within a refrigeration system and are essential to its proper operation. Low-pressure switches are commonly used to control compressor operation or act as a low-limit control.

MICA_NEARME-7We Need to Talk: Intel’s MICA — My Intelligent Communications Accessory. Okay, this version is a limited featured, fashion accessory for stylish women, but a few beefed-up wearable siblings, with shock-proof and waterproof features, can’t be far behind. This is the CONTEXTUALIZATION PRINCIPAL’s best example so far — that has figured out, “INTELigently,” how to claim enough wearable body real estate without significant negative consequence, and takes the lead as the Star-Trecky IoT game-changer that will link every aspect of your life to a connected device worn on your wrist. Get your VISAs out, it’ll probably be ready for your holiday purchases. Read more on Intel’s website!

CS_GCV2-700x400GC Valves TIP: Solenoid Valves for Oil & Gas Burner Pilot Applications: GC Valves offers very competitive, high-quality solenoid valve solutions for general purpose, oil and natural gas burner, and custom-solenoid valve applications. Now that the cold weather has arrived, here is a reminder that GC Valves manufactures some of the most popular pilot valves for oil and natural gas burners.

Honeywell LyricIntroducing 2014 Residential Thermostat of The Year Nominee: Honeywell Lyric Round is cool again! Round is cool again! Honeywell introduced the T87 Round thermostats when Ken Smyers, the man, the myth, the legend was but a mere tike. Round gave way to rectangular shaped thermostats and round stats got lost in the thermostatic style wars. It took a guy from Apple, Tony Fadell, to make round cool again when he introduced the Nest thermostat a couple of years ago. Not to be out done, Honeywell, the original purveyors of round, packed over 100 years of Honeywell control know-how into the ultra cool Honeywell Lyric.

ga powerHow a VFD Pays for Itself:This week Stromquist hosted a Drive to Savings Day with Siemens and GA Power to educate our customers on the benefits of Variable Frequency Drives and GA Power’s current rebate programs for VFDs and other HVAC equipment. Most people already know that installing a VFD can save money by cutting back on the energy it takes to run equipment, but not everyone is aware that there are additional savings to reap by taking advantage of GA Power’s rebate opportunity. For any NEW drive installed on existing equipment, GA Power will issue a $50 per HP rebate. So a 20 HP drive will bring a $1000 rebate. Add that to the money saved in energy costs, and the new drive will pay for itself very quickly!

Smart Meters and Big Brother Video Editorial. Check out this video from Minivan Jack! Is he just being paranoid or does he have a point? If not through a smart meter, what about through a Nest thermostat collecting your information? Let me know what you think in comments.

CC_BLDGPROF5Contemporary Controls’ Modbus Profile Builder Software for the BASgatewayLX is Now Available! November 2014 — The BASgatewayLX uses a csv (comma separated value) file that is uploaded to it to provide the modbus point list that will be polled. Contemporary Controls builds these Modbus maps and posts them on our BASgatewayLX profile page. If you need a Modbus that is not currently on line please contact us, and we will enjoy creating it for you.

The post ControlTalk NOW for the Week Ending November 23, 2014 appeared first on ControlTrends.

Direct download: CTN_116_The_Best_ROI_Energy_Savings_Strategy_2.mp3
Category:ControlTalk NOW -- posted at: 10:12pm EDT

EasyIO2ControlTrends thanks this week’s ControlTalk NOW Platinum sponsor, EasyIO — a world leader in Open Building Automation integration solutions and manufacturer of Ethernet based, DDC Controllers. EasyIO’s 5 core values are Trust, Quality, People development, solid business ethics and leading edge Innovation. Congratulations to Gordon Chen, Mike Marston, Lim Hoon Chiat, FG-32 Beast, and the entire EasyIO team for nominations in eight ControlTrends Awards categories!

Functional Devices logo for thumbnailFunctional Devices, Inc. is Moving to a New Facility. On the afternoon of November 14th, Functional Devices will have limited email and phone support from sales & engineering during the move to our new facility. Functional Devices will do our best to accommodate any orders received before 1:00 p.m. EST. Normal operations will resume on Monday, November 17th. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your continued support.

Cybersecurity_CanadaCyber Security for Oil and Gas Summit Canada, Early Bird Rates End November 14th! Cyber Security for Oil and Gas Summit Canada will provide you with industry-specific insight to get your information/cyber security team prepared to overcome challenges like targeted cyber attacks and data loss and exploitation. An invitation from Carrie Simon, Marketing Manager, IQPC: “I would like to inform you that IQPC’s Cyber Security for Oil and Gas Summit Canada agenda is now available for download! This year’s summit will include elite speakers and engaging panel discussions.”

VD1Happy Veterans Day 2014! Citizens of United States honor their military veterans and thank them for their service with sound ceremonies and festive parades. It is a proud day filled with meaning for everyone who has served. The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans’ organizations and remarks from dignitaries. The ceremony is intended to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces.

ProjectAssist_DGLux5 Control TrendsDGLogik Introduces Project Assist for DGLux5: Easily creating an application or dashboard to monitor your building data CAN happen in the nick of time with DGLogik’s evolutionary new wizard, Project Assist for DGLux5. Their team has created a “plug and play” wizard that allows users you to start designing and developing data-driven applications with some clicks and drags of a few buttons within a modern-design environment. There are four main menu components that provide a “hand-holding”, design, and development experience.

Gas Reg11How to Install A Gas Pressure Regulator The Right Way: All gas regulators have one thing in common. If you don’t install them correctly they won’t work. In this video, Stromquist & Company’s Matt Koneig shows you the right way to pipe and install a gas pressure regulator. Thanks Matt. Contact Stromquist Company for any of your gas pressure regulator, burner, boiler, or flame safeguard needs.

DOE_FUNDINGNovember 2014 Issue of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America Update Newsletter. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is soliciting applications for the Building America Industry Partnerships for High Performance Housing Innovation Funding. This photo shows two brick homes that have been upgraded into high performance homes. Building America research teams design, test, and demonstrate efficient technologies and practices that result in cost-effective, marketable home performance.

TridiumNiagara Analytics Framework Webinars! Register Now for Information and Demo!Tridium’s new data analytics platform has all of the appealing hallmarks of the truly open Niagara Framework®, enabling you to leverage its power to transform data into actionable information. It combines a historical perspective with real-time insight, moving you from a reactive response to a more powerful proactive position. It’s easy to use and requires no specialized programming skills, yet it gives you advanced analytics.

SE8000LIVE! Ask the Experts about Schneider Electric’s SE8000 Series Room Controllers! You’re invited to a free, 1-hour webinar hosted by Schneider Electric, during which you’ll have the opportunity to ask our experts anything you want to know about our application-specific SE8000 Series room controllers. Wednesday, November 19th, 2014, 1:00pm EST. Schneider Electric’S panel of experts include: Mike Sabinash, Director, Business Development, North America;Tim Doulgeropoulos, Business Development Manager, North America; Pierre Paquette, Offer Manager; Louis-Nicolas Hamer, Director, Global Solutions; and Simon Leblond, Director, Strategy & Marketing. Register here: http://www.se-learning.com/register

The post ControlTalk NOW for the Week Ending November 16, 2014 appeared first on ControlTrends.

Direct download: CTN_115__Get_the_Gas_Regulator_Right_and_THe_Heat_Will_Follow.mp3
Category:ControlTalk NOW -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Honeywell 180x120ControlTrends thanks this week’s ControlTalk NOW Platinum sponsor, Honeywell! Honeywell invents and manufactures technologies to address some of the world’s toughest challenges initiated by revolutionary macrotrends in science, technology and society. A Fortune 100 company, Honeywell creates solutions to improve the quality of life of people around the globe: generating clean, healthy energy – and using it more efficiently.

Ken SinclairKen Sinclair’s November Edition of Automated Buildings: The “I of Me” of IoT. Excerpt from Automated Building’s Ken Sinclair’s comments on IoT: “Your present IoT understanding, which I choose to whimsically call “The I of Me” greatly controls your comprehension and expectations of what those three letters might mean to you and those around you. The art, science, and social interaction of our time “The Internet of Things” (IoT), reflects life and is affecting all of our lives daily so get over it.” Another flurry of great articles in automatedbuildings.com’s November issue.

aci logoACI’s TSENSE — Combination CO2 Sensor with Temperature, RH, & Display. TSENSE is an advanced and versatile 3 in 1 transmitter. Designed for installation in the air conditioned zone, it measures CO2 concentration, temperature, and humidity in the ambient air. The data is transmitted to a BMS system or a stand-alone controller using industry-standard output signals and communication protocols, including BACnet. Visit ACI!

Marshall1Eric’s Teacher on Ted Talk. Marshall Thurber is a teacher that has had a profound impact on my life and business philosophy. I had the good fortune to study and work with Marshall for many years.I quote him often on ControlTalk Now. To get a feel for Marshall, check out this video Marshall doing a Ted Talk in Melbourne. Marshall Thurber has been named the godfather of business and has been responsible for teaching some of the world’s greatest business minds including Tony Robbins, Robert Kiyosaki and Jack Canfield to name a few.

BelimoControlTalk NOW’s first guest: Gary Weber, Distribution Sales Manager, North America, Belimo Air Controls, USA. Gary discusses the Belimo Platinum Distributor meeting in St. Kitts, The Energy Valve, the Belimo BAcnet communication feature, the business philosophies that have made Belimo so successful for so many years, and many more topics.

BelimoEnergyValveStreamWhy the World Loves The Belimo Energy Valve. See why the Belimo Energy Valve is a finalist for the 2014 ControlTrends Energy Savings Solution/Product of the Year and the 2014 ControlTrends Awards Innovative Product of the Year. The Belimo Energy Valve was recognized and nominated by the world-wide ControlTrends Community. Good luck to Belimo and all the finalist for the 2104 ControlTrends Awards to be held January 26, 2015 in Chicago.

Delta2Delta Controls – A Cradle of Innovation. At Delta Controls, Innovation is at the core of what we do. We take BACnet to heart, and have been committed to contributing to BACnet for the last 20 years. We invest in product development and R&D. With over 200 years of industry experience in our R&D department alone, we know that innovation requires having teams in the field and involving our customers in the development process. Innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction.

SGIPSGIP’s Smart Grid Cybersecurity — Importance & Resource Guide. The Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) mission is to accelerate the implementation of interoperable Smart Grid devices and systems. SGIP is a valuable source of information and guidance on all matters concerning the Smart Grid. One particularly resourceful tool is their SGIP’s Cybersecurity infographic an easy-to-use User’s Guide for NISTIR 7628 and Understanding How to Manage Smart Grid Cybersecurity Risk.

Chris E PicControlTrends People: Chris Eichmann from Johnson Controls. I had a chance to sit down and talk with the ever impressive Chris Eichmann from Johnson Controls. Find out what Chris had to say about how Johnson Controls is adding even more to their value proposition, a special Johnson Controls Event for 2015, and what makes the Johnson people and products such compelling choices for the 2014 ControlTrends Awards. Chris Eichmann, VP & General Manager, Controls & BAS Distribution, is a former recipient of the ControlTrends HVAC Controls Executive of The Year, and because of his outstanding leadership and commitment to excellence, is in the hunt for another trophy at this year’s awards.

The post ControlTalk NOW for the Week Ending November 9, 2014 appeared first on ControlTrends.

Direct download: CTN_114__Using_Smart_Sensors.mp3
Category:ControlTalk NOW -- posted at: 8:51pm EDT

delta_controls_logoWelcome to this week’s ControlTalk NOW where the 2014 ControlTrends Awards finalists are featured. Congratulations to all of the finalists. ControlTrends thanks our Platinum sponsor Delta Controls. Delta Controls is a global leader in Building Automation Systems (BAS), with over 300 distributors, and many thousand of installations in more than 80 countries. Delta Controls is recognized as a market leader in the manufacture of open-protocol BAS.

ChicagoPicIt has been a very exciting week! Marc, Eric, and I visited Chicago and McCormick Place to reveal this year’s nominees as voted by the world-wide ControlTrends community. Join us in celebrating these heroes and superstars, and the products and solutions that make our HVAC and Building Automation industries so successful. And be sure to join us this January 26th, 2015, in the Hyatt’s Prairie Ballroom (a fabulous and convenient venue) for the 2014 ControlTrends Awards Show.

BelimoEnergyValveStreamBelimo Energy Valve Lunch and Learn – LIVE STREAM Rewind: The Energy Valve has the Belimo Delta T Manager™ built-in that helps operators analyze and fine tune performance under any and all conditions. The Energy Valve measures the coil energy using an embedded electromagnetic or ultrasonic flow sensor, water supply, and return temperature sensors. The Energy Valve is ideal for water-side control of heating and cooling systems for AHUs and any water coil (equal percentage: heating/cooling application).

RobRob Allen’s 7 Minutes in Control: Jace 600E or SEC-616? In this episode of 7 Minutes in Control, Rob Allen explores the question, “To JACE or Not to JACE”, that is the question…. actually that is not the question, you should always buy a Jace the question is which Jace should you buy. The SEC-H-616 is a full-featured card access control and security system that seamlessly integrates to HVAC, Lighting, and Energy Management Systems via BACnet, LonWorks, Modbus, oBix, XML, and SNMP using the NiagaraAX Framework. The controller has on-board I/O for up to 2 doors, and can handle up to 32 readers, or 120 inputs and 120 relay outputs depending upon the selected mix of 15 expansion modules.

KMCLive Stream Rewind: KMC Simply VAV Training: This is a replay of a Live Steam training class held at Stromquist & Company. Thanks to Doug Miller and Erich Kreuter, from KMC Controls, for this great training session on the KMC Simply VAV controller. Simple to set up, with no software needed, this controller is powerful and functions equally as well as a stand-alone solution or the VAV controller of choice on a BACnet full-blown control system.

DOE1Energy Department Announces $15 Million to Integrate Affordable Solar Energy into Nation’s Electrical Grid. The Department of Energy keeps the green pedal to the metal. Supporting the goals of the Obama Administration’s Climate Action Plan, the Energy Department today announced $15 million in available funding to help integrate distributed, on-site solar energy systems into the nation’s electrical grid. With more solar power installed in the United States in the last 18 months than in 30 years prior, solar is shattering records. Since President Obama took office, the amount of solar power installed in the U.S. has increased more than thirteen fold – from 1.2 gigawatts (GW) in 2008 to an estimated 15.9 GW today.

TridiumTridium Launches New Niagara Analytics Framework: Put the power of the new Niagara Analytics Framework to work for your business! Early Adopter Space is reserved for the first 200 eligible participants. Join before the November 21 deadline. Tridium is excited to announce the availability of the new Niagara Analytics Framework* – the only data analytics engine native to Niagara. This powerful new product will enable you to leverage the power of Niagara to shrink big data and grow performance. The new Niagara Analytics Framework can be used in any industry or with any application. It runs on any system that produces data and can be applied to any operation.

The post ControlTalk NOW for the Week Ending November 2, 2014 appeared first on ControlTrends.


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