Control4 Driver for KNX Universal Thermostat 1
Introduction This document provides details for installing the Janus KNX Universal Thermostat driver into a Control4 installation. Additionally, it provides a description of the end user experience on Control4 GUIs. The driver has been developed and tested on Control4 OS version 2.8.2 and it is recommended using this version (or later). This driver utilises the Control4 network driver to communicate with the KNX system. Version 19 (or later) of this network driver should be utilised. KNX has standardised bus communication, allowing devices from over 300 manufacturers across 37 countries to inter-operate. However, there is little standardisation as to what features the devices provide and how they are controlled. This is particularly a problem with Thermostats, where there are multiple different ways of controlling them, differing between manufacturers, and even between product ranges of a manufacturer. This has made writing a generic thermostat driver very difficult in the past. The approach Janus has taken is to develop a driver that has embedded within it the knowledge of the various manufacturers and models, and the different ways of controlling them. The installer selects the manufacturer / model and the visible properties within the driver are then adjusted to display only those properties that are relevant for configuration of that specific device. Further, where a device has static configuration that determines its operation (e.g. Heating, Cooling, Heat/Cool with Auto switchover, Heat/Cool with manual switchover), then this configuration is also exposed in the driver properties and its value drives the properties visibility e.g. select Heat only, and the property for configuring the Cool Demand group address disappears. In this manner, the installer is guided to configure those group addresses that are relevant for the thermostat they have selected and their particular usage of that stat. Additionally, the Control4 GUI can be configured so that extra capabilities related to the thermosat and/or zone in which it is located can be accessed from the EXTRAs tab. This could include Manual Heating / Cooling switchover Towel rails, or any switchable (On/Off) item NOTE the driver will be released in phases as each new thermostat manufacturer is developed / tested. If you have an urgent need for a thermostat (or configuration) that isn t currently supported, please let us know (email support@janustechnology.co.uk) so that we can prioritise the developments. A new thermostat can typically be supported in a few days. 2
KNX Configuration The KNX system must first be fully commissioned and tested by a suitably experienced engineer. Group Addresses must be defined for all items that are desired to be controlled by Control4. Please check that the thermostat / configuration that you wish to use is currently supported by the driver if not then let us know (as above) so we can prioritise development. During integration with Control4 it is highly recommend that the KNX programmer is available to provide Group Address details and assist with testing the integration by monitoring the KNX bus and generating test data (from within ETS) as necessary. Control4 Configuration First install the Control4 KNX network driver and configure this to talk to the KNX router. Then install the thermostat driver (hvac_knx_janus_universal_tstatv2.c4i) for each thermostat that is wanted in Control4. Ensure that the KNX Control connection is bound to the KNX Network driver There are some common properties for all types of themostats, as shown below: 3
If we need support logs to investigate a problem then we will ask you to enable Debug in the driver as follows:- Debug Mode Debug Subsystems Debug level Set this to Print Set this to * to display all debug Set this to default 0 (setting to 5 additionally logs all proxy comms, but typically this is not required) The driver is licenced.it runs in full functional demo mode for 30 minutes following each processor restart. To enable permanent operation you will need to enter a licence key. Licences are available to purchase from our website www.janustechnology.co.uk You will need to enter the MAC Address (this can be viewed as a driver property) of your Control4 processor to complete the purchase and obtain a licence key. Once you have the key, enter it into the Licence Key field of the driver properties. The next step is to select the thermostat manufacturer / model and specify how it has been configured in ETS 4
Manufacturer Model Setpoint Adjustment manufacturer of the thermostat generic model number of the thermostat family method via which setpoints are adjusted for the selected thermostat. Note that only supported modes are displayed for selection. Currently supported adjustment modes are:- Absolute Base base setpoint is adjusted, with actual setpoint dependant on current mode (Comfort, Standby etc) and operation mode (Heating / Cooling) Absolute for currently active Mode one group address for adjusting setpoint. Value written modifies the setpoint for the mode the stat is currently in. This change may optionally persist on a mode change dependant on how the stat is configured in ETS Absolute for each Mode one group address for each supported mode for adjusting the setpoint Operation Mode Operating Mode specifies whether stat support Heating, Cooling or both. If both, then whether switchover is automatic, or manual (controlled from a separate group address) specifies the method for changing operating mode of the stat and feedback. Currently only Konnex DPT 20.102/105 is required for the supported stats Having defined the configuration of the stat the next step is to configure the group address for controlling / reading the relevant parameters. The driver has knowledge of which parameters are relevant for the various configurations and so only displays relevant fields. Setting Group addresses is best explained by several examples for supported stats see following sections. NOTE: The Control4 KNX network driver only requests the 'current value' of all addresses found in Control4 KNX devices in the system at startup (once the driver is able to successfully connect to the KNX gateway). This 'Read Request' for data values will only work if individual Group Addresses have their 'Read Flag' (R) attribute set in ETS. Consequently, having configured the thermostat properties, it is recommended going to the Network Driver, and on the Actions tab you can Disconnect and then Connect to the KNX bus. This has the effect of forcing an update of all values (otherwise the driver would be in an indeterminate state until either the user effects a change from Control4, or the KNX state changes (which sends a notification to Control4). When the processor is rebooted (or Director restarts), all values are read, so the above only applies during initial configuration. 5
Group Address Configuration ABB 6124 setpoint adjustment Absolute Base operation mode Operating mode Heat, Cool, Heat/Cool Auto Switchover, Heat/Cool Manual switchover Konnex DPT20.102/105 The following Group Addresses are to be configured (R) Actual Temperature current zone temperature (R) Setpoint temperature current setpoint temperature (W) Basic Setpoint basic setpoint temperature. Actual setpoint depends on current mode, and whether stat is in Heating or Cooling mode () Operation switchover switchover between heating (1) and cooling (0) operation modes. If stat is configured for automatic mode, then this group address is read only. If stat 6
supports manual mode then the GUI provides a toggle button on the EXTRAs tab for switching between heating and cooling (W) Control On/Off (W) Konnex Mode Konnex Mode (optional) provides a means of switching stat On/off. If a group address is defined here, then an Off mode is made available in Mode selection on the GUI controls operating mode. The following parameter defines the available modes on the GUI and the values that are written to this group address defines available modes and values. Initialises to a default for the stat, defined as a set of comma-delimited name=value pairs eg Comfort=1,Standby=2,Economy=3,Protection=4 The named values appear on the Control4 GUI. It is allowed to edit this to reduce the number of entries eg if you didn t wish to provide Control4 selection of Protection mode Temperature ranges defines the ranges of temperature adjustment for each mode. Note that this is not currently used to enforce setpoint adjustment bands, but to specify the setbacks between modes (the driver needs this to calculate the basic setpoint given operation mode and Konnex mode). Note that the Mode names must exactly those defined above eg Comfort=18-24,Standby=16-22,Economy=14-20,Protection=7-7 (RW) Fan Speed sets speed of the fan. Availables speeds (and values) are defined by the Fan Modes property (RW Fan Auto/manual) (optional) switches fan between automatic and manual speed selection Fan Modes defines the available fan speeds and values to be written eg Low=1,Medium=2,High=3 If no fan is required, then set this to an empty string. In that case the fields for Fan Speed and Fan Auto/Manual will be hidden (R) Heat Indication (R) Cool Indication feedback when KNX system is demanding heating. This is used to directly feedback to the Control4 GUI. If Operation mode is Cooling only, then this field is hidden feedback when KNX system is demanding cooling. This is used to directly feedback to the Control4 GUI. If Operation mode is Heating only, then this field is hidden 7
Group Address Configuration EXTRAs In addition to control of the thermostat, the driver provides support for additional elements that can be grouped in the EXTRAs tab on the Control4 GUI. Currently two types are supported Discrete On/Off Toggle On/Off write 1 to switch On, 0 to switch Off write 1 to toggle state (and then immediately writes 0 so that next toggle see a write 1 as a change) Specify the number of extra buttons that you wish to appear. Then for each button specify the following:- Extra n Name (W) Extra n (R) Extra n Status Visible name on the GUI group address for control (optional) group address for status feedback, if this is separate from control 8
Control4 Comfort proxy Comfort is accessible from the main Home screen on the Control4 interface Selecting this then displays the Comfort page, in which all configured thermostats in the system are display, together with current temperature and operational mode 9
Selecting a specific zone then allows you to monitor and control that zone The key elements of the screen are as follows:- Mode Selects the operational mode of the zone. The available choices are dependent on the type of thermostat configured for that zone and its configuration. Typically this would be the standard KNX modes (Comfort, Standby, Night, Protection) with a suffix indication the operation configuration of the stat (Heat, Cool or Auto). If the stat supports being switched Off, then Off will be available as an additional Mode eg typical available modes for a heating only zone) Off, Comfort (Heat), Standby (Heat), Night (Heat), Protection (Heat) When zone is active (ie not Off), then the Mode icon (and central ring) indicates the demand ie whether the zone is currently being heated or cooled (yellow for heat, blue for cool). 10
Fan (only present for zones that support Fan control) determines Fan Speed of the system. Choices are dependent on Stat configuration eg Auto, Low, Medium, High SetPoint Adjusts the target temperature (SetPoint) for the zone. 11
Presets In OS 2.7 Control4 introduced the concept of Presets.This allows the user to create their own Presets (based on a number of controllable elements) and then schedule these. Supported Preset elements are SetPoint, HVAC Mode, Operational Switchover (if manual) and Fan Mode And having created the Presets, you can then schedule these events 12
Extras In OS 2.7 Control4 introduced the concept of Extra functionality that can be incorporated into the Thermostat proxy, grouped under the Extras tab. This driver uses Extras for Manual Switchover of Operation mode (if available) Additional switched items configured by the installer eg Towel Rails 13