When considering an automation system for your buildings heating and cooling system, finding the correct information about your automation process can be difficult. This article will take you through some of the important facts that should be considered before beginning any automation process.
The first item that you should consider before beginning your automation process is the complexity of the project. Finding a balance between necessity and over-engineering will ensure that your project goes smoothly from start to finish. Before beginning a project, you should always get your system engineers to feel comfortable with the design and implementation of your automation system.
Avoiding unnecessary design changes and anticipating any building conditions are essential to keeping a project below budget and ahead of schedule. Another item that you should consider is that building automation systems are changing quickly. Technology that was implemented five to ten years ago is now becoming outdated and may require an upgrade.
Choosing equipment, such as interfaces and software, that will remain relevant in the near future will allow your automation project to be easily upgraded when required. Choosing system hardware and software that will be unsupported within the near future only generates more work and money for your company in the long run.
Choosing Your Controller Interface and Software
If the control interface is the heart of an automation project, then your software is the brain. When choosing these items, one should always consider:
- System “Openness”
- Simplicity of Programming
- Maintenance
Each of these items is important in its own way, but together these items make your choice of hardware and software easier. When choosing a company to supply and support your project, you should always be aware that not all companies produce the same hardware and software. Some companies use proprietary software that requires a specialized technician to provide support.
These technician visits can be costly, and he added cost can eat away at maintenance budgets quickly. The simplicity of your programming is also a key factor in selecting your hardware and software. Being able to easily use the interface, as well as program simple conditions for your system to operate with, can reduce the chance of incorrect programming.
The ability to maintain your own equipment and software is crucial as well. Choosing an overcomplicated control unit can be more trouble than its worth. Ready to get started? Call us today at 408-295-2182