RE: Re: New Central Heating System : HA Possibilities?

["Neil Ball" <neilball@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The Trend system is a commercial Building Management System (BMS) and uses
a
proprietary network protocol and programming language although there are
various interfaces/gateways to allow connection to other networks e.g. Lon
(which is supposedly a standardised protocol that can be licensed for use
by
any number of manufacturers thereby allowing easy interoperation, shame it
never worked that way!). It is only available through Trend approved
installers. When it was launched back in the early 80's it was one of the
first digital networked control systems around. The major drawbacks for
this
or any other similar BMS system is that it is fully programmable and comes
with no application software preloaded. The success of the installation
depends wholly on the programming ability and mechanical systems knowledge
of the installer as it is only as good as the control strategy it runs.
This
also means that maintenance can be an issue as in most cases the only
person
who c\an understand and maintain this bespoke program is the original
installer, which can become expensive if you have to keep calling him back
every time something needs to be changed.

In most cases for standard rads or UFH then conventional controls
(programmable stats or packaged weather compensators and optimum start
controllers) are usually a better bet as the services just don't warrant
the
expense or complexity of the BMS or similar systems. If you have specialist
plant or a unique mechanical system then it's another story.

I'd also better mention that I work for Smartkontrols so do have a biased
view of the whole building controls market :-) Especially as the founders
of
Trend were the people who started Smartkontrols about 16 years later!

Neil B.
-----Original Message-----
From: JT @ Home [mailto:Jonathan@xxxxxxx]
Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 15:46
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [ukha_d] Re: New Central Heating System : HA Possibilities?


On the note of HVAC, I was talking to a chap a few days ago, and he uses
equipment by a co' called: Trend.

Which (as I understand it) uses a LON protocol (iirc... but I maybe
wrong)

It can be web control too. Its mainly commercial stuff (so without
faceplates etc)

Has anyone heard of trend or this LON thing?

Regards,
Jonathan.

-----Original Message-----
From: solentelectricalservices [mailto:paul@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 13 March 2005 15:22
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: [ukha_d] Re: New Central Heating System : HA Possibilities?



12% thats a huge saving, I will be calling heatmiser first thing for
more info as pricing does seem very fair. Biggest problem with smart
has always been the premium price for each zone. In the case of
underfloor this gets very expensive as more often than not every
room has its own control. Thats like on average 8 zones plus. Also
smart have this stupid policy that you have to buy through them for
residential projects, even im having hassle with them about getting
gear. This adds also to the cost. I notice the pc interface is not
available for heatmiser yet, has anyone seem what it can do?




--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "markttay" <markttay@h...> wrote:
>
> I had a quotation from SmartKontrols for my UFH control and it was
> more than the cost of my heatpump and UFH kit combined! Way
to "high-
> end" for my budget. Admittedly Heatmiser with roomstats is not as
> elegant as SmartKontrols sensors but you do have the cenrtalised
> management capability and it works out (for my project) at about
12%
> of the equivalent SmarkKontrols costs.
>
>
>
> --- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "solentelectricalservices"
> <paul@i...> wrote:
> >
> > Being a smartkontrols installer and having a good knowledge of
> high
> > end heating systems and proper control I am very interested to
> know
> > more about the heatmiser gear, it all looks really good. Could
> this
> > finally be an alternative to smartkontrols? Lots of reading to
do.
> >
> > However just for clarity if you do want the best form of HVAC
> > control and management look at www.smartkontrols.co.uk yes it
can
> > get expessive but its really good stuff especially when used
with
> > crestron and amx for the ultimate user interface to HVAC.
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "markttay" <markttay@h...>
wrote:
> > >
> > > For something that is heating control specific and a
networked
> > > system with PC control that has just been launched I would
check
> > out
> > > Heatmiser - neat roomstats, good value, nice people and lots
of
> HA
> > > potential with the PC iterface.
> > > www.heatmiser.co.uk
> > >
> > > usual disclaimer - just a customer.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Ben McCormack"
<ben@t...>
wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Frank
> > > > Webbrick?? Tell me more.
> > > >
> > > > The only other solution I can find is Smartfit and
Comfort.
> This
> > > > would be good apart from the fact that I dont have
comfort!
> > > >
> > > > Ben
> > > >
> > > > --- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Frank Mc Alinden"
> > <fmcalind@b...>
> > > > wrote:
> > > > > Hi Ben
> > > > >             What about the webbrick......????
> > > > > Frank
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > From: "Ben McCormack" <ben@t...>
> > > > > To: <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
> > > > > Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2005 8:04 AM
> > > > > Subject: [ukha_d] New Central Heating System : HA
> > Possibilities?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Hi All
> > > > > >
> > > > > > We need to replace our old heating system
with a new
> Central
> > > > Heating
> > > > > > system.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Now I am wondering what HA possibilities
there are with
> the
> > new
> > > > > > system?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I would ideally like to be able to control
the system
from
> > the
> > > > > > Internet via a website.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > So what are my options?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > regards
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Ben
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >