Re: Quantech Appcon kit - UK

["Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx>]

"Dave Saville" <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:qnirqrrmrrbet.itpm641.pminews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Some years back an outfit called Quantech, based up Durham, UK way, made a
> control system called Appgen.  Ran over alarm cable in star configuration.
> Controller was serial connected to a PC. Was featured in the PC mags at
the
> time.
>
> I bought into this and my heating and extras system has worked flawlessly
for
> nine years.
>
> Now the main control board has failed. Quantech are no longer in business
and
> trouble shooting a dead board without a schematic is difficult to say the
least
> :-)

It's where I would start, though.  Look for burn marks, blown caps, leaky
caps.  What did the board cost to begin with?  I ask because I am
contemplating doing a similar thing and want to know if I should just factor
in the cost of buying my own spares, even for $$$ units.

> So I am looking for solutions.
>
> First, obviously, does anyone have one of these control boards they no
longer
> want? Quantech made two types and I need the one with onboard sound.

Go to Ebay and set up a standing search to alert you if someone places a
board like this up for sale.  Don't cross your fingers.  Search Google for
any terms unique to the board or the system.  Sometimes people sit on piles
of stuff like this.

> Second. It would be nice if I could use the outlying boards somehow. They
have
> temperature sensors and mains switching functions amongst others. I have
rather
> a lot :-( I was thinking of trying to couple them up to something that had
> ethernet on board - The house has a lot of CAT5 about

Tell us more about the sensors and other devices you have hooked to your
network.  It sounds like the Dallas 1 Wire components might make suitable
replacement sensors if you're determined to reuse your existing code.

> Third. Go ethernet with new kit. I know you can get ethernet temp sensors
but
> what about mains switching or keypad entry that is not silly money? Is
there
> anything I can plug into a linux box that can read an IR control and thus
send
> commands if I can't get a keypad?

What type of loads are you switching and what do you use keypads for?   It
will help determine what type of replacements would be suitable.

> What ever happens I want to retain the control software that I wrote
myself. It
> is extremely flexible and other bits of software on the PC hook into it.

I'd say this is a very unrealistic expectation given that it's not likely
you'll find a replacement board.  What language is it written in?  What are
functions are tied into the system?  Porting isn't that difficult for some
languages.

> I would just replace the bit that polls the controller. Would that rule
out X10?
> I get the impression that one downloads control info into a specific X10
> controller and then turn the PC off. Of course that would mean junking the
> entire kit I have and starting again.

I wouldn't use X-10 for something like this, especially since you're just
starting out and have a world of better, more reliable protocols to choose
from.  I'm still not sure what to recommend because this is more that just a
HVAC control system.

--
Bobby G.