Even if you aren’t interested in designing a radiant floor zoned heating system, you can study this innovative project and apply what you learn to any number of building control and automation applications. Dalibor Zaric’s Radiant Floor Heating Zone Controller is built around an NXP Semiconductors LPC2134 ARM processor that’s connected to an Echelon Pyxos chip. The project won Second Place in Echelon’s 2007 “Control Without Limits” design competition.
The heat zone controller system (Source: Echelon & Dalibor Zaric)
Zaric provides the following details in his project documentation:
“• Power supply to unit is 24VAC and controller has switching power supply to provide 24VDC for Pyxos network as well 5V for logic, there is 3.3V linear regulator as well.
• There are four relay with 24VAC output to power up thermoelectric zone valve on radiant floor heating manifold. These outputs are protected with 1.85A self resetting fuse to prevent overloading. This block has as well 24VAC/DC dry contact to provide a call for heat to boiler or optional zones pump.
• Pyxos power supply filter and Pyxos chip provides Pyxos network connection for future sensors and thermostats. Pyxos thermostat will be more cost effective than regular LONWorks sensors/thermostats.
• RS-485 driver will provide future Modbus connection for local touch screens or smart home systems with Modbus connections. There is end of line resistors enabled with the dip switches beside connector.
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—Advertise Here—• 3150 Neuron board with 64K flash provides LONWorks connection to the controller.”
The heat zone controller diagram (Source: Echelon & Dalibor Zaric)
For more information about Pyxos technology, visit www.echelon.com.
This winning project, as well as others, was promoted by Circuit Cellar based on a 2007 agreement with Echelon.
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