Brian Nicholas - 2/4 - ASI Controls

On August 1 ASI began shipping all IntelliFront appliances with version 5.0.

IntelliFront 5 contains a host of enhancements and new features including a new DB builder, new host app, updated connectors, workflow improvements, and bug fixes. A new template creation wizard also makes integrating controllers faster and easier, further reducing configuration time for systems integrators and OEMs. Version 5 also eliminates the reliance on Flash.

Why upgrade?

IntelliFront’s new framework supports new objects, better tuning policies, and discovery via open standards such as BACnet. An additional update to Modbus has now made it easier to map registers to create points. With this upgrade IntelliFront moves to Haystack 4.0, the most current open IoT standard. This new build supports new definitions, taxonomy, ontology, and query enhancements. IntelliFront 5 works with a host of connectors including BACnet IP, Modbus IP, Modbus RTU, OPC, UA, nHaystack, SQL, XML, JSON, and many others.

The new DB Builder is much faster in IntelliFront 5 with a new user interface designed to optimize workflows for faster configuration. It now supports multiple trees that show organized project information by application; including graphics, programs, connectors, and schedules. New tools allow for drag-and-drop creation of records to create relationships, to Clone, use Tag bundles, to apply Templates, add Histories, add Alarms, and do Conversions.

IntelliFront 5 has been completely revised to work independently outside of a project and security has been revamped to allow for stronger passwords and improved user management functionality. J2 Innovations created an IT Hardening Guide to help IT professionals implement IntelliFront securely.

What if I still have version 4.5?

ASI will continue to support version 4.5 for as long as possible. Due to the deprecation of Flash this year, version 4.5 will no longer work. We strongly encourage everyone with 4.5 projects to upgrade as soon as possible. Our IntelliFront 5 upgrade page in our Partner Portal provides detailed information.

There is no cost to upgrade to IntelliFront 5 if you have an active maintenance agreement in place which was purchased during the last 12 months. Those without an active agreement or with an agreement beyond the 12-month window can upgrade once the annual maintenance fee has been paid for the period the license was not under the agreement. Contact sales@asicontrols.com to upgrade.

Edit

As an essential business, ASI Controls continues to operate under guidelines from the CDC and the State of California. Most of our staff are now working remotely with only minimal staff reporting to our office to assemble and ship orders. We’re continuing to fulfill orders according to our shipping policy. While most products are unaffected, some may incur longer than normal lead times. Please contact sales@asicontrols.com with any questions or concerns.

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak, we have decided to cancel this class. We plan to reschedule it at a later date.

Course Overview

The Essential Training course is your introduction to ASI Controls DDC systems. During this 4-day course (day 5 offers an optional IntelliFront certification) you will learn how to assemble a basic ASI system. You will learn about sequences in the pre-programmed ASIC/1 controllers and learn to configure simple ASIC/3 applications for solutions beyond the capabilities of our ASIC/1 line. After programming the controllers, you will learn how to use IntelliFront to build a front end for the controllers. There is an optional certification lab exercise on Friday for customers to become certified IntelliFront programmers.

Cost

$1,095 (4 days of training without IntelliFront certification or a training kit)

$1,795 (5 days of training with IntelliFront certification, but no training kit)

$2,395 (4 days of training without IntelliFront certification, but with training kit)

$3,095 (5 days of training with IntelliFront certification and a training kit) RECOMMENDED

Course Content

All attendees receive the following:

4 days of training
Optional IntelliFront certification (Day 5)
ASI Expert software
ASIC/3-9540, ASIC/1-8100 and ASIC/1-6100 controllers
Micro-SINC and USB device cable
Carrying case
24 VAC transformer (to power the controllers)
All documentation on USB drive

There is an additional cost of $700 for IntelliFront certification. Certification is required to purchase IntelliFront products. Certified IntelliFront programmers also receive a yearly engineering tool license for the software.

If more than one person from your company attends the same course, or if your company has already purchased a training kit, then each additional person may pay a course fee of $1,095. After April 10, 2020 the cost will be $1,395. There is an additional cost of $700 for IntelliFront certification. Certification is required to purchase IntelliFront products. The additional persons may use our hardware for the course, but would not keep the hardware after the course.

Course Date/Location

The course begins at 8:30 AM and runs from Monday, April 27. and runs through Thursday, April 30. Attendees receiving IntelliFront Certification will meet on Friday, May 1 for the examination.

The course will be held at the Hampton Inn and Suites Warrington Horsham
201 Metro Drive
Warrington, PA 18976
Phone: (215) 491-0700

Room reservations: Reserve your room

Room cost: $100/night. Reserve by April 10, 2020 to secure conference rates. Refer to ASI Controls room block if calling to make reservations.

Candidate

ASI Controls’ Essential training is not open to the general public. Only ASI Controls Value Added Resellers and those designated by a reseller are eligible to attend. An acceptable candidate for this program should have basic knowledge of HVAC and HVAC control systems. It is desirable that the candidate has some experience with designing, configuring, and/or installing DDC controls systems. The candidate should also be comfortable with the Microsoft Windows operating systems and be fluent in file management.

Each student needs a Windows 7 or newer PC with free USB port and a wired Ethernet connection. Many students also find it useful to bring an external mouse. Students must have administrative rights to their Windows account on their PC. Google Chrome is recommended for use with IntelliFront software.

Special Accommodations

Please contact ASI Controls if you require auxiliary aids or services to have full participation and equal access to the facilities utilized for this training class.

Course Syllabus and Travel Information

April2020EssentialTraining [PDF]

Register

Early registration pricing is available until April, 10 2020. Prices will increase after that date.

ASI Controls is pleased to announce the hiring of Chris Shope as a new technical support representative. Chris has worked in the controls and automation field since 1989 and has performed many roles – from field technical representative to project design and engineering, and project management.

Chris is a native of North Carolina and lives in Hendersonville, North Carolina with his wife Erin and their son Silas. Chris enjoys spending time with his family and time spent outdoors, particularly mountain biking in the beautiful mountains of his home state.

Chris started with ASI in early January and will work closely with Chris Jones until her retirement on February 7, 2020. Afterward, he will become the primary contact for technical support. Chris can be reached at support@asicontrols.com or chris.shope@asicontrols.com.

Welcome Chris!

Chris Jones has announced will retirement from ASI Controls on Feb. 7, 2020 after seven years of service. Many know Chris as the voice on the other end of our technical support line or from some of our Essential Training courses. Chris has worked in the controls industry since 1980 and attended her first ASI Essential Training while working for ASCO Service in 2001.

Chris founded her own controls company in 2003 and was an ASI customer until 2011 before becoming an evangelist at EnOcean where she taught people how to deploy and troubleshoot their technology. She joined ASI in 2013 to help with technical assistance and quickly became a key member of the ASI staff.

“Chris became a core part of ASI from the moment she walked through the door. Her perspective and presence were invaluable in helping us grow as a company,” said Mike Fong, Chief Operations Officer. “Her customer-first attitude was always present in both her support role and with her input on product development. We will miss her but wish her well in her retirement.”\

Chris said that she has enjoyed her experiences in the industry and getting to know her extended ASI family. She plans to travel, fish, and spend time with her husband, children, and grandchildren.

Please join us in wishing Chris a happy retirement! Her last day will be Feb. 7, 2020. ASI hired Chris Shope in early January to fulfill Chris Jones’ technical support role.

ASI Controls has officially released its IntelliFront 5 building automation software platform. IntelliFront provides monitoring, control, scheduling, alarming, visualization, integration, and analytics capabilities designed for rapid deployment and flexible integration for a host of use cases.

IntelliFront 5 was designed in concert with J2 Innovations to be more open, fast, and secure than its predecessors. It builds on previous versions with a host of enhancements and new features including a new DB builder, new host app, updated connectors, workflow improvements, and bug fixes. IntelliFront 5 aims to streamline project integration timeframes for system integrators and OEMs while providing a robust and extensible framework for users to customize the system to their needs.

IoT ready

The new IntelliFront 5 framework supports all major protocol standards including BACnet IP, Modbus IP/RTU, OPC, SNMP, nHaystack, SQL, EnOcean, and others allowing for broad integration and application across disparate building systems. With this upgrade, IntelliFront moves to Haystack 4.0, the most current open IoT standard that uses tagging to automate the configuration process. It also features new objects, better tuning policies, and discovery via open standards such as BACnet. An additional update to Modbus has now made it easier to map registers to create points.

Faster than ever

The new DB Builder is much faster in IntelliFront 5 with a new user interface designed to optimize workflows for faster configuration. It now supports multiple trees that show organized project information by application; including graphics, programs, connectors, and schedules. New tools allow for drag-and-drop creation of records to create relationships, to Clone, use Tag bundles, to apply Templates, add Histories, add Alarms and do Conversions. IntelliFront 5 can also allow for the auto-generated configuration of an entire project from a spreadsheet.

Secure yet flexible

IntelliFront 5 has been completely revised to work independently outside of a project and security has been revamped to allow for stronger passwords and improved user management functionality. Extensive API documentation is available to allow for enhanced customization.

In anticipation of the end of support for Flash in 2020, IntelliFront 5 has eliminated the need for Flash in its user interface.

ASI Controls offers IntelliFront 5 as a front-end option for all its system integrations. Contact sales@asicontrols.com or 925-866-8808 to learn more or locate a system integrator.