ASIC/2-8540 Controller

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ASIC/2-8540 Controller

Application Overview

The ASIC/2-8540 is a fully configurable controller, which uses the ASI Controls ASIC/2 Objects.

Point Count

• 8 Universal Inputs: These inputs are 0-5 Vdc, and can be configured as analog or binary inputs. With the use of the Quad MUX, a single input can be set up as four normally-open binary inputs. The input resolution is 10-bit.
• 8 Binary Outputs: These outputs are Form C, giving you a normall-open and normally-closed contac. The output contacts for BO-1 through BO-4 share a common pole. The same is true for BO-5 through BO-8.
• 4 Analog Outputs: These outputs can provide a 0-10 Vdc signal. The output resolution is 8-bit.

Communications

The ASIC/2-8540 has multiple points of entry for communication.

• System Bus: The System Bus uses the RS-485 standard, and the ASI Controls protocol. Available baud rates are 9600 or 19200. Token passing is available.
• Local Bus: The Local Bus uses the RS-485 standard. Available baud rates are 1200, 9600, or 19200. It has two available protocols, of which only one can selected. The ASI Controls protocol allows communication with other ASI Controls hardware. The Modbus RTU protocol allows communication with devices that are Modbus RTU slaves.
• RS-232: The RS-232 port can be configured to pass throught to the System Bus, or the Local Bus. This is done with the use of shunt pins.
• Optional Network Daughterboard: The daughterboard provides a network interface to the controller. When the daughterboard is used, only the local ASIC/2-8540 can be accessed through the network. No pass through to the System or Local Bus is allowed.

Applications

Unitary

The ASIC/2-8540 can be used to control HVAC equipment such as AHU's, RTU's, Boilers, Chillers, Pumps, etc. It is a fully configurable controller that will meet most any sequence of operation. This allows it pick up where the ASIC/1 controllers leave off.

Supervisory

The ASIC/2-8540 can be used as a supervisor to the controllers terminated on it's Local Bus. Depending on the protocol used, this can be other ASI controllers, or Modbus RTU slave devices. As a Supervisor, it can perform scheduling operations, and manage overrides to its children devices. It can be also be used as a single-point source to relay information from child devices to WebLink.

Firmware History

Firmware Release: ASIC/2-8540 FW854a2.3 Encode Enhancements

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Object 35 Encode Upgrade

New features have been added to Object 35, Encode. It now has three different operations depending on the Encode Type.

• Encode Type 0, FIFO is unchanged, and may be used as a First-In First-Out encoder, FIFO, for example to provide the control of up to 16 stages of output based on up to 16 stages of stage requests where only a maximum number of outputs may be on at any one time. It may also be used to encode individual bits, for example the current status of the binary outputs, into a single word of data. Only Encode Type 0, FIFO, is supported in earlier versions.
• Encode Type 1, Load Balance keeps track of run time for each stage. It may be used to even out the run times of multiple stages by keeping track of the ON times for each stage. Load Balance can accumulate run times up to 65535 in seconds, or in minutes. If any stage timer rolls over, then all timers are reset to zero.
• Encode Type 2, Rotate allows rotation of the order of outputs based on the value returned by a Rotate Handle. It may be used to even out the run times of multiple stages by rotate the stages. The stages can be rotate with increasing number, or reversed, based on the value read by the Rotate Handle.

Note: To use these new features you must update the ASIC2.mdb, a2-ENC.pvs, a2-ENC.tcl, Encode.bmp, and Encode.sym files and FW754a2.3, FW854a2.3 or later.

ETH-8540 Support Upgrade

• This firmware release updates ETH-8540 support. The ETH-8540 must also be updated to image.bin 2008-01-25 or later.

ASIC/2 Firmware Version 2.3 Release Note, Jan 2008 (PDF; 75 KB, 2008-01-31) describes what's new in this release.

Encode Object Definition (PDF; 2008-02-01; 77 KB) describes the new features in detail.

Firmware FW854a Version 2.3 (ZIP; 2008-01-30; 103 KB) is available for download.

FW854a Read Me (TXT; 2008-01-30; 8KB)

Visual Expert Update Files for Encode (ZIP; 2008-02-01; 8KB)

Firmware Release: ASIC/2-8540 FW854a2.2 Communication Error Fix

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• ASIC/2-8540 FW754a2.2 fixes an underlying problem with Remote Point and Notify communications.

Customers have reported infrequent but random errors in Calculated Point and other objects. For example: The Calculated Point would give an erroneous result for one calculation time. The Encode object would show and incorrect Stage Status Value for one second. These problems only occurred in the presence of Remote Point traffic.

Customers have also reported download errors when loading a new configuration.

Special Note: If you are using Remote Point or Notify messages on system bus we recommend upgrading to FW754a2.2 or FW854a2.2 or later.

Note: If you choose not to upgrade firmware, the download error work-around is to load the configuration a second time.

Other Fixes

• Fixes the Poll Manager Function, Average Word Value.
• It also fixes problem with Notify Log. Self Posts would overwrite System Bus posts.

No new features or parameters have been added.

ASIC/2-8540 Controller Power

Some customers have reported problems with the ASIC/2-8540 resetting when loads are switched.

The controller should be powered from its own 24 Vac transformer. The 24 Vac controller power must be connected directly to the 24 Vac screw terminals, J8, and must NOT share a common circuit path with any relay circuits.

Power to the controller must be free of electrical noise. The relays and contactor coils loads should be powered from a separate 24 Vac transformer, so that the relay outputs and common return, R, are isolated from the controller. Using a separate load transformer minimizes the problem that any transients generated by the external relays are isolated from the controller. If the problem of reset persists, it may be necessary to also use TVS protection.

If it is not possible to use separate transformers to power the controller and the loads, or if resets still occur even when a separate transformer is used, then transient voltage suppressors, TVS, may be necessary to protect the controller from voltages and currents that are induced when contactor relays open.

Tech Note 36, ASIC/2-8540 Controller Power (PDF; 2007-06-04;155 KB) describes the proper method of providing power to protect the ASIC/2-8540 controller from electrical noise and transients.

Firmware Release: ASIC/2-8540 FW854a2.1 Floating Point Decimal Fraction

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ASIC/2-7540 FW754a2.1 adds the decimal fraction value to the Function object 32-bit floating point to integer conversion.

Firmware Release: ASIC/2-8540 FW854a2.0 Other Fixes

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ASIC/2-8540 FW854a2.0 fixes a several minor bugs.

• Updates Power-up Health Test sequence of lights.
• Fixes calculation overflow for PWM, Modulated, and Tristate Outputs.
• Boiler OAT Reset now works for negative Outside Air Temperatures.
• Fixes DAK Parameter 2_Byte download to Logic object.

If you are flash upgrading from FW754a1.4 (or FW854a1.4) or earlier,
you MUST reload the application file (*.ASI) after upgrade.