Equipment-level sensors and controls

Read about the 8 finalists in the Equipment-level Sensors and Controls category for the Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2013 Product of the Year competition.

By Chris Vavra, Content Specialist April 8, 2013

Panelboards for circuit breakers

Cooper Crouse-Hinds’ SynergEX panelboards are individually encapsulated circuit breakers designed to provide safety in the most extreme environments. They offer a finger-safe design that provides flexibility and speed during operations and maintenance in the field. The design is approved for all hazardous gases, which allows for operation in multiple locations and hazardous situations. SynergEX panelboards provide overcurrent and short circuit protection for low-voltage power, lighting, and heat tracing applications in indoor and outdoor hazardous areas. Other features include a lightweight design for reduced labor and equipment installation, and a front viewing window for visual indication of breaker status.


Integrated system for water source heat pump applications

Daikin McQuay’s MicroTech Integrated System for water source heat pump applications provides smart controls, high performance, and easy installation. It is able to integrate pumps, towers, boilers, and ventilation air with a water source heat pump system. Its easy installation significantly reduces the need for field controls labor so contractors and building owners save time and money. The MicroTech Integrated System packages equipment and controls that integrate together seamlessly. The MicroTech System Manager is a touch panel with an easy to use, Web browser-based interface that can be accessed from any other PC, tablet, or smartphone.


Communicating room sensor

The Allure EC-Smart-Vue communicating sensor is designed to interface with Distech Controls’ BACnet ECB Series and LONWORKS ECL Series controllers. Its design includes a backlit display and icon-driven menu. The EC-Smart-Vue is suitable for VAV, fan coil, rooftop, heat pump, and unit vent room control applications. The Allure EC-Smart-Vue is a four-in-one communications sensor that supports demand-controlled ventilation and occupancy-based control strategies for HVAC and lighting. The built-in CO2 sensor contributes to maintaining indoor air quality, optimizing occupant comfort and productivity. It also features the ECO-Vue leaf pattern, which graphically indicates energy consumption in real time.


Panel wiring system

Eaton’s SmartWire-DT panel wiring system replaces numerous wires used to connect motor control components with a single cable. The SmartWire-DT system is available with Ethernet/IP and Modbus TCP, in addition to PROFIBUS-DP and CANopen. This added flexibility allows the SmartWire-DT system to more easily integrate with original OEMs’ preferred industrial network. The SmartWire-DT panel wiring solution uses an eight-conductor, flat cable to connect motor starters, push-button actuators, and indicator lights. The SmartWire-DT gateway establishes the connection to standard PLC fieldbuses that includes Ethernet/IP and Modbus TCP, as well as PROFIBUS-DP and CANopen.


HMI-PLCs for OEMs

The XV Series HMI-PLCs by Eaton combines control, visualization, and data management tasks in a single device, while the SmartWire-DT system replaces traditional control wiring to components with a single cable for improved connectivity. The XV Series HMI-PLC with SmartWire-DT connectivity is designed to enable remote intelligence, eliminate an entire device level, and make complex wiring unnecessary for smaller and smarter machines. The XV Series HMI-PLC removes the physical PLC, incorporates logic into the operator interface, and provides a single software package for control and visualization with a 400 MHz reduced instruction set computer processor and custom-developed software drivers.


Ground fault, phase-voltage indicator

The UL Listed Littelfuse EL3100 ground-fault and phase-voltage indicator meets the National Electrical Code and Canadian Electrical Code requirements. The self-powered EL3100 indicates the presence of ground faults on ungrounded 3-phase electrical systems and phase loss while minimizing electrical hazards for equipment and personnel. The EL3100 has an output contact and can monitor the system voltage both locally and remotely. The main unit is DIN rail mounted in the panel. The remote LEDs can be mounted on the cabinet door to provide local indication. Applications range from oil and gas to electrical utilities, chemical plants, and panel shops.


Integrated zone network system

The Integrated Network Zone System by Panduit enables network communications between the control room and manufacturing floors within industrial facilities. Available in three configurations, the system includes an Allen-Bradley Stratix industrial Ethernet switch for fast deployment. Systems also include Allen-Bradley UPSs installed behind a touch-safe protective cover, and are UL certified. The Integrated Network Zone System delivers up to 75% reduction in deployment times and localizes network traffic to improve resiliency.


Automatic variable air volume damper

The SmartAire P by Tate is a pressure sensing, automatic variable air volume damper that minimizes bypass airflow through servers, racks, and other containment structures. Constant airflow into a contained system with a variable load profile wastes energy during times of non-peak load performance as airflow is forced through servers and other spaces in the containment structure. By installing SmartAire P under a portion of the airflow panels in the cold aisle, airflow can be automatically varied to maintain a desired static pressure. The SmartAire P is daisy-chained to SmartAire C units for a primary/secondary configuration that modulates all dampers to control static pressure and maintain a user defined setpoint.


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