Lead in drive flexibility extended with LonWorks

The Control Techniques range of AC drives now offer communication with the LonWorks network, a popular choice particularly for heating, ventilating and air conditioning applications

"This extends our technical lead in the intelligent drives market," says Control Techniques' Marketing Manager, Gareth Jones: "We already have about 50% of the world's market in intelligent drives and this new module reflects our continued development at the top end of the drives sector.

We recognise that connectivity with LonWorks networks is crucial to our further growth in the HVAC sector and we now expect continued growth in this area".

This new module joins a huge range of plug-in modules that give the Control Techniques AC range its tremendous versatility.

Modules give connectivity to virtually all the major industrial networks, allow feedback from a large array of devices and add on-board intelligence that take the drives well into what had formerly been regarded as PLC territory.

The LonWorks communications platform is for networking devices over media such as twisted pair, power-lines, fibre-optics and RF and is popular for the automation of various functions within buildings, such as lighting and HVAC.

LonWorks is a flexible and robust network that is optimised for non-time critical systems and is, essentially, a distributed control system with software tools for configuring and managing the network traffic.

The new option module, which simply plugs into the interior of the appropriate variable speed drives (taking up no additional cubicle space) is compatible with the Control Techniques range of Commander SK and Unidrive SP variable speed AC drives, which are becoming increasingly popular for energy-saving in heating, ventilating and air conditioning applications and for other building control systems including lift control.

For sophisticated applications, the module will be capable of operating with Unidrive SP in any of its operating modes, including open-loop, closed-loop and servo.

"The LonWorks module will allow users to integrate the HVAC system right down to drive level," says Gareth Jones: "Now, using our AC drives with the LonWorks module, facilities managers can have central monitoring of all key drives parameters, with plenty of advance warning of any problems, such as impending motor failure, improving both the quality and reliability of air handling in the building".

The LonWorks modules are LonMark certified to provide instant access to any LonWorks network.

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