When installers build automation systems getting it working is their main focus. They see building automation security as an obstacle to overcome rather than the goal. If authentication is getting in the way, they disable it. When firewalls are blocking communication, they disable that too. Even more problematic is the fact that several popular automation…
I submitted a link to this site to AutomatedBuildings.com and Ken Sinclair got back to me with an interview request! You have find the interview in their April 2016 issue, here. In it we discuss in broad terms what this site is about and my plan for it going forward. Here’s a snippet: Sinclair: Is…
RS-485 bus grounding and termination seems like a magical ritual. Some people get lazy with the details of termination because buses often work even when termination is done incorrectly. I had some untwisted, shielded AWG22 lying around, so I used it to show a quick comparison between bus wiring in a controlled environment. I used…
BACnet networks are getting big. Their network infrastructure is getting complicated. BACnet is used to connect campuses, not just buildings. When you connect several networks together, a BACnet/IP Broadcast Management Device (BBMD) is necessary to bridge them. They’re important, but often misunderstood. Use them wrong, and you’ll get a broadcast storm. What Are Broadcasts? Broadcasts…
Modbus is one of the simpliest protocols you’ll find in the field. It’s the closest protocol “to the metal” of the chip on a controller since it often just directly exposes the controller’s memory. There’s no point discovery here; there are no point names or descriptions to help you integrate. All you have are datasheets…