Skip to main content

Functionality without limits

Complete support for EN 15232 BAC efficiency class A – without programming

e.control with function guarantee

All e.control devices have tested, highly function software objects that need only be parameterised appropriately to their tasks. Since all objects from spega are not only tested for internal functionality but also for appropriate system behaviour together, e.control represents a true functional guarantee. That makes e.control essentially different from programmable system solutions in which the entire functionality must be provided by the system integrator only during the course of the project.

Advantages

  • Function guarantee through complete software objects
  • Transparency thanks to uniform objects on all devices
  • Complete support for EN 15232 BAC efficiency class A – without programming
  • Compatibility with VDI 3813
  • Interoperability according to LonMark

The function library of e.control Designer contains a huge selection of room functions for all systems. Project-related, these functions can be combined to function groups (room macros) and then applied to all rooms. The figure shows, for example, a 2-segment space of the BAC efficiency class A with all sensors (light grey), actuators (dark grey), controllers (yellow) and operating functions (orange).

Uniformity provides clarity

All e.control software objects are based on VDI 3813, the world’s leading standard for room controls, and therefore meet the requirements of a very specific functionality, for example, the regulation of the room climate or the lighting. They can be so extensively parameterised that they can be adapted to any local variants. And because each of these objects is exactly identical on all e.control devices, the system integrator and operator immediately have a perfect overview that provides a uniform functional model even when different devices are used.

Room climate control

The conditioning of the room climate is handled by the room climate controller in the e.control system. It is suitable for all heating/cooling systems, whether cooling ceilings, radiators, forced-air fans, cooling bars in facade ventilation units or air-bearing (VAV) systems, and can be used with any type of valve or flap drives.

It also controls air quality and free (night-time) cooling, even optionally using a mechanical air intake system or outdoor air flap. Adaptive start optimisation, summer or winter compensation, automatic temperature averaging, etc. are more options that can be added. In combination with an air humidity sensor, the dew point temperature can also be determined, to ensure that the cooling is turned off when necessary. Thermal automation also works together with the climate regulator and uses the sunshade as additional support for heating or cooling.

Functions

Operating functions

With e.control, you have full control over the desired room climate, whether by Web browser or IP phone, touch panel, built-in room control device or radio sensors. In all cases, it is possible to influence the set point, fan level and even the exterior air intake.

Sensor functions

In addition to temperature and if necessary also air humidity measurements with the e.control room control device, an energy-efficient room must also know the occupancy status. This value is provided by the e.control multisensors or presence detectors.

Actuator functions

e.control actuators cover all the applications of HVAC technology. Whether for radiators, heating/cooling ceilings, fan
convectors or ventilation flaps, e.control has the right binary or analogue actuators. All have sequence adaptation, min/max limitation and a valve opening function for longer periods of non-use.

Energy mode selection

Energy efficiency can be significantly increased by adjusting the room temperature to usage times. To this end, all e.control room climate controllers have 4 energy levels, each of which is assigned different settings for heating and cooling. In combination with e.control timer programs, this permits the room temperature to be individually adapted to planned usage. Using the occupancy evaluation, further optimisation is possible, since rooms can be heated to the comfort mode only if occupied.

Start optimization

All e.control room climate controllers have a self-learning start optimisation that works together with a timer program to determine the latest time to heat or cool before a planned change in energy mode. This eliminates the waste of energy due to premature heating or cooling.

Setpoint calculation

In addition to individual setting offsets by the user, e.control room climate controllers also provide summer and winter compensation for high or low outdoor temperatures. This behaviour can be adapted to the characteristics of the building.

Function selection

All e.control room climate controllers can – depending on the heating/cooling system – be operated in the functions Heating, Cooling, Automatic, Precooling and Night cooling. Switching between modes takes place either through a timer program or automatically from the controller.

Air quality control

All e.control room climate controllers have not only two heating and cooling sequences with supply air temperature limitation and a ventilator sequence, but also air quality control which, depending on room occupancy or actual room air quality, can control either an outdoor air or an air intake flap.

Night cooling

e.control room climate controllers can be switched to a night cooling function. Every controller then decides independently on the start and end of night-time cooling, depending on the outdoor and indoor temperature. In addition to exterior air fan convectors, volume flow flaps or motorised windows can also be used for ventilation.

Lighting regulation

Even in lighting regulation, there are numerous application cases with different requirements to be taken into consideration. The constant lighting of a workstation works differently from lighting regulation in an entry foyer, where a global brightness impression is important. With suspended lights, the indirect proportion of light must
additionally be taken into consideration, and in deep rooms the separate regulation of two light strips can be a practical option. If it should only be possible to turn the lighting on and off, equivalent functions should still be applicable. So it’s good that e.control has constant light regulators that cover all these requirements.

Functions

Operating functions

e.control offers numerous options for operating the lighting: Web services for browsers or IP telephones, touch panels, built-in room control devices and radio buttons that are integrated using corresponding receivers (dialog RC-E or lumina MS4/RC). All these permit the switching or dimming of lighting, the retrieval of scenarios and manual logging into or out of the room.

Sensor functions

e.control multisensors form the core of any energy-efficient room, because automatic presence detection and measurement of room brightness are essential factors.

Actuator functions

e.control light actuators are suitable for any lighting application. Whether fluorescent lamps, high- or low-voltage halogens or LED lights, whether relays, dimmers, 1-10V or DALI, e.control always has the right actuator available. All e.control light actuators incorporate power-on and power-off delays, a delayed light switch and a scene memory. Suitable installation locations include electrical distributors and decentralised system distributors.

Occupancy evaluation

The e.control occupancy evaluation determines the correct layout of a room from a combination of presence detectors and presence buttons for all other application functions for lighting, sunshade and room climate control. The holding time works adaptively and can be configured separately for each system.

Constant light control

Constant light control is the ideal way to save lighting energy and is therefore mandatory for any energy-efficient building. In rooms supplied with daylight, this system mixes in just enough artificial light to ensure that the required lighting level is maintained. In deep rooms with uneven distribution of daylight, e.control constant light regulation can even control two separate lighting groups. Thanks to a learning artificial lighting correction, even suspended lamps with an indirect portion are no problem for e.control. Energy savings can come to up to 50%.

Daylight-dependend lights

The daylight-dependend switch is used when lighting cannot be or should not be implemented with a dimming option. Depending on the supply of daylight, artificial light is added – with e.control, this can even be a two-level process. A built-in learning function ensures that the lamps are turned back off once the daylight is sufficient.

Automatic lights

The e.control automatic light only turns on the lights in halls, sanitary facilities, and storage rooms when people are detected. This avoids the use of energy for the lighting of unused rooms.

Twilight control

In the outdoor or entry area, in traffic routes or for the illumination of a building, lighting is only needed during the hours of darkness. Since the time of twilight varies from day to day, a twilight switch works autonomously to ensure the right time to turn on the lights. The e.control ombra W2 compact weather sensor uses its brightness sensor to turn on the desired light actuators at the right time – and turns them back off as well. The threshold values and delay times are configurable, of course.

Slat tracking control

Complex, priority-dependent sequences are characteristic for optimally used sunblinds. While e.control handles the slat tracking control for the sunblinds uniformly over the facade – of course parameterised in terms of frequency and minimum deflection angle – every sunshade actuator individually uses shadow corrections to check whether, for example, the neighbouring building is casting a shadow on its own window, permitting the slats to be turned up without any risk of glare. Then there are wind and weather, along with interventions by Facility Management or the users, who can use extensive priority controls to specify the correct sequence of events. e.control handles it all
without breaking a sweat.

Functions

Operating functions

e.control offers numerous operating options for the sunblind: Web services for browsers or IP telephones, touch panels, built-in room control devices and radio buttons that are integrated using corresponding receivers (dialog RC-E or lumina MS4/RC). All permit the positioning of curtain lengths and slat angles, either direct or using scenes.

Sensor functions

For energy-efficient buildings, in addition to automatic presence detection, the determination of sun intensity and interior room temperatures are needed for the automatic positioning of the sunblind. e.control determines these values using multisensors, control devices, radio temperature sensors and weather stations.

Actuator functions

e.control actuators cover the entire spectrum of sunblind drives, whether interior or exterior blinds, awnings, screens or roller shutters. All devices have built-in priority control and a scene memory for curtain positions, including angular position. All actuators also support e.control slat tracking control, including shadow correction. For particularly tough requirements, due to exact positioning accuracy, e.control SMI actuators are also available for 230V or 24V motors.

Automatic solar control

The e.control automatic solar control in the ombra W2 or ombra WSx weather sensors evaluates exterior brightness across the facade and determines the limit value above which and the delay with which a defined sunshade position will be selected in order to avoid subjecting the user to glare.

Slat tracking control

For energy-efficient buildings, sun position-dependent guidance of the slats is important. The e.control ombra BST slat tracking controller periodically calculates the exact angle at which the maximum daylight supply can be achieved without introducing glare, and sends it to the e.control sunshade actuators. The adjustment cycle and angle are parameterisable, as is the behaviour in case of temporary shadow.

Shadow correction

Every e.control sunblind actuator is capable of determining autonomously whether its curtain will be in the sunshine at a specific time or shaded by (parts of) the building. This permits the sunshade to be adjusted to maximum transparency in the shadowed phases to improve the daylight yield.

Automatic thermal control

To support heating or cooling, automatic thermal control is used to regulate solar energy entry through the facade. While heat input is welcome in the spring and thermal control opens the sunblind appropriately, in summer it prevents unnecessary heating by closing up. It is an integral component of all e.control devices and multisensors, providing the link between sunshades and HVAC systems needed for energy-efficient buildings.

Weather protection

The e.control weather protection system protects exterior curtains from damage by wind, freezing and even from precipitation. The e.control ombra WSx weather station uses its precise sensors to measure all the weather data needed, and brings the sunshade system into the defined safe position on a timely basis. Of course, different limit values and safe positions can be defined for different curtain types.