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Advanced Features

In addition to the usual lighting switching and load control capabilities, C-Bus includes a large number of additional application protocols - each one developed by Clipsal with a specific purpose in mind. To increase the usefulness of the SmartSERVER™ in its intended role, those likely to benefit most users have been incorporated.

For large commercial deployments SmartSERVER also offers comprehensive support for separate networks interconnected by C-Bus bridges.

Lighting Switching and Load Control Application

This is the core switching and control application used in all C-Bus installations. For big systems where a larger number of C-Bus units must be accommodated, more than one instance of the Lighting and Load Control Application may be defined. Because each circuit in the SmartSERVER is individually programmed with an application ID, non standard and multiple instances are fully supported.

SmartSERVER establishes its own internal database or current circuit values and then maintains this by capturing individual switching events, system status broadcasts as well as periodically requesting detailed level information.

Trigger Application

This application is used to initiate an action on the C-Bus network. Most typically used to select a scene (a collection of lighting level and /or switching states) defined in one or more C-Bus devices, the SmartSERVER key display status also responds to a Scene off/kill message (which can occur when a scene is "broken" through a change in one or more of its elements).

Enable Application

It is possible to set a network variable to a specific value, which can in turn be used by appropriate C-Bus devices to determine if some action should be taken. A typical use might be for an automated scheduling system where different schedules can be either enabled, or disabled based on a user switch input.

Clock & Time Keeping Application

This application is used to broadcast date and time information to devices on a C-Bus network. When the SmartSERVER is configured to source time from an internet connection it can be optionally enabled to act as a High Precision C-Bus date and time master device.

The SmartSERVER will co-ordinate with less accurate devices on the network to ensure that C-Bus time is maintained. Further by configuring a set of daylight saving (summer time) rules a one hour offset can be applied based on automatically calculated dates for the current year.

Accurate time in a C-Bus system is important where this is visible on interface devices (e.g. a DLT switch) , but even more so to ensure scheduled events occur when intended.

Measurement Application

Used for the transfer of information covering more than 30 measurement category types. Most measurement values will have a custom unit icon automatically appended to make the meaning of the reading immediately clear.

Unit types supported by this application include electrical current (Amps), logarithm (dB), time (sec, min, hours), temperature (C), frequency (Hz), light level (lux), Watt hours (Whrs), and many more.

Measurement devices typically sends data in response to one of the following conditions:

Automatically based on an elapsed time interval between measurements
Automatically when a change in the measured value occurs
In response to an update request via the trigger control application

Temperature Broadcast Application

This application supports multiple uniquely identifiable sensors each routinely broadcasting a temperature value. The SmartSERVER can be configured to display the value for each sensor.

Metering Application

Used for the transfer of consumption for the following utility types: electricity, gas, drinking water, other water, oil. SmartSERVER is currently a passive listener and captures the content of data broadcasts, but at this time does not pro-actively request them from the proprietary metering device.

Irrigation Control Application

For the control of Irrigation systems. The Clipsal C-Bus specification requires that Irrigation systems making measurements report that information using the Measurement Application (also supported by the SmartSERVER).

Pool, spa, pond and fountain control Application

This application is intended for the control of pools, spas, ponds, fountains and similar.

Ventilation Application (dampers & fans)

This application is intended for ventilation control, including but not limited to fans and air conditioning Dampers.

Multiple C-Bus Networks

SmartSERVER supports specified routing through multiple individual C-Bus networks interconnected by C-Bus bridging units, as may be found in larger deployments.

Additional Applications

The suite of C-Bus application protocols supports the inclusion and development of third party equipment with specific control requirements. Correlate welcomes any requests to include new specific control capabilities within up coming SmartSERVER software releases.

Software releases can been easily and quickly incorporated into an existing installation allowing new C-Bus products to be supported at those sites.

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