What is a POINT?

A point in HVAC/Fire sytems is basically one piece of hardware that has one processed value. One probabaly cannot apply this definition consistently since there will be exceptions to this rule but the definition will and does work in most practial cases. Using this definition a boiler will not be a point since it has many items each of which also has a processed value, for example the boiler stataus hardware, which has one processed value, the actual 'Boiler Status'. Other examples of a point are the various temperature points, pressure points, and a host of others. A pint is further divided into 2 sub-categories, Analog and Digital. Each of these subcategories is further divided into INPUTS and OUTPUTS.So altogether we have a point falling into one of the following 4 categories:

1.   Analog Inputs. This by far is the largest group of points in any building. All temperatures and pressures fall into this category.

2.   Analog Outputs. This category includes analog devices that are controlled by a processor ( better known as 'controller' in this business). The most common outputs controlled are the dampers and valves. But VFD's are also examples of devices contrlled by an analog output of a controller.

3.   Digital Inputs. This group of points is quite large in any building and are used extensively in programming. It is the group of status point such as the fan, boiler or chiller status points. This group also includes a host of smoke detectors and pull stations.

4.   Digital Outputs.  This is probably the smallest group of points in a building. It is basically the points that are started or stopped by a controller such as fans, pumps etc.

Remark:   It is important to understand that the workds INPUT/OUTPUT are physically inputs and outputs with respect to the controller that they are tied to and not the user or the viewer of these points. For example, a temperature is a quantity that a contrller records/processes from a a piece of hardware ( the temperature sensor hardware). Hence it is an INPUT to the controller and not you, the viewer. In other words, to determine the input or output nature of a point, the point of reference is the controller and not the user/viewer. This looks very simple but in practice and specially programming the lack of understanding of this point shows up a lot.  

Did you KNOW?

The modern HVAC System is comprised of many pieces of hardware, such as controllers, trassmission media, front- end devices such as PC's and many other components. When a failure occurs, the common approach is that it, must be something very simple, such as a component failing. So the conclusion is to just somehow replace the failing component and the problem will go away. Then the hunt for the supposedly bad part starts, typically fom EBAY.COM and may extend into weeks or months. In the medan time, the devices are usually run in hand-position or fixed to a particular state via some software functionality in the front end. There can be several problems with this sort of approach: 1. It is pretty difficult to be sure what part is failing and hence what part to hunt/look for. This will require some diagnostic capability and this may not be available to the customer site because of one reason or another. 2. Remember this process can be time consuming and even though you may not be spending money directly, it is holding somebody or something else that also needs to be done. This means that, that something else is being neglected and hence is or will cause a loss of revenue. 3. Even if the part is found and is the right one and the the right problem was diagnosed, you still may have the problem of configuring the device or part that you did find. This configuration may require some engineering on your part and may require some digging into the releveant literature and again this literature or guide may or may not be available. Then this becomes a training issue also. 4. Moreover the device may have to be integrated into the existing system database which may require even more skills on the part of the user/owner or their persons and it may not be possible at all without the availability of the system database. In this case the database may have to be recreated or synced with the existing database. This could be prohibitive. 5. The curent vendor/installer may not have the properly trained persone that can work on the system or worse yet they may not have all the tools necessary for the site! 6. The current vendor may not be able to sustain the system and may require a system upgrade before they can work on it!. There may be a prohibitivge price tag for a new system but may become inevitable. All these problems and many others can become a very big problem and may require the involvement of the highest level of management at your site. This may even lead to management realignments and may even lead to some typical blame games and long meetings to deal with the problem, both internal and also ones involving existing and prospective new vendors. This does not look good. AND yet there is a simple way out of this. Just call Riaz Hussain, (651)442-9044 and schedule a one day examination/test and checkout of your system. Get a complete report and a solution set from him. He wil solve your problem with minimal expense and has a way around everything that can go wrong at your site. This service is available in every city of the US for one standard cost of $1290.00! Consider the headaches your will be rid off and the peace of mind. I will also set up a system at your site that will address these problems in the future at your site for a cost that is next to nothing!

You can call me 24/7/365. I will see you Monday Morning!

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