BACnet Integration: Gateways, Routers, Loggers, Tools

Intro to BACnet

BACnet is a communications protocol for Building Automation and Control (BAC) networks that leverage the ASHRAE, ANSI, and ISO 16484-5 standard protocol. It is currently the most popular protocol use in Building Automation systems (BAS).

The BACnet standard defines a way to communicate over a number of wires such as Ethernet, EIA-485, EIA-232, ARCNET, and LonTalk as well as UDP, IP and HTTP (Web Services). Protocols Supported include BACnet MSTP, IP and Ethernet.

BACnet was designed to allow communication of building automation and control systems for applications such as heating, ventilating, air-conditioning control (HVAC), lighting control, access control, fire detection systems and their associated equipment.

The BACnet protocol defines a number of services that are used to communicate between building devices. The protocol services include Who-Is, I-Am, Who-Has, I-Have, which are used for Device and Object discovery. Services such as Read-Property and Write-Property are used for data sharing.

The CAS BACnet Stack

Chipkin’s BACnet Stack (CAS BACnet Stack) is a software library that allows you to add a native BACnet interface to your embedded devices or applications. The BACnet stack supports both BACnet server (Field device, power meter, gas detector, etc.) and BACnet client (HMI, Utilities, data loggers, etc.) services giving you the flexibility you need to succeed. The Chipkin BACnet Stack supports the protocol revision 19, making it a global market leader and one of a few stacks that support's revision 19. Chipkin attends plugfest annually and as of 2018 plugfest, our stack is one of the most up to date stacks in the market.

The BACnet Stack is a transport layer independent library, making it easy to use with any transport layer such as MSTP, IP, Ethernet and even PTP and ARCnet. By giving you control of the transport layer you can optimize bandwidth and performance by exploiting the resources at your disposal such as multi-threading and multiple simultaneous connections. See the diagram below of the BACnet Stack Layers which shows what portions are provided by the stack and what by the client:

             *Area in the border is provided by the BACnet Stack. The area outside is provided by the client.

BACnet Tools

FREE CAS BACNET EXPLORER WITH THE PURCHASE OF A BACNET GATEWAY!

Purchase a FieldServer or CAS Gateway from us that contains any BACnet protocol and we will help you test and document the BACnet interface by providing a free full license to the CAS BACnet Explorer and a Hardcopy of the BACnet booklet.

The USB key and booklet ships with the FieldServer.

Thanks for choosing Chipkin’s protocol gateways, data clients, and integration services to meet your building and industrial automation requirements!

Chipkin™ is a building and industrial automation protocol expert. We develop, configure, install and support gateways (protocol converters), data loggers and remote monitor and controlling applications. Founded in October 2000, Chipkin provides expert solutions for converting BACnet®, Modbus®, and LonWorks®—to name just a few—and enabling interfaces for HVAC, fire, siren, intercom, lighting, transportation and fuel systems. The high-quality products we offer (including those from other vendors) interface with Simplex™, Notifier™, McQuay™, GE™ and many others—so you can rest assured that we will select the most appropriate solution for your application.

With Chipkin you are buying a solution. Our configuration expertise in this field combined with free BACnet and other tools ensure your success; and our customer support via phone, e-mail, and remote desktop tools means that we’re there when you need us. Chipkin is a small responsive company, and we live or die by the quality of our service—and with offices in two-time zones—we can provide support when you need it. Give us a call now!