NEW BERLIN, WI, March 10, 2008 - The ABB E-Clipse Bypass option for the ACH550 Drive for HVAC applications is the first, and presently only, VFD bypass to be BTL (BACnet Testing Laboratories) approved and listed. BTL, an independent lab that tests devices for conformance to the BTL testing specification, confirmed the listing to the ABB, Low Voltage Drive, U.S. headquarters in New Berlin, Wisconsin the week of February 18, 2008.
Serial Communications, Sans Gateway
“We are honored to have an independent testing organization provide this stamp of approval,” said Jeff Miller, vice president, commercial sales, ABB Low Voltage Drives. “A two-year internal R&D program achieved building into these bypasses this final piece of the serial communications puzzle, and to eliminate the expense and challenges of hardware and gateways. BACnet replaces those (gateways & hardware) with one language, able to work in real time, anywhere.” Bypasses are a very common VFD option, often specified by consulting engineers and owners. A bypass controller allows the user to operate the motor on utility power at full speed in the event that the VFD is out of service for any reason.
Officially, BTL has listed the ABB E-Clipse Bypass as a BACnet Application Specific Controller (B-ASC).
System Tested for Compatibility with All BACnet Devices
What does the approval and listing mean? “This gives an end user a very high degree of confidence that the ABB E-Clipse Bypass and ACH550 VFD will inter-operate with other BTL-listed devices,” notes Mike Olson, manager, HVAC applications, for ABB. The controller also complies with the ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 135-2004, he said. The ABB E-Clipse Bypass option features a standard connection that is MS/TP, RS485-based; and it supports all BIBBs defined by the BACnet standard profile for an Application Specific Controller (B-ASC), Olson said.
In addition to the U.S. BACnet Testing Laboratory office in India, BACnet products also are being tested at a lab in Germany.
ABB, Automation Products, Low-Voltage Drives, is a leading supplier to the U.S. HVAC market, and has connected tens of thousands of drives to building automation systems via serial communications. In the USA, ABB, New Berlin, Wisconsin, supplies a complete line of energy-efficient electric drives and motors to HVAC and commercial customers through an integrated channel of sales representatives. Products manufactured include AC and DC variable speed drives from fractional to 500 horsepower. HVAC single-motor drive applications include supply & return fans (air handlers), exhaust fans, fume hoods, re-circulation pumps, condenser fans; multiple-motor applications include multi-cell cooling towers, paralleled chilled water, and booster pump systems.
ABB is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs more than 110,000 people.
