Does the word “HVAC” sound like an abbreviation in a foreign language? In this webinar, we’ll explain everything you need to know about HVAC while diving into the details and showing you what’s inside.

1. HVAC Basics
for
Home Automation
Integrators
Arkadi Cherniak
VP of Sales
North America

2. Agenda
2
1. How does the HVAC work?
2. Systems Differences
3. Integration Challenges
4. Our Solutions for Successful Integrations
5. Q & A
CoolAutomation 2020

3. COOLAUTOMATION
Founded
2007
5000 SITES
ADDED
ANNUALLY
100,000+
SYSTEMS
WORLDWIDE
Based
IN
ISRAEL
SOLUTIONS
FOR HVAC
INTEGRATION,
CONTROL,
MANAGEMENT
AND SERVICE
PRIVATELY
HELD & FUNDED
WORLDWIDE
PRESENCE
90+
Countries
3CoolAutomation 2020

4. 4
How an Air Conditioner Works
1. Evaporator
Cooling coils remove
heat and humidity from
the air using
refrigerant.
2. Blower
A blower (or fan)
circulates air over the
evaporation dispersing
the chilled air.
3. Condenser
Hot coils release
collected heat into the
outside air.
4. Compressor
A pump that moves
refrigerant between the
evaporator and the
condenser to chill the
indoor air.
6. Filter
Located in the air
conditioning unit to
remove particles from
the air.
5. Fan
A fan blows air over
the condenser do
dissipate the heat
outside.
7. Thermostat
A control system to
regulate the amount
of cool air that is
distributed.
CoolAutomation 2020

5. Advanced Inverter SystemsTraditional Systems (Us)
KEY
DIFFERENCE
COMMUNICATION
REFRIGERANT
ENERGY
VRF & Split
systems use
bi-directional
communications for
monitoring & controls.
This is the main
integration
challenge!
SPLITS
VRF
Fan-coils
Packaged / Roof-Top Chillers
THERMOSTATS WIRED and WIRELESS
REMOTE CONTROLS
HVAC SYSTEMS – KEY DIFFERENCES
5CoolAutomation 2020

6. Thermostats
Home & Building
Automation Systems
VRF & Split
Systems
Wired and Wireless
Remote Controllers
Home & Building
Automation Systems
Integration
Solution
Integration
Solution
TRADITIONAL
The “brains” are in the Thermostat
ADVANCED INVERTER SYSTEMS - VRF, Splits
The “brains” are inside the system (Indoor & Outdoor units)
The Wired/Wireless Remote Controller is only a user interface device
HVAC Systems – Controls & Challenges
Multiple integration options:
Modbus, BACnet, KNX
6CoolAutomation 2020

7. 7
The Importance of Feedback in HVAC Integration
One-way communication is a basic “send & forget” control method:
• Open control loop due to lack of feedback
• No real-time monitoring
• Unable to handle events & errors
Two-way communication is fundamental for control systems:
• Commands are acknowledged, retry upon failure
• System status (on demand or periodic): state (on/off), temperature set
point, mode (cool/heat/fan/auto), fan speed, swivel/louver, etc.
• Events or errors notified - malfunctions, clean filter, room temperature,
etc.
“One-way” communication Two-way communication
One-way wireless IR communication
(No Feedback)
Two-way wired communication
(With Feedback)
As a result - insufficient to implement an integrated and automated
system
The VRF and Split systems are open for two-way communication
with automation systems
Internet
Apps
Home
Automation
HA Scenarios
HVAC System
With Multiple Control Sources
Central
Controller
Wired
Control
Panel
IR
CoolAutomation 2020

8. • The system is already “smart”, not designed to
accept a non-native additional “brain”
• Operation logic fundamental difference by
design - no Modulation algorithm, just On/Off
• Feature set is a subset of the system’s features
and functions
• One-way “mis”-communication – no feedback,
hence, no real control loop
• Wiring difference – 5 vs 2, forcing use of logic-
conflicting solutions, hence, degradation (digital
I/O vs communication protocols
8
The VRF Challenge for Smart Thermostats
“So…, why don’t I use those nice looking and
“smart thermostats” with these “smart” air-
conditioning systems?!”
CoolAutomation 2020

9. 9
Small to Medium Projects - Split Systems
Cassette
Ducted
Ceiling
Wall
Mounted
Floor Standing
Indoor Units
Outdoor
Unit
(usually up to
10IIndoor Units)
Remote Control
Communication
Refrigerant Pipe
Wired
Thermostat
IR Remote
CoolAutomation 2020

10. 10
Large & High-Capacity - VRV/VRF Systems
Cassette
Ducted
Ceiling
Wall
Mounted
Floor Standing
Indoor Units
Outdoor
Unit
( between 50 to 128
Indoor Units, depending
on brand and number of
clustered Outdoor units)
Remote Control
Communication
Refrigerant Pipe
Wired
Thermostat
IR Remote
Ancillary Units
CoolAutomation 2020

11. 11
SPECs understood, leading to a solution concept
Where is it?
• Private home, MDU,
Condo’s, Hotel, Office…
• Retrofit, New Build, High-
rise…
System layout and design!
How they’ll use it?
• “Thermostats” on the wall
or hidden
• Remote / Local
• Home automation
UX expectations!
What system?
• Multi-Split or VRF?
• If the latter, Heat Pump or
Heat Recovery?
• Any BAS/BMS to integrate
with?
Equipment list!
Who will use it?
• Families, tenants,
employees, guests
• Segregated or shared
• End user devices
to use
User profile & application!
CoolAutomation 2020

12. Ambient Temperature can be
measured from the Indoor unit or from
the local wired thermostat controller.
Often the owner prefers clean walls, no
thermostats – for that, remote sensors
will need to be used, their readings fed
into the integrated system.
It’s OK to remove the Wired Remote
Control with its sensor, the indoor unit
still has its own sensor, but the
measurement will be imprecise
(especially in heat mode).
12
Ambient Temperature Sensing
Important for precise and fastest way to reach
the desired comfort temperature.
Unit 101
Unit 104
CoolAutomation 2020

13. 13
System SPECs
GET THE HVAC
EQUIPMENT LIST
INTEGRATION
CoolAutomation devices
offer integration through
automation vendor drivers
Customization
User Profiles
User Preferences
and Experience
Expectations
INTEGRATOR FOCUS ON
HVAC system type: XXXXXX
Manufacturer: XXXXXX
Model: XXXXXX
Numbers of outdoor units: XXXX
Number of indoor units: XXX
System Layout: XXX
CoolAutomation 2020

14. SOLUTION TO THE
COMMUNICATION CHALLENGE
14CoolAutomation 2020

15. USAGE ISSUES
15
Once the communication barrier has been overcome,
there are still usage issues to address:
SMART DEVICES
INTEGRATION
MULTI-TYPE
HVAC SYSTEMS
MULTI-BRAND
HVAC SYSTEMS
CoolAutomation 2020

16. Our products and solutions
16
CoolMasterNet
Universal VRF
Integration & Cloud Devices
CoolPlug
CooLinkHUB
Mini/Multi Splits
Control Bridge
CooLinkBridge
Zone control
Fan Coils
Chillers
CoolAutomation 2020

17. 17
CoolMasterNet - Universal VRF Bridge
Cassette
Ducted
Wall
Mounted
Outdoor
Unit
(between 50 to 128
Indoor Units, depending
on brand and number of
clustered Outdoor units)
CoolMasterNet
Wired connection
BMS/BAS
• Modbus RTU (RS485)
• Modbus TCP
• BACnet MSTP (RS485)
• BACnet IP
• KNX
Home Automation
• Native drivers: Control4, Crestron,
Lutron, Savant, Elan, HDL, etc.
• ASCII
• KNX
• Rest API
• and more…
CoolAutomation 2020

18. 18
Small & Mid-Capacity – Split Systems
Mini/Multi Split
Outdoor Unit/s
CooLinkHUB
CoolPlugs
WRC connection bus
PBUS-
CoolPlug & CooLinkHUB
communication bus
Electrical wire
connection
WRC
connection
bus
BMS/BAS
• Modbus RTU (RS485)
• Modbus TCP
• BACnet MSTP
(RS485)
• BACnet IP
• KNX
Home Automation
• Native drivers:
Control4,Crestron,
Lutron, Savant,
Elan, HDL, etc.
• ASCII
• KNX
• Rest API
• and more…
Supports up-to 10 CoolPlugs
CoolAutomation 2020

19. 19
FC, WS
*Additional 3rd party controller required for each
FC unit
Chillers
Radiant/electrical underfloor heating
*Additional 3rd party
card required
Zone control
*Additional card might
be required
COOLINKBRDGE – with other HVAC systems
Home Automation BMS/BAS
CoolAutomation 2020

20. QUICK
and EASY
INSTALLATION
and SETUP A properly integrated and customized
home or building automation system
makes the solution practically plug and
play, ready for the application it was
designed for.
20CoolAutomation 2020

21. BENEFITS
BI-DIRECTIONAL
COMMUNICATION
MULTI-BRAND
SUPPORT
SMART
INTEGRATION
21CoolAutomation 2020

22. CONNECTIVITY
22
HVAC AUTOMATION
CoolMasterNet CoolPlug CooLinkBridge
Smart Home Devices
CoolAutomation 2020

23. CoolAutomation Complete Offering
23
Edge Devices
Home Automation
Building Management Systems
Wireless CoolPlug
Indoor AC Units
CoolAutomation Products
VRF AC
Systems
CoolRemote
Cloud Platform
Internet
HVAC Facilities
Management
HVAC Remote Control
HVAC Service
Provision
Cool
Apps
Suite
Other External
Sensors
AUX Climate
Systems
3rd Party
Apps
Consumer
IoT Clouds
(Google, Amazon)
API
3rd
Party Cloud
Platforms
Smart Home
Assistants
CoolAutomation 2020

24. THANK YOU!