boss –BACnet (Guidelines)

1. Introduction on BACnet in boss family supervisors ................................................... 1

2. BACnet Client Plugin ................................................................................................. 3
3. BACnet Client configuration ...................................................................................... 3
3.1. Device configuration ....................................................................................... 3
3.2. Device template Import................................................................................... 4
3.3. Create a BACnet line ....................................................................................... 6
4. BACnet Server Plugin ................................................................................................ 8
5. BACnet Server configuration ..................................................................................... 8
6. Appendix: BACnet Functions supported by boss family supervisors ........................ 11

It is premised that in this document with the term supervisor (s), we will refer to both boss and boss mini.
The specific names will be used only if differentiations are necessary.

1. Introduction on BACnet in boss family supervisors

The boss Family supervisors manage the BACnet protocol, the leading protocol in HVAC supervision
applications. This new feature significantly increases the possibility to integrate third party devices. The
BACnet “Master” (CLIENT) protocol is available in both MS/TP (RS485) and TCP/IP modes, and together with
the Modbus RS485 and Modbus TCP/IP protocols, these too available on boss and boss mini, offers the
possibility to interact with the widest range of devices in the HVAC/R sector. BACnet protocol management
also allows lines to be created comprising both BACnet native CAREL devices (c.pCO) and third party devices,
without needing to create separate lines.

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 In addition to “Master” (CLIENT) mode, the BACnet protocol is also available in TCP/IP “Slave” (SERVER)
mode, allowing the supervisor to be integrated into a higher-level BMS, sharing the values of interest
for overall building management (such as unit status, alarm status, on/off controls,...)

In short BACnet Server allows boss family supervisors to share the internal devices variable to a third-party
BACnet device (it acts like a “SLAVE” (SERVER))
BACnet Client allows the supervisor to interrogate BACnet devices variables (it acts like a “MASTER” (CLIENT))

In case of BACnet TCP/IP both Client and Server, the communication among the boss Family supervisor and
the BACnet device/s must be through the FIELD network port (functional requirement). The FIELD port is in
fact the network interface dedicated to the communication with field devices, while the LAN port is the port
used for the usual operations carried out within the local network such as access via https, sending emails, etc.
The use of two physically distinct networks guarantees greater quality and continuity of data coming from /
to field devices, separating this communication from intense traffic and dependent on many factors of the LAN
network. Furthermore, as per standard network configuration rules for devices with multiple network
interfaces, LAN and FIELD must have different IP addresses/subnet addresses and not overlapped
each other. This is to avoid general communication problems on both interfaces.

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 2. BACnet Client Plugin
ln order to use BACnet Client on the supervisor, and enable the dedicated sections at least one credit must be
registered and the plugin BACnet Client must be activated (for further information on registration, see the
FAQ _bossFamily_EN.pdf).
BACnet client is implemented both IP and MSTP, and it is used to read third party devices, c.pCO controllers or
pCO controllers with pCOWeb on board, using the BACnet MS/TP or TCP/IP protocol.

3. BACnet Client configuration

In order to configure a BACnet line you need to follow different steps.

3.1. Device configuration

In order to configure the address, go to:

System pages -> System -> BACnet TCP -> BACnet Address

Click Save and then Restart the Engine:

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 BACnet IP could have addresses up to 4194301 [from 0 to 4194302, 4194302 is used like a broadcast, do not
use]. The BACnet address and port are valid for boss/boss mini both as BACnet client and BACnet slave.
In case of BACnet MS/TP Station address will be define directly in line configuration.

3.2. Device template Import

The Engineering Data Exchange (EDE) template shall help to exchange engineering data, such as data point
types, data point addresses and special data point presentation information in a standardized form.
When integrating multi-vendor systems using the BACnet protocol, the actual protocol is described in the
BACnet Standard.
BACnet data point objects have various object properties that can help in setting-up the engineering data
which may be required for the configuration of a Supervisory Station or an Automation Station.
The Engineering Data Exchange template shall provide a common means to describe the objects of a data
point server in csv format.
Proper Engineering Data Exchange (or EDE) .csv for boss/boss mini must respect a few principles; EDE is a zip
with inside 4 csv files with the following features:
modelname_EDE.csv
modelname_ObjTypes.csv
modelname_StateTexts.csv
modelname_Units.csv

csv files must have the comma as separator

The file modelname_EDE.csv must contain the variable with type 8, that defines the name of the device itself.
Third party devices should have their own EDE file to use in order to be managed by the supervisor.

In order to import EDE file, select System pages -> Customization and scroll down up to find section “BACnet
models management”

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 Select -> Import BACnet device model (.zip)

And select the ProjectName_EDE.zip

Accept with Yes

If model has been create properly boss will return “Success Import OK” as image below:

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 3.3. Create a BACnet line

Now you can create the line, go to:

Site configuration -> Site -> + Add

Select the Protocol

If you select the protocol BACnet MSTP we obtain the following page:

BACnet address is the serial address of boss/boss mini, COM port is the port where the supervisor queries the
devices, baud rate the speed, MAC Address (BACnet Station address) is another unique address of the BACnet
address.

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 Select the Device Name (associated model):

Enter the Device Instance of your BACnet device (Line address of the device):

Then click on +

Restart the engine:

Your BACnet device is now available:

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 4. BACnet Server Plugin
ln order to use BACnet Server on boss/boss mini, and enable the dedicated sections at least one credit must
be registered and the plugin BACnet Server must be activated (for further information on registration, see
the FAQ _boss.pdf).
BACnet Server is implemented only as TCP/IP (not MSTP).
As BACnet server boss can share up to 1024 variables with the BACnet Client BMS.
boss mini instead may share up to 500 variables.

5. BACnet Server configuration

The BACnet “Slave” (SERVER) service (once activated) starts automatically, and cannot be stopped.
By using the BACnet server is possible to read and write variables which are acquired from boss/boss mini in
different protocols. Here below an example of sharing between a Modbus RS485 device to BACnet IP slave.

First configure a line as in dedicated FAQ, once the line is set, select: Activity -> Data transfer

Here in BACnet server configuration you will see the current BACnet device instance of the supervisor (set as
reported in paragraph 3.1 Device Configuration), then the selection of the available devices/devices models ->
variables:

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 Once selected the device/device models, you will be able to select each variables you need in order to complete
the configuration:

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 Then click save and restart the engine:

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 6. Appendix: BACnet Functions supported by boss family supervisors
The supervisor supports the following BACnet functions:

- Analog Input
- Analog Output
- Analog Value
- Binary Input
- Binary Output
- Binary Value
- Multi-state Input
-Multi-state Output
-Integer Value
-Positive Integer Value
-Device

The supervisor instead does not support:

-Calendar
-Notification Class
-Schedule
-Trend Log
-File

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CST department – Rev 1.4
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