Using BACnet/IP in our Commercial Fan Control Panel
Q-PAC Control Panels will soon offer the choice of BACnet/IP or BACnet MS/TP for our Q-PAC Multimotor Plenum Fan. Q-PAC engineers are actively working on making the Q-PAC Fan Controller support BACnet/IP natively. Whether you connect your Q-PAC MPF with BACnet MS/TP or BACnet/IP, your fan will still function the same way. You can use BACnet to monitor and control your commercial AHU fan with your Building Management System (BMS).
BACnet/IP has some advantages over BACnet MS/TP. The main difference is the mode of connection. BACnet MS/TP uses RS-485, which is a proven, reliable staple. On the other hand, BACnet/IP uses Ethernet for its connection. Ethernet and the IP protocol is better because:
1. Devices can pull an address using DCHP, the standard way every computer gets its IP address. This is automatic, and doesn’t require a technician to configure the address.
2. Ethernet uses a star topology, rather than a daisy chain topology. This makes it easier to wire, and more robust. When a device takes down the daisy chain, it often becomes impossible to communicate with all of the rest of the devices downstream.
3. Connection speeds are much faster with Ethernet.
4. Ethernet cable is widely standardized, with most contractors and electricians already having it in stock on their trucks. Ethernet cable classes are widely understood and most people have heard of Cat5 or Cat6. On the other hand, RS-485 uses a larger twisted pair, and needs a third untwisted bare wire for signal ground. Often also specifies shielded wire, adding additional costs.
5. There’s no practical limit to the number of devices connected to the BAS with BACnet/IP. Conversely an MS/TP daisy chain is limited to 127 devices, at which point you need to segment your network, adding more equipment.
