- EMC Compliant: Designed to meet Class B emissions standards
- Whole System Expertise: Design and development of hardware and firmware
- Plug Into Standard Systems: BACnet and Modbus connectivity for easy integration
- Optimised for Scale: high-performance and low-cost design for volume manufacture
- Customisable Firmware and Sensor Integration: allowing for flexible bespoke solutions
- Designed for Existing Product Integration: fitting within existing enclosures for design and cost benefit
Project summary
Trends in building sensors have shifted away from analogue signalling toward digital interfaces, allowing for improved functionality and reduced wiring complexity. Our client, an established manufacturer of analogue building sensors, needed to modernise its product offering without sacrificing brand identity. Having previously relied on rebranded third-party digital products, they partnered with us to develop a set of electronics that would compete with market leaders in terms of functionality.
We engineered a new solution that integrated the required digital communication capabilities while maintaining compatibility with the client’s existing enclosures, to preserve their well-known product aesthetics and avoid the costs of plastic retooling. This new design also supports a wide range of sensor configurations, enabling tailored solutions without the need for new PCB designs for each application. With over 10,000 units already deployed, the sensors have been extremely reliable.
Core components:
- STM32 MCU
- Sensirion RH&T sensor
- SenseAir CO2 sensor
Product features:
- ±60V fault protected RS485 transceiver provides reliability in noisy environments
- Able to run from either 24V DC or 24V AC power supplies
- Pluggable terminal blocks for easy wiring and reduced risk of damage during installation
- Zero crossing detect TRIAC outputs prevent current surge during turn on
- 3x 0-10V analogue outputs can be configured to represent any of the onboard sensors
- Onboard EEPROM for storing configuration settings
- Temperature sensor with ±0.5°C measurement accuracy
- Integrated relative humidity, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and air quality sensors
- BACnet MSTP interface allows for simple discovery by building controllers
- MODbus RTU interface provides a simple, low-cost alternative for legacy installations
- Complies with EMC Class B radiated and conducted emission thresholds
Partner Electronics Scope of Work:
- Initial design concepts with client
- Circuit design through to schematic capture
- PCB layout through to manufacturing packs
- Liaising with EMS during fabrication
- Board bring-up and testing
- Refinements based on evolving client requirements