February 2017

TTM-06: Making EC work in Building Automation Systems

How to integrate EC fans into your system – control solutions from ebm-papst

1 Introduction
Building automation systems (BAS) or building management systems (BMS) control a building’s internal
environment and are essential in the running of energy demand management systems. These systems
help to further monitor and improve energy performance of buildings and allow organisations to track
and meet their environmental targets.

An important criterion for investors and tenants alike is the building’s energy efficiency rating, such as
its NABERS rating. 1 By monitoring the building’s performance, the BAS can highlight problems early on,
therefore minimising the risk for costly repairs and ensuring the building’s performance as specified. In
the Melbourne CBD for example, 25% of all energy efficiency upgrades now include the installation or
upgrade of a BAS. 2

Fans play an important part in any air conditioning and ventilation (VAC) system and therefore the
building’s energy performance. They are typically used in a central air handling unit (AHU), deployed in
hundreds of fan coil units (FCU), installed in fan assisted variable air volume boxes (VAV) across the
building, or mounted on air-cooled rooftop condensers. Fans use a tremendous amount of power, 34 and
with fan performance directly affecting the VAC system and comfort levels in a building, the close
control and monitoring of these systems is crucial. An increasing number of EC fan specifications for
VAC systems therefore require monitoring and direct control over the fans via the BAS.

1 NABERS, https://nabers.gov.au, viewed 27/01/2017.

2 1200 BUILDINGS MELBOURNE RETROFIT SURVEY 2015, City of Melbourne,
http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/, viewed 27/01/2017.
3 Simon Bradwell, ‘AS/NZS ISO 12759:2013 – Implications and effects on fans and fan efficiencies in

existing buildings’, Fan Manufacturers Association of Australia and New Zealand, 2013,
www.fmaanz.com.au.
4 Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, ‘Council of Australian Governments (COAG)

National strategy on energy efficiency, baseline energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in
commercial buildings in Australia’, Part1, Nov 2012, p 20.
ebm-papst A&NZ Pty Ltd 10 Oxford Road · Laverton North VIC 3026 · Phone +61 (03) 9360 6400 · Fax +61 (03) 9360 6464
ABN 33 115 927 556 NSW Phone +61 (02) 9827 6400 · NSW Fax +61 (02) 9827 6464 · NZ Phone +64 (09) 525 0245 · NZ Fax +64 (09) 525 0246
sales@ebmpapst.com.au · www.ebmpapst.com.au
 Figure 1: ebm-papst Project Engineer, Sue Ong, working with a ConnECtor module

2 ConnECtor
The ConnECtor range of communication gateways and controllers from ebm-papst A&NZ aims to
provide a bridging platform for information flow between the BAS and EC fans which form part of a
building’s HVAC system. The product range was designed with a unified and simple wiring design
reduces the probability of installation errors while keeping installation costs low.

Three implementation levels are available in the ConnECtor range, with the main difference being the
control source. In all three levels the communication from the BAS can be set up either via high level,
for example BACnet, or via analogue control. Communication from and to the fans takes place via
MODBUS RTU and analogue 0-10V DC voltage control.

Figure 2: ebmpapst MODBUS display mounted outside an AHU

ebm-papst A&NZ Pty Ltd 10 Oxford Road · Laverton North VIC 3026 · Phone +61 (03) 9360 6400 · Fax +61 (03) 9360 6464
ABN 33 115 927 556 NSW Phone +61 (02) 9827 6400 · NSW Fax +61 (02) 9827 6464 · NZ Phone +64 (09) 525 0245 · NZ Fax +64 (09) 525 0246
sales@ebmpapst.com.au · www.ebmpapst.com.au
 3 Implementation levels

3.1 Monitoring:
In a very basic setup, the ConnECtor controller is used as in interface to allow information flow without
changing the control parameters of the EC fans. For example, fans that are part of a packaged air
conditioning unit are speed-controlled by the on-board controller of the air conditioner. The BAS
monitors the fans, for example to measure the amount of air supplied into the building, and to ensure
that all fans are running. Any fan errors or warnings can be communicated back to the BAS for
diagnosis without the need to send a service technician on site to investigate.

3.2 Gateway:
In this configuration the ConnECtor receives a demand signal from a higher-level controller, for
example a BAS, and takes over the speed control of the connected fans. This is useful in applications
where multiple EC fans are used, for example an AHU with multiple EC fans in a FanGrid. The BAS
only needs to communicate with the AHU or condenser controller and does not have to address each
fan individually, which in turn reduces the number of network devices and simplifies the installation and
commissioning.

3.3 Controller:
In this setup, the ConnECtor has its own control logic, e.g. controlling the fan speed to maintain a
certain air flow or temperature independent from an external control source. The BAS is mostly
monitoring but it can interfere by changing set points or by turning equipment on or off. This can be
particularly useful if the control variable from the BAS is not a percentage run signal. For example, the
BAS might send a demand for 5,000 l/s of air flow. The ConnECtor then controls the fans within the
AHU to deliver the required amount.

Figure 3: ebmpapst EC Gateway installed on site.

ebm-papst A&NZ Pty Ltd 10 Oxford Road · Laverton North VIC 3026 · Phone +61 (03) 9360 6400 · Fax +61 (03) 9360 6464
ABN 33 115 927 556 NSW Phone +61 (02) 9827 6400 · NSW Fax +61 (02) 9827 6464 · NZ Phone +64 (09) 525 0245 · NZ Fax +64 (09) 525 0246
sales@ebmpapst.com.au · www.ebmpapst.com.au
 4 Conclusion
Whatever the control set up is, the ConnECtor range of controllers, display units and communication
gateways allows for a proven and simple integration of ebm-papst EC fans into new and existing
buildings. Removing the need to mix and match components, everything can be provided by ebm-papst,
already proven, tested and pre-configured.

All ConnECtor devices are supplied in kit form and the installing contractor is provided with ebm-papst
contact details should issues arise during installation. ebm-papst offers complementary commissioning
and installation training to contractors in its Sydney and Melbourne training centres and ebm-papst
engineers can offer on-site support should the need arise.

Our ConnECtor control solutions are developed by ebm-papst engineers in Australia in cooperation with
our customers.

Contact ecupgrades@au.ebmpapst.com for more details and to discuss an appropriate solution for
your situation.

ebm-papst A&NZ Pty Ltd 10 Oxford Road · Laverton North VIC 3026 · Phone +61 (03) 9360 6400 · Fax +61 (03) 9360 6464
ABN 33 115 927 556 NSW Phone +61 (02) 9827 6400 · NSW Fax +61 (02) 9827 6464 · NZ Phone +64 (09) 525 0245 · NZ Fax +64 (09) 525 0246
sales@ebmpapst.com.au · www.ebmpapst.com.au