Indicon

CM-Net

The module

CM-Net Webapplication

Building Management Systems

Heatingdata - central server

The CM-Net package offers the most advanced communication solutions, thanks to the state of the art hardware and software components. Afther the CM-Net module is installed into any Plus or Eco Plus type controller, the user can choose between multiple comfortable remote monitoring and control options. The CM-Net provides Ethernet connection, a Modbus TCP interface for integration into Building Management Systems, meanwhile maintaining its own local webserver with the CM-Net webapplication on it.
The module must be installed into the controller mechanically, which is an easy process, and can be done in case of already installed systems too (retrofitable into any Plus or Eco Plus controller). The connection with the local network, the Internet or the BMS is achived via an ethernet cable.

Once the CM-Net module is activated after installation, it maintains its own local webserver. Provided by this server the user can find the web based application with intuitive grapthical interface. After a password authentication, every zone, measured value, lots of parameters and settings become available and adjustable. Thanks to the responsive design, the user interface adapts to any device, the webapplication is available and comfortably usable from any device with a webbrowser (e.g.: Smart devices, PCs). The IP adress of the CM-Net module is necessary for the connection, but it can be retrieved in a second with our CM-Net Finder* application (available for Windows and Android). Another possibility for remote control with CM-Net is using our CM-Net Virtual* application. This app is for Windows PCs, and provides a virtual equivalent of the controller front panel as user interface.

* The CM-Net Finder and Virtual apps are available to download for all CM-Net users, free of charge.

The CM-Net module can operate as a Modbus-TCP interface as well, making it easy to integrate the controller into a Building Management System, should it be a uniquely made or globally known one. All information necessary for the Modbus communication (including register tables) can be found in the manual of the CM-Net.

Indicon maintains a secure, central webserver service (https://heatingdata.com) for all CM-Net users, this way providing a Plug'n'Play user experience. The only prerequisite for a secure user account is s hort registration, during which the serial numbers of the controller and the CM-Net module must be entered beside a user name and password*. The Heatingdata service provides the same responsive graphical interface that is available on the module's local webserver, but it has some additional advantages:

No need for setting or searching for the IP address of the controller
Even for access via Internet, there is no need for opening the local network
No need for multiple registrations to get access to multiple controllers
There is no restriction for the number of controllers on one account, regardless of the actual location of any unit (separate building or even different country). All controllers on the account can be modified or deleted any time.

* All personal data of a Heatingdata account is stored in a secure, encrypted format. This way no one except the user can access them (not even the developers of Heatingdata).

Modulation Stepless control

A heating system is only as effective and economical as its control system.

The heating systems using stepless (modulation) control provide significantly more comfort and more economical operation compared to one-stage and two-stage installations. Precise temperature control, better heatcomfort and practicaly non-existent temperature fluctuations. Beside the improved heatcomfort, the energy cost savings can go as high as 14%.*

Heating systems are always oversized, designed to be sufficient during the coldest days of the year. The entire heat output is only needed on a couple of days each year. In the past, the required temperature of less cold days have been achieved by continuously switching the heaters on and off. Today it is no longer considered an up-to-date solution, because the users have to count with significant energy waste and temperature fluctuations as a result.

The stepless control always provides precisely the heat output that is necessary to achieve the actual heat requirement (based on temperature fluctuations outside). This way the continuous switching is avoided, energy can be saved and heatcomfort is increased.

Heat-up optimization Self-learning, adaptive controllers

A heating system is only as effective and economical as its control system.

Every Indicon R controller has a built-in feature called Heat-up optimization, which provides significant energy cost savings for the users. It is based on a simple, but important principle: "The heating system should only use so much energy that is really necessary."
This function is based on a self-learning algorithm in the software of the controller, which continuously measures and evaluates the previous heat-up data with regard to the outdoor temperature. As a result, the required room temperature will be reached precisely at the required time (e.g.: start of workhours). Not earlier, which would result in unnecessary energy waste, and not later which decreases heatcomfort. The feature is completely automatic, and even takes the changes of the heating system or the heated zones into account. Thanks to these adaptive qualities, the heat-up procedure will always start at the optimal time based on heat requirements and temperature.

SA outdoor temperature sensor

About the heat-up process:

The required room temperature (☀) has to be provided by the time the work hours start. Huge heating energy must be loaded into the system to ensure this change from the night time (☾) or sparing temperature. This is why the heat-up process must start before the start of the workhours. The length of the heat-up time always changes, as it depends on the weather and the outdoor temperature. It is long on the coldest days, and shorter on milder ones (see Figure 1 & 2). The output of the heaters during heat-up is usually 100%.

The required temperature must be provided for the required time, even if the control system lacks the heat-up optimization feature. This is usually realized by starting the heat-up process with a fixed (tFIX) time before the work hours. The fixed time is long, to ensure that the temperature reaches the required level in time, even on the coldest days. However, on any milder, less cold day, this long fixed time will result in reaching the temperature long before it is required (∆t earlier). This leads to significant and unnecessary energy waste (see Figures 3 & 4).

This energy waste can be eliminated with heat-up optimization. “The heating system is most economical when it is turned off.” With optimization, the more costly operation (☀) will be active for the shortest time possible, based on heat requirements.

The energy savings are significant, for this see Figure 4!

For a whole heating season it results in a huge drop in energy costs, because the number of milder or average days in a heating season is the multiple of the coldest days (as it is proved by average winter temperature).

The heating energy costs can be significantly reduced by using Indicon radiant heating controllers.

The R-B central unit and the R-M zone modules together are the bus-based, modular version of the high-end radiant heating controllers from Indicon. The R-B central unit is only available in Eco Plus version, this way the control mode can be selected in each zone (single-stage, two-stage, modulation), and even mixed operation is possible (different control modes in different zones). The R-M zone module is available in Plus (single-, or two-stage control), and Eco Plus (singl-, two-stage, or modulation control) versions. The number of zones (equivalent to the number of installed R-M modules) can be increased from one up to eight, regardless of the heater types used in any separate zone.

The most important advantages of the bus-based control system:

Thanks to the internal bus of Indicon, the zone modules can be installed sequentially, this way sparing significant amount of work and costs during installation and wiring.
The control system can be extended with additional R-M modules (additional zones) any time, up to 8 zones.
Only one communication module is required in the central unit to gain remote access to the whole system.
The R-M modules are available in Eco Plus version, which is capable of advanced modulation control.
Different control modes can be selected in each zone (within one system).
Based on optional settings, the zone modules can stay operational (continue control of the zone) during temporary communication problems with the central unit (e.g.: wire broken, or power is cut to the central unit).

Beside these advantages, the bus-based control system of course has all the features and functionality of the Indicon radiant heating controllers: the automatic heat-up optimization, remote monitoring and communication possibilities, or the modulation control (among others). For details on these features, please use the navigation bar at the top of this page, and for general functionality and features of all Indicon radiant heating controllers please visit our product information page.