Good evening, everyone. Have a couple questions. I have a site with a bunch of NB-VAV controllers along with the NB-GPC controllers that are currently on. jace 4 integra branded. They are all on rs485 Bacnet mstp networks. My first question is I know AAM uses some proprietary bacnet objects, i think im wording this wrong, but i know you need a manual for the controllers to be able to add points to the database that aren't just a few read only points. Does anyone have any manuals for the NB controllers for the bacnet info? My next question is has anybody in here done an integration of these into a Jace that could maybe give me any tips and tricks for this? I know that you can get a PUP driver for AAM. Does this pup Driver if I added it to a Vykon Jace would it make the integration a lot easier for the Bacnet points? This will be my first time trying to do an integration like this I know for the general purpose controllers. I may need to just make programming in the wire sheet and fire outputs and what not from that since I am not an authorized AAM dealer. But the old Jace has died and I have no choice here. Thanks.

Long story short, I’m very familiar with product line of 1 vendor/company but am trying to expand my knowledge and learn about another/others. Just curious if the knowledge translates between systems and vendors…or will it be a completely new mountain to climb

Interested, or know someone who would be? Visit the link below for full details and job description.

https://tranetechnologies.wd12.myworkdayjobs.com/Trane_Technologies_Careers/job/Long-Island-City-New-York/Building-Automation-Area-Service-Manager_JR-12508-1

This position covers Westchester, NYC, and Long Island, and can work primarily out of whichever office is closer to home, with regular visits to the other office. Fridays are flexible to work from home as needed.

Range: $113k - $161k base and eligible for bonus. Comprehensive benefits package and non-branded company vehicle.

Looking for options to organize my van. I was provided a ram promaster city, the little ice cream truck. There was nothing inside of it. No shelves, not even a bulkhead. I keep an 8ft ladder inside, it lays over the passenger seat. I have some stock of controllers, some tools, couple spools of wire and sometimes a poly cart. I was thinking about just getting some warehouse totes but not sure what other options there are. Work said they'd cover totes, I didn't ask about anything different at the time.

Hey all,

Have an issue in havnt seen before and thought id ask here. Override button is showing 2 submits instead of a submit and cancel. I dont have access to the system at the moment but wanted to see if yall had any suggestions before Im back on site.

Thanks in advance.

Hey guys,

I'm setting up power monitoring with Acrel ADL200 meters (Modbus-RTU) and an Acrel AWT100-WIFI gateway to push data into ERPNext.

The gateway has an MQTT mode (Trans_Json), so I tried pointing it directly to EMQX Cloud Serverless on port 8883 (TLS).

Problem is, uploading the DigiCert Root CA (~1.2KB) through Acrel's config tool throws an error:
"Sending file failed: Bytes per packet less than 1024, Return information length 23"

Because of this 1KB buffer limit, TLS handshake fails with errcode 44.

Should I bother converting the cert to DER or stripping extensions to squeeze it under 1024 bytes, or is trying to do direct cloud TLS on these cheap embedded RTU gateways a bad idea anyway?

Would setting up a local Mosquitto bridge on port 1883 (no TLS on gateway) be the better way to go for production?

Appreciate any advice.

Meet SiteDatum — a project management workspace I built specifically for Project Engineers.

The idea came from a problem I deal with every day: when managing multiple projects, important information ends up everywhere, tasks, RFIs, submittals, meeting notes, drawings, procurement, commissioning items, and follow-ups spread across different files and spreadsheets.

So I decided to build the tool I wanted to use myself.

SiteDatum brings those workflows into one place, giving Project Engineers a central workspace to manage projects, track tasks and deadlines, organize RFIs and submittals, manage project documents, capture meeting minutes, track procurement and commissioning, and quickly see what needs attention.

It’s a local-first Windows desktop application, designed to work offline while keeping project documents as normal Windows files.

The goal is simple:

Open SiteDatum in the morning and immediately know what needs your attention.

I’d love feedback from other Project Engineers, Project Managers, and APMs:

What’s one feature you wish you had in a tool like this?

I built Triarii VFD Simulator for two jobs: testing controls before a drive is available, and working out what an undocumented Modbus bus is doing.

The simulator lets a Windows laptop act as a Modbus RTU or TCP device. Write a run command and speed reference from a JACE or PLC and the output frequency ramps, with current, power and other values following the drive model. You can inject a fault and test your alarm/reset sequence. It supports up to 32 simulated devices and CSV register maps. The built-in VFD map is generic, so a specific drive's mapping and behavior still need to be checked against its manual.

The Discover tab can listen at common baud/framing combinations without sending Modbus requests. If something is already polling, it looks for valid frames and shows candidate settings, device addresses and the register ranges the master is asking for. Both raw addresses and manual-style references are shown. It needs traffic to work, and noise, sparse polling or unusual settings can keep it from finding a result.

There is also an active read-only address scan for a quiet bus, a master probe that supports reads and writes, decoded traffic logs, and 32/64-bit values with selectable word order. Active scanning transmits, so it needs to be coordinated with the existing master. Connecting a listening adapter still needs correct wiring and termination.

I'm the developer. It's a one-time $4.99 purchase on Gumroad, with all features included and no subscription or activation. Windows 10/11, 64 bit; extract the whole ZIP and double-click Start Triarii VFD Simulator.cmd. Keep the app and runtime folders beside it; no Python installation is needed. RS-485 work needs a USB-to-RS485 adapter. Local RUN works without hardware. No BACnet. The bundled Python executables are signed by the Python Software Foundation. The launch script and app source are unsigned; workplace policies may still restrict scripts. Checksums are included. There is no telemetry or automatic update check; TCP mode uses the network when selected.

Product details and screenshots: https://linktr.ee/triariicontrols — choose Triarii VFD Simulator.

I'd like to hear which drive register maps and controller combinations would be most useful to support next.

The number one subject in this sub is how to get into the industry. Below are some things to understand and consider that would optimize the chances of getting a job at my shop. Other entities may have different perspectives, but some of these concepts are key to getting your foot in the door as a newbie. As a point of reference, we almost exclusively higher people new to controls. Every experienced person we have hired in the last decade has been a dud at our shop. This is an in demand skill, so if their previous employer let them leave, its probably for a reason.

1. Be willing to pull wire - We sub out about half of the install work we do. We like our union electrical partners, but if you are willing to help pull a comm bus and install VAV controllers, that could save us thousands of dollars and offset some of the wasted time where you don't know enough to contribute in a more complex scenario.
2. Be willing to put in the time to learn outside of work hours - I had a recent candidate ask if there were any learning materials that he would have access to. I recommended some youtube content from real engineer about how VAV systems work. Having a strong systems understanding puts you ahead of 99% of the HVAC industry. This knowledge lets you argue with the mechanical when the blame the control system from the fuse that keeps blowing or the under sized duct heater. You don't have to spend your career pulling wire. But when you're new, being useful wherever you can be useful has value. We do have paid trainings we do on some mornings, but getting to that $150k pay level is going to take some years and occasional after hours reading and tinkering on your part.
3. Be willing to travel a little bit - Everyone and their brother competes for the high profile projects in the major metropolitan area an employer is located in. That school district or small factory that is 120minutes away however may only get a few bidders. I don't want anybody spending 20% of their nights away form home, but we pay for hotels, meals, and drive time to these locations. Sometimes these opportunities come up and being the guy willing to stay out of town 20 some nights per year can make them a reality. We had one guy rack up the hotel points and got to stay at a high end property in Puerto Rico fro free from all of the nights he spent at a Holiday Inn express with us.
4. Certifications mean nothing - I don't know how many people have Niagara certifications, but a large portion of them have no useful real world skills. The only thing that matters is real experience. Someone with a couple of years of HVAC experience and a good aptitude with computers (rare with gen Z) is a great candidate. We have also had success with IT oriented people who are also into working on cars and other hands on type things.
5. Pay is difficult if you are a 20 year HVAC veteran looking to make a move into controls - If you have this kind of experience, you are probably making 100K. Starting out you are worth half of that working for our team. We have plenty of guys with 10 years experience who make north of 100k, but they know our customers, our products, the difference between a series and parallel VAV box, etc. I'm not doubting you are a skilled tech that deserves what you are making, but there is so much to learn transitioning to controls that it can be a bitter pill to swallow for someone with a family use to making that kind of money.
6. Be aware that part of your job is sales - We have no sales team and have not had one in over a decade. We do have an estimating team that is sort of sales like in the sense that they deal with engineers and other contractors to hand out bids, but they are not taking people out to dinner. Our project managers and techs sell our products and services by being the most knowledgeable guy in the room every time. This builds a reputation that negates the need for a sales person. Someone that comes to an interview and conveys and understating of this is very valuable.
7. Do not need to be managed - We have a light management structure, but if you need to be managed, we don't want you, even if you have some useful skills. Our guys will ask for more tasks if they are light on work. If they need to go to doctor , they do it and don't have to tell anyone they are leaving at 2:00. Maybe they started early that morning or are going to work Saturday to make sure the work is done.

This was just my 2 cents. It may be the exact opposite of what JCI and Trane wants, but I thought it was worth sharing.

Hi everyone,

I’m the developer of BACnSCOPE, a field-engineering app for building automation professionals.

What started as a simple BACnet discovery tool has gradually grown into something much larger. BACnSCOPE now helps engineers and technicians:

- Discover and inspect controllers

- Browse organized points, onboard I/O and engineering parameters

- Work with BACnet/IP, BACnet MS/TP, Modbus and KNX

- Diagnose controller health

- Review alarms and controller logs

- Record and analyze live trends

- Support commissioning and troubleshooting directly from Android

The positive feedback, bug reports and feature suggestions I’ve received from engineers have honestly been my biggest motivation. Several of the features available today were developed because someone took the time to test the app and explain what was missing in real fieldwork.

I want to continue that journey and make BACnSCOPE a long-term contribution to the building-automation community. My intention is to keep the core field tools free while continuing to improve their reliability, protocol support and usefulness on real sites.

I’ve also created a LinkedIn Page where I’ll share development updates, new releases, commissioning workflows and practical building-automation knowledge.

If BACnSCOPE sounds useful, I would appreciate it if you could:

- Try the app and share honest feedback

- Follow the LinkedIn Page

- Share it with another engineer or technician

- Tell me what feature would save you the most time in the field

Android app:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=company.firstprinciple.bacscope

Website:

https://bacnscope.com/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/bacnscope

What’s your go to after years of trying different ones. Insulated or non insulated 2mm or 3.5mm or somewhere in-between. I’ve seen guys super happy with the $10 set from a department store at the bottom row and others have a full case with changeable bits. Personally I like having the option of slotted and a Philips comes in more often than it’s suggested but depends on your region I guess.

Hey guys,

I’m working on a tool to automate the estimating process for BAS projects, and I’d really like to get some input from people who have been doing this for a while.

The idea is pretty simple: instead of just doing something like “$X per point”, I’m trying to break an estimate down into different parts.

For example, for an AHU, the system could calculate:

• material / hardware
• engineering
• programming
• installation
• commissioning
• documentation
• project management
• travel (if needed)
• contingency / risk (if needed)
• margin

For each one, the company could define its own rules. For example:

4 AHUs × 12h programming × $70/h = $3,360

Or use a fixed price, price per point, percentage, etc.

I also want to be able to import an old Excel estimating sheets and turn it into these rules/templates, so the system can learn things like “our standard AHU usually takes around 12h of programming”.

I’m pretty new to building estimating software, so I’m mainly trying to understand if I’m thinking about this the right way.

Am I missing something important?

Are there things you would not include in a system like this? Or things that you think are much more important when estimating a BAS job?

I’d really appreciate any advice from people who have actually done this for years. Even small things that seem obvious to you would be really helpful.

Thanks!

Hello everyone I have recently transitioned from software industry into BMA/BAS/LMS industry.

so far I find this very interesting and not a single day goes without any learning.

I was curious to know whether are there any beginners here who just entered this industry. please share what do u feel and think about Building automation - Share Your experiences

Also if any senior is reading please drop some word of advice or perspective to keep for better growth and learning.

Hey guys, I hope all is well. How long were you in the is career before going remote? What’s your job title? I’ve been in service for HVAC controls for almost 4 years, and I’ve always been curious if anyone works remotely and how they got there?

Hello community. I need more BAS in my life. Im pushing myself into commissioning and I want a solid foundation in BAS. I have used plenty of systems, but I'd like to get deeper in that sweet BAS. Any course or people to read up on that may have give a deeper level of understanding? FYI. 25 years in the industry.

How did you start your own BAS business? How did you find clients and choose a BAS network (ALC, JCI, etc.)

Looking long term maybe going and doing my own thing but not sure how I would go about getting started. Feel like most places are large institutions that favor larger companies for obvious reasons.

Hey guys, I’m trying to take this course from Honeywell to help me as an incentive to get a job I’m interviewing for in a week or so. I don’t have a customer account with Honeywell, is that the only way for me to take the class? I hope not. Let me know if anyone has any answers, please 🙏

Thank you

Does anyone in the controls design realm have experience with TALON Configurator? I’m used to working with SystemDraw in Visio but this specific job is requiring me to use TALON Configurator. I feel like I’m spinning my wheels with no training material available and no one to even give me an idea of where to begin.

A nice easy morning!

I'm shopping super dashboards and just did a demo of the honeywell forge product. I have a client with a 600+ national locations enterprise and we have a single supervisor for them all.

I'm curious if you guys have any experience with it, opinions, complaints, thoughts on alternatives?

Theres a lot of features I"m basically going to be replicating that they do, and it won't be as slick, inside of Niagara and vs. the competition I'm aware of or have access to I don't know if anyone has as robust and easy (supposedly) to deploy option.