AS-B

Introduction

At the core of an EcoStruxure BMS is an automation server, such as the SpaceLogic* AS-B server. The AS-B server performs key functionality, such as control logic, trend logging, and alarm supervision, provides built-in I/O, and supports communication and connectivity to the field buses. The distributed intelligence of the EcoStruxure BMS helps ensure fault tolerance against detected faults and provides a fully featured user interface through WorkStation and WebStation.

* Formerly known as SmartX.

Features

The AS-B server is a powerful device with built-in power supply and I/O, which makes it suitable for control applications at the plant room level of a BMS in all sizes of buildings. The AS-B server can act as a standalone server or controller using its built-in I/O and also monitor and manage field bus devices. In a small installation, the embedded AS-B server acts as a standalone server or controller, mounted in a small footprint. In medium and large installations, functionality is distributed over multiple automation servers that communicate over TCP/IP.

The AS-B server has the following features:

• Communications hub

• Models with a versatile mix of I/O points

• I/O expansion option

• Manual override function

• Built-in power supply

• Variety of connectivity options

• Zigbee wireless network support

• Authentication and permissions through powerful systems

• WorkStation/WebStation interface

• Native BTL-listed BACnet support

• BACnet/SC node, hub, or router

• Native Modbus support

• Web Services support based open standards

• EcoStruxure Web Services support

• MQTT IoT protocol support

• External log storage option

• Reporting

• Text and graphics-based programming tools

• eMMC memory for data and backup

• IT friendly networking based on the TCP/IP suite of communication protocols

• TLS support

• Simple DIN-rail installation

• Removable terminal blocks

• Efficient terminal management

• Protection circuitry against high-voltage transients, over currents, and short-circuits

• SpaceLogic Operator Display support

Capable of coordinating traffic from above and below its location, the AS-B server can deliver data directly to you or to other servers throughout the site. The AS-B server can run multiple control programs, manage built-in I/O, alarms, and users, handle scheduling and logging, and communicate using a variety of protocols. Because of this, most parts of the system function autonomously and continue to run as a whole even if communication is interrupted or individual EcoStruxure BMS servers or devices go offline.

The AS-B server comes in eight models that offer two different sets of I/O point count and I/O mix.

AS-B servers with “H” in the product name are equipped with a display for output override.

AS-B servers with “P” in the product name are hardware only. An AS-B software package needs to be purchased separately. For more information, see section “Software bundles”.

AS-B servers with 36 I/O points have the same small footprint as AS-B servers with 24 I/O points.

The AS-B server offers a mix of I/O point types that match a wide variety of HVAC applications. Most of the I/O points are universal inputs/outputs, which are highly flexible and can be configured as either inputs or outputs.

AS-B servers with 24 I/O points have the following types:

• 12 Universal inputs/outputs, Ua type

• 4 Universal inputs/outputs, Ub type

• 4 Digital inputs

• 4 Relay outputs

AS-B servers with 36 I/O points have the following types:

• 20 Universal inputs/outputs, Ua type

• 8 Universal inputs/outputs, Ub type

• 4 Triac outputs

• 4 Relay outputs

The universal inputs/outputs are ideal for any mix of temperature, pressure, flow, status points, and similar point types in a building control system.

The universal inputs/outputs can be configured to read several different types of inputs:

• Digital

• Counter

• Supervised

• Voltage

• Current (Ub only)

• Temperature

• Resistive

• 2-Wire RTD temperature

• 2-Wire RTD resistive

As counter inputs, the universal inputs/outputs are commonly used in energy metering applications. As RTD inputs, they are ideal for temperature points in a building control system. As supervised inputs, they are used for security applications where it is critical to know whether or not a wire has been cut or shorted. These events provide a separate indication of alarms and events in the system.

For all analog inputs, maximum and minimum levels can be defined to automatically detect over-range and under-range values.

The universal inputs/outputs are capable of supporting analog outputs of type voltage outputs. Therefore, the universal inputs/outputs support a wide range of devices, such as actuators.

Only devices with safe extra low voltage equipment (SELV/PELV) inputs/outputs should be connected to the AS-B server universal inputs/outputs.

The digital inputs can be used for cost effective sensing of multiple dry contact digital inputs in applications, such as equipment status monitoring or alarm point monitoring. As counter inputs, digital inputs are commonly used in energy metering applications.

The relay outputs support digital Form A point types. The Form A relays are designed for direct load applications.

The triac outputs can be used in many applications to switch 24 VAC on or off for external loads such as actuators, relays, or indicators. Triacs are silent and do not suffer from relay contact wear.

For applications that require more I/O resources, the SpaceLogic IP-IO modules provide a versatile mix of I/O points for any application. For more information, see the SpaceLogic IP-IO Specification Sheet.

AS-B servers with “H” in the product name are equipped with an LCD display and keys to support manual override control of analog and digital outputs. This function allows you to manually override the outputs for testing, commissioning, and maintenance of equipment.

The override status is readable through EcoStruxure Building Operation WorkStation and WebStation, enabling precise monitoring and more reliable control.

The device has a built-in power supply designed to accommodate 24 VAC or 24 VDC input power. The main AC/DC input (L/+ and N/-) is galvanically isolated from the electronics. This removes the risk of damage due to earth currents and permits the input power to be wired without concern for AC polarity matching.

An AS-B server has numerous ports that enable it to communicate with a wide range of protocols, devices, and servers.

An AS-B server has the following ports:

• Two 10/100 Ethernet ports

• One RS-485 port

• One USB device port

• One USB host port

The first Ethernet port is dedicated to the site network. The second Ethernet port is fully configurable. The second port can be configured to extend the site network so that various devices and clients can be connected. Another option is to configure the second port as a separate network, which means that the port can host a private network. If the second port is not used, it can be disabled.

The USB device port allows you to upgrade and interact with the AS-B server using Device Administrator.

Using a USB Ethernet adapter, you can connect a laptop PC to the USB host port and run Device Administrator, WorkStation, and WebStation to upgrade, configure, and access the AS-B server. The USB host port can also be used to provide power and communications for Wireless Adapter - Advanced.

Through Wireless Adapter - Advanced connected to the host USB port, Zigbee ^TM wireless connectivity can be enabled for the automation server. The automation server can extend its point count through the Zigbee wireless network and bring flexibility in your applications. The automation server equipped with the adapter is together a Zigbee Certified Product that is compliant with Zigbee 3.0. For more information on the adapter and supported wireless devices, see the Wireless Adapter - Advanced Specification Sheet.

An EcoStruxure BMS provides a powerful permission system that is easy to manage, flexible, and adapts to all kinds of system sizes. The permission system provides a high standard of authentication. Authentication is done against the built-in user account management system or against Windows Active Directory Domains. The built-in account management system allows an administrator to establish password policies that meet stringent cybersecurity guidelines. When Windows Active Directory is used, the administration costs are lower because users do not have to be managed in multiple directories.

Through any client, the user experience is similar regardless of which EcoStruxure BMS server the user is logged on to. The user can log directly on to an AS-B server to engineer, commission, supervise, and monitor the AS-B server and its built-in I/O as well as its attached field bus devices. See the WorkStation and WebStation specification sheets for additional information.

One of the cornerstones of the EcoStruxure BMS is support for open standards. The AS-B server can natively communicate with two of the most popular standards for buildings: BACnet (including BACnet/SC) and Modbus.

An AS-B server communicates directly to BACnet/IP and BACnet MS/TP networks. The AS-B servers are BTL-listed as BACnet Building Controllers (B-BC), the most advanced BACnet Device Profile. This capability provides access to an extensive range of BACnet devices from Schneider Electric and other vendors. See the BTL Product Catalog for up-to-date details on BTL listed firmware revisions on BACnet International's home page. An AS-B server can also serve as a BACnet Broadcast Management Device (BBMD) to facilitate BACnet systems that span multiple IP subnets.

The Enterprise Server and automation servers support BACnet/SC applications as a BACnet/SC node, hub*, and router. This allows the Enterprise Server and automation servers to be in BACnet/SC networks and support applications that connect BACnet/IP or MS/TP networks with BACnet/SC networks. A major benefit of BACnet/SC is that it allows more secure transport of BACnet traffic and information between BACnet/SC devices over private and public networks without the need for BBMDs, VLANs, and VPNs, because the BACnet/SC protocol uses WebSocket technology and TLS 1.3 encryption. In addition, BACnet/SC uses certificate management to help ensure only those devices authorized to be on a BACnet/SC network can operate on that network.

* EcoStruxure Building Operation version 4.0.3 and later.

The Enterprise Server and automation servers natively integrate Modbus RS-485 client and server configurations, as well as Modbus TCP client and server. This allows full access to third-party products and the range of Schneider Electric products that communicate on the Modbus protocol, such as power meters, UPS, circuit breakers, and lighting controllers.

The AS-B server supports the use of Web Services based on open standards, such as SOAP and REST, to consume data into the EcoStruxure BMS. Use incoming third-party data (temperature forecast, energy cost) over the Web to determine site modes, scheduling, and programming.

EcoStruxure Web Services, Schneider Electric’s Web Services standard, is natively supported in the EcoStruxure BMS servers. EcoStruxure Web Services offers extra features between compliant systems whether within Schneider Electric or other authorized systems. These features include system directory browsing, read/write of current values, alarm receipt and acknowledgement, and historical trend log data. EcoStruxure Web Services requires user name and password to log on to the system.

The Enterprise Server and automation servers support MQTT as an option for publishing data to, and receiving updates from, other systems. MQTT is a messaging transport protocol that with its small footprint, light bandwidth utilization, and simplicity, is ideal for M2M and IoT communication. The MQTT capability supports communication with any MQTT broker, for example, Amazon, Microsoft, Google or IBM.

EcoStruxure BMS servers can be configured to automatically store all historical data, trend log data, event log and audit trail data, in a high-capacity, open, and well-proven database. If data needs to be available for longer periods of time, an external log storage can be incorporated into the EcoStruxure BMS without the need for extensive engineering work. The database supported is TimescaleDB, which is built on PostgreSQL. The capacity is limited only by the size of the selected storage media.

The data in the external log storage is available natively to the viewers built into the EcoStruxure Building Operation clients and to the built-in reporting functionality. No other software is required to access the data throughout the full retention period. The data is readily available for any analytics software that you already use, due to the open nature of PostgreSQL. Most reporting tools have native support for PostgreSQL.

The TimescaleDB extension to PostgreSQL optimizes the solution for time-stamped data and is well-suited for the EcoStruxure Building Operation historical data.

The system architecture is very flexible. All EcoStruxure BMS servers in an EcoStruxure BMS can write to and read from the same TimescaleDB database, or multiple databases can be used.

You can use the powerful Log Processor functionality for custom processing of trend data for viewing in charts, dashboards and for inclusion in reports. The Log Processor enables advanced calculations on one or multiple trend logs and point values.

Examples of advanced calculations:

• Energy usage normalization

• Virtual submeters and summaries

• Calculation of Mean Kinetic Temperature

• Unit conversions

• Average, maximum, and mini m um over custom periods

The output of the Log Processor can be saved in the database, including the External Log Storage or calculated automatically on demand.

The EcoStruxure BMS servers provide built-in functionality for basic reporting that can deliver reports in any text format and XLSX, without any dependencies to other external software. Reports for XLSX can be enriched by using advanced functionality such as formulas, conditional formatting, charts and sparklines.

Reports can be generated on schedule, on an alarm event or other custom conditions, and you can get the output delivered via email or written to file.

Unique to the industry, the EcoStruxure BMS servers have both Script and Function Block programming options. This flexibility helps assure that a suitable programming method can be selected for the application.

The automation server has a 4 GB eMMC memory, which is used, for example, for the application, historical data, and backup storage. Users can also manually back up or restore the automation server to a storage location on a PC or network. Through the Enterprise Server, users have the ability to perform scheduled backups of associated automation servers to network storage for even greater levels of protection.

The EcoStruxure BMS servers communicate using the networking standards. This makes installations easy, management simple, and transactions more secure.

• IP addressing

• TCP communications

• DHCP for easy network configuration

• DNS for simple lookup of addresses

• HTTP/HTTPS for Internet access through firewalls, which enables remote monitoring and control

• NTP (Network Time Protocol) for time synchronization throughout the system

• SMTP or SMTPS with support for SSL/TLS based authentication, enables sending email messages triggered by schedule or alarm

• SNMP enables network supervision and reception of application alarms in designated network management tools

• WebSocket Secure (WSS) and TLS 1.3 encryption (BACnet/SC applications)

Communication between clients and the EcoStruxure BMS servers , and between EcoStruxure BMS servers, can be encrypted using Transport Layer Security (TLS ). The servers are delivered with a default self-signed certificate. Commercial Certification Authority (CA) server certificates are supported to lower the risk of malicious information technology attacks. Use of encrypted communication can be enforced for both WorkStation and WebStation access.

Fasteners easily snap into a locked position for panel installation. The fastener has a quick-release feature for easy DIN-rail removal.

AS-B servers use pluggable terminal blocks, which are easy to install and remove from the device. The terminal blocks are delivered with the device.

The input and output terminals are clearly labeled. EcoStruxure Building Operation WorkStation can generate custom as-built labels for an AS-B server.

Protection components on the universal inputs/outputs, digital inputs, and triac outputs helps protect against high-voltage short-duration transient events. Universal inputs/outputs configured as current inputs (Ub only) have protection against over current. Universal inputs/outputs configured as voltage outputs have current limits to help protect against permanent short-circuit to ground.

SpaceLogic Operator Display is an easy HMI based on the BACnet B-OD profile. It can interface and interact with automation servers in a small BMS that require a simple HMI. It features a large 7-inch color touch screen and a preloaded application. It is easy to install and use and does not require any programming. Built for the equipment room, the panel-mounted SpaceLogic Operator Display offers an ingress protection rating of IP65, which makes it both dust-tight and protected from low-pressure water jets. For more information, see the SpaceLogic Operator Display Specification Sheet.

Terminals

 

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AS-B server model with 24 I/O points

 

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AS-B server model with 36 I/O points

For protection from excess current that could be produced by field wiring, follow these instructions:

• Connect RET terminal number 4 or 5 to a common chassis/signal ground rail in the control panel using a size 2.5 mm² (13 AWG) or larger wire. The wire must have a current rating greater than or equal to 16 A.

• AS-B servers with 24 I/O points have more RET terminals for connection of I/O returns, so the common chassis/signal ground rail is optional and may not be needed.

• Individual 24 VDC power sources to the field must be current limited to maximum 4 A for UL compliant installations, and maximum 6 A in other areas.

For more information on wiring, see the SpaceLogic Hardware Reference Guide.