HVAC interface
Description
The HVAC Universal Interface allows you to connect a VRV, VRF or multi-split air conditioning system (HVAC system) to the Niko Home Control installation. This module acts as the interface between the air conditioning system and the Niko Home Control gateway and allows communication between both devices.
Overview
Order numbers
550-00551: HVAC interface for Daikin VRV
550-00552: HVAC interface for Sanyo (Panasonic) VRF 550-00553: HVAC interface for Toshiba VRF
550-00554: HVAC interface for Mitsubishi Electric VRF 550-00556: HVAC interface for LG VRF
550-00557: HVAC interface for Fujitsu (Atlantic) VRF 550-00558: HVAC interface for Mitsubishi Heavy VRF 550-00559: HVAC interface for Hitachi VRF
Visit www.niko.eu (Products > Niko Home Control) to find out which HVAC systems are supported.
Operation
The HVAC interface allows you to control an HVAC system using a Niko Home Control HVAC thermostat. See Push buttons with display.
Only one HVAC interface is needed for the different HVAC systems. Only one HVAC interface can be connected to an HVAC system. To connect a multi-split air conditioning system, you will need an additional module in each indoor unit.
- It is not possible to combine different brands of air conditioning systems into one Niko Home Control installation.
- It is not possible to connect an additional heating element to the HVAC thermostat.
- The HVAC interface synchronises the Niko Home Control installation and the HVAC system every 10 minutes and after every action from the installation. The parameters that will be synchronised are: heating/cooling, on/ off, ventilation speed, desired temperature and temperature settings.
- A maximum of 20 HVAC thermostats can be connected to the Niko Home Control installation. This means you can create up to 20 zones.
- The Niko Home Control installation can control a maximum of 8 indoor units per zone/HVAC thermostat.
- The HVAC system has its own order of priority when responding to various commands from different zones.
Installation
Connection diagrams
- To avoid crosstalk in new installations, connect all SELV cables on the left inside the electrical cabinet and all high-voltage cables to the right inside the electrical cabinet.
- Group all low-voltage modules together, such as the Nikobus interface or the Easywave RF interface, to ensure that the Nikobus cable or the antenna can run alongside the SELV cable.
Connecting and mounting the HVAC interface
- Preferably, use an HVAC system that is galvanically isolated from the mains.
- Do not connect more than one HVAC interface to the Niko Home Control installation.
- The resident must ensure that the WiFi network is secure. This protection is necessary for using the app on a smartphone or tablet.
1 To connect the HVAC interface to a VRV or VRF air conditioning system or a multi-split air conditioning system:
- To connect the HVAC interface to a VRV or VRF air conditioning system, connect the HVAC interface via a two-wire HVAC bus cable to the indoor unit(s). The following table provides an overview of the bus connection to the indoor unit(s) for each type of HVAC system:
HVAC system | Communication network | Bus connection | Polarity | No. of indoor units | No. of outdoor units | Shielded network cable |
Daikin | D3 Net | F1 F2 | None | 64 | 10 | Not required |
Toshiba | TCC Link | U1 U2 | None | 64 | 10 | Required |
Sanyo (Panasonic) | S3 Net | U1 U2 | None | 64 | 10 | Required |
Mitsubishi Electric | M-Net (TB3,TB7) | M1 M2 | None | 50 | 10 | Required |
Fujitsu (Atlantic) | VRF transmission line | X1 X2 | None | 64 | 10 | Required |
Mitsubishi Heavy | Super Link New Super Link | A B | None | 128 | 10 | Required |
Hitachi | H Link, H Link 2 | 1 2 | None | 64 | 10 | Required |
LG | Inter A, Inter B (only outdoor) | None | 128 | 10 | Required |
The HVAC interface is equipped with a USB port and seven connections: L1 - L7. Five of these seven connections can be controlled simultaneously, but L2 and L6 cannot because they share the same electronics. The next table gives an overview of which connection on the HVAC interface must be used for which system.
HVAC manufacturer | Abbreviation | USB | L1 | L2 | L3 | L4 | L5 | L6 | L7 |
Daikin | DK | l | l | ||||||
Mitsubishi Electric | ME | l | l | ||||||
Sanyo (Panasonic) | SA | l | l | ||||||
Toshiba | TO | l | l | ||||||
Hitachi | HT | l | l | ||||||
Fujitsu (Atlantic) | l | ||||||||
LG | LG | l | l | l | l | l | |||
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | MH | l | l | l | l | l | |||
Gree | GR | l | l | l | l | l |
- To connect the HVAC interface with a multi-split air conditioning system, you must first connect an additional module (PCB connection) for each indoor unit. The HVAC interface cannot be connected directly to the indoor unit(s) of a multi-split air conditioning system. The supplier of the HVAC system should supply these additional module(s) to be connected to the two-wire HVAC bus cable.
2 Open the flap on the top right-hand side of the HVAC interface and check to ensure the dip switches are set as follows.
• DIP switch P
Switch | On | Off |
P3 | L6 active, L2 inactive | L2 active, L6 inactive |
P4 | production mode | normal operating mode |
• DIP switches Q
HVAC type | DIP switch Q - HVAC line L1 | |||
Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | |
DK | ON | OFF | ON | OFF |
ME | OFF | OFF | OFF | OFF |
TO | OFF | ON | OFF | ON |
SA | OFF | ON | OFF | ON |
- DIP switches R
HVAC type | DIP switch Q - HVAC line L2 | |||
R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | |
DK | ON | OFF | ON | OFF |
ME | OFF | OFF | OFF | OFF |
TO | OFF | ON | OFF | ON |
SA | OFF | ON | OFF | ON |
If all DIP switches R1, R2, R3 and R4 are placed in the ON position, the HVAC interface goes into BOOT mode.
• DIP switches S
Switch | ON | OFF |
S1, S2 | turn on DC output on HVAC line L1 | turn off DC output on HVAC line L1 |
S3, S4 | turn on DC output HVAC line L2 | turn off DC output on HVAC line L2 |
Switch S1 must always be in the same position as S2; switch S3 in the same position as S4.
These settings only apply if you have to connect the HVAC interface to a non-VRF system via a KRP or MAC
adapter.
3 Press the HVAC interface anywhere onto the DIN rail until it clicks into place. Ensure that the module is within reach of the gateway.
4 Connect the bus of the HVAC system to the green interface connector (included). Click the green interface connector at the bottom/top on the HVAC interface on line L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6 or L7, depending on the type of indoor unit that is used.
5 Connect the cables supplied (RS232 cable and RS232 USB cable) to each other.
6 Connect the RS232 connector to the HVAC interface and the USB connector of the RS232 USB cable to an available USB port on the connected controller (light).
7 Connect the power adapter to the HVAC interface and connect the adapter to the mains.
The display and the green LED will light up.
The orange LEDs blink:
- during data transfer from the HVAC thermostat to the HVAC interface
- only if line L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L7 is connected to an indoor unit.
LED | colour | status | status |
connection | green | on off | good connection no connection |
activity | orange | blinking | data transfer |
Information on the display
When there is communication with the HVAC system, the display provides extra information about the installation. Below, you can see an example of this type of display. The values shown in the example are only indicative and could differ from actual values.
Information shown on the display with the status of the indoor units:
Information shown on the display with the number of indoor units and zones:
Value displayed | Symbol | Value in the example display |
A. No. of recognised indoor units | U | 10 |
B. No. of groups | G | 8 |
C. Error code | A3 | |
D. Error code | U4 |
Troubleshooting
Problem | Possible cause | Solution |
No information appears on the display. | Malfunctioning power supply | Verify that there is a steady signal from the 9V DC power adapter. |
The number of indoor units displayed on the display is not correct. | It may take a few minutes before the HVAC system is recognised. |
|
There is a problem with communication to the HVAC system. |
Technical data
- power supply voltage: 9 - 24 Vdc
- installation method: wall mounting or DIN rail mounting
- operating conditions:
- ambient temperature: 0 - 45 °C
- air moisture: less than 85 % RH
- dimensions: 90 x 155 x 33 mm (H x W x D)
- weight: 270 g
- maximum number of indoor units and outdoor units: depends on the manufacturer (see the table in Connecting and mounting the HVAC interface above)
- maximum length of the RS232 cable: 25 m
- maximum length of the ethernet cable: 100 m
- CE marked