Sentera has a wide range of products and solutions to control fans and monitor indoor air quality. Our product range has a modular structure, which offers enormous advantages. Sentera products are easy to install and they can work stand-alone. If the need changes, additional components can be added afterwards. The connected devices exchange information and work seamlessly together.
Sentera has a wide range of products and solutions to control fans and monitor indoor air quality. Our product range has a modular structure, which offers enormous advantages. Sentera products are easy to install and they can work stand-alone. If the need changes, additional components can be added afterwards. The connected devices exchange information and work seamlessly together. A good example is controlling an AC fan.
Variable fan speed control Controlling the speed of an AC fan can be done using a frequency inverter. Many people fear the complexity of this type of speed controller. No need to fear: frequency inverters in our product range are easy to install and in many cases – especially AC fan speed control - the default settings should not be changed. AC fan speed can be adjusted via the up and down buttons below the display. Controlling an AC fan with a frequency converter offers high energy efficiency. At low speed, little energy is wasted due to heat losses. AC fan speed can be variably controlled over a wide range. The standard frequency inverters must be installed in an electrical cabinet. The IP66 variant may simply be installed on a panel or wall as long as sufficient cooling is possible (do not mount enclosed). Protection against direct sunlight and rain is a guarantee for a longer service life.
How to control AC fan speed remotely? If desired, an external potentiometer can be added to start or stop the AC fan and control the speed from a different location. This external rotary knob can be connected via a 3 wire cable. No additional settings are required on frequency inverter. Via a switch (connected to input 3 of the frequency converter) it is possible to switch between the external rotary knob and a fixed set speed (parameter 20). This standard functionality offers many possibilities for coming up with creative control solutions.
In case additional control is desired, such as a day-week regime or remote control, a potentiometer with Modbus RTU communication can be used. This can then be connected to a building management system or to SenteraWeb - the online HVAC portal to overrule the local control.
Demand based fan speed control Would you rather control the fan speed automatically? The higher the CO2 concentration, the higher the fan speed? No problem! In that case you can connect a CO2 sensor to the frequency converter. The output signal of the CO2 sensor can be connected to the frequency converter via a cable with 2 wires. This is also possible without making additional settings on the frequency converter.
All Sentera HVAC sensors have Modbus communication. This means that also here it is possible to connect the sensor to a building management system or to SenteraWeb - the online HVAC portal for remote control or data logging.
Remote AND demand based fan speed control? For those who really can't choose, there is also a solution. The external rotary knob and the CO2 sensor can both be used to control the fan speed! Via an external switch you can choose which of the two controls you use. This is not that complicated to realize. Both the rotary knob and the CO2 sensor are connected to the frequency converter (inputs 3 and 4). The selector switch is connected to input 2 of the frequency inverter. The motor can be started or stopped via input 1 - this is possible with the contact of the rotary knob.
To enable this operation, parameter 12 of the frequency inverter must be changed to value 5. Changing the parameters of the frequency drive is possible using the keys below the display. Once that is done, it works!
All in all, not that complex...
Recent news
02/10/2023
Sentera I/O modules are Modbus RTU compatibleSentera I/O modules are Modbus RTU compatible. They are of course used in Sentera HVAC solutions, but because they are universal they can also be useful for your project or product.
Fire alarm panels, motion detection, door contacts, etc. ... Sometimes your (HVAC) application interacts with external equipment. Sentera offers a full range of converters or I/O modules. They are widely used in industrial and automation applications, but home automation or ventilation solutions for domestic use also make full use of I/O modules. I/O modules are the interface between a controller and external equipment.>>>
19/09/2023
New ECMF8 Series of Customizable EC Fan Speed ControllersOne of Sentera’s most recent developments is the ECMF8 series of EC fan speed controllers. They can control one or two EC motors or VFDs, which is why we call them “dual”. The series is a versatile solution consisting of 3 product versions, each featuring different control options.>>>
12/09/2023
DRM - I/O module with relay outputs and Modbus RTUAn I/O module with relay outputs is a device commonly used in industrial and automation applications to interface between a control system (such as a programmable logic controller or PLC) and external devices or equipment. >>>
04/09/2023
Temperature-based fan speed control for AC motorsWe need controls and control systems because, in our modern age of technology, they make our lives more convenient, comfortable, efficient and effective. HVAC controls enable equipment to operate effectively and sometimes give the ability to change their actions as time goes by and conditions or occupancies change. >>>
07/08/2023
TCMF8 – HVAC controller for AC fansQuality ventilation in rooms with high ceilings can be a challenge. Warm air in these rooms rises while cold air lingers at human height. We keep finding it chilly even though there is enough warm air in the room, and turn up the heating as a result. This is not necessary if destratification is provided, pushing the warm air back down.>>>
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.jpg "Sentera I/O modules are Modbus RTU compatible")
.jpg "New ECMF8 Series of Customizable EC Fan Speed Controllers")
.jpg "DRM - I/O module with relay outputs and Modbus RTU")
.jpg "Temperature-based fan speed control for AC motors")
.jpg "TCMF8 – HVAC controller for AC fans")
