Auto Addressing Simplifies Network Installation

What is MS/TP Auto MAC Addressing or simply auto addressing? It’s a means of automatically getting HVAC controllers to talk to each other on a network with little manual intervention.

Why is it important? In the past, getting new controllers to communicate with other controllers on a network was one of the most time-consuming aspects of a network installation. Built-in auto addressing, however, automatically assigns MAC (Media Access Control) addresses and BACnet device instance numbers in KMC’s networked BACnet Advanced Application Controllers (B-AACs). This addressing process reduces addressing errors and eliminates the need for a technician to address individual controllers in the field or to install pre-addressed controllers at specific locations. This provides big savings in labor for installing, documenting, and troubleshooting the network. This patent-pending, money-saving feature in KMC BACnet controllers was important enough to win a 2010 Top Products Award from Building Operating Management (BOM) magazine.

How does it work?

• Before leaving the factory, the controller receives a unique BACnet device instance number based on the electronic model and serial numbers embedded within it.
• At the job site, the controller is connected to the MS/TP (Master-Slave/Token-Passing) network and powered up.
• The technician designates one controller on the network as the “anchor” by a switch sequence on that controller.
• All other controllers (“nomads”) on the network then automatically initiate their addressing process.
• After automatic addressing is complete, MAC addresses are locked into the controllers by pressing the restart button on the anchor controller (or via commands in BACstage).

Auto addressing, used in a large Building Automation System, can save many hours of installation and troubleshooting time...and who doesn’t want to save time and money?

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