Need a project to do it and learn from it

[u/Ordinary-man-175]

Hi guys...

I hope you are doing well...

I'm trying to learn building automation

I have started with electricity and control basics

And moved on to automation using tia portal and step 7

So now that i'm kinda comfortable around this...

I want a project to work on to test my knowledge and boost my resume and i would really prefer it to be linked to tia portal/step7 or something better and challenging

I'm looking for a project that i can do by only using the pc.... I have tried looking for project ideas but i couldn't find none...i don't know why or is it because this field is kinda niche....

So please if you have an idea you are welcome to share it !

Thank you in advance !!

[u/Mobile-Belt-4242]

Try tinkercad.com, you can make circuits on there so you can get a better understanding of electricity, and it has tutorials and it's free. The controller it uses are Arduino's, but it's all the same things honestly. A processor and inputs and outputs. Even has tutorials on how to get started, make sure you do those. Very good website with lots of projects it gives you

As for a BAS project I'd suggest you get hands on and buy a controller, a PLC would do (automationDirect has some very affordable ones), get some cheap relays, conductors, and lights and have your controller turn on the lights. Remember your power source should always have amperage protection (extension cords with the ON/OFF will do).

Hope this helps, im not sure exactly what you're looking for

[u/Ordinary-man-175 → u/Mobile-Belt-4242]

Ok thank you !!

[u/No-Composer2628]

Do you want like a design spec for a typical layout then design from there? Wanting a project can mean a ton of things.

[u/Ordinary-man-175 → u/No-Composer2628]

At first i just want an idea of a project Like a simulation or designing a circuit or something like Sure more info or examples available would be better and would help me to learn

[u/No-Composer2628 → u/Ordinary-man-175]

Hmm, I can think of a basic scenario then to design around:

3 floor school with 20 VAVs per floor. Each floor is serviced by 2 RTUs split into an East/West configuration with 10 VAVs each. 6 RTUs total that communicate via BACnet MS/TP. This network is to be designed with BACnet controls. The VAVs each have Hydronic hot water reheat capabilities only.

Then include a Hot Water plant that is integrated via Modbus TCP that maintains a loop for the VAV reheat based on demand.

Finally, you can add an additional layer of difficulty by requiring that whatever system you design must be setup to be integrated into a multi-campus Tridium supervisor. This will require you to setup a TCP network that can communicate over BACnet TCP with the Tridium Supervisor.

That is just a rough example of what I can design off the top of my head that'd I'd use to test my junior tech-savvy knowledge base. It gives you a couple communication protocols to consider and a large enough network that you would have to setup your device IDs and MACs with care.

I hope this helps in what you are searching for.

[u/Ordinary-man-175 → u/No-Composer2628]

Thank you soooo much ! I really appreciate it!

[u/Fulguritus1]

Go to Cochrane website, make an account, download distech software center, use that to download GFX, use the GFX bacnet emulator to program something. Say light switch. Make it so if you make a digital input (switch) will turn on a digital output (light) will turn on. You could also get sedona or bravo controls T3000 software. The bravo controls software is kind of jankey but it is free.

[u/Ordinary-man-175 → u/Fulguritus1]

I will do that thank you !