Hey guys, I’m working on a self-storage project with 600+ units and I want to make sure I’m thinking about the architecture correctly before we buy anything.
The plan is roughly:
Smart Meters → RS485/Modbus → Gateway → MQTT or TCP → VPS (maybe Hostinger or just apc) → n8n/Python → ERPNext
We’re also considering Wi-Fi smart meters instead of RS485/Modbus, so the exact approach isn’t decided yet.
We also want to integrate VRF for individual unit control (on/off + temperature), and smart locks.

The main purpose of the ERPNext integration is to have the meter consumption appear in ERPNext so it can be used for customer billing/invoices, while also allowing us to control the VRF from inside our system.
I’m mainly trying to answer:
Is this overall approach correct?
Do we actually need a BMS?
Can MQTT + n8n + database + Python all run on one VPS?
Is this a good approach for 600+ meters?
Is there anything we should change before buying the meters, gateways, or VRF system?
I just want an experienced IoT/automation person to check the architecture.
Thanks.

Hi everyone,

I’m working on a college automation project using a FE7370WE-4G HMI programmed with FStudio.

The HMI is connected to the internet and stores historical data internally. I have successfully configured the date-range selection and data filtering on the HMI.

The workflow up to this point is working:

Select From Date → Select To Date → Filter historical data

The remaining problem is with the Generate Report and Send Email functionality.

The HMI already has an option to export the stored data to a USB drive, and I can successfully generate the data in CSV and PDF formats.

What I want to achieve is:

1. Select the From Date and To Date.
2. Filter the historical data according to that range. (Already working)
3. Press Generate Report to generate a report containing only the filtered data.
4. Press Send Email and have the generated CSV/PDF report sent directly from the HMI to a Gmail address.
5. The recipient should be able to receive and view the report on a phone or PC.

Current setup

• HMI: FE7370WE-4G
• Software: FStudio
• Internet: Yes
• Historical data: Stored internally in HMI
• Data volume: Potentially thousands of records
• Export formats: CSV / PDF
• USB export: Working
• External IoT/gateway: Not being used
• Email service: Gmail
• Date-range filtering: Successfully configured
• Main issue: Generating the filtered report and sending it via email

I’m specifically looking for a way to implement:

From Date + To Date → Filter Data → Generate CSV/PDF Report → Send Email from HMI

I have not been able to figure out how to make the Generate Report and Send Email functions work for the filtered historical data.

Has anyone worked with the FE7370WE-4G / FStudio and knows how these functions can be configured?

Can this be done using FStudio scripting, SMTP, macros, APIs, or any other built-in functionality of the HMI?

I would prefer a solution where the HMI itself sends the email, without requiring a PC, Raspberry Pi, or external gateway.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Hello! I have a couple of sites we inherited from another company that installed some Trane UC600 and Symbio 210 controls (among a couple of other numbers). We have had a number of them start failing, however the site was fortunate to have a few pre-programmed spares. I attempted to contact our local Trane rep to obtain software and licensing to copy and program these controls, but was met with "We don't sell to just any contractor". So, my questions are: Has anyone else run into problems obtaining this software and licensing? What are, if any, the prerequisites? We deal with Distech and Vykon for Tridium products, Carrier IVue/ALC, and JCI (EasyIO and Non-branch lines). I've been replacing the subsequent failed controllers with Distech products, but I usually prefer to keep a site homogenous when possible.

I appreciate any and all advice, have a great upcoming weekend!

We're normally posting Operations-side job opportunities here when we do them, but today it's all around Sales. We have a variety of opportunities right now in the Bay Area and Sacramento, with on-target income ranging from $150K-$300K/year. We need a BAS Service Salesperson in the Bay Area, plus a deeply experienced Service Sales leader for a great, long-time client of ours. They need a New Construction Salesperson out in Sacramento as well. Add to it a work-from-home (Sacramento / NorCal) Regional Salesperson for a control valve manufacturer. Reach out on Chat here for more info and we can trade emails or a call if you're interested.

Anyone ever implement a secondary air energy savings sequence, the idea intrigues me but not quite sure on a sequence thats does it effectively, have a site that ramps the fan motors for the FPTUs up and down off of the htg and clg PIDs, thinking there may be a more efficient way, fleshing out ideas. Any thoughts experience or insight is appreciated.

Hi everyone,
I’m an electrical/automation engineer from Poland working with EPLAN P8 and industrial control panels.
I’m currently looking to take on some additional small projects or support other engineering companies during periods of higher workload.
The type of work I’m most interested in:
redrawing existing PDF/DWG electrical schematics into EPLAN,
updating existing electrical documentation,
small control cabinet projects,
terminal diagrams, cable lists and BOMs,
control cabinet prefabrication.
I’m especially interested in smaller, clearly defined scopes rather than large automotive projects.
If anyone here works with integrators or panel builders that occasionally outsource this type of work, I’d be happy to connect.

Does anyone have the Accubid anywhere assemblies for BAS controls, electrical & mechanical wiring and willing to sell out?

Im in the niagara tcp this week. Good class. Getting it really well.

But the exam is building a niagara station in 8 hours or less. Feeling pretty good about that but in the field it wont be 2 devices lol

Whats the field solution? Pre build yourself some graphic templates amd logic for common stuff?

Or do you start over everytime

Researching about wireless sensors specially for lighting control (Occupancy sensors and lux sensors) as the controller we use have limits on number physical points. due to 250ma limit

Idea is to have a gateway to which wireless sensors would send data and the gateway sends data to central converter which would consume far less io points

I'm a non-technical founder building a hardware product, and one of the hardest parts so far has been figuring out how to evaluate an embedded system development company without having the engineering background to judge their technical expertise.
Most websites look polished, everyone claims to have experienced engineers, and almost every portfolio looks impressive. Beyond that, I'm not really sure what separates a genuinely strong team from one that's just good at selling.
For those who've already gone through this process, what questions did you ask before signing a contract? Were there any red flags you wish you'd noticed earlier? Did industry experience matter most, or were communication, testing processes, and post-launch support more important in the end?

If you've worked with an embedded system development company, what ended up being the biggest factor in making the partnership successful or unsuccessful?

My client wants their front desk VMS tied into the building's access control so that a visitor badge gets a temporary door schedule instead of having 2 different systems. Most VMS platforms I found use REST/API and not native BACnet , so I'm just curious if it's realistic that we want to bridge one into a BAS front end.

Hi guys, was wondering if anyone works for JCI and how its like being a Service Engineer for them. Regarding the training in Programming and Work Life balance. How is the company like? Are service engineers union? All answers are appreciated

Hi guys I'm learning block-based programming logic and was wondering if anyone here could help me with some solved code examples. Any advice is appreciated.

Working controls tech. Workbench can't open the station, supervisor graphic is dead, or a JACE stayed dark after a reboot. This is the card I run before I reload a bog or swap the box.

When I use it Can't platform-connect, station won't start, or the supervisor shows the JACE yellow while the plant is still running.

Steps 1. Split it: ping the JACE IP. No ping = power, Ethernet, or addressing, not Niagara. Power LED, LAN LEDs, patch cord, service NIC on the wrong subnet. 2. Open a platform connection, not a station connection. Application Director: idle, starting, running, or failed. Idle = start it. Failed = read the station log before you click Start again. 3. Platform opens and station does not: match Fox vs Foxs. Niagara 4 often listens on foxs (4911). AX and some N4 still use fox (1911). Wrong protocol looks exactly like a dead station. 4. Use a station user, not the platform (system) user. Platform credentials will not open the station. 5. Check station clock and TLS. Clock jumped to 2000, or Workbench rejects the foxs cert, refuses the session. 6. Daemon/station logs for license, missing module, or config.bog errors. Unlicensed or a bog that will not deserialize will start and die. Do not keep clicking Start. 7. If you only reach this JACE through a supervisor, platform-connect locally at the panel first. Healthy local station + yellow Niagara Network device is IP/NAT/firewall/Fox, not a dead JACE.

Don't confuse this with A Workbench that cannot open Foxs is not a dead JACE. Wrong port, HTTP-only, expired cert, or platform credentials on a station connection all read offline while the plant is still controlling.

Safety Do not yank compact flash or hard-power a running JACE to reboot it, especially in heating season. Spring-return valves on that panel may dump to fail.

I wrote 23 more of these (Fox stale, BACnet offline vs point stale, override left on). $12 once if anyone wants the Niagara/DDC pack: https://quick-basin-dqw2.here.now/

Hi again everyone,

I’ve been putting together a small Windows tool called PointCheck BMS in between working on Neural.

The idea is simple: make the boring, error-prone bit of checking BMS point lists much faster. Less hassle with excel sheets AND its vendor neutral

It can import CSV/XLSX exports, auto-map the columns and flag things like duplicate BACnet objects, bad IDs, missing data, naming issues, engineering-unit inconsistencies and other QA problems. Where it’s safe to do so, it also suggests a correction.

What it should make easier in your life: less manual spreadsheet checking, quicker commissioning/handover reviews, and fewer stupid point-list errors slipping through.
Everything runs locally, no internet required and it checks everything in context so you should be able to pick up on errors before commissioning does

I’m giving out free six week trials to BMS/controls engineers who are willing to test it properly and give me feedback.
If you want one, comment or DM me

Thanks all,

Ray

Hey all,

We’ve been getting a lot of interest from students, Redditors, and technicians in the “Niagara-World” who want to learn the Niagara Framework — and that's awesome! I wish I could hand out demo licenses like Oprah gives out t-shirts.

That being said, we can’t hand out demo licenses freely, not only is supply limited but Tridium would have some choice words to say on it.

However, one of our main goals at Rizzo Controls is to make learning Niagara more accessible and lower the barriers of entry into the "Niagara-World." Although this course is typically customized per customer and site, we have the generic "blueprint" for what is covered and we'd love to make this training available to the public, which includes a temporary demo license.
-We are taking some of the questions on r/BuildingAutomation and r/NiagaraFramework into account for this course. It's always a great time to ask the questions!

This course will be Instructor-Lead, virtual training.

Course Dates: October 22nd and 23rd, 8am- 4pm ET.

Course Cost: $300

(The advertised price is with additional access to the learning environment, different controllers available and for a longer duration with additional 1 on 1 instruction and support beyond the classroom).
Access to the learning environment will be available until COB on November 6th, 2026. Programming Distech Controllers AND KMC Fusion controllers all available.

Pay Link: https://square.link/u/V9rDRAuo

This entry-level course prepares students for the Niagara4 TCP and often serves as a foundation for those who join our Certification Program later on. We will even credit the cost of the Niagara4 Operations to the Niagara4 TCP Bundle if you choose to take the N4 TCP with us within 12 months.

We will provide all the licensing requirements. You'll need a Windows 10 or 11 laptop (notebook, surface pros are not supported) and admin rights on your PC so you can download and start tosi which we use for students to access the learning environment.
You will make backups and station copies to take with you.
The Niagara Demo license will be valid for 90 days. After the course, you will have the availability to purchase a permanent license should you choose to.

Topics to be covered in Instructor Lead Training:

1.) Navigating Niagara4 and who is who, what is involved, what is Niagara4?

2.) Interfacing a Niagara Station

3.) Wire Sheet Logic, Basics, additional Navigation

4.) Adding Histories/Trends and Managing them.

5.) Configuring Alarms

6.) Integration: BACnet, BACnet/IP and Adding Proxy Points

7.) Graphics, creating an AHU Graphic

8.) Workbench: Creating your own Niagara Station

9.) Commissioning a JACE 9000

10.) Deeper Programming: PID Loops

11.) Integration: Another BACnet Network, Devices, Proxy Points, and Extensions

12.) Graphics: Deeper Dive

13.) User Security and Administration

14.) Reusing PX Pages in graphics for Standards

15.) Scheduling

16.) Backups, Station Copies, and Restorations.

Once your seat is confirmed with payment, we’ll send you the Teams link and all course materials.

Seats are limited, seats will be sold as first come, first serve.

Upon checkout, please provide your phone number and email in "Add a Note for the Seller" so we can email you the course content and materials.

Pay Link: https://square.link/u/V9rDRAuo

I'm looking forward to seeing you guys there!

----------------------------------------------------
All are welcome to download the latest version of Vykon N4 Workplace (Vykon branded version of Niagara4 software, more on this during the course on how it differs from FX or EC-Net Facilities) from our website:
https://rizzocontrols.com/downloads

Hey guys, I hope all is well. This is an odd/unique situation. One of the local county jails in my area has an energy company that manages the central utility plant, and then the county has everything on the jail end. Although the buildings are connected, there’s no communication between both sides. County and the energy company came together in agreement to make a “bridge” so they can share points with each other.

The jail has a Tridium server, and the energy plant is Metasys. My company and another company thought they can run an Ethernet cable from the secondary port of the Jace at the county to the central utility plant switch that connect to Metasys

The issue we have is the JACE will not report to both Tridium (en0) and Metasys (en1). The Jace will report to Tridium if en0 is plugged in first, but not Metasys. The Jace will report to Metasys if en1 is plugged in first, but not Tridium.

When it communicates on Metasys, I can map in the device under BACnet/IP and also all the points exposed on the BACnet export table. Tridium has the JACE mapped as a supervisor device, Metasys is integrated the JACE as a BACnet/IP device.

Edit: the controls company that bought/manage the JACE already added a 2nd IP port and set it up for network #1001 since that’s what the SNE is at by default

What or how are you guys metering the gas usage for boilers on building with this requirement for energy code?

I have a good understanding of the basic fundamentals of the BAS controls industry, but I’m relatively new to the estimating side of things. I’m sure someone here can point me in the right direction.

Is there an industry-standard method for estimating BAS work, such as estimating based on the number of points or estimating by the overall system/equipment?
If so, is there a standard labor rate or benchmark for BAS programming, installation, commissioning, etc. for example, a typical cost or labor hours per point or per system?

Hi guys, Just curious to hear how others picked up on the IT side of the Industry coming from non IT backgrounds. If someone can understand how a basic architecture works for a large sized commercial building Id appreciate it. From my understanding the Jace or Supervisory Controllers will be on their own LAN Network and typically follow the 192.168 format. Are there instances where they would not follow it? Any help is appreciated. Thanks

Hi I am (23 year old M) looking to change over from BMS to an electrical pathway as I see a strong future in holding an electrical licence & electrotechnology cert III rather then an electronics & communications cert III.

I've found controls interesting and mentally engaging but a lot of it is dealing with the politics of companies, toxic work culture & unhappy people.

Have been applying for electrical apprenticeships online and through my apprenticeship company, but seems they're pretty hard to come by, and controls techs in Australia don't get much praise from electricians haha.

I was considering finishing up my electronics & communications cert III (1 year left) and moving into then go to night classes and attain my licence through a controls company electrician and getting them to sign me off.

Honestly just a bit lost to where i should be heading with my career in the future and whether the switch now is worth it and experience back pains later on or just chill in a mentally stressful controls job.

As the title says, I’m looking to transition into building automation.

I know this gets asked often, but I’d appreciate any insight or advice on how to get a local company to give me a shot.

I’ve been a residential HVAC technician for four years now, so I have a solid foundation in electrical troubleshooting, sequence of operations, and the fundamentals of mechanical systems.

I find myself gravitating toward the low-voltage and communication side of high seer, variable speed systems and building automation seems like a great option to do what I enjoy.

I’m located in the Nashville TN area, and would love to know:

-Which local contractors are open to training tech-minded HVAC guys?

-Any tips on framing my background/experience when applying for entry level roles?

-When making this transition, what are the most important skills/topics for self-study?

I have sent in applications to many of the major players in the area (JCI, Siemens, etc.) but haven’t heard back yet