Technical information

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
204
3 Implementing C-Bus Designs
Addressing Conventions
Introduction
Once a basic list of hardware requirements has been established, planning of the
programming requirements of an installation can begin. The C-Bus system uses
a simple addressing scheme to identify Units, Groups, Applications, Areas, and
Networks. The purpose of each parameter will be discussed in the next section.
Group Addressing
The Group Address is usually related to the output connected to the terminal of the
Output Unit. Hence the Group Address should accurately describe the load or device
being controlled. Alternatively, numerical designators can be used for describing
outputs such as lighting circuits. Up to 255 Groups in a single C-Bus network can be
dened (255 minus the number of Area Addresses dened).
Valid Group Address description include:
• Bedroom Lights
• L4-2B
• Main Oce Lights
• A4-2L-3
• Pool Pump
The default Group is “Unused”.
Area Addressing
The Area Address is a convenient method of addressing multiple output channels
collectively. Large areas consisting of many Units may be controlled from a single
point on the C-Bus system. Individual loads (Groups) can still be controlled. Each Unit
(Inputs and Outputs) in a control area must be assigned the same Area Address. The
Area Address must be unique and must not be repeated as a Group Address in that
Application or Network. Up to 255 Areas can be dened (255 minus the number of
Group Addresses dened).
Examples of valid Areas are:
• House Lights
• Banquet Room Lights
• Outside Lights
The default Area is “Unused”.
Application Addressing
Applications are used in the C-Bus system to divide the Network into independent
functional systems. All Group Addresses in any Unit are associated with that Unit’s
Application, and commands issued by an Input Unit will aect only Output Units with
matching Application and Group Addresses. Up to 255 Application Addresses can be
used. By default, two Applications have been dened: Lighting and Heating. Clipsal
Integrated Systems has reserved and dened commands for other Applications such
as security and metering, for more information contact Clipsal Integrated Systems. The
installer has the facility to dene other Applications.
Input Units and Output Units within one Application will operate independently of
other devices in another Application, even if Group Addresses are repeated across
Applications on the same Network.
Examples of valid Applications are:
• Lighting
• Heating
• Air-conditioning
• Security
The default Application is “Lighting”.
The default Group is “Unused”.
Network Addressing
The Network Address is used to identify Networks in a Multi-Network C-Bus installation.
Each Network may be interconnected using a C-Bus Network Bridge.
The Unit Address of the Network Bridge must match the Network Address of the adjacent
Network. This applies to both sides of the Bridge, and is required to successfully establish
communications between these Networks. The C-Bus Installation Software automates
this task by reserving Network Addresses for use as Network Bridge Unit Addresses.
This is achieved using the conguration information as dened by the Network
Topology. In practice the Network Address describes a physical region, area or entity.
Up to 255 unique Network Addresses can be dened.
Examples of valid Networks are:
• First Floor
• Movie Theatre
• My House
• Building 12A
The default Network is the “Local Network”.
C-Bus Design Guide