Simplicity Controls

Simplicity Full Function (see hydro dosing for more info)

Why should I be considering this system?

• Custom Build We specialise in custom applications that solve your “can’t find exactly what I want dilemma.” We spend the time to get to know your requirements so developing the code is right first time.

• Flexibility The use of smart sensors will change the world of control in coming years. We have already incorporated the future in our applications. While the world is coming to grips with smart sensors, our hardware partner, Monitor Sensors, has been making them for years.

• Economy You may well be able to run your custom application from existing hardware, saving you set up costs. No PLC’s are required. Our total costs are among the lowest in the world.

• Power All Simplicity applications are extremely powerful, and due to the strength of the communications bus used, unbreakable. No reflections or weird happenings from hum and distortion as we have seen on some high speed buses.

• Access Simplicity applications can be accessed over the internet, from wherever you can find an web connection. You can observe, change and control via the web interface. Alarm interfaces which are user settable will ring your mobile with a spoken message telling you exactly what is not within your set parameters.

• Sensors A full range of sensors is available that are compatible with the communications bus, robust and affordable. Monitor Sensors have specialised in sensors for agriculture and horticulture for many years.

• Protection Simplicity applications can have multiple sensors looking at each other and comparing themselves to protect against sensor failure. Any system will eventually have a failed sensor(s) at some time and this will protect against that occurrence. Another small application can simply listen to the sensor “chatter” on the bus and alarm if it stops.is essential for stable, ongoing use, and in the Monibus we believe we have found the best. It certainly is not the fastest in the world, but that is actually its’ strength. And it is fast enough for most applications with 4″ to 6″ sensors being “talked to or polled” every second.

  A robust communications bus

System basics: (see glossary for explanation of any terms you do not understand).

The base: Simplicity 2 runs on a software platform or “base”. You need to configure your PC to run Microsoft .NET which is an easy process, then you can install specific Simplicity modules, to your own requirements. All modules share the same base, so adding modules later is very easy. You can upgrade your application at any time your requirements change.

The bus: Simplicity consists of a low voltage wired bus connecting various devices. We use Monibus because of its’ inherent stability. The minimal power required for the bus (as low as 5 volts DC) can come from several sources, the most usual is simply a power supply plugged into the mains electricity grid. The minimum for a system is one comms box and one of the others that follow it below. Plus of course the software “base” and the custom application.

Comms box: The interface between the PC and the bus is done by a communications unit which we call the comms box. This allows the PC to “talk” to the bus using our own protocol. Commands flow through it as the application is working, as well as data from the attached devices coming back to the PC. One side of the comms box is attached to the 3 bus wires, the other to a port on the PC.

Relay box: Full name relay outputs unit. There are 8 separate channels or relays in this unit which can all be independently switched to turn things on and off. Each box and each channel has it’s own address so is unique from the others. Each relay is capable of switching small devices that operate on low power such as solenoids or door strike locks, or switch a larger relay for higher voltage devices. Commands to turn relays on or off are sent down the bus by the comms box, which also will ask the relay box the position of all relays on a regular basis, as a checking mechanism.

Inputs box: Full name inputs unit. Again 8 channels. Basically, when voltage is sensed a LED lights up. This is seen by the micro processor and transmitted as an ON state. The simple explanation for these inputs is that low voltage is taken to a digital switch which is on or off. Low voltage is then taken from the other side of the switch back to the input channel. When the switch is ON that voltage will flow back to the input channel and the state of that channel will be recorded as on. The input box will send any change in status of any of its channels to the application immediately.

Sensors: A full range of environmental and other sensors is offered. All sensors are “µsmart”  which means they each have their own micro processor onboard. This means all can be separately addressed and added to the communications bus at any point.

Simplicity Full Function Summary

• Flexibility using smart sensors allows the whole application able to be more flexible.

• Sensors We have access to the full range of sensors for any purpose from the one company, all compatible with our applications.

• Economy Lower install costs, as sensors can be wired to the bus anywhere, they do not have to be wired to an inputs board.

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