BitWise Ships Control System Peripherals
BitWise Controls introduced the BC4 which allows IP-based software and control systems to control and monitor virtually any hardware device on the market.
BitWise Controls, a provider of products for the commercial, industrial, educational, and residential control-systems markets, introduced the BC4. A standards-based control system network interface, the BC4 allows IP-based software and control systems to control and monitor virtually any hardware device on the market, according to company officials.
Comprising a base unit and various expansion I/O modules, the BC4’s modular design provides the integrator with the flexibility to match base units an expansion models to fit any application. The base unit is housed in a steel enclosure of 4.5×5.0x1.0 inches, which also contains the built-in network adaptor and temperature sensor.
The BC4 can be powered by 802.3af PoE (Power-over-Ethernet) or a standard 12 VDC wall supply, and it automatically recognizes and adapts to various I/O plug-in expansion modules, according to the company. Wall or shelf mountable, up to 16 BC4 base units may also be rack mounted in a 3RU space.
Several expansion modules are available, each configured to perform a variety of control and monitoring tasks. The BC4-BCX1 features five IR ports, one three-wire RS-232 port, two customizable GPIO (general purpose input/output) ports, and 2 SPDT relays. This module is a fast and efficient way to add IR control of connected hardware.
The BC4 system also uses integration-friendly commands and feedback via two-way TCP or UDP. The two-way command set allows it to easily integrate with other control systems as well as other products from BitWise. Operating as a peripheral, the BC4 communicates with the control processors via Ethernet and supports both TCP and UDP.
“Integration professionals can configure the BC4 to suit a specific need with a variety of expansion module configurations, all sharing a common command set,” said Lance Beck, CEO of BitWise Controls, in a statement. “The BC4 can be configured via a Web interface. The modular concept also allows better inventory control. Integrators can buy base units in volume and purchase modules to fit the job criteria.”
