Controller Hardware | [Home] |
The controller for this system must provide the ability to perform all necessary I/O while being highly reliable and consuming very little power. One of the primary goals for the system is that it continue to operate safely despite any reasonably likely failure. Thus, the controller itslef must be reliable, and the entire system (controller, circulator pumps, fans, relays) must be able to operate from batteries for at least 24 hours.
The controller hardware consists of the following components:
One of the reasons for choosing the TS7260 is that it has an onboard regulator and will operate happily on supply voltages anywhere between 4.5V and 20V. The heating system is designed to operate from a pair of 12V deep-cycle marine batteries, which conservatively provides 2000 watt-hours of usable power. The circulator pump and furnace fan are 110V, and will operate from an inverter. This imposes a penalty because the inverter causes some loss. The anticipated system power budget assumes one 4-hour fire and 10 hours of circulator operation. The power budget is as follows:
| Function | Watts | duty cycle | watt-hours/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Controller system | 5 | 100% | 120 |
| Circulators | 100 | 42% | 1000 |
| Furnace Fan | 150 | 17% | 600 |
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Controller Board The TS-7260 hosts it's own web page which is available when it is running. The web page may or may not reflect the actual location of the controller - sometimes it's in the lab, and sometimes it's hooked up to real hardware. More information on the card is available here. |
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Thermistor Interface |
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