[Webbyz]

Does anyone know where to obtain a JCI Zone Bus Cable? Or maybe the proper pin-out on making your own?

The reason that I ask is because I was at a JCI job that they had been kicked out of and the building has been running super cold. As it turns out for some reason all the stats in the building are reading about 5 degrees too warm.

So I got HVACPro and tied onto the N2 and changed the offset in the stats attached to the VMA's after I checked the zone temps with my IR gun. Well, after doing one whole wing of the school, it turned out that the VAV Box Numbers did not match the N2 Address which we had thought. They were addressed the Box Number + 2. (ie VAV 25 is N2 Address 27).

So I had to go back and do all the rooms again. We have a former JCI controls guy who works with us and he said that the Zone Bus port on the stats would allow me to configure only that Box/Stat using HVACPro. He said that the cable was some type of RJ45 or RJ12 to Serial. He said that they use to sell them along with HVACPro.

Does anyone know where I can get the cable or how I can make one? It would alleviate a lot of headaches in the future. Thanks!

 

[SuperDuperTech]

You can always have good luck with the Johnson Controls branch. If you call them they can set you on the path to sucessfullnes. They are professionally experts for N2 controls. I do not know but I assume that they have online a book that shows what you might need. You mightly try search at http://cgproducts.johnsoncontrols.com

 

[JciDes]

I think the part number you are looking for is CBL-STATxx-SW/WC** (the xx is the length of wire 25',50',75',10')

Hope that helps

 

[fms2k]

www.neccdelivers.com

they can get u what u need.
excellent support on JCI N2
stuff, old Companion & Facil.
and FX.

 

[wojami]

I think I would go the non JCI branch route if it were me. If its anything like the branches in my area they won't be of much help.

 

[crab master]

So I got HVACPro and tied onto the N2 and changed the offset in the stats attached to the VMA's after I checked the zone temps with my IR gun.

Unless you have IR Zone temp sensors then I bet you mis-calibrated a number of your sensors. IR guns should only be used to give you an estimate. Get a calibrated thermocouple/thermistor and calibrate to that. Most zone sensors measure air temperature, an IR gun measures surface temperature.

 

[Webbyz]

Unless you have IR Zone temp sensors then I bet you mis-calibrated a number of your sensors. IR guns should only be used to give you an estimate. Get a calibrated thermocouple/thermistor and calibrate to that. Most zone sensors measure air temperature, an IR gun measures surface temperature.

Thanks for all the responces. I will see what I can find.

As far as the IR Gun, I know what you are saying. But what I have always done is taken a plain white cloth with me and waved it back in forth for about a minute in each room then I take the temperature of the cloth as opposed to any surface in the room. I have good success with this method.

 

[crab master]

That method, although better than shooting the wall will bite you one of these days.

I had a controls service call in which the maintenance guy swore up and down the temperature sensor was out of calibration. He was using an IR gun shooting wall surfaces and even if he would have done your method he would have still been off. I pulled out my air probe and stuck it as close to the wall sensor as possible and I was reading 8 deg less than his IR gun. Moved my probe away from the wall sensor and I read very close to the same value he was reading. Pulled the wall sensor off the wall and found the conduit run to the wall sensor was getting pressurized and blowing cold air out the conduit and past the room sensor, causing the major temperature swings. IR gun would've never caught that scenario. Insulated and sealed up the j-box with plastic and tape and solved the problem and then took out the 'calibrated' offsets, as the sensor was reading within 0.25 degrees of my calibrated air probe.

 

[GT Jets]

I agree with the thought of being careful using infra red thermometers, use a known good and properly calibrated bead probe at the sensor...

The zone bus cable only works on zone bus stats (they have the phone cord on the back instead of hard wired)...

 

[billcontrols]

Zone Bus can be wired to the screw terminal version same as the phone jack version. just need the 3 wires terminated, 24vac, com, ZB.

 

[GT Jets]

Zone Bus can be wired to the screw terminal version same as the phone jack version. just need the 3 wires terminated, 24vac, com, ZB.

This is 100% correct, I should have said the only time it would be guaranteed to communicate with the bus..Thanks for the clarification..:CU:

I very seldom see them wired in.

GT Jets

 

[billcontrols]

I very seldom see them wired in.

GT Jets

Me either. I know we generally do and did not except for VAVs or other equipment hidden in ceilings. In those locations we usually tried to use the phone jack sensors.

 

[Johnny-B]

Another thing to consider is some newer computers are not coming with serial connections. I use a CVT-PRO with a Digi serial to USB adapter (for some reason that was the only one I could find that would work). I use that to connect straight to the zone bus. And it is only good for that device.

 

[Webbyz]

Well I got my CBL-STAT75 and it is just CAT3 cable with RJ45's on the ends that are pinned straight through.

I am assuming that I need to convert this over to Serial so I can get to it talk to HVACPro. Anyone have the proper RJ45 to DB9 Pinout?

 

[Heavyevans]

Well I got my CBL-STAT75 and it is just CAT3 cable with RJ45's on the ends that are pinned straight through.

I am assuming that I need to convert this over to Serial so I can get to it talk to HVACPro. Anyone have the proper RJ45 to DB9 Pinout?

You're out of luck. You need to get your hands on a old Cable Pro box (AS-CBLPRO-?, eBay?) or the newer Converter Pro box (AS-CVTPRO-?) to talk to the devices.

 

[SomeOldGuy]

N2 is rs485 but the zone bus has only one +com line and a common shown on the schematic. I assume the "Cable Pro box (AS-CBLPRO-?, eBay?) or the newer Converter Pro box (AS-CVTPRO-?)" converts the serial to a one wire format? OR is the terminal marked com actualy -com? Is that information available? I am just curious. Anyway if anyone has tech data to share that'd be great.