BACnet Object Library and HMI

The WinCC OA BACnet Application is a package that provides different possibilities for configuring/applying BACnet objects and devices from either the BACnet network or an EDE file (Engineering Data Exchange file). These possibilities are:

• Browsing for devices/objects

• Creating devices and objects in WinCC OA

• Displaying the devices/objects found

• Handling and visualizing devices and objects via faceplates

• Visualizing devices and objects in WinCC OA

• Communicating with the BACnet device (or other BACnet conform controller) via services

The WinCC OA BACnet Application is composed of the following sub-applications:

WinCC OA BACnet Driver

The WinCC OA BACnet driver establishes the connection to one or multiple BACnet devices. The communication with the BACnet device is only then possible, when the BACnet driver has been configured and the peripheral address to the BACnet device has been defined. For detailed information on the BACnet driver see chapter BACnet Driver, basics.

WinCC OA BACnet Object Library

The WinCC OA BACnet object library is a company-neutral object library, which allows the configuration and visualization of objects from the building automation section (e.g. door, fan, lamp, etc.) in a WinCC OA project.

This visualization takes place via symbols and faceplates. The symbols and faceplates of the BACnet object library have been developed on the basis of the Standard Object Library (Stdlib) and extended according to its requirements.

From a technical point of view, the BACnet object library is a subproject that can be embedded into a WinCC OA project simply and quickly.

WinCC OA BACnet HMI

The WinCC OA BACnet HMI (Human Machine Interface) is composed of two panels, which allow devices and objects in the BACnet network or in an EDE file to be browsed for, and selected objects to be configured directly:

• BACnet Engineering Explorer - provides the browsing for BACnet devices and objects in the BACnet network or an EDE file. The devices/objects found can be created in WinCC OA with the according configuration.

Two types of engineering are possible:

Online Engineering

The BACnet network is browsed for BACnet devices. If devices exist, these can be created quickly and easily in WinCC OA. Additionally, the devices can be browsed for objects, which can also be created in WinCC OA.

A tabular list of found/created devices or objects allows a direct configuration of these devices/objects via faceplates.

Thanks to the version management, a device or an object will be automatically detected, whether it already exists in WinCC OA or not.

Offline Engineering

The device information is read in from EDE files and displayed in the table of the Engineering Explorer. The configuration of devices/objects via faceplates is also possible.

Note

The WinCC OA BACnet Application assumes that the names of the objects are unique. If the same name is used for two objects in one or several BACnet devices, only the object that was found first will be loaded.

• BACnet Device Explorer - shows the objects of each BACnet device that already exists in WinCC OA and allows the handling and visualization of object properties via faceplates.

Figure: Cooperation of sub-applications during online and offline engineering

Online Help on BACnet Object Library and HMI

The complete Online Help on BACnet Object Library and HMI can be found in the WinCC OA installation directory under BACnet_<version>\help.

Note

The BACnet Online Help is only in CHM format available. In order to open it under Linux/Solaris a CHM viewer is required.