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Information Technology: Spinwave Systems
Wireless sensors simplify control of building systems
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| Spinwave’s three types of sensors can be combined in the same system, with up to eight of them tied to one receiver and wired to a continuous source of power. |
The application of wireless sensors in the construction industry is attracting a lot of attention. A variety of government and industry initiatives are exploring the use of wireless sensors for managing construction and monitoring the built environment, but commercially available wireless sensors are just beginning their foray into the marketplace.
Spinwave Systems, Westford, Mass., has just begun to market a wireless sensor that regulates heating and cooling in commercial spaces. Spinwave’s wireless sensors can be integrated with virtually any building’s direct digital control systems, replacing wired sensors.
“The use of these wireless sensors is perfect for retrofit situations in commercial applications,” says Rainer Wischinski, Spinwave’s vice president of marketing. “We are replacing the wire between sensors that goes from the occupied space to the HVAC controller or HVAC equipment.”
The use of wireless sensors makes sense in many situations, saving both time and labor costs and the need to rewire sensors, Wischinski says. “For a contractor changing the floor space in a museum, or where there is a lot of concrete, or even if you have evolving floor plans with cubicles, running the actual wire can be very costly,” he says.
In the case of an office with cubicles, the sensors are hung on the walls with fabric fasteners, making it easy to move them when the use of an area changes. Up to eight cubicles can each have their own sensors reporting to a single HVAC controller, which leads to more accurate temperature readings and a better way to keep their occupants comfortable.
Spinwave sells three types of sensors. One type relays data to the system. Another has a manual override function that can change the temperature and one has an override button and a dial on the sensor to set the temperature of a space. This latter feature is particularly useful if, for example, one person is working on a weekend and needs to signal the HVAC system to send more heat to a particular area.
All three types can be combined in the same system, so a space could have five simple sensors, one with manual override and one with the set-point dial. Eight sensors can be “bound” to any one receiver, which must be wired to a continuous source of power. The sensors themselves run on two AA lithium batteries, with a battery life of about three years for sensors that transmit information every 20 seconds.
Spinwave provides tools to help set up the sensor network and software to locate and link them. Users can download a floor plan, then drag and “drop” the sensors in place. The software shows the sensors’ operational and battery status, temperature readings and the quality of the radio link.
Spinwave’s sensors use a technique to avoid interference from the busy 2.4-ghz band. “Our system detects interference and automatically moves or hops to an open channel,” Wischinski says.
Sensors cost between $80 to $100 each, depending on the type of sensor. Volume discounts are available.
Spinwave Systems Inc.
235 Littleton Rd.
Westford, Mass. 01886
978-392-9000
www.spinwavesystems.com
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