Streamlined HVAC Integration: CoolAutomation Meets Crestron Home
Since its introduction in 2019, Crestron Home has become a popular choice among home automation integrators due to its intuitive UI and cost-effectiveness.
The Interim Solution
Committed to providing a simple way to integrate HVAC systems, CoolAutomation quickly adapted a BACnet thermostat scheme to ensure the new Crestron platform can easily integrate with VRF and mini-split systems.While this stopgap measure worked, home automation integrators had a difficult time implementing it, as most are unaccustomed to working with BACnet. Aware of the issue, we teamed up with Crestron to work out a better solution together.
Trusted Partners
Recognizing the value CoolAutomation solutions provide to customers and the capabilities of its highly skilled development team, Crestron, as part of a unique pilot, granted CoolAutomation access to its programming platform to create a dedicated, native extension/driver.To date, only a very limited number of Crestron-trained, certified programmers have been authorized to access the platform and create an extension/driver.
Streamlining HVAC Integration
The new driver/extension, pre-installed in all Crestron Home systems, makes HVAC integration much easier and doesn't involve using BACnet, which requires customers to manually match thermostat points for each indoor unit. By automatically detecting all HVAC zones and presenting relevant options for the specific units on each site, the process becomes more accessible, simple, and efficient.Feature Overview
Using the new extension/driver and CoolAutomation solutions, which are compatible with all VRF, split, mini split, and heat pump systems, Crestron Home can control HVAC with ease, granting users access to the following functions (per zone/area):- Operation state (on/off), with the added ability to turn all units on or off centrally using a single button
- Operation mode (cool/heat/dry/fan/auto), with the ability to centrally restrict cool/heat selection of individual indoor units
- Temperature setpoint
- Fan speed (low/medium/high/top/auto)
- Swing
Monitoring features will enable receiving real-time feedback on all the above functions, in addition to:
- Showing the return air (room) temperature
- Displaying system malfunction codes when reported by the HVAC unit
- Enabling users to easily add and display different sensors in the app, facilitating the monitoring of exhaust/intake fans, relative space humidity, motion/presence sensor status, external temperatures, and more.
- Combined, optimized AC and underfloor heating control.
Conclusion
CoolAutomation's collaboration with Crestron has set a new benchmark for HVAC integration with home automation systems. By eliminating the complexities of BACnet and enabling centralized and precise control, our Crestron Home extension/driver delivers unmatched simplicity, reliability, and ease of use.Click here for more details on HVAC system-Crestron integration with CoolAutomation.
