Diagnostic system for use in an environment control network

An environment control network, comprising:

• a plurality of box units, each of said plurality of box units having a controller operatively associated with said box unit, said box unit including a damper driven by an actuator, said damper controlling air flow to an environment, said box units being coupled to a sensor for providing a parameter signal, each controller including a parameter input, coupled to said sensor, for receiving the parameter signal and an actuator output coupled with said actuator, said controller providing an actuator signal at said actuator output to position said actuator;
• a communication bus coupled to each said controller;
• and
• a computer operatively couplable with said communication bus, said computer configured to cause said controller to position said actuator to a particular position, said computer configured to receive a particular parameter signal associated with said particular position, wherein said computer is configured to receive a first particular parameter signal associated with a fully open position of said damper and a second particular parameter signal associated with a fully closed position of said damper, wherein said computer is configured to provide a flat response warning in response to a comparison of said first particular parameter signal and said second particular parameter signal.

An environment control network, comprising:

• a plurality of box units, each of said plurality box units having a controller operatively associated with said box unit, said box unit including a damper driven by an actuator, said damper controlling air flow to an environment, said box unit be coupled to a sensor for providing a parameter signal, each controller including a parameter input, coupled to said sensor, for receiving the parameter signal and an actuator output coupled with said actuator, said controller providing and actuator signal at said actuator output to position said actuator;
• a communication bus coupled to each said controllers;
• and
• a computer operatively couplable with said communication bus, said computer configured to cause said controller to position said actuator to a particular position, said computer configured to receive a particular parameter signal associated with said particular position, wherein said computer is configured to cause said controller to fully open said actuator at a first time and fully open said actuator at a second time and wherein said computer is configured to receive a first particular parameter data associated with said first time and a second particular parameter data associated with said second time, wherein said computer is configured to provide a starved box warning in response to a comparison of said first particular parameter data and said second particular parameter data.

An environment control network, comprising:

• a plurality of box units, each of said plurality box units having a controller operatively associated with said box unit, said box unit including a damper driven by an actuator, said damper controlling air flow to an environment, said box unit being coupled to a sensor for providing a parameter signal, each controller including a parameter input, coupled to said sensor, for receiving the parameter signal and an actuator output coupled to said actuator, said controller providing an actuator signal at said actuator output to position said actuator;
• a communication bus coupled to each said controller;
• and
• a computer operatively coupled with said communication bus, said computer configured to cause said controller to position said actuator to a particular position, said computer configured to receive a particular parameter signal associated with said particular position, wherein said computer is configured to cause said controller to provide at said actuator output a plurality of actuator test signals representative of a plurality of test actuator positions of said actuator and to receive from said sensor a plurality of test parameter signals associated with said test actuator positions, said controller providing said plurality of test parameter signals to said computer, wherein said computer is configured to provide an excessive damper hysteresis warning in response to an analysis of said plurality of test parameter signals.

An environment control system for use with a VAV box, said VAV box receiving airflow from a source and providing said air flow to an environment, said VAV box including a damper for controlling said air flow, said damper being controlled by an actuator, said environment control system comprising:

• a first communication bus;
• a second communication bus;
• a VAV controller operatively associated with said VAV box, to control said VAV box, said VAV controller means including a parameter input means for receiving a parameter value related to said environment, a communication port coupled with said first communication bus, and an actuator output means for providing an actuator signal to said actuator, said VAV controller means positioning said actuator in response to said actuator signal;
• station means, coupled with said second communication bus and said first communication bus, for receiving said parameter data from said first communication bus and providing said parameter data on said second communication bus;
• and
• computer means, operatively couplable to said second communication bus, for employing diagnostic software, said diagnostic software causing said computer to communicate with said controller via said first communication bus, said station means, and said second communication bus, said diagnostic software causing said computer to receive said parameter data associated with a position of said actuator, wherein said computer means receives a first parameter data associated with said damper in a fully open position and a second parameter data associated with said damper in a fully closed position in response to said diagnostic software, and wherein said computer means provides a starved box warning, an oversized box warning, an excessive damper hysteresis warning, or a flat response warning in response to said first parameter data and said second parameter data.