System and method for loading software into a control panel for a chiller system

A control panel for a chiller system, the control panel comprising:

• a microprocessor;
• a PCMCIA connector configured to receive a linear flash PCMCIA card, the PCMCIA connector being connected to the microprocessor by an address bus and a data bus to provide direct communication between the PCMCIA connector and the microprocessor;
• an application memory connected to the address bus and the data bus, the application memory being configured to store control software;
• a boot memory connected to the address bus and the data bus, the boot memory being configured to store initialization software;
• and
• steering logic, the steering logic being configured to initiate execution of initialization software stored in one of the boot memory and a linear flash PCMCIA card inserted in the PCMCIA connector.

A method of loading software onto a plurality of chiller system control panels, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting a linear flash PCMCIA card into a corresponding socket of a chiller system control panel;
• initializing a chiller system with a boot program stored on the linear flash PCMCIA card;
• copying a software program stored on the linear flash PCMCIA card to a memory device on the control panel with a copy program stored on the linear flash PCMCIA card;
• removing the linear flash PCMCIA card from the corresponding socket of the chiller system control panel;
• and
• repeating the steps of inserting a linear flash PCMCIA card, initializing a chiller system, copying a software program, and removing the linear flash PCMCIA card for another chiller system control panel.