Black Nova v1.0 – RTI Driver

Driver Info

Release – R1.0

Introduction

Block Nova is a design-driven technology company and a global reference brand for Smart Design-Keypads. Black Nova is brand and technology agnostic, elevating the Smart Design Keypads to pure design objects not tied to any particular technology or control platform.

This Driver enables connecting up to 64 “RS485” based Black Nova Keypads via “Nova-HUB” [RS485 to TCP/IP Gateway].

Driver Features

Integrate up to 64 Black Nova Keypads.

Supports ‘ALBA’, ‘ARIA’ & ‘AXES’ series Keypads.

Supports external value display (like Setpoint or Room Temperatures, Fan Speed, AC Mode, Integer or Percentages) on ‘ALBA-M1’, ‘ARIA-M1’ & “AXES-TT’ series Keypads with Display.

Supports all possible Button combinations supported by Black Nova.

Up to 64 pre configurable Color Preset for use in setting Button feedback status.

Status Variables to show the following:

‘Wake-Up’ Status of Keypad.

RGB Color values set for ON Status

RGB Color values set for OFF Status.

External ‘Room Temperature’ received from other thermostat controllers integrated with RTI.

Setpoint Temperature.

‘Room Temperature’ in °C or °F received from Keypad internal sensor.

‘Humidity’ levels received from Keypad internal sensor.

‘Card Insert’ status for AXES CR/CH Keypads.

‘Press’, ‘Hold’ & ‘Release’ Boolean state for all Buttons of the Keypad,

Events to call other RTI driver functions:

Keypad ‘Wake-Up’.

‘Card Inserted / Removed’ for AXES CR/CH Keypads.

‘Press’, ‘Hold’ & ‘Release’ for each of the buttons on Keypad.

Getting Ready

Install, Configure all Black Nova Keypads.

Configure Nova-HUB.

Assign Unique-ID for each of the installed Keypads.

Set other Keypad / Button parameters as necessary.

Make note of following Keypad details for configuring in RTI Driver Settings:

Keypad Models (Refer to ‘Black Nova Driver Configuration Guide’ for Model Nos.).

Unique-ID assigned to Keypads.

IP Address assigned to Nova-HUB.

Open & Create new project file in RTI APEX Integration Designer.

Add “Black Nova Keypads” driver to your project.

Driver Settings

Nova-HUB Gateway Settings:

Max Keypads (1-64) - Enter No. of Keypads to use in this Project, between 1 to 64.

TCP IP Address - Enter IP Address assigned to Nova-HUB.

TCP Port - Enter Port No. as assigned in Nova-HUB. Default is 32123.

Debug Settings: (To be enabled while or used only for troubleshooting & driver performance monitoring. Uncheck all options after final programming)

Error Trace - Check to view ‘Error’ messages generated by Driver.

Warn Trace - Check to view ‘Warning’ messages generated by Driver.

Info Trace - Check to view ‘Information’ messages generated by Driver.

Keypad n Settings: (n = Keypad No.)

Keypad-n Model - Select Keypad Model (Refer to ‘Black Nova Driver Configuration Guide’ for Model Nos.)

Keypad-n ID - Enter Unique-ID as assigned to Keypad during initial configuration.

Keypad-n Name - Give Name for this Keypad to identify while programming GUI.

Keypad-n Sleep Timeout - Enter Backlight Time Out for this Keypad in Seconds.

Keypad-n Delay* - Enter Delay Value in Seconds. By default, Keypad always displays the value of parameter selected in Default Display 4.3,6), however, when any parameter other than the default parameter to be displayed for a while, then the Display shows this parameter for the No. of seconds selected here and then returns back to displaying default parameter.

Default Display* - Select the Parameter that needs to be shown on display ideally. If any other values are to be shown for a moment, the display will briefly (for No. of seconds set at 4.3.5) show the value & then returns back to displaying default parameter.

Keypad-n Show Temperature in °C* - By Default Display shows ‘Temperature’ in °F, check if ‘Temperature’ to be shown in °C.

Setpoint Temperature from other Driver* - Select the ‘Variable’ of another Driver which holds ‘Setpoint Temperature’.

Temperature value Conversion Expression * - Enter the Conversion Expression If the input value received from the ‘Variable’ as mentioned in 4.3.8, is to be converted before displaying on Keypad. (See Annexure-II of this document for valid Expressions).

Room Temperature from other Driver * - Select the ‘Variable’ of another Driver which holds ‘Room Temperature’.

Temperature value Conversion Expression * - Enter the Conversion Expression If the input value received from the ‘Variable’ as mentioned in 4.3.10, is to be converted before displaying on Keypad. (See Annexure-II of this document for valid Expressions).

Analog Value from other Driver * - Select the ‘Variable’ of another Driver which holds ‘Analog’ value.

Analog value Conversion Expression * - Enter the Conversion Expression If the input value received from the ‘Variable’ as mentioned in 4.3.12, is to be converted before displaying on Keypad. (See Annexure-II of this document for valid Expressions).

Percentage value from other Driver * - Select the ‘Variable’ of another Driver which holds ‘Percentage’ value.

Percentage value Conversion Expression * - Enter the Conversion Expression If the input value received from the ‘Variable’ as mentioned in 4.3.14, is to be converted before displaying on Keypad. (See Annexure-II of this document for valid Expressions).

Fan Speed value Input Type* - Select the input value Type of the other driver Variable, Integer or String.

Fan Speed from other Driver * - Select the ‘Variable’ of another Driver which holds ‘Fan Speed’.

Fan Speed value Conversion Expression * - Enter the Conversion Expression If the input value received from the ‘Variable’ as mentioned in 4.3.17, is to be converted before displaying on Keypad. (See Annexure-II of this document for valid Expressions).

AC Mode value Input Type* - Select the input value Type of the other driver Variable, Integer or String.

AC Mode from other Driver* - Select the ‘Variable’ of another Driver which holds ‘AC Mode’.

AC Mode value Conversion Expression* - Enter the Conversion Expression If the input value received from the ‘Variable’ as mentioned in 4.3.20, is to be converted before displaying on Keypad. (See Annexure-II of this document for valid Expressions).

Function Keys Position# - Select “Enter” & “Clear” key positions as configured in Keypad.

Button-x Name - Give Name for this Button to identify while programming GUI.

Button-x Hold Time - Enter Button Hold Time in Milliseconds for this Button.

Note:

In Keypad-n - ‘n’ Represents the current Keypad No. (Between 1 to 64).

All Parameters from 4.3.5 to 4.3.21 marked with (*) are available for configuration only if the selected Keypad Model is one of ‘ALBA-M1’ or ‘ARIA-M1’ or ‘AXES-TT’ variant, which are with Display.

Parameter 4.3.22 marked with (#) is available for configuration only if Keypad Model ‘AXES KN’ is selected.

Button-x - ‘x’ Represents the current Button No. (Between 1 to 12), based on the Keypad selected.

Button-x Name & Button-x Hold Time are not available for Keypad Models ‘AXES KN’ & ‘AXES DR’.

Not all configuration parameters are available for all Keypad Model Nos. Availability depends on selected Keypad.

Refer to “Black Nova Driver Configuration Guide” for Annexure-I.

Annexure-II

Conversion Expressions

The Conversion Expressions used to convert input values from another driver as aforementioned under 4.3.9, 4.3.11, 4.3.13, 4.3.15, 4.3.18 & 4.3.21 are as follows:

“In” (Default) - Used when the input value doesn’t need any conversion & is displayed as it is. Note that the input values are valid only if they are “Integers”, as Black Nova Keypads can only accept Integer values.

“exp()” - An Expression, which is used to manipulate / convert integer values to different integer values.

Example: exp((in / 2.55), (in * 2), (in + 25)) – The input value is 1st divided by ‘2.55’ & then multiplied by ‘2’ & Add ‘25’ finally.

If input value is 25. Then 25/2.55 = 10 -> 10 * 2 = 20 -> 20 + 25 = 45.

So the input value ‘25’ is converted to ‘45’ & displayed on Keypad.

“rep()” - An Expression, which is used to replace String values to respective integer values.

Example: rep(Off:0, Low:1, Medium:2, High:3, Auto:6) – In this example the input (Fan Speed) is in String format. The input String is replaced by the given Integer and sent to Keypad to Display Fan Speed.

Important Note: rep() used to replace string values with integer values is only available for ‘Fan Speed’ & ‘AC Mode’. All other conversions shall have either ‘In’ to use values as is or use exp() to convert input Integer values as required by Keypad.

Last Changed: 02.May.2023