Mitsubishi Electric has launched a new user-friendly, touchscreen controller to offer full remote controllability, monitoring and reporting for up to 400 air conditioning units.
The AE-C400E centralized controller is IoT-ready and comes with a high-precision, durable 12.1" glass capacitive touchscreen with quick-response multi-touch capabilities, to offer effortless control with a visually enhanced, easy-to-read display.
Mitsubishi Electric’s MELCloud platform
The built-in IoT gateway allows access to Mitsubishi Electric’s powerful MELCloud Commercial platform
“Our customers have been telling us that they need an internet-ready, flexible and expandable control system for their HVAC, which is intuitive to operate, and delivers automated reporting and monitoring,” explains Manohar Lal, Product Manager for Control Systems for Mitsubishi Electric.
The built-in IoT gateway allows access to Mitsubishi Electric’s powerful MELCloud Commercial platform, which can then allow facilities managers to remotely access their entire estate’s HVAC.
New features and functions
By using the webpage function, they will be able to see up to 2,000 indoor units anywhere, to deliver full control along with detailed monitoring and reporting to help improve on-site maintenance.
“Building operators need a system that can optimize comfort and efficiency effortlessly, so we’ve responded to that with this new full color touchscreen system which offers user-friendly control across a building or an entire estate,” adds Manohar. “We have also designed this first iteration to become an increasingly powerful controller and will add new features and functions via future updates.”
Building's air conditioning and ventilation
AE-C400E unit helps to simplify day-to-day system management and includes an accessible USB-C port
The people in control of a building's air conditioning and ventilation will be able to make informed decisions about air quality and comfort settings in individual spaces or across a floor or building, to full system operation and performance.
The AE-C400E unit helps to simplify day-to-day system management and includes an easily accessible USB-C port, allowing system data to be downloaded.
How the system is performing in comparison
The full-colour screen displays the outside ambient temperatures to show how the system is performing in comparison. The controller also displays CO2 sensor readings in both numerical and graphical formats for real-time insights into air quality, helping to maintain a healthier indoor environment.
The AE-C400E offers the ability to manage up to 50 indoor units, straight out of the box, with additional blocks of 50 units added through the EW-C50 expansion module. This enables the system to be scaled up to 400 units, across an entire network.
Performance analysis of commercial HVAC
Pre-installed software and PIN codes are designed to help installers with the initial setup
Pre-installed software and PIN codes are designed to help installers with the initial setup. The controller’s built-in interlock function also enables the device to interface with lighting systems and key card entry systems, making it ideal for applications such as hotels and accommodation blocks.
Facilities teams or service and maintenance providers can access systems either onsite or remotely, to deliver monitoring and performance analysis of commercial HVAC, including the ongoing energy performance. There is also the option to add on energy apportioning and BACnet functionality, without the need for a backup controller.
Energy consumption
“This increases the cost effectiveness and ease with which people can monitor and optimize multiple sites from an energy consumption point of view,” adds Manohar.
“It also gives service engineers the ability to monitor the health of equipment and enables them to proactively approach their customers before any minor equipment issues can become a major problem”.
Mitsubishi Electric’s M Series air conditioning units
Mitsubishi Electric chillers under the Climaveneta and RC Group brands are compatible
The system is fully compatible with Mitsubishi Electric’s M Series, Mr Slim and City Multi air conditioning units along with Lossnay MVHR ventilation units and the e-Series chillers.
Mitsubishi Electric chillers under the Climaveneta and RC Group brands are compatible through a dedicated adaptor, and commercial heat pumps, including the Ecodan CAHV, QAHV, and CRHV, will be added to the portfolio later this year.
Importance of HVAC control systems
“We know the increasing importance that HVAC control systems will play in ensuring buildings are sustainable and comply with increasingly tough energy legislation, which is why we have developed this new controller to offer flexibility for a huge range of building sizes,” explains Manohar Lal.
“We want to help our customers find a cost-effective, energy-efficient solution as this will be crucial to managing, monitoring, and reporting on the performance of their buildings or estates”.
