'Four concerns of the specialist in controls and drives'

In the contribution to this theme from control and drive specialist Becker -Antriebe GmbH - represented in the Benelux by Becker Benelux - the focus is on four items. They are Centronic Plus, the EnOcean tube motor, the solar set and KNX - SMI.

Becker's Centronic program has been on the market for sixteen years. It was launched at the time with as its main features the latest transmission frequency 868.3 MHz and a very simple setup procedure. Over time, this program has been expanded to include multiple transmitters and sensors, and the motors have been equipped with a number of additional functions, including obstacle detection, upward-sliding safety devices and fabric release.

As a further development of the Centronic program, Becker has launched Centronic Plus. "With this we are going to surprise our customers with pleasure," said account manager Guy Scheerlinck of Becker Benelux. "These motors can simply be incorporated into current systems and programmed in the same way with the existing transmitters and sensors of the Centronic program, as installers and end users have been used to for years."

The special feature of the Centronic Plus motors, according to Scheerlinck, is that they also work bi-directionally using our latest transmitters and MESH technology. "A MESH network is built and ensures effective operation of all integrated motors as well as status reporting, even in larger wireless projects."

The Centronic program is further expanded with the latest home control center CC41, which allows applications in the home to be easily controlled with the Becker app, smartphone, tablet or control panel from home or elsewhere, among others. Additional to this is that status messages are always available.

EnOcean technology is now the standard for many suppliers, especially in the prefabricated housing segment. To operate shutters or blinds, conventional drives were usually used until now, but then a power supply is required for each motor, which requires a considerable installation effort.

"Becker installs the EnOcean transmit-receive module directly into the tube motor, making it even easier to use," Scheerlinck explains. "A separate actuator is unnecessary and high wiring costs are avoided. The result is maximum flexibility and significant time and cost savings."

These motors are controlled by wire and battery-free switches and/or sensors. The controls or sensors collect and store the smallest amounts of energy from the environment. This energy is sufficient to transmit signals and control various components.

"The Becker EnOcean drive is the first tube motor that can be integrated into Apple HomeKit via the OPUS SmartHome Gateway from JÄGER-Direct," said Philippe Goossens, account manager for the Netherlands from Becker Benelux. "Apple users can therefore easily integrate their roller shutter and awning drives into their HomeKit app. The HomeKit app enables intuitive and convenient programming and control of roller shutters and awnings, for example through scenarios or sensors."

Within the OPUS program, JÄGER-Direct offers a wide range of peripherals for shading and rolling shutters, safety functions (smoke and water detectors), lighting control (including presence and motion detectors), heating control and outdoor monitoring (door and window contacts). In addition, equipped with the appropriate extensions, the OPUS SmartHome Gateway can be integrated with visualization apps suitable for Android, such as Mediola or Control4.

"With the EnOcean drive, Becker is reaching a new milestone in terms of compatibility and effortless integration," Goossens believes. "Energy efficiency and flexibility play an increasingly important role, especially in larger buildings. So we are all the more pleased to be part of the sustainable development of EnOcean and to be able to further develop this standard together."

Becker also has a solar-powered motor solution in its product range. First, a Solar set includes a 6 or 10 Nm DC tube motor (a 20 Nm motor will follow in mid-2021) for shutters and blinds. These motors have an electronic limit switch, soft-start-soft-stop system and blocking function. The motors can be controlled remotely with a Centronic transmitter, with the same settings as other remotely controlled tube motors. The second component is an external battery that is placed in the cabinet of roller shutter or awning with mounting brackets. Finally, a solar panel can be glued or screwed onto the cabinet. Optionally, an extension cable and an adapter are available for charging the battery.

For building automation, the KNX bus system is often used. In a KNX environment and large projects, a Standard Motor Interface (SMI) can be integrated. This offers many advantages in terms of mounting, cable lengths and controls because KNX provides status messages and allows easy control adjustments.

Becker has added to its range the new Becker Aktor for sixteen drives that can be used in conjunction with SMI motors for shutters and blinds. These motors are available from 5 to 120 Nm. "An external KNX module is then not necessary, as it is already included in the motors," says Guy Scheerlinck. "The motors can be easily adjusted by the blinds specialist. Integration into the system is accomplished by the KNX integrator."