Grouping indoor units on a CoolAutomation' device

Introduction

Imagine a large open office space divided into different zones - such as a dining hall, auditorium, labs, and offices.
Each zone is typically served by multiple AC indoor units. Managing these units individually with separate thermostats can be both costly and difficult to control efficiently.

To simplify management, the units are grouped and connected to thermostats according to their control requirements.

With any CoolAutomation device, you can easily establish unified control by assigning one unit as the master and the rest as slaves, ensuring centralized and synchronized operation.

This can be achieved either on the HVAC side, by linking the units’ WRC communication lines, or on the CoolAutomation side, using a simple software command.

Prerequisites

1. First, download the CoolAutomation ToolBox (if you haven't yet).
2. Then, connect to your device using the USB/IP Network connection.
3. Click 'Connect' and there you will find a terminal screen.  

Grouping steps

You can use a terminal command :

group L1.001 L1.002

* Example unit addresses. 

• Now L1.001 is the Master and L1.002 is the Slave. 

This means that you can use unit L1.001 to control both units, applicable on any outside controlling source as well. 

In order to add another unit to the same master you can run the same command and use the new unit on instead of unit 2. For example: 

group L1.001 L2.003

• 2 being a different (or the same) line number. 003 being a unit number on line 2.
• Now both L1.002 and L2.003 do the same as the master (L1.001) does, and replicate all the features like set point (desired temperature), fan speed, mode etc.

Please note: Once the grouping of the units were applied, the slave units can't receive a direct control action request. Controlling the units is done by sending an action to the Master unit. 

How to check current groups in the terminal

You can use a terminal command :

group

How to delete a group

You can use a terminal command :

group -0

• 0 being the group number we want to delete.