lochinvar knight

A

akjerry

New Member
Hey
I just finished installing a Lochinvar Knight boiler.I'm pleased with the results thus far, I'll be interested to see the performance this winter,I'm in Alaska and it can get pretty chilly here.
The dealer has software and cable available to allow connection of a pc, for the download and monitoring of system logs, but the above is well over $200.00. Being as I'm a DIY'er, I use linux for day to day internet, office and games, as well as most projects around the home.
Does anyone know of software that will interface with the Knight boiler,the dealer special software is labeled "smart system".
The connection point on the boiler front is an rj11 6p6c, and the boiler motherboard is a S.I.T Controls BIC 935,
a google search reveals the manufacture to be located in Italy, with offices in the U.S, but not much more, no info asto computer connection end style, or communications info.
Maybe someone out there has more info or can provide some links.
Thanks
Jerry
 
[
Hey George
I did find a pdf at designerplumbing
seems to suggest it connects to the pc via db9. I dont know enough about cabling to say if this would be a cross over or straight thru.Maybe someone can offer some ideas
Jerry
 
Hey all
Would there be anybody or a link, to assist me in finding out the method, means or a howto, in determining how to wire up a connection to this boiler from a PC?
Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.
To reiterate:
Knight Boiler KBN080
Interface on boiler rj 6p6c
Interface on comp. RS232/DB9
Thanks
Jerry
 
I'd call a few of the US reps, find a kind one that wants to help out, providing specs/manuals. Call HQ in Italy - why not?

Tekmar makes controls for boilers - search cocoontech for boiler and boiler + tekmar
 
akjerry said:
Hey
I just finished installing a Lochinvar Knight boiler.I'm pleased with the results thus far, I'll be interested to see the performance this winter,I'm in Alaska and it can get pretty chilly here.
The dealer has software and cable available to allow connection of a pc, for the download and monitoring of system logs, but the above is well over $200.00. Being as I'm a DIY'er, I use linux for day to day internet, office and games, as well as most projects around the home.
Does anyone know of software that will interface with the Knight boiler,the dealer special software is labeled "smart system".
The connection point on the boiler front is an rj11 6p6c, and the boiler motherboard is a S.I.T Controls BIC 935,
a google search reveals the manufacture to be located in Italy, with offices in the U.S, but not much more, no info asto computer connection end style, or communications info.
Maybe someone out there has more info or can provide some links.
Thanks
Jerry
Click to expand...


This suggests it might be RS232 or maybe RS435, so call Lochinvar and tell them you're a developer and you would like the interconnection protocol. Worst case, they tell you no and you have to capture and interpret the output.
 
Ok, thanks for the suggestion.
My wife(bless her heart) must have heard me expressing an interest in connecting a computer to the furnace, she purchased the cabling and software. :)

The software installs and runs fine from winxp.
The cable connection is as follows:
rj11 6p6c at the boiler > rj45 > ethernet to usb interface (under knoppix, this is identified as ftdi ft232bm, connected to /dev/ttyUSB0)> computer.
The rj11 has all condutors connected.
The rj45 has the following connectors, as viewded from the CABLE end:
rj45 tab down cable end
pin 1 = empty
pin 2 = empty
pin 3 = empty
pin 4 = green/white
pin 5 = empty
pin 6 = green
pin 7 = orange
pin 8 = orange/white

The rj11 is wired as follows:
rj11 tab down cable end
pin 1 = brown
pin 2 = green/white
pin 3 = green
pin 4 = orange/white
pin 5 = orange
pin 6 = blue

From what I can determine from web seaches, this is NOT a standard cable arrangement.
Would there be a method to figure out how to wire up an ethernet cable to communicate direct with the boiler?

Alternatively, I could hook in the laptop, running winxp, connect to the boiler and run the software, then monitor the file for mods, via ethernet.
Any other suggestions. :)
Thanks for the input
jerry
 
George
I had emailed Lochnivar and they directed me to the local distributor.
The cost was $258, pretty expensive, for what it does.
The software manual says that you can change parameters, using the password thats printed on the CD, but I've not been able to get that "feature" to accept the password.Kinda dumb, if you ask me, they provide a password in the boiler installation manual, to enter the setup directly at the boiler, :) but its differant from the computor.
I've been searching the net to try and find software to read/write to/from the boiler, but haven't come up with anything yet :)
I'll let you know if I come up with a workable solution.
Jerry
 
akjerry, thanks for all the info. i've been toying with the idea of making a cable myself. my boiler guy isnt that swift and it would be great to monitor usage. my background is working on these types of controllers (though not hvac)

...but i'm confused. your cable pinouts do seem match an ethernet rj-45 to ethernet rj-11....they dont seem to match any serial based standards. i got the impression that the interface was serial (rs-232)? the manual even mentions going into a db-9?

do you have the exact make/model of the rj-45 to usb converter? do you know if it's serial or ethernet to usb?

did you ever get the chance or make head way on breaking the protocol?

thanks,
a different george.
 
geapea said:
>>do you have the exact make/model of the rj-45 to usb converter? do you know if it's serial or ethernet to usb?

I'm not sure I understand your question.
Cable #1 comes from the boiler, it has two ends
On end #1 at the boiler is the rj11
On end #2 at the adapter end is rj45
Cable #2 goes from computor USB "A" terminal to a "B" terminal at adaptor.
Adaptor has been identified as FTDI FT232BM

USB, AFAIK, is universal SERIAL bus

>>did you ever get the chance or make head way on breaking the protocol?

No, haven't made any attempts
akjerry





thanks,
a different george.
Click to expand...
 
>I'm not sure I understand your question.
> Cable #1 comes from the boiler, it has two ends
> On end #1 at the boiler is the rj11
> On end #2 at the adapter end is rj45
>Cable #2 goes from computor USB "A" terminal to a "B" terminal at adaptor.
>Adaptor has been identified as FTDI FT232BM
>
>USB, AFAIK, is universal SERIAL bus

thanks, that helps...well, sort of (not your issue). FTDI FT232BM is the serial to USB
chip used. i was hoping it would give a manufacturer or model. the cable is non-standard
from what i can tell (well, it looks more like an ethernet cable) which means the adapter
may be made to their spec (as far as the rj-45 pinout).

some trial and error can probably determine the RX and TX...but i'm a little uneasy
about experimenting on my new boiler.

thanks,
george
 
geapea
There are no other markings in or on the usb/ethernet adapter, just SIT, guessing it is made for the control board specifically.
I did try an SMC 2202 usb/ethernet adapter, but couldn't get it to communicate with the boiler.
Getting ready to go on vacation, so I don't have time until after the new year.
akjerry
 
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