Application Article

Integrator Designs Solution for Manufacturer of Air Showers

Controllers used - Smart-PAK PLUS

Total Digital Inputs - 8 @ DC

Total Digital Outputs - 6 @ relay

Communication Protocol - Entertron ASCII

Operator Interface - Eclipse Message Master Plus

Customer Goals - Control Direction and Duration for Controlled Area Entry

AMPS Industrial Controls - a long standing integrator for Entertron, decided to use our products for Ventilation Ventures - a manufacturer of air shower solutions for entry into clean room and controlled areas. Ventilation Ventures was looking to enhance the integrity of their air shower products by providing added features and capabilities.

Prior to the addition of Entertron's products, there was limited control over the air shower process.

With the addition of the controller and operator interface, many features were added, thus providing enhanced control and capabilities over the "manual control" and "automatic control" versions of their product line.

What is known as their "microprocessor control" provides enhanced control and diagnostic capabilities that their other products and those of the competition don't offer. Features include:

• Diagnostic Tests for Blower Operations; Door Switch Operations; Door Lock Operations; Audio & Visual Alarm Test and Presence Sensor Test
• The ability to configure which door is for controlled area entry
• Program - Cleaning Cycle Time; Delay Unlock Time; Alarm Options; Pre-filter and Final Filter changeout time; New 4 digit access code
• ON/OFF light switch
• Initiate Security Code Locking Feature

One criteria that was extremely important was to have complete control over the entry and exit from the controlled area, thus not contaminating or compromising the integrity of that area. To ensure the integrity of the controlled area environment, a feature allowing only one door to be open at a time was included. Magnetic locks on a time delay through the Smart-PAK PLUS were used. The use of an access code also adds a level of protection by requiring all authorized personnel have the access code for entry into the controlled area.

Other security features were included to provide assurances that no secured process could be bypassed or disabled.

All control is done through the Smart-PAK PLUS with operation controlled through the Eclipse Message Master Plus.

All programming for both the Smart-PAK PLUS and Eclipse Message Master Plus were done by our integrator for the customer. One feature that the final customer liked about Entertron's products is that no one (including competitors) can extract the ePLC program and reverse engineer what they have spent months developing.

The control panel is now actually attached to the shower chamber, rather than having to be mounted separately, as was done previously and still done by the competition. The benefits are:

1. No mounting required for the control panel
2. Reduced installation cost - no need to wire power to the motor or control box - just incoming power.

If you are interested in working with Amps Industrial Controls or one of our integrators in your area, feel free to contact them to discuss your application needs. You can always contact Entertron to discuss first and then we can direct you to the Integrator best suited for your needs.

You can view Ventilation Ventures information at www.airshowers.com

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