What the #$% is a floridaBox?

The floridaBox® is a refresh of an almost 20 year old design originally developed for Demand Side Management (DSM) programs for the electric, gas and water utilities. Given the technological and economic advances in the semiconductor industry, Cyclonic Systems is now able to offer this product to vertical markets at an affordable price.

Why would someone want a floridaBox?

The upward spiral in energy prices are placing an insurmountable burden on businesses and homeowners. Demand for oil impacts every facet of our economy. This demand is envisioned to rise for at least 25 more years until new technologies and efficiencies ripple through the infrastructure. Demand side management means just that: curbing energy demand. The original design was conceived by a late Air Force Colonel and a (snow bird) Florida homeowner/engineer who spends little time at his vacation property over 1400 miles away. He needs to be able to remotely monitor and control certain functions in his home without the need for a bulky PC which can be extremely unreliable in an extremely humid environment and shaky power infrastructure given recent weather events (i.e. hurricanes). The floridaBox is economical, expandable and reliable. It can take advantage of all means of connectivity to the Internet, namely broadband and dialup. It usually is mounted in the garage in a low cost, alarm system type enclosure or outside the home in a NEMA approved weathertight enclosure. It communicates locally with many forms of sensors and controls, including those with wireless, SmartHome® and power line carrier interfaces. It's sports a friendly Human Machine (HMI) interface accessible through any web browser on a computer, PDA or cell phone.

How does it do it?

Applications

Monitor contact closures from door sensors, motion detectors, sensors, etc.
Control external electrical contactors, sprinkler systems, door locks, etc.
Process external inputs from telecomunucations and SCADA equipment.
Collect data from kilowatt hour meters equipped with pulse initiator contacts.
Collect data from remote wireless and analog sensors.
Record data for later retrieval.
Control devices by time schedule, in response to external inputs and/or collected data, by direct command or execution of stored control programs.

Product Specifications

Wired Digital Inputs

12 binary inputs, 0-12 VDC, > 10KOhm impedance.
Inputs can be configured for on/off or pulse mode (Rate 20 pulse per second max).
Inputs can be grouped to provide K-Y-Z initiator capability for up to 6 meter sources.
- Calculate Total Cumulative Energy.
- Five minute demand.
- Store 15 minute load profile.
- Functions can be used with stored control programs.
Inputs can be configured as alarms with normal and alarm states.

Wired Analog Inputs

8 inputs. 0-5VDC. 10 bit. 1 LSB error.
15 minute snapshots to persistent storage.
Configurable high and low setpoint alarms that can be used with control programs.

Wired Control Outputs

4 outputs. 12VDC 300mA sink. Optional 70M module capability. Visual LED per control output.
Controlled on demand, on-off cycling with start stop time and/or program control.
Auxillary 5 VDC power @ 1A max.

Data Acquisition

Transmit on demand: Status (ON/OFF) of each wired control output, value of all wired analog and digital inputs, cummulative energy and 5 minute demand of each K-Y-Z meter if configured and alarm status.
Transmit 15 minute demand profile from each configured meter upon request.
Persistent storage for up to 6 inputs (meters/analog/digital) for up to 30 days.

Expansion

Optional 2 x 16 LCD with alarm LEDs, audible alert, Real Time Clock and button controls.
Optional Bluetooth transciever allows for communications with wireless sensors and other co-located floridaBoxes.

Communications

Wired Ethernet.
Wireless Ethernet.
Point to Point protocol over DSP modem.
- Off hook detection never interferes with subscriber.
- DSP is soft configurable for different communications formats.
- Up to 4 stored phone numbers.
- Posted request allows for callback if phone is in use (eavesdrop mode).
- Autodial on alarm.
- SNMP trap on alarm.