MITD KBTC – Electronic Security and Control Systems –

Building Management System - Handout 13

Basic Control DDC Program Logic

DDC programming can be rather complex especially to those who don't understand software or
programming. Some DDC software and hardware manufacturers utilize symbols to build their logic
programs for DDC control. Some of these logic blocks are rather complex but others are very simple.
These are the basic logic blocks which, when combined, make up the DDC algorithm DDC control
program.

Everything from And gates to Or gates to Timers blocks to complex mathematical blocks allow a DDC
Control programmer or DDC Control engineer to assemble programs in little time simple by arranging a
set of logic blocks in a software program and then compiling this set of logic blocks into a basic machine
line code and necessary tables which the casual observer and even the engineers never see. When this
program is downloaded into the controller one can use the logic page in the DDC software to observe
real time information from inputs to outputs to alarms and schedules. To someone skilled with this they
can use the logic page in the DDC software to troubleshoot problems. It is simply a tool along with trend
charts and graphics to watch the system, collect data, and make changes as necessary or to use to find a
problem in the program or in the HVAC or Electrical equipment which the program is controlling. We'll
start with simple blocks or symbols and work our way up to the more complex blocks. Understanding of
ladder diagrams and basic electrical circuitry is necessary to follow these logic gates and symbols.

 The Binary input logic block will get an input signal of either on or off (0 or 1 in Binary speak)
from a device wired to the DDC controller. It will send an appropriate response out through other
logic blocks for program processing through other logic blocks and eventually end at an output
block. An example of a Binary input logic block would be a Binary input logic block which
gets its input from a smoke alarm. If the contacts on the smoke alarm close the Binary input
logic block becomes true and sends this through the program for the appropriate response.

 The Analog input logic block will receive an Analog signal from a device wired to the DDC
controller. An example of an Analog input logic block would be a logic block which gets its input
from a pressure transducer. The pressure transducer will send an analog signal to the Analog
input logic block and the Analog input logic block will send this information through the program
logic.

Prepare by B Jankee MITD – KBTC 12/01/2011

  The Binary output logic block will get its instructions from other logic blocks in the DDC
program and give a binary output response based on the input from the program. An example of a
Binary output logic block would be a Binary out logic block assigned to a motor start/stop.
When the program called for the motor to energize the Binary output logic block would
energize the output and a really would energize the motor starter.
 The Analog output logic block will do the same as the Binary output logic block except the
signal coming from the Analog output logic block will be an analog signal. An example of an
Analog output logic block would be an Analog output logic block assigned to control a
variable frequency drive which works off of an analog signal like 0 to 10 volts or 4 to 20
milliamps.

And Gate

The And gate is simply a series switch. In the DDC graphic to the left is an And gate and it is the same
as the series switch to the right of the And gate. If a single input to the And gate is open the And gate
will not allow an output. The input side of the And gate can have as many gates as necessary for proper
functioning whatever is being controlled.

Or Gate

The Or gate is simply a circuit that says on or the other or both. If one or the other have an input signal to
the Or gate the Or gate will allow an output. For example, you could have a three gate Or gate which
would be linked to three specific alarms like the smoke detectors, the freeze stat, and the high static

Prepare by B Jankee MITD – KBTC 12/01/2011

pressure switch. If one or the other tripped then the Or gate would send an output signal to an alarm logic
block and an emergency shutdown logic block.

The Not Gate

The Not gate is a simple gate which will change a 0 input to a 1 output or a 1 input to a 0 output. It used
for various logic programming to change a binary value from a 0 to a 1 or from a 1 to a 0.

If Less Than and If Greater Than Logic Blocks

This is basic line code programming that goes back to the basics of if, else, then. An example of the usage
of these blocks would be if the outside air temperature was less than 65° then it is okay to use the
economizer. Of course the program would have other conditions which may be linked through an And
Gate logic block but the If Less Than logic block would be one of the conditions to enable the
economizer. There are other If logic blocks such as If Equals to and others which can give an analog or a
binary output to the program.

Low Limit Analog Logic Block

The Low Limit analog signal block will place a low limit to an analog signal coming from the program
going to the analog output. An example of this would be a minimum speed for a VFD or a minimum
damper position for a modulating damper.

High Limit Analog Logic Block

The High Limit analog signal block will place a high limit an analog signal coming from the program
going to the analog output. An example of this would a high analog limit to the analog output of a damper
that you only want to open to maximum of 80%.

Prepare by B Jankee MITD – KBTC 12/01/2011

Delay on Make Logic Block

Every control or HVAC control technician knows the value of a Delay on Make logic block. You can
delay fans and compressors using this control logic block and prevent short cycling.

Delay on Break Logic Block

Again, every control or HVAC control technician knows the value of a Delay on Break circuit in HVAC
Controls. You can delay a fan shut down or damper closing using this block.

PID Logic Block

Proportional (P), Integral (I), and Derivative (PID) control responses are very complex algorithms. This is
the logic block which will help the DDC control program tune the device being controlled using PID
tuning calculations and parameters. This logic block allows user input to tune different devices with
PID control to prevent overshoot and undershoot. It prevents devices from under responding or over
responding to program inputs and allows for smoother operation based on the PID control algorithm.

Analog Network Input

The analog network input is similar to an analog input except this input is not hardwired to the local
controller but on a remote controller in the network. It is very important that the communication work
effectively for this analog network input to work. An example of this is the outside air temperature

Prepare by B Jankee MITD – KBTC 12/01/2011

which is hardwired to a DDC controller in the penthouse of a multistory building. The building engineer
only wants the boilers to fire if the outside air temperature is less than 55° F.

Instead having an outside air temperature device hardwired to the boiler controller an analog network
input can be placed into the boiler controller program and linked to the outside air temperature reading
which is in the penthouse controller where the outside air temperature thermistor is harwired. This saves
in devices and wire necessary for optimum control.

Binary Network Input

The binary network input works the same way as the analog network input except it receives a binary
input from the network from a remote controller over the comm trunk. An example of this is: There two
boilers in a large boiler room and only one combustion air damper. The end switch to prove that the
damper is open is wired to one boiler controller so it gets permission to fired from the binary input which
the end switch is wired to on its controller and the other boiler can get its permission from the binary
network input which is read over the network from the other boiler controller.

Ramp Step Up Control

The Ramp Step Up logic block allows you to slowly change the analog signal to a piece of equipment
when it is starting. An example of a Ramp Step Up logic block would be: You have an air handler that
has a VFD for the blower and you know when the blower starts the program is going to call for 100%
because the static pressure is zero.

You don't want the blower coming on and going to 100% until all the VAV boxes send their requests for
airflow through the program so you set the Ramp Step Up logic block to increase the program analog
signal to 10% every 30 seconds so even if the signal from the program is 100% this block will only allow
it to go 100% after a specific period of time (whatever the parameters are set to within this block).

Prepare by B Jankee MITD – KBTC 12/01/2011

Ramp Step Down

The Ramp Step Down logic block works in the same manner as the Ramp Step Up logic block except it
works when shutting down a device like a pump, motor, or damper. Based in increments of seconds or
minutes you would use the Ramp Step Down logic block any type of analog signal which you would
want to slow the process of stopping or slowing down the signal to the device.

Runtime Logic Block

The Runtime logic block is a great tool for keeping track of the runtime hours on a motor or other
equipment for maintenance scheduling purposes. The Runtime block can be set for a specific number of
hours and then it will generate a maintenance notice. This makes it easy for maintenancing of all
equipment and its based on actual runtime of the equipment.

There are many other types of DDC logic blocks that are used in DDC controls programming and these
are just a sample of the blocks and the unlimited control one can have by utilizing such an amazing
system of control.

Digital Switch

The Digital Switch logic block is just like a plain switch except it is digital and relies on input from
another source to trigger it to on an off. When in the off position an analog value can be assigned to this
block for a minimum output from the Digital Switch logic block.There are many other types of DDC
logic blocks that are used in DDC controls programming and these are just a sample of the blocks and the
unlimited control one can have by utilizing such an amazing system of control.

Prepare by B Jankee MITD – KBTC 12/01/2011