Actuator: Counterpart of a sensor. Converts electrical signals from a control in (mostly) mechanical work like e.g. pressure and flow.

BACnet: International standard which is not company-specific for data communication within building automation systems (ISO 16484-5).

Baud: Unit for the speed in serial data transmission. Example: 9600 Baud = 9600 bits/second.

Bit: Smallest information unit, exists in only two states: zero (0) or one (1); also see Byte

Building automation: Building automation is divided into three levels: field level, automation level and managementlevel. The control station is at the top level, that is the management level.

Bus: Line system for exchanging data between several hardware components.

Byte: Information unit, consists of 8 Bit

CAN: Serial bus system which was originally developed for the automotive industry; today it is widely used in automation technology.

CANopen: Extension of the CAN standard for application-related definitions, electronic data sheet files and profiles. Simplifies system integration and was developed by the association “Verein CAN in Automation (CiA)”.

Facility Management: Holistic consideration of buildings, properties and operational processes, aiming at a sustainable reduction of operating and management costs, making fixed costs more flexible, ensuring the technical availability of systems and maintaining the value of buildings and installations in the long run.

Gateway: Device which converts the protocols of different bus systems and thus allows the interconnection of different networks. Data which is to be transmitted must be defined for every individual application (also see Router).

IF-Module: Plug-in module to upgrade electronic pumps with analogue and digital interfaces.

IR-Module: Infrared interface for contactless communication between electronic pumps and pump monitor devices (PDA).

LON: Open, manufacturer-independent bus system, mostly used in building automation.

Master/Slave: Bus architecture in which a superiour station (Master, active) controls the communication to other participants (Slaves, passive). See also Multimaster.

Modbus: Communication protocol based on a Master/Slave architecture. Transmission media are Ethernet and RS485. Widespread in industry and building automation.

Multimaster: Active access of several participants (Master) to a bus. Important for building up a network with distributed intelligence.

Optional module: Module to extend the functions or interfaces of all Wilo products except for pumps. For pumps, IF-Modules are used.

PDA: Personal Digital Assistant. Small PC with plug-in slot (SDIO) for memory cards or other hardware components. Basis for the IR-communication with electronic Wilo pumps.

PLR: Pump master computer. Public pump protocol for the digital communication with electronic Wilo pumps for integration in building automation.

Profibus: Industrial databus with Multimaster communication capabilities.

Router: Device which forwards messages between different networks. Only the communication partners must be defined, not the individual data to be transmitted (also see Gateway).

RS232: Serial data interface between computer and e.g. printer or monitor.

RS485: Industrial serial bus interface. Hardware platform for different Bus systems.

Interface converter (DigiCon): Bus-capable device which converts data from one interface to another.

Interface module: see IF-Module

Sensor: Technical component which converts certain physical properties like e.g. pressure or flow into electrical signals.