Steve Rees (below), general manager of Air Conditioning, Samsung UK, insists that without controllers all the advances in energy saving will be worth little.
THIS year has seen the cost of electric and gas for domestic users increase rapidly. Petrol prices seem destined for a one-way journey and there is still indecision as to how to solve the energy crises. Should we carry on burning fossil fuels, establish wind farms, use wave power or is the answer nuclear?

Perhaps we could harness all the hot air devoted to the subject but why do we waste so much energy?

The drive for product development within AC systems has commendably been that of energy efficiency. However, the use of an efficient system in an inefficient way defeats the object, which has been the case in the past.

So it's possibly no surprise to hear that through a new range of digital controls, Samsung Electronics is contributing greatly to the more efficient use of ac systems including flexibility and simplicity for the user.

Control of the environment is vital from a comfort and energy efficiency point of view. Simplicity of operation has a large influence over both of these factors. Samsung's suite of controllers allows the maximum benefit from the system so that these conditions can be realised and also offer valuable information to the maintenance company or users which will also provide improved long life performance.

The new range of Smart Net solutions include:

· Smart Controllers: These include wired remotes, function controllers and centralised controllers with sleep modes, silent modes, lock facilities and seven-day schedule functions. All are geared to providing a clear means of wall-mounted control with a host of useful features, rather than hosting features that are not necessary.

· S NET: A PC-based control system that allows management of multiple units via a simple screen-driven menu. It allows users to see at-a-glance system information and also to structure the type of controls that they need for the installing and maintenance engineering teams to access the system data required for commi· S NET i Touch screen controller: This controller will support up to 256 indoor units and allow individual, multi or total zone control. Additionally S NET i scheduling functions and restrictions over user control avoids the 16 or 30 degree setting syndrome.

· SNET III: This is a total management solution for larger or multiple sites that works in conjunction with a new product DMS (Data Management Server). Capable of operating 4096 indoor units across different locations, the S Net III system will provide any error history and system data and is available to auto update via the internet.

DMS comprehensively manages and maintains information relating to the ac system. DMS provides the ability to control the system from a remote location or via the internet. DMS has embedded web pages (HTML) so once accessed it can control up to 256 indoor units.



Within the whole S Net structure is the ability to load shed and individually to measure and report energy usage across multi tenanted buildings.

One vital feature of all these controls is their simplicity, both from an application and installation stand point and every day use. This is an area where many control systems do not lend themselves to be utilised. They are over complicated and indeed over priced. Forget payback periods beyond 36 months being the reason to purchase such controls. They must be affordable as well as accessible to encourage end users to use them, start saving their money and stop wasting energy.

They say power is nothing without control. In the air conditioning sense this is completely true. But 'power is wasted without control' is also relevant.

With the drive for efficiency in today's systems, to lose such gains because of poor control is not acceptable.

It is fair to say that all manufacturers strive to offer the latest technology in controls but they do not seem to address the basic needs of understanding.

We live in a society where everything we buy has masses of functionality but in truth we only ever use a small percentage. It may be exciting for someone who likes to synchronize their laptop, mobile phone, palm pilot and any other electrical device they carry on their utility belt to be able to sell the concept of controls across Ethernets, Lans and Wans. Fortunately not everybody is the same so the product and the sell need to be tempered.



Whether we do not read the instructions or whether the systems are too complicated the result is the same. If you have a degree in computer science you might stand a chance but it's not just 'us' who live with ac everyday, it's the end users we must also help.

This is where Samsung Electronics aims to improve the functionality and simplicity of controls and increase their application beyond the theoretical world of total control!

Visit www.samsung.com/uk