ComfoBox MQTT client

Connect to your Zehnder ComfoBox Series 5 with an ELESTA controller over RS485/BACnet MSTP and control it (read/write).

Hardware

You need an RS485 port on your PC / Raspberry Pi (tested with a USB2RS485 Adapter with a CH340 chip). Afterwards connect the RS485 parallel to your ComfoBox controlling unit.

Red is the ComfoBox controlling unit - Green the RS485 port

Installation

Linux

Tried with Raspbian:

• Install Mono: sudo apt-get install mono-complete
• If required, install zip/unzip: sudo apt-get install zip unzip
• Copy ComfoBoxMqtt Files from ZIP File to your device and unzip
• if required, change baudrate and port in the config file ComfoBoxMqttConsole.exe.config (e.g. /dev/ttyUSB0)
  • On my Raspberry only a baudraute of 38400 was working. -> Comfobox needs to be reconfigured with 38400 instead of 76800 and must be rebooted
• call mono ComfoBoxMqttConsole.exe

I know it's a short description. It will be extended on request. Just open an issue.

Mac

Should work with Mono too.

Windows

Download here the installer and install it.

The files are installed in your %ProgramFiles%/ComfoBox and contains the following components:

Components

ComfoBoxLib

This is .NET class library to read/write BACnet items from your ComboBox. If you don't want to access your ComfoBox over MQTT, create a new project and use this library.

Demo Client

This is a simple client that uses the ComfoBoxLib. Configuration: DemoClient.exe.config

ComfoBox MQTT Console Client

This is The MQTT client as console application. Useful to see the logs directly. Configuration: ComfoBoxMqttConsole.exe.config. Please change the port name to your port which is attached with the ComfoBox.

Use this in Linux. Here with a Raspberry PI:

ComfoBox MQTT Windows Service

The same as the console application but as windows service. After the installation the service will be started on demand. At first change the configuration and start the service afterwards. Optionally change the the service startup from demand to auto.

Configuration: ComfoboxService.exe.config. Please change the port name to your port which is attached with the ComfoBox.

MQTT Topics

Here is a list of all MQTT topics with a description.

Write values

Use ../Set topics to write a value to your ComfoBox. In the topics.txt you can see the writable topics

Enum values

Use ../AsNumber topics to read enums as number. Use the /AsNumber/Set topics to write a enum as number

Special topics

All topics under ComfoBox/Special are not ComfoBox values, but special values calculated by the MQTT service itself

Usage Scenarios

Your ComfoBox can be controlled by any MQTT client/smart home system with MQTT capabilities.

e.g. openHab

Add an InfluxDB persistence to openHAB and use Grafana for live charting

Platforms

• Windows Vista and higher
• Linux and Mac over the Mono Framework (small changes required, see #11)

Try with care and on your own risk. You also may loose your warranty. Keep in mind that you write the values to an EEPROM (1'000'000 writing cycles).

Feedback is welcomed. Open an issue, if you have any questions.