Scheduling
Time-of-day programs, occupied/unoccupied switching, holiday schedules. The #1 thing that breaks when a network controller dies.
NW8000
Your Network Controller Failed.
Replace It Permanently.
The NW8000 replaces your failed or aging network controller at a single purchase price, with minimal downtime, zero controller replacement, and zero chance of repeating this cycle again.
An OpenBMCS product. Network controller replacement for Network 8000.
60–100 hrs
Saved vs. a JACE re-engineering cycle
Under 2 hours
Deployment time
13
Block types fully programmable
Problem
The Network Controller Lifecycle Trap
Every network controller has an expiration date. When it fails or goes end-of-life, the consequences are immediate.
Scheduling Stops
Time-of-day programs go dark. Occupied/unoccupied switching fails. Comfort calls start pouring in.
Alarms Stop
Your head-end loses visibility into every Microzone below. Critical for hospitals and 24/7 facilities.
Global Commands Stop
Occupied/unoccupied overrides, emergency sequences, and group broadcasts: all gone.
And You Repeat It In 5–7 Years
Re-engineer to the next generation. Then watch that one go EOL too. The cycle never ends.
Alternative
Re-Engineering vs. NW8000
Side by side, the choice is clear.
| Traditional JACE Re-Engineering | NW8000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Installed Cost | 60–100+ engineer hours per site | Under 2 hours per site |
| Hot Spare Required | One per model, days of field time each | One universal device on the shelf |
| Deployment Time | Days to weeks | Under 2 hours, same day |
| Downtime During Install | Yes, systems offline | Minimal: controllers stay powered, no reprogramming |
| Scheduling & Alarming | Must be reprogrammed | Built in |
| BACnet/IP To Head-End | Yes-ish, normally proprietary | Yes: Niagara, OpenBMCS, any BACnet |
| Controller Programming | Requires proprietary software (monitor only) | All 13 block types from any browser |
| Annual License / Support Fees | Platform licensing | None, software updates free for life |
| Will You Do This Again In 5 Years? | Yes, every 5–7 years when the next one goes EOL | No. Permanent. |
Architecture
Drops Right Into Your Existing Architecture
The NW8000 replaces your network controller on the RS-485 bus. Your controllers keep running. Everything else stays exactly the same.
Your Controllers
Microzone II
MNFLO (coming soon)
NW8000
ASD Protocol Engine
Scheduling & Alarming
BACnet/IP Server
Modbus TCP Server
Web Interface
Trending Database
Your Head-End
Niagara N4
OpenBMCS
Any BACnet BMS
(unchanged)
Installed And Running In Under 2 Hours
No need to power down your Microzones. Your controllers keep running the entire time.
15 min
Connect To Bus
2 wires + ground to the existing RS-485 bus
5 min
Connect Ethernet
Plug into the building network
5 min
Discover Controllers
Automatic bus scan finds every Microzone
30–60 min
Configure & Verify
BACnet integration, scheduling, point mapping
Capabilities
Everything Your Network Controller Did, Plus What It Couldn’t
Alarming
Alarm forwarding to your head-end: Niagara, OpenBMCS, or any BACnet BMS. Critical for hospitals and 24/7 facilities.
BACnet/IP Integration
Exposes Microzone data as standard BACnet objects. Your head-end sees it the same as before. Nothing changes upstream.
Web Monitoring
Real-time dashboard from any browser. Phone, tablet, or laptop. Multi-user, no single-user bottleneck.
Controller Programming
Read, modify, and write all 13 block types directly from the browser. Full programming capability, not just monitoring.
Historical Trending
Temperature, pressure, valve position data logged and exportable to CSV. Built in, no add-on required.
Screenshots
See The NW8000 Web Interface
Retire Your Aging Network 8000. Talk To Us.
One purchase, software included for life. No subscription, no per-point fees, no JACE re-engineering cycle.
Included
One Device. Everything Included.
No software license. No annual fees. Free updates for life.
NW8000: Software Included For Life
- Purpose-built industrial hardware (fanless, DIN-rail mount)
- All software pre-installed: plug in and configure
- BACnet/IP + Modbus TCP servers
- Scheduling, alarming, and global commands
- Web interface with role-based access (4 roles)
- Full controller programming (all 13 block types)
- Historical trending with CSV export
- Free software updates for life
- No annual fees, no subscription, no license keys
When Your Client’s Network Controller Dies, You Have The Answer.
Every other contractor is quoting band-aids or full retrofits. You’re the one with a permanent solution.
Same-Day Deployment
If your tech can commission a network controller, they can deploy an NW8000. No software engineers needed.
Kill The Hot Spare Shelf
Stocking one spare per model means days of field re-engineering when called upon. One NW8000 covers every Network 8000 bus.
Web-Based Programming
Existing tools can only monitor. NW8000 gives your techs full programming from a browser.
Zero Competition
Nobody else has solved this. You’re the only contractor with a permanent, affordable answer.
Contractor ordering multiple units? Contact us for invoicing
Common Questions
What exactly does the NW8000 replace?
The NW8000 replaces the network controller in Schneider Electric / Barber-Colman Network 8000 installations. It does not replace the Microzone controllers themselves. Those keep running exactly as they are. The NW8000 takes over scheduling, alarming, BACnet/IP integration, and bus management via the ASD protocol over RS-485.
Which controllers does it support?
Microzone II controllers are fully supported today. MNFLO support is coming soon. The NW8000 speaks the native ASD protocol, so it talks to your existing controllers without any firmware changes or adapter hardware. Up to 247 controllers per RS-485 bus.
Is there any downtime during installation?
Minimal. Your Microzone controllers are autonomous: they continue running their local programs regardless of what’s connected to the bus. The NW8000 replaces your existing network controller on the RS-485 bus: the old unit is disconnected and the NW8000 takes its place. Controllers keep controlling the entire time. The swap typically takes under 15 minutes.
Can it connect to my existing head-end?
Yes. The NW8000 exposes all controller data as standard BACnet/IP objects. Your head-end (whether it’s Niagara, OpenBMCS, or any other BACnet-compliant BMS) sees it the same as before. It also supports Modbus TCP for integration with other systems. No driver development or custom integration needed.
Can it actually program the controllers, or just monitor?
Existing integration drivers are monitor-only: they can read controller data but cannot modify programming. The NW8000 gives you full read/write access to all 13 block types (UI, AO, DO, LOOP, SCHED, EMS, WINDO, RGRP, SEQ, RESET, OSS, HOLI, UTIL) from any web browser. It’s the first tool since the original DOS-based utility that can actually program these controllers.
What hardware is it?
Purpose-built industrial hardware: fanless, DIN-rail mountable, designed for panel installation. It has an RS-485 port for the Microzone bus and Ethernet for your building network. Ships pre-loaded with all software: plug in, configure via browser, and you’re running.
Are there any ongoing fees?
No. One purchase, software included for life: no subscription, no per-point fees, no annual licences. Software updates are free for life. The purchase price is your total cost of ownership for the device and software.
What if my controllers are 20+ years old?
That’s the point. Microzone II controllers are built to last decades, and many installations from the late 1990s and early 2000s are still running perfectly. The problem was never the controllers; it’s the network controller going end-of-life every 5–7 years. The NW8000 speaks the same ASD protocol those controllers have always used. If your Microzones are running today, the NW8000 will talk to them.
Do I need special training to install it?
If your technician can commission a network controller, they can deploy an NW8000. It’s two wires + ground to RS-485, one Ethernet cable, and browser-based configuration. Typical deployment is under 2 hours. No proprietary workbench software, no software engineering, no special certifications.
What about hot spares?
A single NW8000 on the shelf replaces your entire network controller spare inventory. Traditional spares mean stocking one per model, each representing days of field re-engineering time when called upon. The NW8000 is one universal device that works with any Network 8000 bus. Keep a config backup for each site, and a spare can be deployed and restored in under an hour.
How Many Network Controllers Are You Still Maintaining?
Every aging network controller in your building is a clock counting down. Tell us about your site and we’ll show you the permanent alternative.
We typically respond within one business day.