Ridge/Lytton Springs – If It Only Had A Brain
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PLC Temperature Control Operator Interface |
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Last month it was established that
neither you nor the wolf could huff and puff and blow down this straw bale winery. This month another straw metaphor involving the
scarecrow asking the wizard for a brain is totally uncalled for. This winery does have a brain! Or, as they say in the trade, this is a "smart" winery.When Mark Molofsky, of Molofsky
Builder in Glen Ellen, summoned Knights' Electric to Ridge/Lytton Springs, one of the things he requested of them was activation of the winery's brain. They complied, interfacing the mainframe computer with
Programmable Logic Controllers
(PLC) that controls many things.Molofsky Builders and Knights' have worked together previously at Valley of the Moon Winery when it was remodeled. It was recently featured in the Wines & Vines,
April 2002 Construction issue. Another project they did together was the Cedar Mansion, a bed & breakfast at Second Street and Napa in Sonoma.
Let's get back to Ridge/Lytton Springs' brain for a moment. Even though the straw bale walls are two feet thick for insulation, the entire temperature control system is
automated to open and close windows, trapping cold night air to bring the temperature down and releasing warm air when the temperature monitor senses it
is necessary. Vents and fans maintain air quality throughout the winery that is monitored by electronic sensors. CO2 detectors and monitors operate in the same
fashion in the tank area. Low voltage lighting was installed throughout the winery; it also runs off the PLC, as does the automatic generating system that powers the
entire winery. The automated custom press and crush area has an interfacing relay panel between the mainframe and its PLC. The crush area was phase one of this design/build project.
Molofsky is now in phase two, completing the tasting room and barrel room with a record 8-high hand-stacked barrel rack. Phase three will include a steel tank cellar
and bottling facility. Molofsky says he lobbied heavily for Knights' Electric to work with him at Ridge/Lytton Springs. The winemaker, John Olney, was impressed with
Knights' immediately. Before construction could start, Knights' moved the electrical service in swiftly. Molofsky says, "I'm glad Knights' is on this job, they
bring a wealth of expertise to help us make decisions." Knights' also activated the winery's brain.
Motor Control Man
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Jim Coyle, Motor Control Man
with 25 years of experience |
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Meet Knights' Electric's new Motor Control Man, Jim Coyle. Jim comes to Knights' with 25 years experience in
instrumentation and calibration, working in oil production, pipelines and water treatment, tank farms and steam generators. Coyle has expertise in PLC (Programmable Logic Controllers) and process control automation. He is well versed in modifying PLC programs and rewriting software programs for
Allen-Bradley, Koyo products, Omron, and GE Fanuc.Jim can be a tremendous help to Knights' customers in the area of automation/integration.
When production facilities have existing equipment that runs on an automation system and purchase new additional automated equipment, Coyle has the
capability to control the existing and the new equipment with an integrated automation system. Human Machine Interface (HMI) projects are his specialty. HMI are
touch screen
applications that allow the user to view production equipment variables with displays and meters on a screen and use the touch screen as control switches for
equipment. A personal computer with a touch screen may be used to store records onto the computer's hard drive for such things as service records and inventory.
This functions separately from the PLC that runs the plant operating system.Coyle is currently working on a design/build automation process control project for
a winery client that has 3 system choices based on budgetary considerations. Welcome to the new Motor Control Man.
Hadley At The Beach
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Another Hadley and Knights' residential project in Ross featuring dining room
lighting and art lighting |
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As the summer sun begins to bear down, many of us opt for the cooler coastal climates.We head for destinations like Stinson Beach. That would include Hadley, Inc., General Contractor and builder of some of the most exclusive homes in
Marin and the Bay Area. Knights' Electric is joining them. Hadley is building a 3,300 square foot home in the gated community of Sea Drift right on the beach and they have
contracted with Knights' to install the Home Works Interactive automation and lighting system along with the rest of the electrical layout that includes a back-up
generator. This residence includes a 4-car garage with an elevator to the main floor and a guesthouse.
Hadley and Knights' have worked together on a number of stunning residential homes in the Marin communities of Ross, Kentfield and Belvedere. Frank Puliafico, project manager for Hadley has worked with Knights' Electric for a number of years. Knights' residential department specializes in the high-end custom home
market. Typically, these projects include custom ambient lighting schemes that coincide with the architectural design of the home, environmental surroundings and
existing natural light at the site. The Stinson Beach residence is a new construction project. Hadley and Knights' also take on remodeling projects. Some of the automation and lighting features on this project include, automated window coverings, motorized skylights with retracting shades and blinds and
automated sensors that can detect a small power loss and automatically activate the back-up generator.Matt Sweeney, who is supervising the Stinson Beach house for Knights', has
worked with Hadley over the past few years had this to say about them, "Hadley is a great contractor, they do top of the line work and they build the high-end custom
homes. Many of the homes we've worked at have exclusive views of the City and the Bay. At Stinson Beach we've seen a lot of whales and porpoises." Such is life at the beach. Back to Top
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