Tridium JACE 8000

Compatibility

Compatible through BACnet/IP or Modbus TCP

Edge can read a configured Niagara Modbus TCP server over the site network. The BACnet/IP path requires an Edge build containing its BACnet client. Tridium includes both server driver roles in its standard driver offering, subject to the installed licence and capacity.

Use Tridium datasheet 2024-0028, driver list 2024-0007 and FAQ 2023-0021 as a best-effort starting point. Record the installed Niagara version and network once, then inspect the existing station points and server configuration with authorised access. A new export is needed only for points the station does not already expose.

Connect it with

• 
  Gateway ZGW-20
  From €899 ex VAT Configure Gateway
• Evaluation Gateway on a Raspberry Pi Edge with one device licensed
  Free Set up Evaluation Gateway on a Raspberry Pi

Models

Specifications

JACE 8000 is an integration controller, rather than a direct energy meter. Its two isolated RS-485 ports connect field networks and its two Ethernet ports provide IP connectivity. Optional I/O and communications modules expand the hardware. Driver inclusion does not remove Niagara device and point capacity limits.^1, 2

Processor and memory

1 GHz ARM Cortex-A8; 1 GB DDR3; removable microSD with 2 GB user storage¹

Supply

24 VAC rated at least 24 VA, or 24 VDC rated at least 1 A¹

Serial ports

Two isolated RS-485 ports with selectable bias and termination¹

Environment

-20 to +60 °C; 5–95% relative humidity, non-condensing; panel or 35 mm DIN-rail mounting¹

Licensing

Installed drivers need a valid licence and sufficient global capacity; optional drivers and software maintenance are separate considerations²

Network starting point

Factory IP 192.168.1.140; Ethernet ports do not route IP between networks; use the commissioned site address³

Interface

Documented measurements and integration boundaries for JACE 8000.

• Exported electrical energy and power readings from connected meters, with the original engineering units.
• Temperatures, equipment run states and other building points selected by the Niagara station owner.
• BACnet object type and instance, Present_Value, Units and Status_Flags where supported by the exported object.
• For Modbus, the station-specific register address, function, data type, word order and scale for each exported point.
• A freshness or health point that distinguishes a field-device failure from a healthy JACE network connection.

Setup

1. Inspect the commissioned station

   Record the JACE model, Niagara version and actual site IP. Tridium gives 192.168.1.140 as the factory address, not an address to impose on an existing installation. Its two Ethernet ports do not route IP traffic between networks. With authorised station access, select one existing meter or temperature point and note its source, unit and displayed value.

2. Choose the server interface

   Inspect the existing BACnet/IP server or Modbus TCP slave configuration and licensed capacity. The included-driver list documents both server roles, while the FAQ says device and point limits are both hard limits: a 10-device/500-point licence cannot cover 12 devices even if they use only 120 points. View station resource summaries before adding devices.

3. Identify an existing exported measurement

   For BACnet, discover the intended station device and select a measurement already exposed as an object; record its actual type, instance, Present_Value, Units and Status_Flags where supported. For Modbus, use the station server mapping for function, address convention, width, type, word order and scale. Ask the station owner to export the point only if it is absent; no factory object number or universal register table is needed for the initial survey.

4. Connect one point in Edge

   Use the commissioned IP endpoint on a permitted site network. Read the selected BACnet/IP object or configured Modbus TCP register and compare it with the same Niagara station point. A synthetic Present_Value of 23.4 with Units degrees-celsius is 23.4 °C; do not apply another register or CT scale. Start with one measurement and retain the existing controls.

5. Prove freshness and preserve the mapping

   Compare the source device, Niagara point and Edge value at the same time. Record status and update timing, then agree a controlled stale-source check with the station owner if needed. Preserve the selected object identities or server map with the station backup. Repeat the comparison after station changes or controller replacement.

Common questions

Can I import a universal JACE 8000 Modbus template?

A Niagara station is programmable, so use its configured server map rather than a universal chassis register list. Inspect existing BACnet exports or Modbus server mapping first. Request a new point export only when needed; retain the mapping for reuse across sites.^2, 3

Does connecting Edge replace the existing BMS?

A read-only export can sit alongside the existing Niagara station and its controls. The station owner chooses what to expose; preserve the existing control logic and field-network ownership.^1, 2

Is a Niagara licence needed?

The JACE must have the relevant driver licensed and enough capacity. Tridium’s included-driver list names BACnet IP client/server and Modbus TCP master/slave, but the licence and capacity of the installed station remain the deciding evidence.²

Is JACE 9000 the same hardware?

No. JACE 9000 is a newer controller with a quad-core processor and increased memory and storage. Its Niagara version requirements and migration process are separate from this JACE 8000 guide.⁴