IR blaster for AC , TV etc.
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@Dheeraj Another option I am checking is getting one of the super cheap (3-4$) universal ac remote controls and hooking it to a sensor. The remotes were ordered and I'll probably get them in two weeks or so. It can be a good solution....
@Moshe-Livne said:
@Dheeraj Another option I am checking is getting one of the super cheap (3-4$) universal ac remote controls and hooking it to a sensor. The remotes were ordered and I'll probably get them in two weeks or so. It can be a good solution....
Actually, that is a very creative approach. :+1: That said, I don't know if you guys saw it, but I posted a reply to your question about long IR codes on the forthcoming MySensors IR Blaster - http://forum.mysensors.org/topic/1402/ir-blaster-community-feedback-requested/63
Perhaps we can combine forces to ensure that the MySensors IR Blaster will meet your needs. Our goal is that it will be able to control devices that require recording and sending long IR codes and it looks like there is an Arduino solution - the IR Blaster Hardware will support it so it will just be a matter of adding it to the sketch/firmware.
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@Moshe-Livne said:
@Dheeraj Another option I am checking is getting one of the super cheap (3-4$) universal ac remote controls and hooking it to a sensor. The remotes were ordered and I'll probably get them in two weeks or so. It can be a good solution....
Actually, that is a very creative approach. :+1: That said, I don't know if you guys saw it, but I posted a reply to your question about long IR codes on the forthcoming MySensors IR Blaster - http://forum.mysensors.org/topic/1402/ir-blaster-community-feedback-requested/63
Perhaps we can combine forces to ensure that the MySensors IR Blaster will meet your needs. Our goal is that it will be able to control devices that require recording and sending long IR codes and it looks like there is an Arduino solution - the IR Blaster Hardware will support it so it will just be a matter of adding it to the sketch/firmware.
@blacey Its not my idea - there are zillions of instructables and youtube videos of people who did it because of the problem of controlling AC is such a pain....
I will do my very best to make the IR blaster work with AC. Its a much neater solution. I must point out another PITA with controlling AC. as the wall units are stateless, the blaster can't actually know what is the actual setting on the AC. If someone manually changed the temperature or mode the blaster will override it, even if the programming only said "increase temp by 2 degrees for the night". Might be a need for another sensor by the AC that will also receive manual commands. this is so tricky.... -
@blacey Its not my idea - there are zillions of instructables and youtube videos of people who did it because of the problem of controlling AC is such a pain....
I will do my very best to make the IR blaster work with AC. Its a much neater solution. I must point out another PITA with controlling AC. as the wall units are stateless, the blaster can't actually know what is the actual setting on the AC. If someone manually changed the temperature or mode the blaster will override it, even if the programming only said "increase temp by 2 degrees for the night". Might be a need for another sensor by the AC that will also receive manual commands. this is so tricky....@Moshe-Livne said:
@blacey I will do my very best to make the IR blaster work with AC. Its a much neater solution.
Excellent! :+1:
I must point out another PITA with controlling AC. as the wall units are stateless, the blaster can't actually know what is the actual setting on the AC. If someone manually changed the temperature or mode the blaster will override it, even if the programming only said "increase temp by 2 degrees for the night". Might be a need for another sensor by the AC that will also receive manual commands. this is so tricky....
So, in other words, air conditioners don't support discrete IR codes? For example, instead of a single power-toggle code, there is a power-on code and a separate power-off code. Many televisions only have a single power-toggle button on the remote however the TV often supports discrete codes.
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Just to add my two cents, I also saw people using mechanical micro-servos to push the buttons at the AC unit, and light sensors (cheap LDR) to read the status LEDs.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/351185430530?rmvSB=true
Ugly but works.
Home Assistant / Vera Plus UI7
ESP8266 GW + mySensors 2.3.2
Alexa / Google Home -
Just to add my two cents, I also saw people using mechanical micro-servos to push the buttons at the AC unit, and light sensors (cheap LDR) to read the status LEDs.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/351185430530?rmvSB=true
Ugly but works.
@rvendrame I saw this as well - it is slightly insane IMHO. But opening and connecting to these 3$ remotes seems easy enough and its very cost effective. If you hide the whole thing in a nice oak box it even looks nice....
Anyway, learning from my last project, the infamous doorbell, that I thought would take 5 min max and it still manage not to work, lets just say I HOPE its easy....
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IR codes for AC's actually contains a lot of information, it's not just button presses (temperature up/down). But it's a "datagram" with complete settings, including temperature etc.
An example, my AC in the "mancave", if I block the IR signal and turn the heat up a couple of notches, and then unblock the IR again, then when I turn op the heat one notch more, the display on the AC unit jumps 3 notches up.. Which indicates to me, that it transmits a complete setup message, including temperatures, etc. to the AC unit.
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@Moshe-Livne said:
@blacey I will do my very best to make the IR blaster work with AC. Its a much neater solution.
Excellent! :+1:
I must point out another PITA with controlling AC. as the wall units are stateless, the blaster can't actually know what is the actual setting on the AC. If someone manually changed the temperature or mode the blaster will override it, even if the programming only said "increase temp by 2 degrees for the night". Might be a need for another sensor by the AC that will also receive manual commands. this is so tricky....
So, in other words, air conditioners don't support discrete IR codes? For example, instead of a single power-toggle code, there is a power-on code and a separate power-off code. Many televisions only have a single power-toggle button on the remote however the TV often supports discrete codes.
@blacey its much much worse. Off is a discrete code. On on the other hand is a full device state. Mode, temp, fan, vane etc etc....
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@blacey its much much worse. Off is a discrete code. On on the other hand is a full device state. Mode, temp, fan, vane etc etc....
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I have seen an arduino library somewhere to control different types of AC units, I even think it was mentioned on the forum,( half a year ago).
@tbowmo said:
I have seen an arduino library somewhere to control different types of AC units, I even think it was mentioned on the forum,( half a year ago).
Indeed - this proves it is possible https://www.cooking-hacks.com/documentation/tutorials/control-hvac-infrared-devices-from-the-internet-with-ir-remote/ With a bit more legwork (e.g. https://github.com/r45635/HVAC-IR-Control), I am confident that IR Blaster will be able to support HVAC units. Heck (pun intended), it wouldn't be fun if there weren't any challenges ;)
NOTE: Given that we plan to provide HVAC control in the IR Blaster, should we merge this discussion into the IR Blaster thread?
