Intesis Home wifi controllers

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jjnz1

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Topic # 228990 2-Feb-2018 08:58

I just got a Panasonic ducted A/C unit installed with the Panasonic wifi add-on.

Turns out, after testing, the Panasonic wifi add on has a massive flaw.

Once connected to wifi it connects with servers in Barcelona? to establish a tunnel. You then use an android app or Google home to control your home A/C unit. Great fantastic, when it works.

Turns out, if you loose internet connectivity, or the server is not reachable, the wifi app no longer works (no surprises here). BUT, your main wired Panasonic controller also goes offline.

So you cannot use your Panasonic A/C unit at all if there is an internet fault, or the Intesis server cannot be reached.

This has been confirmed by the tech who visited yesterday to try and get mine working correctly (which it's still not).

I will be sending Panasonic and the installation company a nice email.
Massive design flaw IMO.

Anyone know of any other way to connect the Panasonic ducted system to google home or IFTTT?

reven

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Reply # 1950519 2-Feb-2018 09:09

they wired up the panasonic panel wrong.

I have the same system. In my old house I was the first install EES did with the intesishome wifi module, they disconnected my panasonic touch panel to get the wifi to work. the wifi module constantly went down it was a PITA. About 6 months later they replaced the unit and knew enough to wire it up correctly so both worked at same time. when my wifi module would go down (still would ocassionally) the panasonic module worked fine.

my new house, i just had the same installed a few weeks ago. panasonic wall controller works fine when wifi is off.

You can connect it to IFTTT, but it still uses intesishome servers obviously so will achieve the same thing. my old house i had it setup to turn on/off via home automation, and i didnt manully control it. so if it took 30 minutes for my home automation to actually send an on command I didnt notice (because i wasnt trying to manually turn it on for 30 mins). my new house I have it automatically turn the system off when the alarm is set or when the master bedroom tv turns off at night. but i turn it on manually.

jjnz1

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Reply # 1950536 2-Feb-2018 09:31

EES also installed mine, here in Wellington... Hmm okay will provide them feedback.

They have done three wifi modules in the last week too..

Where in the country are you?

reven

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Reply # 1950538 2-Feb-2018 09:31

im in auckland.

Dingbatt

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Reply # 1950545 2-Feb-2018 09:38

Looks like jinz1 has been used as a beta tester while the company comes to grips with the new tech. In a similar way to me discussing a retro fit with a HA company and having Insteon recommended. When I revisited to ask some questions I spoke to a different consultant who said he would not recommend Insteon due to reliability issues!
In the instance of voice control for the above HVAC system, you talk to Alexa/Google Assistant, which goes to the cloud, then via the cloud, triggers IFTTT, which then, via the cloud, communicates with intesishome, which then, via the cloud, sends a command to your air-conditioner. Lots of links that have to work correctly.
Although Bixby is half-baked at the moment, the idea of some onboard processing of commands has merit if loss of cloud connectivity takes the whole system down. Certainly some sort of manual reversion is essential and I believe jinz1 has a case for the installation company to sort their faulty installation out quickly.

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reven

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Reply # 1950546 2-Feb-2018 09:42

For voice I use node-red and setup a dummy wemo device.

so its

Alexa -> amazon server -> alexa -> send command to my node-red local server -> send command to IFTTT -> IFTTT sends command to intesis -> intesis sends command home.

would love to be able to control it locally without ifttt/intesis home. but personally, i have found this pretty reliable, and if it doesnt work, I can turn it on manually. (but my panel works :))

Dingbatt

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Reply # 1950574 2-Feb-2018 09:59

How much did the wifi module cost to install? I was looking at a different brand of HVAC controller for HA, but it was $3500! For that amount of money I could hire someone to get up and operate the wired controller for me ;-)
My system is a Fujitsu, which I see EES don't do, but Intesis do have on their website.
It's kind of a shame HVAC companies don't just have a control hub that you can connect all the different forms of control through. Be-it IR, wired, wireless (WiFi, Bluetooth, Z-wave, Zigbee) or Cloud.
Maybe a business opportunity for someone much cleverer than me.....

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jjnz1

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Reply # 1950579 2-Feb-2018 10:02

Aussie have a lot of options regarding wifi modules for most brands. I can't seem to get them here though.

My wifi cost $450.

reven

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Reply # 1950581 2-Feb-2018 10:08

mine was $495 installed with GST. But my total install I got 10% off (which was about $900 off) because I was a repeat customer, making the wifi pretty much $450.

Blanch

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Reply # 1950642 2-Feb-2018 10:57

I looked at installing the IntesisHome when I installing my second unit, had it in my hand and decided not to install it, installers lack of knowledge put me off (he was also going to wall mount it next to the unit).
I was looking at 4 of them, due to using the Panasonic split AC system (home has open ceilings)

Google Home Assistant add support for IntesisHome WiFi AC Control.