Advice on IR blaster?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Advice on IR blaster?

SpookyAwol

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#296100 21-May-2022 12:22

Theres been quite a bit of discussion over the years on IR blasters for home automation and Im just wondering if anyone has any more advice before pushing the button on a solution.

Its mainly for dumb A/C control.

Broadlink seems to be one of the most recommended options, but Im also considering the aqara hub to extend the zigbee network and integrate with HA.

Any real world advice on current options?

fe31nz

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#2916994 21-May-2022 23:47

The Aqara M2 hub is not Home Assistant compatible except by opening it up, soldering on wires and burning a custom ROM.

What A/C units do you want to control? It is much better to have a proper WiFi interface for your heat pump, rather than just being able to blast commands to it. Mitsubishi Electric units, for example, can have a small ESP32 unit that you build to attach to them and get full control.

SpookyAwol

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#2917024 22-May-2022 10:18

Interesting, I thought it would be functional under the xioami integration.
Its for a 10yr old LG, which as far as Im aware doent have any native or addon wireless capability.
I do want to keep it simple but dont want to too spend money on a solution as my main ducted ac (which is wireless) is used 90% of the time in the same area

kotuku4

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#2917027 22-May-2022 10:40

I have a Broadlink RM mini 3 to control a Fujitsu heat pump. I use a Broadlink app with timers to set on, change of temp, off time. Does link to Google home but limited function. It's a very cheap option that works for me.
I would consider an rm4 mini and optional temp and humidity sensor in future.

fearandloathing

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#2917033 22-May-2022 11:05

I would have said the Sensibo is the go-to device for smart heat pump control. A well-placed Sensibo controller will pick up commands sent from the remote, and change its state to match, and in turn, update its status in Home Assistant. The dumb remote will never update itself from commands sent from the Sensibo or Home Assistant. You can leave the remote on the wall and not have things break, with only the remote getting out of sync.

The Sensibo is fully supported in Home Assistant, Amazon Echo, and Google Home I think. Sensibos are readily available in retail stores.

fearandloathing

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#2917034 22-May-2022 11:08

Also to add you can feed the humidity and temperature sensors into Home Assistant.

SpookyAwol

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#2917036 22-May-2022 11:19

I accept that sensibo is probably the premium solution, but as a secondary ac unit, just even basic on off functionality is sufficient for me scheduling the unit on and off.

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SpookyAwol

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#2917064 22-May-2022 13:24

kotuku4: I have a Broadlink RM mini 3 to control a Fujitsu heat pump. I use a Broadlink app with timers to set on, change of temp, off time. Does link to Google home but limited function. It's a very cheap option that works for me.
I would consider an rm4 mini and optional temp and humidity sensor in future.

Do you have any thoughts on how directional they are as far as angles / distance they can be from the sensor?

Oblivian

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#2917096 22-May-2022 14:55

I added a made in china type temp/humidity enabled IR to control the fujitsu here via smart life/google.

The catch is with fuj at least, the codes sent when the remote is used is multi code. On, mode, temp, fanspeed sent as a bundle

When it comes to the IR, it can't do that. So even simple tasks like on/off via voice or app is normally not happening. Or may only work once. And then if the real remote is used futher voice control fails.

As do set patterns or automation as a result :/ Can power it up using mode change selector IR code however. But thats no good for voice on/off.

Mamaged to force a different IR set where power on/off works. But then the default set it gives you cant change into a heat mode. (Like its a cooler only)

So mileage may vary when replicating IRs if theres not a better learn/clone method.

The range and angle on mine is good. Its on the floor to the left of the AC a few ft (receiver is on the top) and still works. As does the tv some 5m or so away with a couch obstructing

SpookyAwol

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#2919678 28-May-2022 12:13

I ended up using a broadlink which was easy to setup, the learning functions are sufficient to program and allow basic automations.
An aqara open/close sensor provides feedback the unit is on. In an ideal world I guess Id use a constant send/receive ESP32 IR to capture output from the unit.
But good enough now for a secondary unit.

kotuku4

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#2919774 28-May-2022 16:29

SpookyAwol:
kotuku4: I have a Broadlink RM mini 3 to control a Fujitsu heat pump. I use a Broadlink app with timers to set on, change of temp, off time. Does link to Google home but limited function. It's a very cheap option that works for me.
I would consider an rm4 mini and optional temp and humidity sensor in future.

Do you have any thoughts on how directional they are as far as angles / distance they can be from the sensor?

Mine is about 6m away, only problem is when someone places items on shelf blocking signal.

funnyfela

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#2919845 28-May-2022 21:42

I have the cheap Kmart unit, works a treat. Placed nicely to control the dining room heat pump and the lounge tv. Very impressed.

If you have to run heating in winter, you don’t own enough computers.