Wanting to automate my Fujitsu ASTG18LVCB air conditioner

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Wakrak

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#302879 31-Dec-2022 11:26

Hello all,

I saw a post on OzBargain yesterday for a Sensibo Air - Smart Air Conditioner Controller for A$99 delivered (deal no longer available). It got me interested in figuring out ways to make my air conditioner unit 'smarter'.

ASTG18LVCC - Classic - Single Room Solutions | Fujitsu General

One of the reasons for this is that the remote that comes with it is dogshit. Even bought a replacement and it is no better. It's a struggle to set the timer, let alone change the speed or temperature. If I am able to control this unit via Alexa / smartphone, I'd be pretty stoked. I am not the house owner if that matters at all.

Options I've looked at so far:

- Sensibo
- Broadlink RM4 Pro Smart Home

The cheaper the better. Sensibo seems to be the standard, but it'll be nice to pay less than $100. Doesn't have to be done tomorrow though. Happy to wait for a month, see if that Sensibo deal pops up again.

Thank you.

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#3015487 31-Dec-2022 11:51

Im using a tuya compatible IR smart sender with built in temp. So you can specify day/time/temp actions.

The catch is heat pumps can accept bundled commands. State/temp/fan in a single pulse with the on/off. When the IR sender can only do single codes. So needs multiple, or actions to follow them up.

Mehrts

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#3015490 31-Dec-2022 12:05

On a side note, why do air conditioning units have such long & convoluted model numbers?

It's almost a challenge between manufacturers to see how much of the alphabet they can use!

michelangelonz

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#3015495 31-Dec-2022 12:31

I'm using Tado smart thermostats on my two Fujitsus (both from PBTech on special) they are integrated into Home Assistant using the HomeKit integration. I understand also support Google Home.

https://www.tado.com/all-en

RunningMan

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#3015496 31-Dec-2022 12:50

Sensibo are really good. Get the Air if you need Apple Homekit or the cheaper Sky if you don't.

Alphaturkey

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#3015497 31-Dec-2022 13:00

Another Sensibo fan here. They'll try and upsell you to their monthly/yearly service but I really haven't found a need for it.

I've also moved it between different appliances as we've moved and love that it's essentially set and forget - no trying to program remote commands or anything like that. It can also very successfully control the more obscure commands like directions of airflow based on schedules so it really is a whole heap better than what I'd want to do myself if I were doing a DIY experiment.

Wakrak

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#3015595 31-Dec-2022 18:38

Thank you all for your feedback so far. By the sound of things, Sensibo is the best in terms of ease of use and flexibility. Other options such as Tado & Tuya are great too but require a bit of tinkering.

Since I'm in no rush, I'll start bookmarking some Sensibo retailers and keep an eye on price movement. Wait for it to go back below $100. Is there a particular model that I should keep an eye on? Probably the one on OzBargain? (Noel Leeming). Will I encounter any compatibility issues?

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RunningMan

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#3015616 31-Dec-2022 20:48

Wakrak: Is there a particular model that I should keep an eye on?

RunningMan: Get the Air if you need Apple Homekit or the cheaper Sky if you don't.

They come up second hand on TradeMe etc. from time to time as well.

Wakrak

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#3015619 31-Dec-2022 21:46

RunningMan:

They come up second hand on TradeMe etc. from time to time as well.

Thanks for that. Somehow overlooked your original message.

timmmay

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#3015631 31-Dec-2022 22:17

I use a Broadlink RM Pro (old model, about $25 from memory) driven by Home Assistant running on a Raspberry Pi 4. It's a complex way to go, but it's cheap and very flexible. I have Home Assistant automating my ducted heat pump, kitchen heat pump, office heat pump, roman blinds, ventilation system (via smart plug), helped by a bluetooth receiver and a bunch of temperature sensors. You can write flexible automations, or even write home automations using Python. Beware there is a steep learning curve.

Broadlink RM Mini 4 looks to be the current model - Ali Express / Ebay will have it.

SomeoneSomewhere

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#3015635 31-Dec-2022 22:57

Mehrts:

On a side note, why do air conditioning units have such long & convoluted model numbers?

It's almost a challenge between manufacturers to see how much of the alphabet they can use!

I haven't found anything specific to Fujitsu units, but there's a lot of information they pack in there, and often it's intended to be read by field techs and salespeople so that they know things at a glance, rather than having to look up documentation.

For example:

Indoor/outdoor unit.
Intended refrigerant.
Type of indoor unit; e.g. high-wall, floor console, cassette, different types of ducted.
Cooling only or heat pump.
Low-ambient (E.g. Mitsubishi's HyperHeat) or not. Note that this can also apply (albeit differently) for cooling-only models, as typical cooling-only models can't provide cooling when outdoors is below freezing - important for e.g. server room/comms cooling.
Efficiency grade/fanciness. May also include type of compressor e.g. fixed-cycle, two-speed, inverter-driven, or Copeland's funky 'digital scrolls'.
Capacity - usually either decimal kW cooling (e.g. '71' = 7.1kW) or kBTU/h (e.g. 24 = 24kBTU/h, 7.1kW, and two 'tons' of refrigeration (equivalent icemelt per day...))
Major design generation
Minor design generation
Region
Power supply - frequency, voltage, phase count. Most regions have multiple options and we've got it lucky in that it's only 50Hz/230V/1~ or 50Hz/400V/3~N. Consider Japan or the US and it can be 6+ options.

neb

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#3015746 1-Jan-2023 13:19

Wakrak:
Options I've looked at so far:

- Sensibo
- Broadlink RM4 Pro Smart Home

We have Broadlink RM4 Mini, it works fine and is pretty much invisible where it sits in line-of-sight to the heat pump, they're around $50-60 in NZ.

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Wakrak

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#3015888 1-Jan-2023 18:58

neb:
Wakrak:

Options I've looked at so far:

- Sensibo
- Broadlink RM4 Pro Smart Home

We have Broadlink RM4 Mini, it works fine and is pretty much invisible where it sits in line-of-sight to the heat pump, they're around $50-60 in NZ.

Your comment got me doing a bit more digging. Came across this old thread
$20 WiFi + IR switch vs $199 Sensibo (for airconditioners) (geekzone.co.nz)

And this discussion on Whirlpool
Differences-Broadlink RM4/Sensibo-Air Con Control. - Air conditioners (whirlpool.net.au)

Yet to read them but will do later this evening.

timmmay

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#3015889 1-Jan-2023 19:15

Broadlink is cheap and quirky but works ok. It has weirdnesses like the few days around when daylight savings starts / finishes the timers go off almost at random. It's quite weird, has done it for many years.

Pair with home assistant, making it a fairly dumb IR blaster and it works well.

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#3016347 3-Jan-2023 09:05

I've used this DIY solution for a Fujitsu ducted unit, function is excellent.

technician14

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#3016692 4-Jan-2023 07:46

Broadlink works cheap and well for a cheaper option, works with lots of heatpumps, tvs, stereos etc on the same rf controller eg rm4 but sensibo and other controllers only do heatpumps

With broadlink use the ihc app add the heatpump on it, then in alexa app add the broadlink ihc skill

Also the new echo dot 5 gen have temp sensors built in so you can make routines to turn heatpump on and off etc

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