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Turning a dumb AC unit smart (without losing my security deposit)

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Re: Turning a dumb AC unit smart (without losing my security deposit)

#101

Post by mikepurvis »

jayd16 wrote: post #94
danudey wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It always kind of blows my mind that I keep seeing "smart TVs" which have a bunch of integration options for high-end AV installations (rich people's houses, etc.) but no API that you can integrate with to just handle toggling channels/inputs/power states/volumes. (I did get my last Sony Bravia integrated with Homekit so that I could control inputs, volume, etc. via the Home app, but that's not really what I'm lookin…

There's eARC for signalling through HDMI, there's good ol' IR blaster. For the Bravia, which is probably Android, you can likely write an android service that connects to the web and handles things like volume and maybe channels.

IR blasters are rough because there's no feedback. You're literally just shouting out commands into the void, and heaven forbid if it's something that's a toggle where you don't know which state you're starting from.

Re: Turning a dumb AC unit smart (without losing my security deposit)

#102

Post by IncreasePosts »

inigyou wrote: post #60
Terr_ wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish lock-in was as taboo as medieval Christian attitudes towards usury.

But weren't medieval Christian attitudes towards usury a good thing?

No, because who would lend money when they would just get the same amount back later, plus the risk of not getting repaid?

Re: Turning a dumb AC unit smart (without losing my security deposit)

#103

Post by kazinator »

If all you need to do is replace a potentiometer with electronic control, it may be possible to do that with a vactrol. It's more invasive perhaps, but then we're not dealing with anything mechanical.

A vactrol is a device which combines LED and photoresistor in one package (sealed against the leakage of light).

The photoresistor has a "dark resistance" that is typically very high, like hundreds of thousands of ohms. When it is illuminated by the LED, the resistance goes down: you control how much via the current to the LED.

Another possibility is using a digital potentiometer, like this: https://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/20005207B.p...

A digital pot is an integrated circuit that switches a bank of resistors with FETs to create a desired resistance, or combination of resistances to simulate a wiper position along an analog pot's track.

They are programmed with I2C and such.

These things have certain disadvantages; like the one I linked to requires that power rails be provided for the analog domain where the resistors "live", and the voltages on them must be within this range. The vactrol has no such issue; it is a passive resistor with light shining on it.

Re: Turning a dumb AC unit smart (without losing my security deposit)

#104

Post by manyatoms »

GauntletWizard wrote: post #84
yegle wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the standard control for TV is the RS-232C port on the TV. https://community.home-assistant.io/t/serial-projector-contr... from a quick search.

I'm surprised we haven't seen a cheap, USB powered Bluetooth RE-232C dongle for home assistant yet.

Say if we have a pi laying around, could we emulate this?

Re: Turning a dumb AC unit smart (without losing my security deposit)

#105

Post by Nursie »

Alien1Being wrote: post #55
lstodd wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It always blows my mind why those rich people even bother with TVs. I'm not rich by any measure, but still I can afford a projector, a screen and a couple KRK monitors.

Truly rich people do not have TVs. Or if they do own a ultra high end TV like a C Seed N1 they hide them away inconspicuously. https://www.cseed.com/en/indoor-tv/c-seed-n1-tv.html It is like eating cheap and nasty junk. If you are rich you avoid it or eat it discreetly...Or your acquaintances laugh at you.

That's certainly a feature screen. Not sure it's inconspicuous!

I think I'd likely prefer one of those slightly more discrete OLEDs that rolls up into its box when not in use, like the LG Signature R...

Re: Turning a dumb AC unit smart (without losing my security deposit)

#106

Post by necovek »

fsckboy wrote: post #88
EvanAnderson wrote: post #13

The "couple a stepper motor to a shaft" API is so much better than any "smart" appliance API. Speaking more seriously, I wish classes of appliances would expose some simple analog and digital interface pins in a standardized configuration to let users choose whatever automation or monitoring hardware they want. HVAC equipment does this with standardized thermostat terminals. I'd love to see that on other types of app…

> HVAC equipment does this with standardized thermostat terminals. yes, they standardize thermostat terminals, but they should allow additional inputs such as a measure of radiant heat entering through the boundary surfaces. I have to change my thermostat far more because it's a sunny day than I need to because of different outdoor temperatures. Bear in mind, I shouldn't have to change my thermostat at all† (except p…

Does the radiant heat not increase the room temperature, thus affecting the indoor temp sensor? Combining that input with outdoor temperature (and whole weather stations) is totally done.

Similarly, floor heating systems measure temperature of the radiating element (floor) and room temperature to decide if they switch heating on or off.

I generally combine shutters for large windows in controlling the temperature in my automation too (greenhouse effect).

Re: Turning a dumb AC unit smart (without losing my security deposit)

#108

Post by Graziano_M »

Damn. I have wanted to do the same at my place for years (also in NYC). He beat me to it. I also can’t just use a smart plug. Unfortunately I only have one knob, it has four positions (and is open anywhere between), and requires a good amount of torque to move. I’d need to gear down the stepper and figure out a way to detect when it’s in the correct position (maybe an encoder, maybe current sense to ‘feel’ when it’s reached a close position?)

Re: Turning a dumb AC unit smart (without losing my security deposit)

#109

Post by cromniomancer »

andix wrote: post #23

OT: I'm looking for some way to control my AC via Infrared. I have a few pretty standard AC units with IR remotes. The ones with a display on it, that just transmit all the settings on the remote via IR on every button press. Some device I can mount in proximity, that controls the AC, but preferably also has a temperature and humidity sensor included.

The Broadlink Rm4 Pro IR blaster puck includes an optional "Sensor Cable" which measures temperature and humidity directly. The initial setup via the app is terrible and requires location services for Wi-Fi pairing, but once that's done it has worked fairly well.

I had better luck for my use cases with the Aqara M2 Hub. I believe that device is discontinued, but they seem to have other very similar models. No built in climate sensors on that one, but the UX and IR signal response time have been much better overall.

Re: Turning a dumb AC unit smart (without losing my security deposit)

#110

Post by artisinal »

danudey wrote: post #17
EvanAnderson wrote: post #13

The "couple a stepper motor to a shaft" API is so much better than any "smart" appliance API. Speaking more seriously, I wish classes of appliances would expose some simple analog and digital interface pins in a standardized configuration to let users choose whatever automation or monitoring hardware they want. HVAC equipment does this with standardized thermostat terminals. I'd love to see that on other types of app…

It always kind of blows my mind that I keep seeing "smart TVs" which have a bunch of integration options for high-end AV installations (rich people's houses, etc.) but no API that you can integrate with to just handle toggling channels/inputs/power states/volumes. (I did get my last Sony Bravia integrated with Homekit so that I could control inputs, volume, etc. via the Home app, but that's not really what I'm lookin…

> Give me an HTTPS API, require me to authenticate devices on the TV itself before it accepts their commands

https://gist.github.com/kalleth/e10e8f3b8b7cb1bac21463b0073a...

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