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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)

#91

Post by kiririn »

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…

TVs running Roku or WebOS do have nice control APIs

https://developer.roku.com/dev/docs/external-control-api

https://github.com/chros73/bscpylgtv

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

#92

Post by scottlamb »

sublinear wrote: post #56

I'm pretty sure doing janky things to the AC you don't own is a lease violation. I'd gladly let them keep the security deposit so that evil companies like RealPage don't blacklist me.

> I'm pretty sure doing janky things to the AC you don't own is a lease violation.

Why? Not all "janky" things are the same:

* Sloppy changes to the internal 240V wiring: yeah probably a violation of the lease, and legitimately likely to burn the place down, with associated liability.

* Temporarily mounting to the exterior this mechanism that turns the knob shaft, with no changes to the wiring, no holes, no nothing. I can't think what grounds they'd have for considering this a lease violation or a reason to keep any of the security deposit, as long as you pop the original knob back on when you move out. And as inigyou pointed out, how would they even know?

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

#93

Post by Ozzie-D »

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…

[flagged]

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

#94

Post by jayd16 »

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…

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.

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

#95

Post by wolvoleo »

closeparen wrote: post #65
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…

In the professional A/V integration world, it's normal for displays and projectors to have serial port interfaces that can be driven by commands from e.g. a Crestron controller or video switcher. Just not as much of a home/consumer thing.

Most LGs had a serial option, you can plug in a very specific USB to serial module in its USB port and then control it over serial with fairly generic commands.

Not sure if they still have this though. Mine does.

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

#96

Post by wolvoleo »

Liftyee wrote: post #20

I don't get how so many large buildings in NYC and Beijing (two cities that I've personally visited) use independent little AC units like the PTAC or minisplit types. A couple per apartment, peppered over the outer walls. Engineers intuition says surely a large central unit would be more efficient and effective. Is it because of personal ownership reasons? Counterintuitive physics? Heat dissipation limitations on the…

I think what also plays a role is that this way each tenant gets charged for AC use through their own power bill. No difficult central accounting to do.

Still, split units are way easier and more efficient but I guess the landlords just go for the cheapest option.

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

#97

Post by kelnos »

rendx wrote: post #73
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.

It always blows my mind what ideas people have what "rich people" have or want. I know a few 'filthy rich' people and some of them don't even own any TV or projector, because they're totally content with a laptop screen and don't want their kids to be exposed to TVs. You will not see their wealth unless you know where to look. Once people have money, most of them begin to think about what actually serves them and wha…

> What we see is the outliers.

For every ostentatiously visibly rich person, there are 100 quiet ones shaking their heads.

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

#98

Post by shadytrees »

chem83 wrote: post #11

It's insane to me that some new construction buildings still use PTACs. Having used too many of those, this was a deal-breaker last time I was in the market for an apartment. Such a New York thing, just like how you cannot have a balcony on the 2nd floor, or how you won't find those sink garbage disposal grinders in any kitchen. But cross the Hudson toward NJ, and my understanding is that they're common. It's a combi…

PTACs suck. Well-maintained, newer models suck less, but they still suck. Unless well-insulated, the sleeves leak air (and humidity). And there's a duopoly between Ice Air and Islandaire, so they get to charge more for maintenance. They benefit from the trend of maintenance for older models being a yearly chore also.

From what I understand, PTACs started as a convenient way to retrofit apartments with air conditioning. You don't need ductwork, which I believe is more expensive in the concrete buildings around here. Also, I think you need protected refrigerant sleeves to meet code here, but only if the sleeves go from one floor to another (someone just told me this fact today, and i haven't verified this).

BTW that PTAC's thermostat dial in the link doesn't have numbers around the dial, which I think is honest. No A/C unit I've ever owned has managed to have a thermostat that read the temperature I was feeling consistently. It makes me think the apartment was built before the late 2010s though -- still feels new but a generation ago in HVAC terms. Mini-splits seem to have arrived, even for <1M condos. Talking to the mini-split contractors I had over recently for a squeaky noise, I got the feeling that business was booming. They had every day in the summer booked months in advance.

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

#99

Post by pornel »

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.

I've successfully emulated remotes with ESPHome + xiao seeed + basic IR diode. Dozen lines of YAML can turn it into a thermostat in Home Assistant.

Flipper Zero can record IR remotes.

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

#100

Post by yakkers »

asveikau wrote: post #52

> Imprecisely yeet the stepper motor all the way left/right, toggling the target temp between “really really hot” or “really really cold” > Option 2 certainly is the “jankier” of the two options, given that it relies on a second-order property (target temp) to power the unit on/off… but hey - whatever’s easier, right? Isn't this basically how a thermostat works? I.e. there is a component that is binary on/off, and a…

For the purpose of cooling, just setting the thermostat to its hottest setting would be in effect "off" just about all of the time. Depending on the design/temperature range of the thermostat, this isn't 100% though.

If you want to be able to do both heating and cooling, it'd get a bit complicated since the above would be inverted for heating.

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