Linus Tech Tips, not sure how serious, put out a $5,000 USD bounty to make a local integration for a thermostat: Finally Spending My YouTube Money - YouTube
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Instead of buying a $200 thermostat that can already be locally controlled by Home Assistant, select a thermostat with no integration, or local API, and offer 25 times more for development work.
I imagine this is the very definition of what it’s like to be a ‘software patron of the arts’.
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I don’t know if you watched the video, but originally Linus had automations with an Ecobee thermostat and relays, but he was forced to switch to air dampeners made by American Standard that are proprietary.
A good patron would offer a bonus for reverse-engineering the air dampers. 
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You probably can swap them out for a 3d printed esp solution.
Yeah but it’s Linus so it has to be done in the least reasonable way possible
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Trane variable AC system like Trane XV20i only works with the trane thermostat with nexia. It seems that part of control is in thermostat.
If this is replaceable with others though, please advise.
My $5 of advice is plan ahead to avoid painting oneself into a $5000 corner.
Or, see if there’s any thread here under the Feature Request tag, if yes vote for that / if not create one, and then mention that someone is serious about paying with real $$.
Yes, I remember that video. Did they explain why they had to switch dampeners?
Later in this video they talk about having both ecobee and these other thermostats together in every room.
I didn’t really understand why.
Yeah cause they wanted to control the system with their American standard, acculink thermostat, which is only nexia
(Video at timestamp)
They were previously thinking of using ESP based relays and generic dampeners but they wanted the thermostats to do it or something
Did they ever explain in another video why they are switching over from ESP to Nexia? If they did in this video, then I missed it.
They didn’t explain why, but my guess is that the people who installed their new air conditioner made them switch. They probably didn’t want to have their warranty on an air conditioner that has using things they arent familiar with.
If I were Linus, I would rather just try to see if I could put ESP8266 relays on the new dampeners.
Did they explain why they had to switch dampeners?
@Noblewolf They didn’t explain why, but my guess is that the people who installed their new air conditioner made them switch. They probably didn’t want to have their warranty on an air conditioner that is using things they aren’t familiar with.
If I were Linus, I would rather just try to see if I could put ESP8266 relays on the new dampeners.
Yeah cause they wanted to control the system with their American standard
@interbiznw no they didn’t, they liked the old way with Ecobee and Home Assistant, but someone (presumably the A/C installers) made them switch to American Standard.
Instead of buying a $200 thermostat that can already be locally controlled by Home Assistant, select a thermostat with no integration, or local API, and offer 25 times more for development work.
@123 Originally Linus had temperature sensors in every room, then had air dampers with relays, and an also an ecobee thermostat, all in Home Assistant. For some reason someone made him switch to the American Standard/Nexia system, so it’s not his fault.
His original setup is in this video:
Jake said that in order to use the American Standard Acculink with its full potential, they have to use the American Standard thermostat. The contractor made the decision to use that system lol
An internet drama that hasn’t captured my attention.
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Curious if something like this would be able to do what is needed to make a local integration.
ComfortLink II which is the Trane/American Standard/Nexia brand is listed.
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The very last paragraph mentions it works with NodeRed. I wonder if it has a NodeRed palette already? I’m not near a computer today otherwise I’d check right now.
EDIT: Checked and there is not a ready-made NodeRed palette.
I am interested in making a local integration for these thermostats. So far I have done a fair bit of poking around (and planning to do more) and have learned a lot, but haven’t yet found an easy way to control aspects of the thermostat (such as set point) using features built into the thermostat.