Dumb ac help

Configuration
1

I have a dumb window ac unit, that I rigged an ir transmitter up to to control it through ha with automations. I use it in my goat milk parlor. The unit doesn’t report any states only responds to the ir, is there a template I can create to show its state and change when a button is pressed via ha?

Ie it has 4 modes and powers on to the last commanded mode, let’s say economy, if I press my mode button 2x it changes to fan only. I know this from using it but want to display this info on a card on the overview.

2

Hi smaj100,

You need something that knows the state, a sensor or something, that can tell HA what the state is. a template is not magic.

The last time Ha had a magic ESP mind reading sensor it didn’t go well.

Unless you can Guess the state of the switch by monitoring the temperature or add a vibration sensor to tell if the unit is on fan ot on cool, etc…

3

Easiest would probably just be an Input Select Helper:

Essentially just setup an automation so each button press progresses through the options to keep track of what mode it’s in.

1 Like
4

The SmartIR HACS integration can control dumb AC using a limited list of IR blasters - I control mine with a Broadlink Mini (v3 I think). It then gives you a climate entity that can be used to see and control temp etc.

Obviously if you use the AC’s remote it will be out of sync because no status comes from the AC - but the same happens with the remote too (eg. if you cover the remote and change the temp, the remote still changes). Dumb AC units send all the info to the AC every time, so when you increase the temp, it also sets the fan speed, tilt, etc. So if the integration shows 20C and you set the temp to 24C via the remote and then increase in the integration (to 21C), it will tell the AC to go to 21C, not add 1C to go to 25C.