Fuck this is a good idea. I might work up the energy to do this in the next month or so
I'll check back in a couple years.
I love my Home Assistant setup for my whole home - if you need someone to bounce ideas off of, I've got close to a decade of successes, fuck-ups, and lessons learned to share and happy to help!
Sounds good! Thanks for the offer.
Same.
My next thing is to try to automate a clunky old window A/C unit via infrared. I might do it with an Aqara M3 hub but I’ve got some Raspberry Pi Zero W laying around too.
Any suggestions for copying a garage remote? I’d like to automate a garage but don’t want to mess with the wiring (this is a rental after all). I know the remote can be copied because my wife’s Jeep cloned it already.
One of the first projects I did was an IR setup for my AC window unit! At the time there weren't an overwhelming number of options, but I settled on a Broadlink IR remote like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Broadlink-RM4-Universal-Control-Compatible/dp/B07ZSF46BX
I don't have it running anymore, but I remember I was able to train it on codes through HA. The training process is subject to a little randomness in the IR signal from your remote. To get the codes right I wound up sending the training signal several times (I'm a nerd so I definitely did at least 10), then copying them into excel to find the statistical most common hex pairs to make up the code I saved in HA, e g.,
FC:G3:D4
CC:G3:B4
CC:G5:D4
Becomes CC:G3:D4, and that dramatically improved the success rate of using the trained command to control things.
For the garage opener, honestly the wiring on those are pretty simple, easiest option is definitely to get a specialty made controller like https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Garage-Opener-Chamberlain-myQ-G0401/dp/B08GD3D9YJ, but a simple Shelly relay can do the job in most cases.
If you're really wiring averse, you could try something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Automation-Ceiling-Fireplace-through-Control/dp/B071GVGVVH
It says its not for garage doors so be prepared to have to return it.
If youre feeling really clever, you could also consider something like a Switchbot with a dumb remote, and just keep the remote in your garage. https://www.amazon.com/SwitchBot-Smart-Switch-Button-Pusher/dp/B07B4D9KVX
Which thermostat do you use? And do you like it?
Not OP, but I have an Emerson Sensi. It was free after rebates from my local electric company. I like it, though admittedly I wasn't ever looking for anything fancy.
I can control the temperature from my phone and see simple stats like how much time it's been heating or cooling each day. It lets me set up schedules, too, of course. It doesn't do anything flashy like learn my schedule or connect to Google home and whatnot. The app is lightweight be it doesn't bother me with ads or notifications to buy more junk.
I have a Honeywell T9 but use two Boldr Fara space heaters too, along with an array of Aqara temperature sensors. It’s all hooked into Home Assistant.
Because I live in a big rental apartment with poor insulation, having multiple virtual thermostats for different areas is helpful. The temperature is set based on the outdoor temperature since it impacts the inside temperature so much.
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