esphome_aux_ac_component/README-EN.md

ESPHome AUX air conditioner custom component (aux_ac)

For communication about this project join telegram chat.

For issues or feature requests, please go to the issue section.

DISCLAIMER

1. All data of this project (software, firmware, schemes, 3d-models etc.) are provided 'AS IS'. Everything you do with your devices you are doing at your own risk. If you don't strongly understand what you are doing, just buy wifi-module from your air conditioner manufacturer.
2. I am not a programmer. So source code is certainly not optimal and badly decorated (but there are alot of comments in it; sorry, a significant part of it is in Russian). Also code may be written unsafe. I tried to test all parts of the code but I'm sure I missed a lot of things. So treat it with suspicion, expect a trick from it, and if you discover something wrong write an issue here.
3. Russian and English readmes are substantially identical in meaning. But in case of differences the Russian version is more significant.

Short description

This custom component allows you to control your air conditioner through wifi if it is made in the AUX factory. Component tested with ESPHome 1.15.3 and Rovex ALS1 air conditioner. It looks like many other air conditioners can be controlled by aux_ac but this possibility isn't tested. See list of testetd ACs below for more details.

Supported air conditioners

List of compatible ACs (tested)

These ACs were tested by the author or by users.

• Rovex (models: ALS1)

List of potential compatible ACs

NOT TESTED! TRY AT YOUR OWN RISK! AUX is one of the OEM air conditioner manufacturers. AUX produce ACs for many brands. Internet says that following air conditioners may test with aux_ac component:

• AUX
• Abion
• AC ELECTRIC
• Almacom
• Ballu
• CENTEK
• Energolux
• ERISSON
• Green Energy
• Hyundai
• Kentatsu (some series)
• Klimaire
• KOMANCHI
• LANZKRAFT
• LEBERG
• Monroe
• Neoclima
• NEOLINE
• Pioneer (before 2016)
• Roda
• Royal Clima
• SAKATA
• SATURN
• Scarlett
• SmartWay
• SUBTROPIC
• Supra
• Vertex
• Zanussi

If your AC is listed above you you should take a closer look at aux_ac.

If the User Manual of your HVAC describes connection to wifi with mobile app ACFreedom it seems you may go deeper with aux_ac. But try all soft and hardware for your own risk. You must clearly understand what you are doing. If you are unsure it is better to wait while other users will test your model of AC (but it may never). Or please go to telegram-chat with your questions. Maybe you will get help there.

If you have tested your air conditioner and aux_ac works with it please let me know about it. I'll add this info to the list of tested ACs above. The best way to report about your test results is write a message in the issue section. Direct message in the telegram is possible too but probably I can miss your message among many others.

How to use it

Hardware

I tested it with an esp8266 chip (esp-12e). Minimal scheme:

At the first time in addition to scheme above IO0 (GPIO0) must be pulled down to GND at the boot and ESPHome can be uploaded through UART0. If your ESPHome configuration contains OTA you can pull up IO0 or leave it floating. All further updates can be uploaded over-the-air. I leave GPIO0 in air cause I don't see any reason to solder additional components for single use.

ESP-12E before DC-DC and air conditioner connected:

Air conditioner internal block has a 5-wire connection to the wifi-module. Connector is JST SM.

Wires:

1. Yellow: +14V DC. Measured +14.70V max and +13.70V min. Service manual declares up to +16V.
2. Black: ground.
3. White: +5V DC (max: +5.63V; min: +4.43V) I have no idea what this is for. It goes directly to the air conditioner microcontroller through resistor 1kOhm and it does not affect the operation of the module.
4. Blue: TX of air conditioner. High is +5V.
5. Red: RX of air conditioner. High is +5V.

For power supply it is possible to use any kind of suitable modules. I use this:

.

Black wire of AC's connector goes to the middle pin of the power module and to the GND pin of esp-12e. Yellow wire is connected to the Vin pin of the power module. Blue wire is connected to the RXD pin of esp-12e. Red wire is connected to the TXD pin of esp-12e.

Here is it:

All connections in custom 3d-printed case looks like this:

Cause I haven't JST SM connector I made own:

.

It is made of standard 2.54mm pins and 3D-printed case.

All models for 3D-printing are available too: STL-files for connector, models of case parts.

The result:

Firmware: Integration aux_ac to your configuration

1. Copy aux_ac_custom_component.h to folder with your ESPHome YAML file.
2. At the header of your YAML add include instruction like this:

esphome:
  name: $devicename
  platform: ESP8266
  board: esp12e
  includes:
    - aux_ac_custom_component.h

3. Configure UART to communicate with air conditioner:

uart:
  id: ac_uart_bus
  tx_pin: GPIO1
  rx_pin: GPIO3
  baud_rate: 4800
  data_bits: 8
  parity: EVEN
  stop_bits: 1

4. ESP8266 has two hardware UARTs: UART0 and UART1. Only UART0 suits for aux_ac cause only it has both TX and RX. In uart: section above we configure UART0 for aux_ac. But it used by logger:. So it is necessary to redefine UART for logger:

logger:
    level: DEBUG
    # important: for avoiding collisions logger works with UART1 (for esp8266 tx = GPIO2, rx = None)
    hardware_uart: UART1

5. Finally define climate component:

climate:
- platform: custom
  lambda: |-
    extern AirCon acAirCon;
    if (!acAirCon.get_initialized()) acAirCon.initAC(id(ac_uart_bus));
    App.register_component(&acAirCon);
    return {&acAirCon};
  climates:
    - name: "My awesome air conditioner"

Example

Files ac_common.yaml, ac_kitchen.yaml and ac_livingroom.yaml show standard way to use aux_ac custom component.

ac_common.yaml contains a common configuration part for two air conditioners. One of the ACs is located in a kitchen, the second one is in a living room.

ac_kitchen.yaml and ac_livingroom.yaml contain specific parts of configuration: IP-addresses, device names etc.

If you try to compile ac_common.yaml it will raise errors. You need to compile ac_kitchen.yaml or ac_livingroom.yaml instead.

Additional functionality

Aux_ac component provides three additional sensors: two temperatures and firmware version.

Ambient temperature

This is the current room air temperature from AC's sensor. If you need it in your configuration place this code to YAML file:

sensor:
  - platform: custom
    lambda: |-
      extern AirCon acAirCon;
      if (!acAirCon.get_initialized()) acAirCon.initAC(id(ac_uart_bus));
      App.register_component(&acAirCon);
      return {acAirCon.sensor_ambient_temperature};
    sensors:
    - name: AC ambient temperature
      unit_of_measurement: "°C"
      accuracy_decimals: 1

Outdoor temperature

Currently it shows weather on Mars =) Maybe it will change if we get more statistics and some smart guys for decoding. If in spite of everything, you still want it in your configuration, just use this code:

sensor:
  - platform: custom
    lambda: |-
      extern AirCon acAirCon;
      if (!acAirCon.get_initialized()) acAirCon.initAC(id(ac_uart_bus));
      App.register_component(&acAirCon);
      return {acAirCon.sensor_outdoor_temperature};
    sensors:
    - name: AC outdoor temperature
      unit_of_measurement: "°C"
      accuracy_decimals: 1

Both temperatures in one declaration

It is possible to add room and outdoor temperatures to your configuration with one yaml block:

sensor:
  - platform: custom
    lambda: |-
      extern AirCon acAirCon;
      if (!acAirCon.get_initialized()) acAirCon.initAC(id(ac_uart_bus));
      App.register_component(&acAirCon);
      return {acAirCon.sensor_outdoor_temperature, acAirCon.sensor_ambient_temperature};
    sensors:
    - name: AC outdoor temperature
      unit_of_measurement: "°C"
      accuracy_decimals: 1
    - name: AC ambient temperature
      unit_of_measurement: "°C"
      accuracy_decimals: 1

Firmware version

Aux_ac component also gives information about source code version. You can add it to your config with this code:

text_sensor:
- platform: custom
  lambda: |-
    auto aircon_firmware_version = new AirConFirmwareVersion();
    App.register_component(aircon_firmware_version);
    return {aircon_firmware_version};
  text_sensors:
    name: AC firmware version
    icon: "mdi:chip"