I’m trying to integrate my non-Wi-Fi Samsung WindFree air conditioner into the SmartThings ecosystem, and I could use some guidance.
Current Setup:
Samsung Non Wi-Fi WindFree AC controlled via a physical IR remote.
I use a generic (Tuya) IR controller with learned codes for basic automation.
The AC is also partially controllable via the Smart Life (Tuya) app, where I can create single-function buttons by creating scenes.
Objective:
I want to create a virtual device in SmartThings that is seen as an AC. This virtual device should:
Mirror the remote with buttons for power, modes, temperature, fan speed, etc.
Trigger the correct IR code for each button, reflecting the AC’s entire state (since every IR signal from the remote encodes the full state).
Offer seamless control directly from the SmartThings app.
Challenges:
I know AC remotes can be more complex than most devices, as each key press sends the entire device state (mode, temperature, fan speed, etc.). This means there are a huge number of possible IR codes, not just a few.
Questions:
Is it possible to create a virtual device in SmartThings that handles an IR controller as a type of device?
Has anyone successfully replicated a physical remote for an AC in SmartThings, and how did you approach it?
Any advice, suggestions, or resources would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help!
TL;DR:
I want to create a virtual air conditioner device in SmartThings that syncs with my non-Wi-Fi Samsung WindFree AC’s IR remote. The virtual device should replicate the remote’s functionality, sending the full device state (mode, temp, fan, etc.) with each button press. I’m looking for a way to sync these IR commands with the virtual device, even if it requires a different IR controller. Any advice or suggestions?
I use Sonoff snzb-02 (12€) or Tuya TS0201 (3€) temperature sensors, with the thermostat option of my zigbee driver Temp Sensor with Thermostat Mc, from my channel.
Additionally I have placed a TS0203 open/close sensor (4€), on the AA slats, to have feedback on whether the AA is On or Off and to be able to correct.
Additionally with my Mc Virtual Applications driver and the virtual calendar I have created a virtual device to establish the Summer and Winter dates and to be able to change the IR modes with main = Summer and Air-Conditioning-1 = Winter.
Wow, thank you so much for this thoughtful reply! I’ll definitely take a closer look. I just ordered the Moes IR controller, so I’m excited to give it a try, as this might definitely be what I’m looking for.
What I was trying to accomplish is somewhat similar but different.
My first goal was to create a virtual A/C device in SmartThings (one that includes all the keys and is recognized as an A/C) and link that to an IR controller.
This way, whenever I press a button on the virtual A/C, the corresponding IR signal is sent through the controller with the necessary code. This might be useful for both automations and asking it to do stuff via Alexa without having to create too many virtual devices (one for each command)
Does that make sense? I understand that I won’t be getting feedback from the A/C itself, but that’s also true for the physical remote. If someone uses the remote without pointing it at the unit, things can get out of sync—but that’s a limitation I’m okay with.
Since I’m in a pretty hot weather location, so I almost always set the A/C to 24-26º. It might be fine to have it consistently send the signal at those fixed temperatures.
And while the door sensors idea is really clever, I might not be able to use them for feedback in my case. My WindFree A/C has a feature that allows air to pass while the vent is closed, which is perfect for when my baby is in the room as it avoids cold air flows directly.
