Will vibration sensor be a good proxy for power status of AC?

SmartApps & Automations
1

I’m in the process of building a climate control routine.
One hurdle that I’m facing is to get feedback from my AC that I plan to turn on through a z-wave IR blaster.
Since an IR blaster can only send an on/off signal - the same one at that -, it’s hard to tell whether my AC is on or off.
To get around this problem, I’m thinking of using a vibration sensor (or a multipurpose sensor) to detect whether the AC is on or not.

Does anyone see an immediate problem with this approach?

2

Nope, but what type of AC unit? Window, outside compressor, inside floor/wall unit? If it’s an outside unit, just protect the device from the weather.

Depending on the unit, and power requirements, you could/maybe use a power metering device, like an Aeon HEM or heavy duty outlet, to detect when it’s running.

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