Control the air conditioner with openhab

you want to turn on the air conditioner and you can't find the remote control, or in case you find it it, the batteries hasn't enough power. Yes, is so frustating.
Anyway, if you don't have any of this problems is a good idea to have only real universal remote control, one you have all the time with you, your cell phone!!.


With openhab, raspberry and arduino you can do it. First of all you have to install the domotic server in a raspberry as it was explained in the last post.
The tutorial consist in four steps

1. record the ir signal with your arduino
2. create the emitter in your raspberry
3. create the item in openhab
4. enjoy your confort

Record Arduino signal 

you can record the signal with the raspberry, but it was easier for me is to use the arduino for this task. The circuit is very similar but with the raspberry you must record with the lirc library, i use this library for send the signal but it is not the best way to receive, in my opinion, of course.
Lirc has a big database with ir signals for brands like samsung, lg, mitsubishi, etc. In my case i have an AUX air conditioner, wich doesn't exists in the lirc's database. so i have no other way than to record the signals by myself. If you have a known brand for lirc you don' t have to record with the arduino, you can skip this step.

Requirements

1. Arduino, it can be any version, y i used the uno
2. vs1838B , ir receiver
   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GS4E28?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01.
3. Wires

to record the infrared (ir) signal you have to buy the ir receiver,  I use the vs1838B it is a very cheap piece.
about the arduino there are a lot of cheap versions ,in my case i bought one from aliexpress, this is the link http://www.aliexpress.com/snapshot/6660856587.html?orderId=67207253926866. And only cost $3.88!!!

Once you have all the required pieces you have to build the circuit like this

the best way to record the signal is with the shirriff' s library, you can download the library from this link https://github.com/shirriff/Arduino-IRremote/releases. It is very easy to use.
For the air conditioner you need the raw signal, there are a lot of numbers and you can' t receive/send it with the NEC protocol. To receive the raw signal i used the IRrecvDump example from the library.

The output is something like that for a command

219DBA7D
Unknown encoding: 219DBA7D (32 bits)
Raw (212): 18398, 8850, -4500, 500, -1750, 450, -1750, 450, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 450, -1750, 450, -1750, 450, -1750, 450, -1750, 450, -1750, 450, -1750, 500, -1700, 500, -1700, 500, -1700, 500, -600, 450, -650, 450, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 450, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 450, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 450, -650, 450, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 450, -650, 450, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 500, -1700, 500, -600, 450, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 450, -650, 450, -600, 500, -600, 500, -1700, 500, -600, 450, -650, 450, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 450, -600, 500, -600, 500, -1700, 500, -600, 500, -600, 450, -650, 450, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 450, -650, 450, -600, 450, -650, 500, -600, 500, -600, 450, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 450, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 450, -650, 450, -600, 500, -1700, 500, -600, 500, -600, 450, -650, 450, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 450, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 500, -1700, 500, -600, 450, -1750, 500, -550, 500, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 500, -600, 450, -1750, 450, -1750, 450, -1750, 450, -650, 450, -600, 500, -600, 500, -1700, 500, -600, 500, 

We have to work in this output,remove the first number (18398 in this example), the minus symbol and the commas. The result is like that.

8850 4500 500 1750 450 1750 450 600 500 600 500 600 500 600 450 1750 450 1750 450 1750 450 1750 450 1750 450 1750 500 1700 500 1700 500 1700 500 600 450 650 450 600 500 600 500 600 500 600 450 600 500 600 500 600 500 600 450 600 500 600 500 600 500 600 450 650 450 600 500 600 500 600 450 650 450 600 500 600 500 600 500 1700 500 600 450 600 500 600 500 600 500 600 450 650 450 600 500 600 500 1700 500 600 450 650 450 600 500 600 500 600 500 600 450 600 500 600 500 1700 500 600 500 600 450 650 450 600 500 600 500 600 450 650 450 600 450 650 500 600 500 600 450 600 500 600 500 600 500 600 450 600 500 600 500 600 500 600 450 650 450 600 500 1700 500 600 500 600 450 650 450 600 500 600 500 600 500 600 450 600 500 600 500 600 500 1700 500 600 450 1750 500 550 500 600 500 600 500 600 500 600 450 1750 450 1750 450 1750 450 650 450 600 500 600 500 1700 500 600 500 

Now is ready for copy the command in the lirc file, you have to do this procedure for each button. You can hack the signal and interpret it. If you send me the interpretation of the signal i will be very grateful :). It is a very annoying task. if the value less than thousand (450,500,600,etc) the value is 0 and 1 in the other case (1700,1650,1500,etc). This is the way, i was boring viewing the signal in a excel so i decided only to keep the signals i really care.

create the emitter in your raspberry

Requirements

1. Raspberry pi, any version , i used raspberry pi b+
   http://www.amazon.com/Raspberry-Pi-Model-Plus-512MB/dp/B00LPESRUK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1434827021&sr=8-1&keywords=raspberry+pi+b
2. Ir Sender
   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A1BSD8O?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

First of all you have to build the circuit

Easy, don't you think?, now you have to install the lirc service, follow the instructions in the next link http://alexba.in/blog/2013/01/06/setting-up-lirc-on-the-raspberrypi/, take care that you are using the pin 18 for the emitter and
you don' t have a receiver installed in the raspberry.
The file /etc/lircd.conf is something like that

# Please make this file available to others
# by sending it to <lirc@bartelmus.de>
#
# this config file was automatically generated
# using lirc-0.9.0-pre1(default) on Tue Jan  6 10:41:06 2015
#
# contributed by
#
# brand:                       /home/pi/lircd.conf.conf
# model no. of remote control:
# devices being controlled by this remote:
#

begin remote

  name  air
  flags RAW_CODES
  eps 30
  aeps 100

  ptrail 0
  repeat 0 0
  gap 40991

begin raw_codes
name TURN_OFF
8900 4550 550 1700 550 1700 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 1700 550 1700 550 1700 550 1700 550 1700 550 1700 550 1700 550 1700 550 1700 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 1700 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 1700 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 1700 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 1700 550 550 550 1700 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 1700 550 1700 550 1700 550 550 550 550 550 1700 550 550 550 550 550
name TURN_ON_COLD_23
8900 4400 550 1700 550 1700 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 1700 550 1700 550 1700 550 1700 550 1700 550 1700 550 1700 550 1700 550 1700 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 1700 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 1700 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 1700 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 1700 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 1700 550 550 550 1550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 1700 550 1700 550 1700 550 550 550 550 550 1700 550 1700 550 1700 550
end raw_codes
end remote

In the example there are only two commands, you must add all the commands that you want to execute. To execute the command by command line you have to type

irsend SEND_ONCE air TURN_OFF

being TURN_OFF the command defined in the lircd.conf.
Now you can use the air conditioner from the raspberry, the only step left is to create the user interface in openhab

create the item in openhab

 I don' t record all the commands of the re

 

I don't record all the commands of the remote control, only those i really often use. I control the temperature, if i want cold/heat mode, switch on/off the timer and switch on/off the screen.

Remember i am using openhab so i can make rules like if the house reach some temperature and i am in home the air conditioner auto start or switch off the air conditioner if i left my home.
I have the server with no-ip so if i am arriving home and it is cold i can switch on the air conditioner before i arrive.

An important Hint!!, lirc have a problem in the raspberry, you have to restart the lirc service once the raspberry  finished the startup. To do that you can do it in the Init rule (using System started).

demo.items

Switch Air_Conditioner "Aire Condicionado"  <air_conditioner> (Appliance)
String Air_Conditioner_Mode "Modo"  <settings> (Appliance)
String Air_Conditioner_Temperature "Temperatura"  <temperature> (Appliance)
Switch Air_Conditioner_Timer "Timer"  <clock> (Appliance)
Switch Air_Conditioner_Screen "Display"  <display> (Appliance)

demo.rules

//*******************************************************************

//AIRE CONDITIONER
//*******************************************************************
rule "Air Conditioner"
    when
        Item Air_Conditioner received command
    then
        logInfo("Air Conditioner",receivedCommand + "" +Air_Conditioner_Mode )
        var String command;
      
        if(receivedCommand == ON){
            sendCommand(Notifications, "Prendiendo Aire Condicionado")
            if ((Air_Conditioner_Mode.state+"") == "1")    command = "irsend SEND_ONCE air TURN_ON_COLD_" + Air_Conditioner_Temperature.state;
            if ((Air_Conditioner_Mode.state+"") == "2")    command = "irsend SEND_ONCE air TURN_ON_HOT_" + Air_Conditioner_Temperature.state;
        }
        else{
            sendCommand(Notifications, "Apagando Aire Condicionado")
            command = "irsend SEND_ONCE air TURN_OFF";
        }
        logInfo("Air Conditioner",command)
         executeCommandLine(command);
      
end

rule "Air Conditioner Screen"
    when
        Item Air_Conditioner_Screen received command
    then
        logInfo("Air Conditioner Screen",receivedCommand + "")
        var String command;
        command = "irsend SEND_ONCE air SCREEN_" +Air_Conditioner_Temperature.state;
        if(receivedCommand == ON){
            sendCommand(Notifications, "Prendiendo display del aire")
        }
        else{
            sendCommand(Notifications, "Apagando display del aire")
        }
        executeCommandLine(command);
end

rule "Air Conditioner Timer"
    when
        Item Air_Conditioner_Timer received command
    then
        logInfo("Air Conditioner Timer",receivedCommand + "")
        var String command;
      
        if(receivedCommand == ON){
            sendCommand(Notifications, "Prendiendo Timer del aire")
            if ((Air_Conditioner_Mode.state+"") == "1")    command = "irsend SEND_ONCE air TIMER_ON_COLD_" + Air_Conditioner_Temperature.state;
            if ((Air_Conditioner_Mode.state+"") == "2")    command = "irsend SEND_ONCE air TIMER_ON_HOT_" + Air_Conditioner_Temperature.state;
        }
        else{
            sendCommand(Notifications, "Apagando Timer del aire")
            if ((Air_Conditioner_Mode.state+"") == "1")    command = "irsend SEND_ONCE air TIMER_OFF_COLD_" + Air_Conditioner_Temperature.state;
            if ((Air_Conditioner_Mode.state+"") == "2")    command = "irsend SEND_ONCE air TIMER_OFF_HOT_" + Air_Conditioner_Temperature.state;
        }
        logInfo("Air Conditioner Timer",command)
         executeCommandLine(command);
      
end

demo.sitemap

Text item=Air_Conditioner label="Aire Condicionado" {
            Frame {
                Switch item=Air_Conditioner 
                Selection item=Air_Conditioner_Mode   mappings=[1='Frío', 2='Calor']
                Selection item=Air_Conditioner_Temperature  mappings=[21='21', 23='23', 25='25']
                Switch item=Air_Conditioner_Timer
                Switch item=Air_Conditioner_Screen 
               
            }
        }