Controlling an AC using a universal TV remote?
August 7, 2019 1:21 PM Subscribe
Every button on my window AC unit is working...except on/off. The AC still powers on via Delay Start. It came with a flimsy (infrared) remote that broke long ago.
I've seen universal AC remotes and replacements for my model, and I might go that route eventually. For today, I just want to do some cheap testing. Could an ordinary TV remote work if I programmed it with the correct Frigidaire AC code?
There should be an app for that.
Depending on you phone, it might have an IR emitter - there are apps that turn your phone into an universal remote, but I'm not familiar with any particular application.
posted by porpoise at 2:03 PM on August 7, 2019 [1 favorite]
Depending on you phone, it might have an IR emitter - there are apps that turn your phone into an universal remote, but I'm not familiar with any particular application.
posted by porpoise at 2:03 PM on August 7, 2019 [1 favorite]
My partner has been able to control his (different) window unit AC with his Android phone, as porpoise said. Not sure if iPhones can do the same.
posted by fiercecupcake at 3:24 PM on August 7, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by fiercecupcake at 3:24 PM on August 7, 2019 [1 favorite]
My experience is that "universal" remotes have a range they can handle and TV ones and A/C ones do not overlap. So, no, you can't.
posted by Obscure Reference at 3:35 PM on August 7, 2019
posted by Obscure Reference at 3:35 PM on August 7, 2019
Response by poster: Thanks, all!
The Arduino option is neat, and would be doable if I had the parts around. My current phone doesn’t have an IR emitter, but I’ll check my older Android when I get home.
posted by brackish.line at 3:46 PM on August 7, 2019
The Arduino option is neat, and would be doable if I had the parts around. My current phone doesn’t have an IR emitter, but I’ll check my older Android when I get home.
posted by brackish.line at 3:46 PM on August 7, 2019
Does the A/C turn itself on when power is restored after an interruption? If so, get one of these remotes which essentially lets you turn on/off the power connection to the AC using an RF remote.
Furthermore, you can get wifi-using smartplugs which would let you switch them on and off using an app; such apps usually have timer features, i.e. "turn off after 1 hour" or you can set a schedule. If you have any kind of smart-device system (Google Home, Amazon Echo), you can get some compliant smartplugs that can also be commanded by voice or pre-programmed routine (I've got Echo/Alexa; I assume goohome does something similar):
"Alexa, chill out" => A/C plug comes on.
"Alexa, go to hell" => A/C plug turns off, or whatnot.
posted by Sunburnt at 5:27 PM on August 7, 2019 [3 favorites]
Furthermore, you can get wifi-using smartplugs which would let you switch them on and off using an app; such apps usually have timer features, i.e. "turn off after 1 hour" or you can set a schedule. If you have any kind of smart-device system (Google Home, Amazon Echo), you can get some compliant smartplugs that can also be commanded by voice or pre-programmed routine (I've got Echo/Alexa; I assume goohome does something similar):
"Alexa, chill out" => A/C plug comes on.
"Alexa, go to hell" => A/C plug turns off, or whatnot.
posted by Sunburnt at 5:27 PM on August 7, 2019 [3 favorites]
A TV remote might work if it's programmable by "watching" the output of another remote; however, this assumes you have a compatible AC remote to begin with, which you say you don't have. Your off-the-shelf universal remote for TVs is extremely unlikely to be able to do this. A more capable universal remote that is programmable via a computer or an app *might* work for this (thinking the Logitech Harmony line of remotes specifically), if they have the codes for the AC unit in their database, but I wouldn't count on it.
You'll probably need to get either the AC-specific universal remote or the replacement remote. I'd recommend this route especially if you don't have the remote that came with it.
posted by Aleyn at 6:10 PM on August 7, 2019
You'll probably need to get either the AC-specific universal remote or the replacement remote. I'd recommend this route especially if you don't have the remote that came with it.
posted by Aleyn at 6:10 PM on August 7, 2019
My older Logitech Harmony 670 remote could control a stand fan I had. Didn't even need to train it, it was listed in the very extensive list of devices it would control.
posted by bigdamnnerd at 8:11 AM on August 8, 2019
posted by bigdamnnerd at 8:11 AM on August 8, 2019
Response by poster: A quick follow-up, just in case anyone having a similar issue finds this post...eventually we realized that our AC was basically drowning. Removing the drain plug from our AC resolved the issue.
I know, I know - ensuring that your AC is draining is a pretty basic troubleshooting step. Because our AC was visibly draining and was operating quietly, we thought we were good on that front.
There are a lot of open vents on this model. It seems like some extra water built up inside our AC unit during a string of rainstorms. Against the owners manual's advice, we removed the bottom plug entirely. A considerable amount of water came out.
Ever since removing the plug, our AC has been working perfectly (knock knock).
posted by brackish.line at 1:14 PM on May 25, 2020 [2 favorites]
I know, I know - ensuring that your AC is draining is a pretty basic troubleshooting step. Because our AC was visibly draining and was operating quietly, we thought we were good on that front.
There are a lot of open vents on this model. It seems like some extra water built up inside our AC unit during a string of rainstorms. Against the owners manual's advice, we removed the bottom plug entirely. A considerable amount of water came out.
Ever since removing the plug, our AC has been working perfectly (knock knock).
posted by brackish.line at 1:14 PM on May 25, 2020 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jquinby at 1:30 PM on August 7, 2019