Understanding IR Devices
Infrared (IR) devices are commonly used in various household electronics, such as air conditioners, televisions, and sound systems. These devices utilize IR signals to communicate between the remote control and the device. You can usually identify an IR device by looking at the original remote control—if it has a small LED light at the top and requires a direct line of sight to the device, it’s likely an IR remote.
Recommended IR Transmitters by Tuya
IR transmitters are devices that emit infrared signals to control other devices. Basically these are smart home devices that replace the original remote control for the device. Here are three Tuya IR transmitters that I recommend (I have all three, I recommend just getting whatever is cheapest, they work the same):
Setting Up Tuya IR Transmitters
To use these IR transmitters, start by setting them up in the Tuya Smart Life app:
- Install the Tuya Smart Life app on your smartphone, if you haven’t already.
- Follow the instructions that come with each device to set them up. They’re super simple to set up.
- Use the app’s interface to find your IR devices. Tuya has a catalog of devices to choose from and it is extensive. I’ve always been able to find my devices. You can also “teach” it new remotes, but I’ve never had to do it.
- Once configured, you can control your air conditioner with the IR transmitter through the mobile app.
Integrating with Home Assistant
To integrate these devices with Home Assistant, follow these steps:
- In the Tuya Smart Life app, go to “Scenes” and create a scene to turn the device on and another to turn it off.
- Refresh the Tuya integration in Home Assistant (or restart Home Assistant).
- Go to Home Assistant, navigate to Settings -> Automations & Scenes -> Scenes, and find your newly created scenes.
- Now you can create buttons to control the device on your dashboard. Here is the code for my setup:
- type: horizontal-stack
cards:
- show_name: true
show_icon: true
type: custom:button-card
tap_action:
action: toggle
entity: scene.ac_spare_room_on_23
icon: mdi:snowflake
name: ACCool 23°
show_state: false
size: 60px
styles:
card:
- height: 145px
name:
- margin-top: '-50px'
icon:
- margin-top: '-45px'
- show_name: true
show_icon: true
type: custom:button-card
tap_action:
action: toggle
entity: scene.ac_spare_room_off
name: ACTurn Off
icon: mdi:hvac-off
size: 60px
styles:
card:
- height: 145px
name:
- margin-top: '-50px'
icon:
- margin-top: '-45px'
This is how these cards look in my dashboard:
Final Thoughts
By integrating IR devices with Home Assistant, you can easily control your air conditioners and other electronics, making your smart home even smarter. Here are the products I recommend:
Summary
Integrating IR devices with Home Assistant through Tuya’s Smart Life app allows for seamless control of your air conditioners and other electronics, enhancing your smart home experience.
Pingback: Connecting to Your Home Assistant Remotely: A Guide - Dr. Smart Home