Home Assistant: Integrate Broadlink And Daikin For Smart Control

Hey everyone! Want to make your home even smarter? Integrating your Broadlink and Daikin devices with Home Assistant can unlock a new level of automation and control. This guide will walk you through the process, so you can manage your Daikin air conditioner and other appliances seamlessly.

Understanding the Basics

Before we dive in, let's cover some basics. Home Assistant is an open-source home automation platform that puts local control and privacy first. It allows you to control all your smart home devices from one central interface. Broadlink devices, like the RM4 Pro, act as universal remotes, translating Wi-Fi signals into infrared (IR) or radio frequency (RF) commands to control devices like your TV or air conditioner. Daikin, of course, is a popular brand of air conditioners and other HVAC systems. Combining these three can create a powerful, automated home environment.

Why Integrate Broadlink and Daikin with Home Assistant?

Centralized Control: Manage all your smart devices from a single dashboard.
Automation: Create routines to automatically adjust your Daikin AC based on temperature, time of day, or other triggers.
Voice Control: Use voice assistants like Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa to control your Daikin AC.
Enhanced Monitoring: Monitor the status of your Daikin AC and other devices in real-time.
Customization: Tailor your smart home experience to your specific needs and preferences.

Setting Up Broadlink in Home Assistant

First, you'll need to set up your Broadlink device in Home Assistant. Here’s how:

Step 1: Install the Broadlink Integration

Access Home Assistant: Open your Home Assistant interface in a web browser.
Go to Integrations: Navigate to "Configuration" and then "Integrations."
Add Integration: Click the "+ ADD INTEGRATION" button.
Search for Broadlink: Type "Broadlink" in the search bar and select the "Broadlink" integration.
Configuration: Home Assistant will automatically discover Broadlink devices on your network. If it doesn't, you may need to manually enter the device's IP address. Make sure your Broadlink device is connected to your Wi-Fi network before starting this step. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup. This usually involves confirming the device and entering any required credentials. You might need to provide the IP address of your Broadlink device. You can usually find this in your router's settings or by using a network scanning app on your smartphone.

Step 2: Learn Daikin AC Commands

Now that your Broadlink device is connected, you need to teach it the commands for your Daikin AC. This involves using the Broadlink integration to capture the IR codes sent by your Daikin remote.

Go to Devices: In Home Assistant, go to the "Devices" page.
Select Your Broadlink Device: Find your Broadlink device in the list and click on it.
Call Service: Look for the option to "Call Service." You might need to install the Broadlink Remote Learner integration if you don't see this option.
Learn Command: Use the learn_command service to start capturing IR codes. You'll need to specify which command you want to learn (e.g., "power on," "power off," "temperature up," "temperature down"). Point your Daikin remote at the Broadlink device and press the corresponding button. Home Assistant will capture the IR code. It's crucial to perform this step accurately. Ensure there are no obstructions between the remote and the Broadlink device. Repeat this process for all the essential commands you want to control.
Save Commands: Save the captured IR codes in a configuration file. This file will be used to send the commands from Home Assistant to your Daikin AC. Make sure to name the commands descriptively (e.g., daikin_power_on, daikin_temp_up).

Step 3: Configure the Climate Entity

To control your Daikin AC as a climate device in Home Assistant, you need to create a climate entity. This involves defining the various states and commands that your AC supports.

Edit Configuration.yaml: Open your configuration.yaml file. This file is the central configuration file for Home Assistant.
Add Climate Entity: Add a climate entity to the file, specifying the platform as broadlink. You'll need to define the various attributes of the climate entity, such as the name, target temperature range, and supported modes (e.g., cool, heat, auto). Pay close attention to the syntax and formatting of the configuration.yaml file. Incorrect formatting can cause Home Assistant to fail to start. Here's an example configuration:

climate:
  - platform: broadlink
    name: Daikin AC
    host: 192.168.1.100  # Replace with your Broadlink device's IP address
    mac: '34:EA:34:XX:XX:XX'  # Replace with your Broadlink device's MAC address
    min_temp: 16
    max_temp: 30
    target_temp: 24
    temp_step: 1
    modes:
      - "off"
      - "cool"
      - "heat"
      - "auto"
      - "dry"
    commands:
      "off": 'JgBQAAABKJYVEhUSEhUSFhIVEhUSFhIVEhUSFhIVEhUSFhIVEhUSFhIVEhUSFhIVEhUSFhIVEhUSFhIFAAFJAwABXIoUChQKFQoUChUKFAoUChUKFAoUChUKFAoUChUKFAoUChUKFAoUChUKFAoUChUKFAoUAAWl'
      "cool": 'JgBQAAABKJYVEhUSEhUSFhIVEhUSFhIVEhUSFhIVEhUSFhIVEhUSFhIVEhUSFhIVEhUSFhIVEhUSFhIFAAFJAwABXIoUChQKFQoUChUKFAoUChUKFAoUChUKFAoUChUKFAoUChUKFAoUChUKFAoUChUKFAoUAAWl'

Replace the host and mac addresses with your Broadlink device's actual IP and MAC addresses. The commands section is where you'll paste the IR codes you captured earlier. Each command should correspond to a specific action (e.g., turning the AC on, setting it to cool mode). 3. Restart Home Assistant: After making changes to the configuration.yaml file, you need to restart Home Assistant for the changes to take effect. Go to "Configuration" -> "Server Controls" and click the "RESTART" button.

Integrating Daikin AC with Home Assistant Directly (If Applicable)

Some Daikin AC models support direct integration with Home Assistant via Wi-Fi. If your model supports this, you can skip the Broadlink setup and connect directly. This usually provides more detailed information and control.

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Step 1: Check Compatibility

Daikin Smart AC: Ensure your Daikin AC unit has Wi-Fi capabilities and is compatible with Home Assistant. Refer to the Home Assistant documentation for a list of supported models. Not all Daikin models support direct integration. Check the documentation or your AC's specifications to confirm compatibility. If your AC is not compatible, you'll need to use the Broadlink method described above.

Step 2: Install the Daikin Integration

Access Home Assistant: Open your Home Assistant interface.
Go to Integrations: Navigate to "Configuration" and then "Integrations."
Add Integration: Click the "+ ADD INTEGRATION" button.
Search for Daikin: Type "Daikin" in the search bar and select the "Daikin AC" integration.
Configuration: Home Assistant will attempt to discover your Daikin AC on the network. You may need to enter the AC's IP address or other credentials. Make sure your Daikin AC is connected to your Wi-Fi network before starting this step. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup. This may involve logging into your Daikin account or entering a PIN code found on the AC unit.

Step 3: Configure the Climate Entity (If Necessary)

In most cases, Home Assistant will automatically create a climate entity for your Daikin AC after the integration is set up. If it doesn't, you may need to manually configure the entity in your configuration.yaml file, similar to the Broadlink method.

Automating Your Daikin AC

Once your Daikin AC is integrated with Home Assistant, you can create automations to control it based on various triggers. Here are some examples:

Temperature-Based Automation

You can create an automation that automatically turns on your AC when the temperature reaches a certain threshold. This is a great way to keep your home comfortable without having to manually adjust the AC. Here's an example:

automation:
  - alias: Turn on AC when temperature is high
    trigger:
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.temperature  # Replace with your temperature sensor entity
        above: 26
    action:
      - service: climate.turn_on
        entity_id: climate.daikin_ac  # Replace with your Daikin AC climate entity

Time-Based Automation

You can also create automations that turn on or off your AC at specific times of the day. This can be useful for saving energy when you're not home or for ensuring your home is cool when you arrive. Here's an example:

automation:
  - alias: Turn off AC at night
    trigger:
      - platform: time
        at: '22:00:00'
    action:
      - service: climate.turn_off
        entity_id: climate.daikin_ac  # Replace with your Daikin AC climate entity

Combined Automation

You can combine multiple triggers to create more complex automations. For example, you could create an automation that turns on your AC only when the temperature is high and someone is home. This requires setting up presence detection in Home Assistant. You can use device trackers or other methods to determine if someone is home.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Integrating Broadlink and Daikin with Home Assistant can sometimes be tricky. Here are some common issues and how to resolve them:

Broadlink Device Not Discovered: Ensure your Broadlink device is on the same Wi-Fi network as your Home Assistant instance. Double-check the IP address and MAC address in your configuration.
IR Commands Not Working: Make sure you're pointing the Daikin remote directly at the Broadlink device when learning commands. Ensure there are no obstructions. You may need to try learning the commands again.
Climate Entity Not Showing Up: Double-check your configuration.yaml file for errors. Ensure the syntax is correct and that you've specified the correct entity IDs.
Daikin Integration Not Connecting: Verify that your Daikin AC is connected to your Wi-Fi network and that you've entered the correct credentials in the Home Assistant integration.

Conclusion

Integrating your Broadlink and Daikin devices with Home Assistant can greatly enhance your smart home experience. With centralized control, automation, and voice control, you can create a more comfortable and energy-efficient home. Follow this guide, and you'll be on your way to a smarter, more connected living space. Don't be afraid to experiment with different automations and configurations to find what works best for you. Happy automating!