thermostat mode

Stefano75

Hello, the choice to eliminate the possibility of setting the operating mode on the thermostat (legacy mode) to turn off the air conditioner "manually" is wrong; it was a very useful option.

EvgenySh

I bought four controllers (I just ordered another one a few days ago), and I am considering giving them back.

This is the main feature of the AC controller, which is SMART.

IFFFFT, Homekit Automation.. why do I need Tado to use another app? I counted at least ten threads with negative feedback about the lack of this feature.

xavierdestombes

Probably late on this one (just a year;)) but I do agree that the Smart AC has no "smart" if it's just a remote controlled infrared remote.

Legacy thermostat mode is actually the only real value in it. Just bring it back.

There should be only one Smart Thermostat/AC product, and a simple setup for basic usage, and with advanced features for advanced users.

As far as the Smart AC is concerned, not switching it's "software" status to "off" when it reaches the target temperature is simply a mistake that should be fixed so that automation would work and it would be a little smart;)

xavierdestombes

To give more details on why and how that is helpful:

When the target temperature has been reached, we might need to trigger some automation.

In my next install (later this month), I have duct ACs, a single unit blows in multiple rooms, so there are flaps that can open and close when a specific room needs heating or cooling.

The Smart Thermostat can only send commands based on heating which is obviously just a software/firmware limitation, but it leaves us with the Smart AC. When turning on, it does work, the Smart AC in the room report a switch to "heat" to the automation system (the infrared functionality is never actually used, there's no receiver anyway), so the automation system can open the flap for that room. Everything is great so far.

But when the room reaches the target temperature, the Smart AC still report "heat" to the automation system, no changes in its mode, so the room keeps heating….

The legacy Thermostatic mode (with the acceptance range) was a good solution to get around this limitation.

I'm not sure we really need the Thermostatic mode back (though the ability to set the acceptance range seems pretty important), or at the very least we need a way to know that target temperature has been reached and optionally send an off command.

The Smart AC reports different parameters to the automation system:

-Current Relative Humidity

-Current Temperature

-Target Heating Cooling State

-Temperature Display Units

-Target Temperature

-Current Heating Cooling State

The 2 that could be useful are:

-Current Heating Cooling State

-Target Heating Cooling State

If we are in a Thermostatic-like mode (meaning Tado really turn on-off the AC within a specific temperature range), we expect the "Current Heating Cooling State" to report changes between heat-off-cool

If we are in the currently available "no smart just a simple wifi infrared remote;)", we expect the "Target Heating Cooling State" to report changes between heat-off-cool, even if it doesn't actually means an infrared signal is sent

But in both cases, we need the "acceptance range" being customisable anyway

As a side note, I'm currently getting around pretty much all the limitations of Tado at my home since 2019 with a air-water heat pump connected to water radiator (with fans, Jaga Brand) so I can do heating and cooling, but no Tado product can actually do that.

I'm using Smart Radiator valves that are actually not connected to the radiator (because they can only do heating which is just a software/firmware limitation), but put somewhere else in the room (with some 3D printed base), except for the ones in bathrooms that are directly mounted on the radiator valves

the radiator valves are actually connected to slow-motor (no noise), themselves connected to HomeKit-enabled in-wall switches (new product for DIN install are becoming available)

For heating, I'm using the integrated Tado features, that works natively for the bathrooms, but for the other rooms, I have rules that will receive the "Current Heating Cooling State" status changes and turn on/off the switch for a specific valve in a specific room. So all the regular features like home/away, etc are working as expected (also the only thing that actually make too much noise are the Tado Smart Radiator valves when the open/close for actually nothing;))

I don't have a "master" main Thermostat, I had a Tado Smart one before, but it couldn't do cooling (just a software/firmware limitation in case I didn't mentioned it already;)), so I removed it and put a HomeKit-enabled dry-contact into a 3D printer wall mount box connected to the heat pump. And added a rule to "Turn on Dry-contact if at least one switch (not Thermostat, you'll understand later) turn on or one or more bathroom report "heat" mode"

Now for cooling, thanks to the switch to control the motor-valve instead of the Smart Radiator Valve, I've added rules for each room that basically says "if Smart Radiator Valve temperature changes to greater or equal to 24°C, turn on switch for that room" and the dry-contact rule will switch the heat-pump (which is set to cool during summer)

So it's not as simple and nice as the time blocks, and the temperature adjustment based on the distance from home, but it does work pretty well.

But a Tado Smart Universal Thermostat should exist for all systems with basic and easy setup and advanced options for custom install (and Smart Radiator Valves should handle cooling as they do for heating)