Home CasaVerdeSmart ,,,,, The fashion of practical home automation has exploded, understood as the application of information technology and electronics to home management. While new buildings are specially designed with this goal in mind, it is more difficult to transform a traditional house into smart homes. Ambi Climate 2, limited to air conditioners, really manages to transform the old peripheral into a connected device. Here's how and why.
What is Ambi Climate 2?
Ambi Climate 2 is a small hub, with a truly elegant and modern shape, and minimal features. Basically, thanks to the IR sensors positioned on the top, it reproduces the IR commands that would be given by the traditional remote control. However, it connects to the internet, and this allows you to send these commands from a smartphone, even remotely, using a special dedicated application. In summary: Ambi Climate 2 connects to the internet, receives wireless commands from the smartphone, sends them to the air conditioner via the IR sensors.
This simple operation has the advantage of transforming a large variety of air conditioners (here to check compatibility), even rather dated ones, into truly connected peripherals. We tested it with an old “Toshiba”, produced in years when home automation was not remotely thinkable: Ambi Climate 2 gives new life to old air conditioners, making them feel still young in the era of home automation.
First configuration
To be truly smart, any accessory must also have one main feature, among many others: simplicity of configuration and use. Smart means intelligent, and to be truly intelligent, it must have the ability to be simple and accessible to everyone. Ambi Climate 2 succeeds in the enterprise.
Setting it up is super easy. First of all it must be connected to a source of electricity. In our case we connected it via USB to a Mac, precisely because it corresponds to the air conditioner to be controlled. In the package, however, there is also the wall socket, as well as the MicroUSB cable. Having done this, you will have to download the AmbiClimate app, available for free in the App Store and Google Play.
From here you can click on add device, having to follow a few simple steps: enter the access key of your router, so as to match Ambi Climate to your network, and enter the code of your air conditioner. Stop, Ambi Climate 2 is ready to use.
Compatibility
Ambi Climate 2 is compatible with a very large number of air conditioners. Basically with all those who have a remote control with LCD display. At this address, however, it is possible to specifically check if the model of your air conditioner is supported.
It is also necessary to have WiFi access to the network and an iOS smartphone with at least iOS 9 installed, or Android 4.1 or later.
How it works
First of all, as already mentioned, Ambi Climate 2 works as a simple bridge, between the commands given by the smartphone via the network, and those to be sent to the air conditioner via IR pulses. Through the “Mode” button on the application it will be possible to click “Manual” to turn on the air conditioner at a determined temperature, then being able to turn it off using the OFF button. Already this very simple function, however, allows you to turn on / off the air conditioner without having to physically be in the room to be cooled / heated, being able to activate the cooling / heating even before arriving home.
There are, however, automated functions, such as the ability to set timers, so as to turn the air conditioner on and off automatically, always being able to manage it remotely through the app.
Artificial intelligence
Not only does Ambi Climate 2 worry about transforming the old air conditioner into a connected peripheral, but it does so by adding support to Artificial Intelligence. The peripheral, in fact, offers the user different operating modes, to offer maximum comfort, by analyzing the data of the local temperature, the habits and preferences of the users.
Comfort
The first intelligent mode is the one called “Comfort”, which, based on the parameters of the temperatures detected, sets an ideal temperature for the environment, adjusting the air conditioner accordingly. In this mode the user can intervene by giving the app and the system feedback to best set the algorithm that will automatically adjust the temperature in the house.
Temperatures
The second mode is the one called “Temperature”; here the user will select the target they want to reach, and IA will adjust the air conditioner accordingly.
Away from home
The third mode is the Away from home, which allows you to optimize consumption but to keep the environment in which you will return rather comfortable, so as to never make it become too cold or too hot. In our case, having the air conditioner in a glass room positioned on a small terrace, the option is one of the most useful: it prevents the room exposed to the sun from becoming incandescent and damaging the electronic devices inside.
Manual mode
The simplest, and actually the most used: the smartphone turns into the remote control of the air conditioner, to set the temperature, and other parameters, such as the direction of the fins.
Analyses
Not only does Ambi Climate 2 transform the obsolete air conditioner into a new generation smart, but it also provides various analyzes regarding various temperatures and statistics. It is possible, in fact, to see the statistics of humidity and temperature, both internal and external, within daily graphs, to evaluate the time of use of the air conditioner, seeing the times of use for each mode.
There is also a chronology, always divided by day, relating to the temperatures detected inside the room, and those perceived outside, as well as a log of the use of Ambi Climate 2, with a detailed log of ignitions, and modes of air conditioner starts.
IFTTT
A small gem, not of negligible importance, is given by the support of Ambi Climate 2 to IFTTT, a platform that allows you to automate even more the operation of the connected peripherals. In our case we have created Google Assistant voice commands to turn the air conditioner on or off, but there is also the possibility of vocally requesting the start of the various modes listed above. With a Google Home placed in the salon, we are able to easily manage the air conditioner with our voice.
Conclusions
Really a smart peripheral. Ambi Climate 2 makes smart air conditioners produced in the “prehistoric” era, in which a smart home was not even remotely conceivable. It does it in total simplicity, with a reasonable price. Statistics and learning functions work, although they are likely to be more interesting in a large office setting, for more professional use. At home, in the end, Ambi Climate 2 will be used in a simpler and more straightforward way: just to turn on and adjust the temperature from a smartphone. In any case, an idea to be rewarded, at the right cost.
Ambi Climate 2 costs 149 euros you can buy it on Amazon or directly on the official website.
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