Remotec Z-Wave AC IR Extender (ZXT-120)
Bought the Remotec Z-Wave AC IR Extender (ZXT-120) from Vesternet when they are having their Vesternet started having their Vesternet Mondays promotion on 18th July 2016.
During Vesternet Mondays, you will get up to 20% discount for Vera, Fibaro, Aeon, Qubino, Foscam, and Popp Products. Every monday there are different products on sale.
In this case, the Remotec Z-Wave AC IR Extender was selling for just £51.30 (S$92). The original price was £63.33 (S$114).
You can get it locally as well from Automate Asia for S$150.
Remotec Z-Wave AC IR Extender translates Z-Wave thermostat commands to air conditioner IR control codes. This allows you to control your air conditioner using your Z-Wave network.
It has five built-in directional IR emitters and it supports optional external IR emitters as well. There is a temperature sensor inside the device which enables you to monitor your room temperature. Though I wish they include a humidity sensor as well.
This device comes with an in-built ACIR code library, so you just have to set Parameter 27 to the correct code listed in this link and it differs from version to version.
For Vesternet, they are selling v1.7. There are other earlier versions like v1.2, v1.4, v1.6 and later versions like v1.8.
In my case, I am using Mitsubishi Electric Starmex MSY Series air conditioner and there are 24 codes listed. I just have to try one by one and finally, the code that works for me is 176.
My air conditioner condenser model is MXY-3A28VA (30,360BTU), master bedroom air conditioner is MSY-GE13VA (11,940BTU) and two of my bedrooms air conditioners are MSY-GE10VA(8,530BTU).
I find the range of the Z-Wave is pretty weak for this device. Despite I have powered Z-Wave devices in my master bedroom, it should able to propagate it back to the gateway. Apparently, it isn’t happening for this device. I have no problems with other Z-Wave devices in my master bedroom at the exact same spot.
The device can be powered by 3x AAA batteries or via a permanent power source using the included MiniUSB cable. I opt for the later as I don’t have good experiences with battery powered Z-Wave devices.
For a more detailed review, you can checkout Domotics’s review of the Remotec Z-Wave AC IR extender and alternatively you can read the Remotec Z-Wave AC IR Extender (ZXT-120) manual.