This article describes how I used an IR Blaster with Node-Red to add control of our Houghton A/C and MaxxAir fan to our MyErvin automation system.   Both items use an Infrared (IR) remote so I decided to use that interface to take control.

A few years ago I had dabbled with using Tasmota devices to take control of some items in our vehicle but abandoned that approach when I discovered the capabilities of MyErvin and the Spyder board.  That past experience still proved to be useful as it led me down a path to find the perfect solution for this project. That solution was the Athom IR blaster which I purchased from the following source.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005772315510.html

Initial Setup

The Atom IR blaster came pre-flashed with Tasmota’s firmware.  The steps to set it up were as follows.

Join the Athom’s WiFi network. It will show up in the format (‘tasmota_xxxx’).

Open your browser and navigate to any URL to be redirected to the Tasmota menu.

Select ‘Configure WiFi’ and enter the SSID and password for your own network.

Save the changes and restart the Athom

Reconnect to your own WiFi network.

Find the Athom’s IP address in your router and browse to that address (ex. http://192.168.44.5)

Select ‘Configure MQTT’ and enter the information for your MQTT broker (in my case it was a MyErvin Raspberry Pi machine).

Save the changes and restart the Athom

Finding the IR Codes

Click ‘Console’ in the Athom’s menu and enter the command   SetOption58 1  (there is a space between 58 and 1). 

Point your remote control at the Athom and click the key you want to capture.  You will see a new line appear in the Console’s pane.

You can then copy the data from the console.

Because a number of the commands were “UKNOWN” to Tasmota I chose to use the RAW codes.   In each line of data you will see an item named RawData: that is followed by something that looks like the following.

“+4590-2705+365-390+370-920+340fG-395CfGdEdCdEdEfGdEdEdEfGdEdEfGdEdEdEdEdE-415GdEdCfG-325+430dCfGdCdEdEdCdC-330KdEfGdChCdChCdCd+345iCf+320iEh+360hCdGiCfGhG-420G-945GdGpGiChGiG-940NqNqNqNqN-20610A-6740+9345-4930EdGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGfEdGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGiMiMiMiMiMiEdEdEdEdEdEdMiGiGpGpGpGpGpGpGfGpGpGpGpGfGpGpGpGpGpGpGfG-925+335wX-20620+4580”

I created a spreadsheet with two columns.  I then recorded the name of the key in the first column and then copied/pasted the data inside the parenthesis in the second column.   Clicking the link below will allow you to download a copy of those spreadsheets.

IR Code Spreadsheets

You may test your code by entering it in the command line of the console in the format below.

irsend 0,+4590-2705+365-390+370-920+340fG-395CfGdEdCdEdEfGdEdEdEfGdEdEfGdEdEdEdEdE-415GdEdCfG-325+430dCfGdCdEdEdCdC-330KdEfGdChCdChCdCd+345iCf+320iEh+360hCdGiCfGhG-420G-945GdGpGiChGiG-940NqNqNqNqN-20610A-6740+9345-4930EdGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGfEdGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGpGiMiMiMiMiMiEdEdEdEdEdEdMiGiGpGpGpGpGpGpGfGpGpGpGpGfGpGpGpGpGpGpGfG-925+335wX-20620+4580

You should see the output of the command in the console and the device should respond just as if you pressed the key on the remote.

Once you have populated your table you can  begin to build your interface in Node-Red.

Using the IR Codes in Node-Red

I used the following basic structure to get started and will be refining it as time goes on.   There are still a few basic controls to add for fan speed and temperature control.  Unfortunately the temperature button is not a simple up/down command.   Each temperature is its own command.  I have a good idea on how to proceed but for now I’ll just pick a few temperatures and set up a control to select them.

The link below will download a ZIP file of the Node-Red flow that’s behind the dashboard above:

Athom IR Node-Red Flow

The images below show a representation of the flow and an example of the settings in one of the dashboard nodes and an MQTT out node.

The last step was to find a mounting location that had a line of sight to the controlled devices.  In my case I used some 3M Command Velcro strips to mount it on the panel above the refrigerator. The device’s USB cord was easy to phish from the opening at the top of the refrigerator to the  GFCI outlet in the overhead cabinet next to the refrigerator.  I used a small 1.8A USB charger that’s plugged in that same outlet to provide power.

Now I can tuck two remotes away in a drawer and use the convenience of MyErvin to control the climate in the van.   I’ll update this article as I refine the controls and add new automation routines for both devices.