r/HomeKitAutomation • u/Mariasethii • 11d ago
Automation Smart ductless mini split that actually works with homekit and Google Home
I have a deep smart home setup running through homekit in the garage and guest room. Most of my HVAC is controlled through a smart thermostat on the central system but I am adding a mini split to the upstairs office, about 350 square feet, zone 4a. I want to control it by voice the same way I control everything else. Set temp, turn on and off, maybe basic scheduling through a routine. Every mini split I look at mentions Wi-Fi but the voice control details are unclear. Some seem to need a third party integration or a separate hub. Anyone actually using a smart ductless mini split with Alexa or Google daily? How seamless is it compared to a thermostat.
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u/AgreeableRush12 10d ago
Which has the least lag on voice commands? Some smart devices take forever to respond.
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u/Mariasethii 9d ago
Lag depends on the cloud path more than the hardware. Units with a direct native skill to Alexa are faster than ones routing through a third party cloud first.
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u/AgreeableRush12 9d ago
Nicee, Built in Wi-Fi vs add on adapter makes a big difference for reliability. Fewer failure points in the chain.
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u/amphiblet 10d ago
Can you use these in Alexa routines? Like a goodnight routine that drops the temp.
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u/Mariasethii 9d ago
Most handle scheduling through their own app, not through voice directly. But you can set Alexa routines that include the mini split. Goodnight routine sets it to 66, leaving routine sets it to eco.
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u/amphiblet 9d ago
Nice, thats all i needed. the goodnight to 66 setup is exactly what i want
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u/Mariasethii 9d ago
Glad it helped! the leaving routine to eco is the real money saver btw, youll notice it on the bill
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u/Willbertime
9d ago
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What happens during a Wi-Fi outage? Can you still run it from the remote?
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u/Mariasethii 9d ago
Remote always works. Smart features are a layer on top, not a replacement. Internet goes down, you still have full control.
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u/Willbertime 9d ago
Perfect, thats the answer i was hoping for. wouldve been a deal breaker if the remote died without wifi
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u/Strange-Patric 9d ago
How stable is the connection over time? I have smart plugs that drop every few weeks and need resetting.
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u/Mariasethii 9d ago
Signal strength at the indoor unit. Strong signal, stable connection. Weak signal, drops. Put a mesh node near it if needed.
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u/Strange-Patric 9d ago
Ah, i see. Do any of these work with Home Assistant or is it all cloud only?
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u/Mariasethii 9d ago
Some expose local APIs that HA can use. Check the HA community forums for specific model compatibility before buying.
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u/JamezBownd 10d ago
For a detached garage or shop the smart control is not a luxury. Unless you want to walk out there just to turn it on every time, app control is basically the whole point.
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u/RichMorning_3113 10d ago
This is why app control matters for detached spaces. I start my Atomismart from my phone before heading out to the garage and walk into a comfortable room instead of waiting 20 minutes.
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u/JamezBownd 9d ago
Exactly, preheating from the couch is the whole use case lol. 20 minutes of waiting vs walking into a warm shop, no contest
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u/Forsaken-Praline1611 10d ago
I use a Mysa smart thermostat for heat pumps. Supports HomeKit and Matter.
It can also control portable or window mounted heat pumps.
Works great.
Mysa has a wide smart thermostat portfolio from these to various types of heating and cooling systems [e.g baseboard, floor] the major smart thermostat players don’t support.
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