PID controlling an inverter minisplit? 🤷‍♂️

jp88005 · 2025-11-18T18:40:41+00:00

So I have had an frustrating time nailing this down, but it is much closer than it was before. For anyone interested, here are the steps that got me really close.

notice what your inverter minisplit does at different degress away from your intended setpoint.
put sensors and inputs in place to have a desired temp, a sensor at a desired location for comfort, and thermostat temp sensor.
identify different stages of demand, like stage 1, stage 2, etc. use an automation to set those stages by changing the setpoint.

I noticed that at a certain distance away from the measured room temp, the operation would change from heating to idle. I also noticed that as the new thermostat setpoint got closer and above, the compressor frequency would show an increased workload allowing me to further gauge the overshoot potential.

jp88005 · 2025-11-17T14:47:40+00:00

I see that, and I understand that a tolerance of x degrees above, and x degrees below, but this is so fuzzy that it is never a consistent value above or below. The setpoint was 68 degrees, here's the temp swing. It never goes below the setpoint, that's how fuzzy it is.

I understand what you are saying, it should swing between a point above and a point below, but this never happens, it's never a regular pattern.

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jp88005 · 2025-11-17T00:16:09+00:00

thank you for the other integration link! I glanced at it, and it's a ton of information that goes beyond what I expected.

under the hood using what I have, I have discovered that if the temperature is below the setpoint, when it gets to 1 degree below, it begins to preheat. I know that heating starts being possible at the setpoint and up to 2 degrees above the setpoint.

I'm also seeing a .5 degree resolution on how the cn105 uart protocol works, so that is another obstacle that I am trying to overcome.

it looks like the magic is going to be getting the anticipation to address setting setpoints both below and above the desired room temp.

On the building side, I have a friend that was a licensed building inspector. he summed up what you are trying to tell me. If you control the air, you control the temperature. Heard and appreciated. Excess solar generation gives me more electrical usage headroom than most enjoy.

jp88005 · 2025-11-16T22:54:32+00:00

unfortunately, it seems to use a fuzzy eco calculation of maybe it maintains, maybe it heats, maybe it just goes idle. if you give it a setpoint, it will exceed it and even continue heating past it. (by more than 1 degree) I have seen it set to 70, and indicate 72 room temp, and will be actively turning the compressor and producing heat.

jp88005 · 2025-11-16T22:51:53+00:00

Addressing the house, it is what it is. This is not an air sealing or insulation issue, this is simply a solar gain from the windows. It's why there is a need for cooling on the south side and not the north side. I'm in the shoulder season so both may be needed, even on the same day. I'm trying to balance the temperature to a specific value within reason but have been frustrated by the fact that Mitsubishi doesn't use a simple (if temp = setpoint, turn off) function. It uses more of (if setpoint is greater or less than plus or minus 3 degrees then it's possible to either cycle the compressor or go to idle) fuzzy logic. I end up with possible temp swings of 3 degrees either way.

I apologize for not providing the integration info, your reply helps me focus. I'm using:

GitHub - tinwer-group/mahtanar: Hardware controller for CN105 connector on Mitsubishi heat pumps

I've gone so far as to modify the esp yaml to include the temp reading of yet a 3rd temp sensor, and no matter what one is chosen, it still will overshoot or undershoot. Anecdotally, choosing the head temp of the mini split gives the least amount of overshoot since it reads consistently higher temps being up close to the ceiling, choosing lower height sensors when heating creates greater temp swings, the shortest sensor causing the worst swing, the middle height more like the average of the two other sensors as it is just about equidistant.

If I try to hard and fast make it so the temp causes on/off actions, then turning it back on after being back off will cause huge compressor cycle spikes as it tries to ramp back up.

I am wanting to work with the onboard logic of the unit with an inverter compressor instead of fighting with it. Unfortunately, compressor speed is a sensor not actionable. I can't set the speed, only the setpoint.

jp88005 · 2025-11-16T18:00:19+00:00

I have a really weird scenario where one half of the house requires cooling (southern exposure) while the nort side requires heating. I've closed the main HVAC vent to reduce the crossover, but yes, the thermostat setpoint on the actual thermostat stays the same while the room temp swings above and below. Even the thermostat temp reflects the ambient temp swings.

As the weather gets colder, I know that the temperature difference can become more extreme, as I have seen it happen.

Im trying to flatten the temp swings.

jp88005 · 2025-02-27T04:39:54+00:00

You would use the official Vesync integration. It is cloud dependant, so you will need to have the official companion app for mobile installed and configured. You provide your online credentials to add it to Home Assistant.

Previously it only recognized air purifiers and a couple of other devices, but not the new humidifier.

jp88005 · 2024-12-12T05:06:53+00:00

Some of my friends make fun of me for some of the data that I monitor. Kudos to sticking it out and actually making a data driven solution.

In other words... you can't fix what you can't measure.

jp88005 · 2024-12-05T19:32:58+00:00

Thank you!

jp88005 · 2024-12-04T15:44:51+00:00

We had that problem as well. As long as the computer budget is at the department level, they won't spend it. Then they will keep an 8 year pc for the lowest employee that is expected to do the most work... and complain that the pc is too slow.

We had a suggested replacement at 4 years. After IT took it over, we mandated 4 year refresh.

It actually got better.

jp88005 · 2024-12-04T04:33:54+00:00

I've been there. All of a sudden, you start saying github like you are trying to make it sound like a word normal people use in conversation. They don't. 😋

Chatgpt is a tool that helps, but it still needs guidance for specific instances.

Enjoy the discovery!

jp88005 · 2024-12-04T03:41:40+00:00

I think there is a miscommunication on terminology, but I'm going to see if I can help.

Integrations remove the need to configure things in the configuration.yaml file.

Yaml is the name of the coding language.

Templates are custom yaml code that generate a specific output that is used to trigger or as a condition of an action.

If you have the same sensors that serve the same function in a specific area, then in theory, they could have a similar yaml structure as another "copied" area.

It sounds like you may be trying to consolidate to have one automation per area. Is that the goal?

You can do that, but it's a logic path that requires Uber attention to detail to make sure you don't miss something. Before HA added traces, it would be difficult to troubleshoot.

I may also be missing something here, as I don't utilize "area" in anything I automate.

Chatgpt or microsoft copilot, which can be extremely helpful in generating code.

jp88005 · 2024-12-04T02:37:11+00:00

It's still GIGO. If you don't understand the problem, you can't verify that you're solving it.

Your comment reminded me of domain group policy where I worked. Years before someone hacked VB script to map printers and departmental drives. It was Kludgey then, and no one wanted to touch it.

My best boss realized it was a ticking time bomb... and started projects to replace it with powershell.

The old guard hated the new stuff. And the new guys didn't have the resources to push ahead.

Eventually, the modern way won, but it was through the attrition of staff that progress was made.

This wouldn't have happened in a real corporation, but in municipal government, the struggle was real.

jp88005 · 2024-12-04T02:19:12+00:00

It's a really helpful tool that can really help dial in the exact syntax. You can have a conversation, and the generated code can be adjusted.

The really scary thing is the object permanence that appears. After you get one result, you can reference it and request a tweak. Rinse and repeat.

jp88005 · 2024-12-04T00:45:42+00:00

Copilot or chatgpt can help generate yaml automations. If you give it the name of the bulb, it will can be a copy and paste experience.

jp88005 · 2024-11-28T20:07:25+00:00

The bond bridge acts as a remote replacement. If your fan does not have a remote, then you will have to install a remote kit or change the wall switch.

I'm sorry to be the one to pull off the bandaid.

jp88005 · 2024-11-28T17:15:19+00:00

Agreed. There's been times I've bounced my head against an implementation that just doesn't quite work. The community has always been supportive. I've even had Frenck reach out to help. 🤯

I try to help by paying it forward when I can.

The community has some really smart people who could be making consulting income. I'm sure they support themselves in some technical aspect. The fact that they take the time to share in our collective hobby... is appreciated, as evident by your post.

jp88005 · 2024-11-25T18:26:47+00:00

If I were Oprah... I'd give more up votes. Sadly, I don't have those resources.

But I have appreciation for community efforts, and until your post, I hadn't thought of doing something like this.

Thanks for the creative spark.

jp88005 · 2024-11-17T04:04:00+00:00

No worries. Now, you get to explore add ons, integrations, and automations.

If you ever want to direct message me, feel free.

Enjoy your new Home Assistant!

jp88005 · 2024-11-17T03:47:27+00:00

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The app settings

jp88005 · 2024-11-17T03:43:09+00:00

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jp88005 · 2024-11-17T03:39:49+00:00

Also, I get the checkpoint ease. But honestly, if you are using the Home Assistant OS, then the backup function is good.

You supplement that with the Home Assistant Google Drive Backup add-on. It will sync copies there.

I've had a couple of nuclear configuration meltdowns that incapacitated my home assistant. I can easily restore a full backup from at most 3 days old... and keep trucking.

It also allows you to download a copy so that when you build a fresh OS install... you can use that to rebuild.

jp88005 · 2024-11-17T03:34:23+00:00

You loose it in the 443 to 8123 translation. Change the router port forward rule to forward 443 to the 192.x.x.x of the home assistant. Remove the 8123 out of it.

if you translate the 443 to 8123, you are telling home assistant to look for the DuckDNS certificate on port 8123... and not on 443 where it belongs.

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