infra red timer

that I cannot set it up, for instance to turn from 2am to 3am and from 5am to

6am, for example.

conditioner and that could store more than one command? Obviously, it would have to be pointing to the aircon but that is easy. I looked on ebay and google and could not find it.

Have a look alt lirc. Then you can control it with a computer.

Might be easier to open up the A/C unit and replace the bi-metal sensor switch* with an appropriately rated relay. The coil of which is compatible with a standard wall mount 24V programmable thermostat, available with all the bells and whistles you could possibly want.

*If it is a microprocessor based controller, the function you seek is probably already available but undocumented or disabled on the budget priced units. It would still be possible to turn the supply power on and off from a time switch, suitably rated to carry the unit's full load current.

Does your air conditioner plug into a 15A receptacle? Can you get a timeclock with multiple time/program setting available (such as by NOMA, Tork, and many others), plug the air conditioner into that, and just the leave the air conditioner settings such that it will always run when it has power?

that I cannot set it up, for instance to turn from 2am to 3am and from 5am to

6am, for example.

conditioner and that could store more than one command? Obviously, it would have to be pointing to the aircon but that is easy. I looked on ebay and google and could not find it.

There are MANY different types of air conditioners. Might help if you gave information as to what what Brand/Model and type air conditioner you have!

For example there are whole house units with an inside unit, outside unit, and a wired thermostat.

Or there are window air conditioners with a mechanical on/off switch.

Also there are window air conditioners which come with an IR remote control. Is this what you have?

Hi Bill,

I have 4 aircons. An Haier, a Mitsubishi, a Samsung and a retail branded. All wall units, inside and outside units.

The Mitusbishi allows me to set up 1 on time and 1 off time

the other 3 only allow me to set up a count down timer, such as: turn off/on in xx hours.

None of them turn on automatically after a power surge, so putting a timer in the plug, will not work..

Thanks. PA

wall units, inside and outside units.

in xx hours.

the plug, will not work..

If they come with a hand held "remote control", it would be *possible* to design or possibly purchase an already made "universal remote" which could record the on/off IR signals from those remotes. Then place that remote on a shelf pointed at the A/C unit. And it would send on/off signals based on an internal timer on that remote device.

Search google.com for the words... home automation

...then poke around some of those websites like smarthome.com, see if they have anything like that.

Do-it-yourself "capturing" of the IR codes and then programming a microcontroller to send those codes is an advanced software engineering project. Many people who spend all their time tinkering with electronics would have a difficult, if not impossible, time doing such a project.

If the "outside units" have separate power, you could use something like a 7 day 240 volt "water heater timer" to interrupt power to just the outside unit. Then power would remain to the inside unit.

Or a bit more advanced would be to get wiring diagrams of each unit. Then install contactors (relays) which would shut off power going to the fans/compressors of each unit. Then each unit's electronics would remain powered up, but could only activate the fans/compressors when those contactors were in an "on mode" (set by a timer).

But if the unit's electronics are "smart" doing the above might cause them to go into an "error mode". And of course this would void any warranties.

Thanks Bill. That was what I was thinking when I post this topic.

Unfortunately, I cannot find a remote with timer.

Thanks anyway. PA