Feature request: Synchronize two Minuet fans

[j9brown]

Let the user pair two Minuet fans together to coordinate their behavior.

Some examples:

• When one fan is running as an intake, the other fan runs as an exhaust at the same speed.
• When one fan is running, the other fan lid opens to passively vent and balance the interior air pressure.
• Both fans run in the same mode together.
• Synchronize the thermostat and use the same temperature reading to govern both fans.
• Synchronize the light accessory state.
• When a safety lock is engaged on one fan, either the other fan is also locked or it still operates independently

Consider using ESP-Now or Bluetooth LE to let the fans communicate.

[charlesrg]

You can do that using ESPHOME on HomeAssistant or using MQTT and NodeRed. For example on my setup with Victron and NodeRed I can add the logic there to make one fan flow air IN while the other flows OUT.
You don't need to have the fans talk to each other, you just need the control plane to talk to each fan and the user can put their own rules.

[j9brown]

Hi @charlesrg , Yes that’s true, the fan can be externally synchronized by other control systems. I’m interested in synchronizing them internally because not everyone uses those control systems or even has a WiFi network in their vehicle. It’s a bit aspirational though, something for a future update.

[charlesrg]

ESPHome can take care of that by using a trigger. example, in one side set:

esphome:
  name: lamp_b

wifi:
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password

web_server:  # exposes simple REST endpoints for entities

switch:
  - platform: gpio
    pin: GPIO14
    id: lamp_relay
    name: "Lamp Relay"

on the other:

esphome:
  name: button_a

wifi:
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password

http_request:
  id: http

binary_sensor:
  - platform: gpio
    pin: GPIO0
    name: "Button A"
    on_press:
      - http_request.get: 
          # toggle the switch on Device B
          url: http://lamp_b.local/switch/lamp_relay/toggle
          # or use the IP if mDNS isn't reliable:
          # url: http://192.168.1.52/switch/lamp_relay/toggle

ESPHome supports HTTP Post JSON requests as well. So that can be used for one FAN to tell the other fan to do something. I believe no code needs to be written just documenting some scenarios.

[j9brown]

Yes that works if the fans are connected to the same wifi network and you’re welcome to implement this feature for yourself this way.

The advantage of using ESP-Now or Bluetooth is that it will work without infrastructure dependencies.

For this feature to be user-friendly, we’ll need to put some thought into what state is synchronized. For example, it probably doesn’t make sense for the synchronized fans to be governed by independent thermostats. So one of the fans could assume the role of controller and the other as a target.

Saving this for a rainy day.