TDS14065: IR-COOKIE INTERFACE (HVAC AND A/V CONTROL)

The text below describes how you can configure the IR-COOKIE interface in PROSOFT (starting from version 3.6.12.0).
If you are going to configure an IR-COOKIE for the first time, it is recommended to check TELETASK SCHOOL for the IR-COOKIE training movie (part of “Skilled” trainings).

INTRODUCTION

The IR-COOKIE interface is an AUTOBUS connected interface which can transmit IR signals to its IR-flasher (supplied with the unit) which can be used to control a single HVAC unit or Audio/Video device. While the HVAC control has only one function with one or more modes (cool and/or heat, ventilation, dry), the controlled A/V device may be a device with one or more internal sources (amplifier with built-in tuner for example).

The IR-COOKIE can learn the necessary IR commands through its built-in IR-receiver.
Asking to transmit one or more IR-codes can be done from any TDS input like a momentary push button (on a contact input), touch panel, touch screen, clock action (see TIMESOFT), mobile device like a smart phone, etc.

CONFIGURATION

The IR-COOKIE configuration is done in three main steps:

1. You need a connected IR-COOKIE. Connect the interface to a DoIP central unit and connect with the PROSOFT PC (via wired or wireless LAN connection).
2. Record (=learn) the IR-COOKIE its IR-codes (see details in the next chapter below). Info: All recorded IR-codes are stored in the PROSOFT – IRDB library. You can later re-use these codes in your other projects. BACKUP: It may be important to make a backup of these codes by exporting the IRDB file to your personal protected backup location (may be on a cloud server). If you start a new project on another PC, you can then import the IRDB file.
3. Now configure the triggering devices (buttons, touch panels, …) to activate the IR-COOKIE to send one or more IR codes to the target device (HVAC or A/V).

TT SCHOOL: It is also very useful to learn the details via the TT SCHOOL movie “IR-COOKIE” (part of the skilled trainings).

RECORD (=LEARN) THE IR-CODES (HVAC APPLICATION)

Open PROSOFT. Make sure that you are connected with the central unit and an IR-COOKIE interface is connected to the AUTOBUS.

• Now add the IR-COOKIE to the (existing) configuration (Edit menu > Inputs etc > New > TDS14065).

• Now add a new device (your HVAC split unit): (if not yet existing in your library)

• Now define the properties of the HVAC unit which you want to control (see screen capture below):

• Enter the Brand name, Type reference, optional comments (like model year etc.) and select the HVAC modes which are supported by the device. Only select the ones you really want to use because selecting all (Heat, Cool, Ventilation and Dry) will need a high number of IR-codes to be recorded. In most cases you may only need “Cool” and optional “Heat” modes.
• Now select the number of speeds of the HVAC device fan (most cases you will have 3: Low, Medium and High speed).

• If your HVAC unit supports Auto speed mode, select the item (duplicates the number of IR-codes to be recorded).
• If swing control is supported, select the item (again duplicate the number of IR-codes to be recorded).

• Click ‘OK’ to get the recording screen.

You can record the IR-CODES one by one, but for all temperature related commands (most of them are) use the batch record which works much faster (see also the TT SCHOOL training movie on IR-COOKIE).

Before you start recording, PROSOFT needs to have access to the IR-COOKIE which you want to use for the recording. Therefore, PROSOFT has already searched for such IR-COOKIE on his AUTOBUS. On the screen capture above you can see that in this case an IR-COOKIE was found on address 10 (AUTOBUS 1).
If you want to use another IR-COOKIE, change the address setting accordingly.

Now select the first IR-code you want to record (‘OFF’) and click ‘Record code’ or ‘Batch record’. Batch record is very useful but only to be used for codes with increasing temperatures like all ‘cool…’ codes in the screen capture above.

Now you get the record screen. On top, you see the code you are to record and the green record bar starts running. Now click the appropriate (in this case “OFF”-) button on your IR-remote control of the HVAC device.

Remark: Your remote control should be faced to the IR receiver in the IR-Cookie interface (distance 20 cm to 3 meter).

Once the IR-COOKIE has detected the end of the code, the code is checked and stored in to the IRDB library.

Below on the screen you get a picture of the code construction. You don’t have to do anything with that, but if the code would look erroneous, we recommend to record it again.

Batch recording:

For the temperature codes:

• Select the first code you want to record
• Make you IR remote control ready with the appropriate settings (in our capture this is Cooling mode, temperature set to 20°C (first T minus 1°C) and fan speed on LOW)
• Click Batch record
• Press the space bar to record the code and you click the Temperature-up button, so the remote control transmits the settings for 21°C as the first IR-code.
• Then do the remaining other T-settings one by one by clicking the space bar. PROSOFT will automatically ask for the next setting. Click space bar when you are ready, etc…

• After all codes are recorded, click ‘OK’ and the new device is added to the device list.
• Click ‘OK’ again to go into the IR-COOKIE configuration screen.
• Enter the proper AUTOBUS address as will be used in the final installation (don’t forget to change also the address setting on the IR-COOKIE if necessary)
• Set the Sensor type to ‘IR-COOKIE temperature zone’ and give it the proper name (the room of the AC device).
• Optional: Set the day and night temperatures if you want them to be different then default. The stand-by temperatures (you can call this ‘eco’ setting) are automatically set based on the Stand-by preset (2°C is recommended). For Heating this is Day minus the Stand-by T° and for Cooling this is Day plus the Stand-by T°.
• Click ‘OK’ to finalize this configuration.

If you have more IR-COOKIE interfaces in this project, do the same last configuration part for all other IR-COOKIE interfaces. Be sure that every IR-COOKIE interface needs to have a different AUTOBUS address.

Now you are ready to use the Temperature functions on your touch panels, screens, input interfaces, smart phones, etc…

USING THE IR-COOKIE ON BUTTONS, TOUCH PANELS, MOOD’S, …

As temperature settings and control most often needs feed-back on a display, we recommend to have each temperature zone defined on at least one touch panel with display. For example, on a AURUS-OLED or AURUS-TFT.
The AURUS-OLED and TFT have also the advantage that you can control all temperature zones from only one unit (if you like).

See more details and examples in the TELETASK SCHOOL training movie on IR-COOKIE (part of Skilled trainings).

A/V INTEGRATION WITH THE IR-COOKIE INTERFACE

In an A/V application, add the IR-COOKIE in AV-SOFT (part of the PROSOFT Suite) first.

• Enter ‘NEW’ and select the TDS14065 interface + ‘OK’.
• Add an IR-flasher by clicking ‘Add Device’. You can assign one or more devices to that flasher. You can Add a new device and record the IR-codes of that device (see movie TELETASK SCHOOL IR-COOKIE for more details). We can also recommend to learn to work with AV-SOFT first before you proceed.

• If you want to control an audio unit which is amplifier with built-in tuner source, you can now learn the IR-codes for both your amplifier and the internal tuner source.
• The IR-code learning process is the same as in the above text for a HVAC device.

• If you have existing IR-codes from the IR-learnable interface TDS14042, you can copy these codes to use them with the IR-COOKIE without the need to re-record them.

• Just select the existing device and click ‘Copy’
• Now select “TDS14065” instead of “TDS14042” and rename the device type (add for example ‘for IR-COOKIE’ instead of ‘COPY’).

The remaining part is the same as for using any device in AV-SOFT. See AV-SOFT training.
Remark: Before you are able to control the audio system which is connected to the IR-COOKIE, you need to tell the TDS system for which room this audio device is used for (= audio zone). Therefore, go to PROSOFT top menu ‘PROSOFT’, go to ‘rooms’ and select your room and select the specific audio zone in the ‘audio zone’ field.

Now you can use audio functions on any TDS buttons (contact input), touch panel, touch screen, mobile device, but also as part of a mood.

e.g. mood ‘coming home’, ‘leaving’, ‘party’ or ‘going to bed’ are typical moods where HVAC and or A/V actions may be taken together with other actions like light control or other.

We hope you will enjoy your new IR-COOKIE(s).

VRF/VRV INSTEAD OF IR-FLASHER CONTROL

If you need more than an IR-flasher solution, you may like to have bi-directional management of high-end HVAC devices. You can select one of the many other HVAC interfaces available from TELETASK. These are specifically made for integration with VRV/VRF systems. See HVAC Master/slave interfaces for more details on the brands and types which are supported by TELETASK.