HAI RC-2000 and PC Access 3

[fdnyfish]

Is there a way to change the color of the RC-2000 display through PC Access?

I would like the display to be RED when the HEAT is on, and BLUE when the A/C is on.

Thanks

 

[Frunple]

Is red even an option?

 

[fdnyfish]

Yes, from the RC-2000 itself, you can get many shades of Red, Blue, Green

 

[picta]

No, it's not possible to change the color from PC access, but it would be nice if HAI implemented that.

 

[fdnyfish]

here is a response that I got from HAI.....

Sir,

No, there is no logic fro changing the screen color on a tstat, and there are no plans to add such a feature.

Thank you for your interest and use of HAI and our award winning line of home automation products.

HAI Technical Support


I got to say that HAI is not to friendly when it comes to new ideas. I think this would be a nice feature but they just shoot it down. i once asked if a Omnipro II could send an email being that it was already on a network, and just flat out replied "No, and the panel will never send out emails in the future"

Why the hell not?

 

[HAI_fjh]

...the rest of the story...

What tech support told you is true, but there is a hack that might work for you.

There is already logic in the thermostats to change the back light color based on energy cost. Now if you don't have a smart meter and your energy company doesn't tell your Omni what the current energy cost is, you can (ab)use this feature.

Basically you can do something like this:

233. // How to change thermostat back light color based on system mode.
// - ENERGY COST LOW = GREEN
// - ENERGY COST MID = BLUE
// - ENERGY COST CRITICAL = RED
234. EVERY 5 SECONDS
AND IF [/size][u][size="2"][color="#ff0000"][size="2"][color="#ff0000"]AutoHeatCool[/color][/size][/color][/size][/u][size="2"] (RC-2000) SYSTEM STATUS IS HEATING
THEN SET ENERGY COST CRITICAL
235. EVERY 5 SECONDS
AND IF [/size][u][size="2"][color="#ff0000"][size="2"][color="#ff0000"]AutoHeatCool[/color][/size][/color][/size][/u][size="2"] (RC-2000) SYSTEM STATUS IS COOLING
THEN SET ENERGY COST MID
236. EVERY 5 SECONDS
AND IF [/size][u][size="2"][color="#ff0000"][size="2"][color="#ff0000"]AutoHeatCool[/color][/size][/color][/size][/u][size="2"] (RC-2000) SYSTEM STATUS IS NOT HEATING
AND IF [/size][u][size="2"][color="#ff0000"][size="2"][color="#ff0000"]AutoHeatCool[/color][/size][/color][/size][/u][size="2"] (RC-2000) SYSTEM STATUS IS NOT COOLING
THEN SET ENERGY COST LOW

Again this is a hack and not necessarily recommended or supported.

 

[picta]

Interesting suggestion, but I have multiple thermostats and would like to set the color only on the one that is heating, but it looks like your solution will change the color on all thermostats. Just curious, why HAI would not consider adding more control options for their own thermostats, this specific feature would be in high demand, given how many people had brought it up on various automation blogs. I currently have my Omnistats connected to OP2, but for a while they were controlled by another system that allowed me access to that feature.

 

[HAI_fjh]

Like I said this is a hack and not perfect, not even recommended...

I am curious about just how many people would want this feature. We sell a LOT of thermostats and I can count on one hand the number of times I have heard this request. We get many more requests from people who want to put the thermostat in a closet and use only flush mount remote temp sensors because they don't want anything on the wall.

Personally with the back light off I can't see any color. If I get close enough for the proximity detection to turn the back light on, I can see the arrow next to the the heating or cooling label. The reason I have automation is so I don't have to personally monitor the temperature.

It's just a personal preference and to each his own.

As tech support has said there are no current plans to add this, but I have made a note and next time we are making changes in this area I will see if this feature can be added without too much impact. No promises...

 

[picta]

Fred

Thanks for your reply. Your company definitely has a better view into broad market demand and I understand that this may not be your high priority, and thank you for looking into possibility. I've seen posts from many people who would like the feature and not only for heat/cool modes, but some wanted to change color based on outside temp, etc. After all, once you automate all basic features in the house you get bored and look for something else to do

 

[Mr Spock]

Having the ability to set the display color based on current temp is something I thought of immediately after I installed my RC2000. I never told anyone or asked HAI about it.

I just took a quick look at the protocol doc. The backlight color register address is 140 and intensity address is 141.

Is the problem that there is no way to remotely set it, you can only read it?

I still love this stat and am thinking of putting two of them in my new home construction plans.

 

[pete_c]

Thanks Fred!

Personally it would be a nice addition; but I really only pay attention to the thermostat if I have an issue.

That said it would be nice to also incorporate the motion sensor feature and the remote temperature sensors directly connected to the thermostat such that the OPII panel could see it and bringing a bit more integration of the thermostat to the OPII panel.

 

[picta]

Is the problem that there is no way to remotely set it, you can only read it?

You can set it with a 3d party driver, but not from HAI. So if you decide to connect your RC2000 to HAI controller you'll not be able to use this feature.

 

[Mr Spock]

You can set it with a 3d party driver, but not from HAI. So if you decide to connect your RC2000 to HAI controller you'll not be able to use this feature.

Wow. I'm surprised and disappointed at the same time.

As Pete noted, the ability to integrate these two features and the proximity sensor would be really nice (hint, hint).