Alexa enabled portable A/C advice

obert · 02-05-2020, 12:13 AM

Looking at possibly getting an Alexa enabled A/C unit so I can turn it on before I get home in the summer. I picked up a fan today so we will see how that goes.

I would like to get some sort of a smart portable heater as well. But seems very limited and bad reviews.

I live in an apartment so I am trying to make it a little smarter while I am here.

Anyone have any thing like this? If so could you please share your experience and what you have.

Thanks

dreamingat30fps · 02-05-2020, 01:17 AM

Dunno, but couldn't you get a smart outlet instead? Probably easier to find and cheaper.

obert · 02-05-2020, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

Dunno, but couldn't you get a smart outlet instead? Probably easier to find and cheaper.

Doesn’t work with the fans I have or the heater. Plus I have read it’s not good to plug things that pull a lot of power into anything but the wall. I don’t want to start a fire.

I have tried the plugs with my fan and it just turn the power off and on. It will not turn the fan on.

RickFLM4 · 02-05-2020, 06:19 AM

I think there are heavy duty timers designed for appliances like window air conditioners. I don’t think you can plug one into a regular timer like used for lamps because those are for 2 prong only / no ground.

Personally, I would never run a portable heater unless home, whether on a timer or otherwise.

Maybe Alexa has some suggestions?

spazzyfry123 · 02-05-2020, 08:50 AM

Why not a smart thermostat to control both heat and A/C remotely? Or does the apartment not have HVAC?

obert · 02-05-2020, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spazzyfry123

Why not a smart thermostat to control both heat and A/C remotely? Or does the apartment not have HVAC?

No it’s doesn’t. It was build back in the 60’s so I don’t even use the Appartments heaters. I am cheap and live alone most of the time. I have concerns of fire with portable heater as well but I do live alone and don’t leave anything around the heaters. I know it will get really hot in the summer so it would be nice to start the a/c a little while before getting home.

Conissah · 02-05-2020, 09:39 AM

Could look into IFTTT, they have tons of hooks you can link stuff to. My coworker uses it to shut the garage door and lock the doors if his and his wifes phone are outside the GPS fence he drew. Tons of possibilities.

dreamingat30fps · 02-05-2020, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obert

Doesn’t work with the fans I have or the heater. Plus I have read it’s not good to plug things that pull a lot of power into anything but the wall. I don’t want to start a fire.

I have tried the plugs with my fan and it just turn the power off and on. It will not turn the fan on.

Must be a fancy fan. Mine just has a dial and stays at whatever speed you set it to when the power comes back on.

As for the heater not sure what kind of power those pull. Just looked at a random switch I have here and its suppose to be rated to 15 amps.

Other than that dunno, I'm sure someone sells an expensive smart fan or heater.

obert · 02-05-2020, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

Must be a fancy fan. Mine just has a dial and stays at whatever speed you set it to when the power comes back on.

As for the heater not sure what kind of power those pull. Just looked at a random switch I have here and its suppose to be rated to 15 amps.

Other than that dunno, I'm sure someone sells an expensive smart fan or heater.

Lol not fancy it just has a push on/off button. If it had a knob I could just leave on them the plugs would work.

No worries and thanks for the reply. Just was looking for other opinions and experience.

infinitekidM2C · 02-05-2020, 07:13 PM

The portable AC units can be set to come on at x temp. Does that not suffice? Are you looking to turn it on while driving your 328i or something?

obert · 02-05-2020, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinitekidM2C

The portable AC units can be set to come on at x temp. Does that not suffice? Are you looking to turn it on while driving your 328i or something?

I will have to look at this but I don’t think mine has that option. I am actually looking to turn it on while I am on vacation just to waste power.

Like I said I am just looking for options and would like it to turn on while I am at work before I get home.

I think I can leave it on and it will turn on the cold at a certain temp but I don’t believe it has an option to come on from completely off at a certain temp.

vreihen16 · 02-05-2020, 08:21 PM

I bought a Wink window-mount AC about 5 years ago, which worked remotely from their app. Worked well, but was loud.

There are plenty of wifi window AC options out there now, so you can pick one up that has some sort of remote app.....

02-05-2020, 12:13 AM	#1
obert Brigadier General 1785 Rep 4,452 Posts Drives: 2013 328i Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Seattle Wa iTrader: (49)	Alexa enabled portable A/C advice Looking at possibly getting an Alexa enabled A/C unit so I can turn it on before I get home in the summer. I picked up a fan today so we will see how that goes. I would like to get some sort of a smart portable heater as well. But seems very limited and bad reviews. I live in an apartment so I am trying to make it a little smarter while I am here. Anyone have any thing like this? If so could you please share your experience and what you have. Thanks
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02-05-2020, 01:17 AM	#2
dreamingat30fps Colonel 5925 Rep 2,011 Posts Drives: Miata, Cayenne, Model 3, F350 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: South Florida & NC iTrader: (1)	Dunno, but couldn't you get a smart outlet instead? Probably easier to find and cheaper.
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02-05-2020, 06:19 AM	#4
RickFLM4 Brigadier General 11822 Rep 4,872 Posts Drives: M4 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: PB County, FL iTrader: (0)	I think there are heavy duty timers designed for appliances like window air conditioners. I don’t think you can plug one into a regular timer like used for lamps because those are for 2 prong only / no ground. Personally, I would never run a portable heater unless home, whether on a timer or otherwise. Maybe Alexa has some suggestions? __________________ Current: 2018 SO/SS F83 ZCP Gone: 2015 SO/SO F82
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02-05-2020, 08:50 AM	#5
spazzyfry123 Lieutenant Colonel 4861 Rep 1,957 Posts Drives: Here and There Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: North Georgia Mountains iTrader: (1) Garage List 11 BMW E90 M3 Stripper [10.00] 98 Lexus LS400 [10.00] 16 Toyota Land Cruiser [10.00] 97 Toyota Land Cruiser [8.33]	Why not a smart thermostat to control both heat and A/C remotely? Or does the apartment not have HVAC?
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02-05-2020, 09:39 AM	#7
Conissah Major 1578 Rep 1,049 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (1)	Could look into IFTTT, they have tons of hooks you can link stuff to. My coworker uses it to shut the garage door and lock the doors if his and his wifes phone are outside the GPS fence he drew. Tons of possibilities.
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02-05-2020, 07:13 PM	#10
infinitekidM2C Major General 4296 Rep 5,735 Posts Drives: 2019 M2 Competition Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2019 M2 COMPETITION [9.75] 2008 135i (my old car) [7.56]	The portable AC units can be set to come on at x temp. Does that not suffice? Are you looking to turn it on while driving your 328i or something?
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02-05-2020, 08:21 PM	#12
vreihen16 Recovering Perfectionist 20337 Rep 1,002 Posts Drives: BMW-less :( Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Orange County, NY iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 Mighty Freight ... [0.00] 2000 Audi TT Quattro [0.00] 1967 Formula Vee [0.00]	I bought a Wink window-mount AC about 5 years ago, which worked remotely from their app. Worked well, but was loud. There are plenty of wifi window AC options out there now, so you can pick one up that has some sort of remote app..... __________________ Currently BMW-less.
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