Hi, I’m a technical software developer just getting started in this space. Trying to figure out where to start with heat pumps - I see Daikin and Valliant a lot. I’ll be installing OpenEnergyMonitor and connecting to HomeAssistant.
I can see that there are various interfaces to the heat pumps - but it’s very hard to figure out if they are fully open / paid or whatever? Wondering if anyone here could share knowledge?
Of course, quality and cost of API access is only one parameter - also interested in any general views on which heat pumps are best, but that’s a wider question and maybe not appropriate!
Thanks for any assistance - or repoint me if inappropriate
The challenge with making any general statements about APIs is that they’re all manufacturer-specific. However, it’s clear that the big manufacturers have all responded to users’ expectation of having a smartphone App for monitoring and controlling their heatpump - so they provide an App, and the App talks to an API - and the API is (typically) made available for access from outside the App, such as from Home Assistant.
My main experience is with NIBE systems and their App / API combination is free for ‘monitoring’ but chargeable if you want to be able to control the heatpump from the App. I also have experience with Daikin who offer control from their app for free.
The wider question of which heat pumps are “best” is very much a case of ‘it depends’ - based on whether Cost, Efficiency, Noise, Longevity etc. is considered the most important characteristic.
There are quite a few threads here on controlling various Samsung heat pumps, mostly by modbus or Samsung’s own propriety NASA (Network and System Architecture) protocol.
The downside of re-using an App API is that they could block it, I guess