Cloud-enabled controllers specifically for room air conditioners aren’t new to the market; however the Ambi Climate 2 takes things to another level. The second version of the Ambi Climate takes on more than its predecessor; however, it does require that you have an air conditioner that makes use of a remote along with an LCD display.
Unfortunately, if your air conditioner does not meet these requirements, the Ambi Climate 2 simply isn’t going to work for you.
The Ambi Climate 2 isn’t your typical smart home gadget. Its only job is to ensure your home stays cool while cutting down on your energy bill. Designed specifically for homes in Asia, the Ambi Climate 2 can be used anywhere. If you’re looking for a device to help you keep your home or office cool, the Ambi Climate 2 might be able to help.
The device itself has built-in Nest-like intelligence. The Ambi Climate 2 has the ability to learn your behaviors and patterns, which of course makes your home that much more comfortable for you. Its sensor driven controls, affordable price tag, and friendly-looking design make it an appealing device. Additionally, the Ambi Climate 2 can be accessed via your Android or iOS smartphone.
If you have an air conditioner that is considered a tradition, non-connected appliance, then the Ambi Climate 2 is the perfect add-on for you. If you want to dip your toe into the smart home arena, this might be an excellent opportunity for you. You won’t have to shell out a bunch of money on a smart appliance. You can get a taste with the Ambi Climate 2.
You will, however, need one for each room that has an air conditioner, but consider how much cheaper that will be compared with purchasing a brand new smart air conditioning system.
Setup and Design
As opposed to an industrial steel look, the Ambi Climate 2 goes with a soft, friendly touch. With round curves, plastic body, and wood bottom, the device is simple yet elegant and will fit in nicely with most of the rooms in your home without causing design disruptions.
The Ambi Climate 2 is designed to be managed via your smartphone (you can find the app on both iOS and Android), so there are no buttons on the device itself. Located on the front of the Ambi Climate 2 are three LED lights which indicate the status of the device. They notify you that the device is on and connected to your wifi network.
On the top of the Climate 2, you’ll see a shiny black cap, which is used to emit infrared signals as the device communicates with your air conditioner. Your air conditioner has an infrared port as well, so when the Climate 2 sends its instructions, the air conditioner is able to receive and understand them. The Climate 2 is compatible with over 300 air conditioners, so be sure you have one that will work.
Also located at the top of the device are a few ventilation vents, which allow for heat dissipation. The Ambi Climate 2 gets a little warmer than the surrounding temperature, so it’s essential that space be available since there’s probably a little bit of leakage in the device.
On the back side of the Climate 2, you’ll discover a USB port. Unfortunately, it’s not for your flash drive, but rather is a port you’ll use to power the device. You’ll also find a wifi dongle that can’t be removed, as well as a motion sensor on the front of the device that allows the device to track patterns of activity.
Set up of the Ambi Climate 2 is simple and straightforward. After you power it on the first time, the device will send out its own wifi SSID, which you’ll have your phone locate and access. Once you’ve connected to the device network, go ahead and launch the app, at which point you’ll be prompted to either create or log into your account.
After you get logged in, follow the setup prompts and give the Ambi Climate 2 permission to access your home wifi network. Bear in mind that the device only works with 2.4GHz channels, so it won’t find anything on a 5GHz frequency. When you’re connected, you’ll specify which air conditioner model you have, then select a room name.
Ambi Climate 2 Features
Through your mobile app, the Ambi Climate 2 gives you access to four different methods through which you can control your air conditioner. Comfort mode lets the Ambi Climate 2 control the speed and temperature o the air conditioner. If you’re too hot or too cold, you can change the setting by tapping on the circle in the middle of the screen. The technology behind Comfort mode will learn what changes you make and adjust the temperature according to your preferences.
Temperature mode provides the option to set a target temperature and let the Climate 2 AI keep monitor for you. That means if your home or office gets too cold, then the Ambi Climate 2 will automatically make the adjustment, which helps you conserve power.
The Ambi Climate 2 also has an Away mode, which you’ll use when you are on vacation and want to keep your home cool. This mode will come in very handy if you’re leaving pets at home while you’re away. With Away mode, the AI will automatically turn on your air conditioner if the surrounding environment reaches a temperature that you set beforehand. If you prefer, instead of temperature, you can also have the air conditioner turn on when a certain humidity level is reached.
Manual mode is the last mode available through the mobile app, and it simply allows you to use the remote to set and control the temperature as you see fit. The AI turns off and doesn’t make any changes or adjustments.
Another cool feature of the Ambi Climate 2 is that it offers smart scheduling. This functionality gives you the ability to create unlimited timers and rules which helps you plan out your day and establish the ideal automation schedule. This means that you won’t have to listen to your air conditioner turn off and on all day as it attempts to make changes to the temperature. It’ll follow your schedule so your home will be the perfect temperature when you need it to be.
Performance
One thing that the Ambi Climate devices are well known for is their use of smart algorithms which help cut down on the amount of power their devices use. It provides smart comfort via its AI and learns to analyze the effect of multiple factors like weather, humidity, and temperature, all of which it uses to define the ideal comfort level. The Ambi Climate 2 also make automatic adjustments that will provide energy savings on your electric bill.
The Ambi Climate 2 turns on your air conditioner at the appropriate times and turns it off when everything is where it needs to be. This helps to keep you and your family cool without wasting a lot of energy. Of course, you can always make manual changes as needed by logging into the mobile application and adjusting the temperature. Doing so helps the Climate 2 AI have a better understanding of what you prefer.
You can access your air conditioner anywhere you Ambi Climate 2 mobile application works, and it performs just as you would expect. No matter where you are, you can make changes to your air conditioner. That means you can change the temperature whether you’re right next door or in another country.
Lastly, while these features are not available yet, Ambi has mentioned that it soon expects to add geo-location functionality, along with voice command capabilities which will include integration with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT (If This Then That).
Pros and Cons
Of course, no smart device is perfect, and there are a few things that would be nice to have with the Ambi Climate 2. There are also some very nice features that you’ll enjoy, so here is a quick rundown of some of the pros and cons of the Ambi Climate 2.
Pros
- Keeps your home or office comfortable at all times
- Cost saving functionality
- Smartphone app allows for control from anywhere
- Considers weather, humidity, and temperature for perfect setting
- Intelligent AI learns your behaviors
- Easy to install and setup
- Supports over 300 air conditioners
- Two-year warranty
Cons
- Takes the device a few days to learn your preferences and behaviors
- Only works with 2.4 GHz wifi frequencies
- Compatible only with air conditioners with LCD screens and remotes
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Conclusion
The Ambi Climate 2 is the ideal device for a home or office that has a full air conditioner set up that isn’t easily replaced with a smart option. It works very well in areas that are hot and humid and gets the job done by offering easy setup and use. Keep in mind though, that if you have more than one air conditioner, you’ll have to purchase additional devices.
If you have a home or office setup that needs to have the air conditioner on at all times during the day, or you just want to find a way to save some money on your energy bill, the Ambi Climate 2 might be the right device for you.
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