Nest isn't recognized as a thermostat for certain Siri commands about homebridge-nest

[thayneq]

More details from my log file:
"set the temperature downstairs to 65" results in this showing up in my log file:

Setting target temperature for Downstairs (Downstairs Nest) to: 65
Target temperature for Downstairs (Downstairs Nest) is: 65 F
Target temperature for Downstairs (Downstairs Nest) is: 72 F

And this in my .err file:
FIREBASE WARNING: set at /devices/thermostats/7u3hYcaA_NO...75CZ/target_temperature_f failed: Cannot set %s while mode is %s

[thayneq]

ok sorry for the verbosity of my comments. I'm learning and experimenting at the same time.

The above error message occurs when the nest is in the Off Mode. When I set the mode to heat, then Siri accepts the following:
"Set the temperature downstairs to 71"
- "You got it. I set the thermostat to about 71degF"

Is there any way to have siri control the thermostat mode? I see it in HomeKit as "Target Heating Cooling State," but that's quite a mouthful (and doesn't work anyway).

"Turn off the heat" and "Is the heat on?" both generate the following (and no error messages in logs)
-"Sorry, I wasn't able to find any thermostats this time"

[KraigM]

As far as the firebase warning, that usually happens when you are in range mode and it tries changing one of the temperatures too close or overlapping to the other. In other words, if the range is currently 71-75 with a current temp of 68 and you try setting it to 76, it will assume you want to change the low (71) number since it is closer to 68 then 75 is, which would make the range 76-75 which is invalid. Nest also has a min diff between the two (like 2 or 3 degrees), so even if you tried changing it to 74 (making it 74-75) it will also say it is invalid.

That all being said, we prob need to update it so that if you do try setting it to 76 in the above situation, we would replicate with the Nest does on the device and also change the high to 79 or something.

[thayneq]

I'm not sure what this "ranged mode" is or how to tell if I'm in that mode. I'm just trying to use it as a simple thermostat (e.g. set the temp to a given temperature or turn on/off the thermostat with siri.)

[adamstephenson]

@thayneq ranged mode is when you have Nest in the Heat+Cool setting. Heat if it gets down to X and
Cool when it gets up to Y temps.

[thayneq]

I'm not in that mode. I'm in the heating-only mode.

[KraigM]

Will have to be investigated further, probably with home bridge in full debug mode and try to figure what Siri is looking for that is not there.

[thayneq]

ok, I'm happy to help. Let me know what I need to do.

[KraigM]

Have you ever messed with node js before?

[thayneq]

Not too much before this. Been screwing around with this for 2 weeks, so I'm a noob.

[KraigM]

Well I just went and tried watching HomeBridge full logs and nothing came through, which likely means Siri looks at what the devices have already specified.

Next, I tried downloading the latest HomeKit simulator to see what characteristic we need, but even with the Apple simulated thermostat with all the optional characteristics on the Thermostat service, when I say "Is the heat on" Siri still responds "Sorry, I wasn't able to find any thermostats this time".

Which means its probably either a bug in Siri or a new characteristic that they haven't documented.

[thayneq]

The elgato thermostat is an officially supported HomeKit accessory. I wonder how they handle it? Maybe I'll buy one to test it out.

[KraigM]

Probably because they are told about it ahead of time. HomeKit also supports Home/Away but they haven't given app developers access to it yet, and thus it is not in the simulator.

[thayneq]

Interesting. In any case, I am happy to help debug the firebase warnings.

[ryck]

This is the ecobee HomeKit help page: https://www.ecobee.com/faq/what-voice-commands-can-i-use-to-control-my-homekit-enabled-ecobee3/
I assumed Nest can accept the same commands and, in fact, I tried them all and they work, although I only have one thermostat, and is an UK one, so only heating.

[thayneq]

Not all of those commands work for me. Some return the correct response, others result in Siri saying there are no thermostats (along with a firebase error)

[ryck]

I don't get the firebase error... Have you tried to start all over again? I mean remove all your devices from homekit, stop homebridge, upgrade homebridge & homebridge-nest, change the username in homebridge, start homebridge and add your devices again to homekit? A pain in the ass, I know, but I remember having also some firebase errors and that fixed them...

[thayneq]

That's sort of the nuclear approach. I'd rather try to locate the problem's root cause before destroying the evidence.
However in the past two weeks I have updated homebridge-nest and recently deleted my home and started fresh from scratch.

[thayneq]

Are you able to change the heating/cooling mode from Siri? That's something I've never been able to do. For example, "Turn the heat on"

[thayneq]

Looking closer at my logs, I'm only getting the firebase warnings when the nest is off and I issue a command. I guess this all boils down to not being able to turn the nest on and off with Siri. I can do it with scenes I suppose...

[thayneq]

My solution (very in-elegent) was to create 6 scenes as follows:
"Turn on the heat upstairs"
"Turn off the heat upstairs"
"Turn on the heat downstairs"
"Turn off the heat downstairs"
"Turn on the heat"
"Turn off the heat"

These are self explanatory and do what I need, but this obviously isn't the intended usage for scenes.

[ryck]

I can't do "Turn the heat on", Siri says it wasn't able to find any thermostat. I assumed it was because european Nests only can do heating (so no cooling, only heating) and they are alway on...

[thayneq]

That's exactly my point and why I filed this bug.