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I recently started getting into home automation and was appalled to learn that Nest no longer provides an API to access my own devices. What’s the point of a “s

by njovin 6y ago

I recently started getting into home automation and was appalled to learn that Nest no longer provides an API to access my own devices. What’s the point of a “smart” system if you’re completely limited to what functionality a single vendor wants to allow? I got rid of my Nest and got an Ecobee. Their APIs are confusing IMO and missing some basic functionality but it’s workable for my needs.

ac29 6y ago
Nest is transitioning to a different API, not getting rid of it completely. Individuals can sign up for access here: https://developers.google.com/nest/device-access https://developers.google.com/nest/device-access
- russell_h 6y ago
  According to that page the API for individuals won’t exist until late 2020.
- toast0 6y ago
  Nest (Google) gotten rid of their API and are promissing to have a new API real soon now. It may not have the full features of the old API, the messaging hasn't been consistent, but they had suggested that APIs could be read only, which is limiting. Meanwhile, they've added agressive captchas to the website, and are switching our their undocumented json api for an undocumented protobuf api. Unfortunately, they seem to be the only smart thermostat that supports separate aux heat and emergency heat wires. I don't know for sure if my HVAC system actually treats those differently, but it's wired for it, and the previous system had it, so I'd want to retain that. (But please correct me if there's a better choice... I'm tired of not being able to use the hardware I bought to do what I want it to do; single stage heat pump, with 7 wires: common (c), power (r), heat pump (o), fan (g), heat/cool (y), aux heat (w2), and emergency heat (*). Bonus points if the replacement has a big mounting bracket, cause the nest one just barely covers missed paint ;)
  - Terretta 6y ago
    In my installations, which I swapped from Nest to Ecobee, the Ecobee 3 supports aux heat: https://support.ecobee.com/hc/en-us/articles/360010176991-ecobee3-Wiring-Diagrams https://support.ecobee.com/hc/en-us/articles/360010176991-ec... https://support.ecobee.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000414828-How-to-minimize-the-use-of-auxiliary-heat-with-a-heat-pump-on-your-ecobee-thermostat https://support.ecobee.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000414828-Ho... Note that with basic Ecobee systems, you may have to purchase another adapter to connect to some systems. The Ecobee 3 (not Lite) I didn’t have to. https://support.ecobee.com/hc/en-us/articles/360028428931-What-are-the-differences-between-ecobee-SmartThermostat-with-voice-control-ecobee4-ecobee3-lite-and-ecobee3- https://support.ecobee.com/hc/en-us/articles/360028428931-Wh... I have a property with industrial boiler, heat exchanger, and a dozen independent zones w/ pumps, heat only, with particular needs to cycle pumps from time to time, keep active for minimum windows, etc. I also have a property with geothermal plus auxiliary electric. Of things I can manage from Siri, Google, and Alexa, both (only?) Nest and ecobee 3 were able to support these custom/advanced configurations, though I’d argue Nest was better with the commercial/heavy needs, both in the installer options available, and in service support. I haven’t found others that support these options that are also supported by HomeKit (Homebridge) or Home Assistant.

by njovin 6y ago

ac29 6y ago

Nest is transitioning to a different API, not getting rid of it completely. Individuals can sign up for access here: https://developers.google.com/nest/device-access https://developers.google.com/nest/device-access

russell_h 6y ago
According to that page the API for individuals won’t exist until late 2020.
toast0 6y ago
Nest (Google) gotten rid of their API and are promissing to have a new API real soon now. It may not have the full features of the old API, the messaging hasn't been consistent, but they had suggested that APIs could be read only, which is limiting. Meanwhile, they've added agressive captchas to the website, and are switching our their undocumented json api for an undocumented protobuf api. Unfortunately, they seem to be the only smart thermostat that supports separate aux heat and emergency heat wires. I don't know for sure if my HVAC system actually treats those differently, but it's wired for it, and the previous system had it, so I'd want to retain that. (But please correct me if there's a better choice... I'm tired of not being able to use the hardware I bought to do what I want it to do; single stage heat pump, with 7 wires: common (c), power (r), heat pump (o), fan (g), heat/cool (y), aux heat (w2), and emergency heat (*). Bonus points if the replacement has a big mounting bracket, cause the nest one just barely covers missed paint ;)
- Terretta 6y ago
  In my installations, which I swapped from Nest to Ecobee, the Ecobee 3 supports aux heat: https://support.ecobee.com/hc/en-us/articles/360010176991-ecobee3-Wiring-Diagrams https://support.ecobee.com/hc/en-us/articles/360010176991-ec... https://support.ecobee.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000414828-How-to-minimize-the-use-of-auxiliary-heat-with-a-heat-pump-on-your-ecobee-thermostat https://support.ecobee.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000414828-Ho... Note that with basic Ecobee systems, you may have to purchase another adapter to connect to some systems. The Ecobee 3 (not Lite) I didn’t have to. https://support.ecobee.com/hc/en-us/articles/360028428931-What-are-the-differences-between-ecobee-SmartThermostat-with-voice-control-ecobee4-ecobee3-lite-and-ecobee3- https://support.ecobee.com/hc/en-us/articles/360028428931-Wh... I have a property with industrial boiler, heat exchanger, and a dozen independent zones w/ pumps, heat only, with particular needs to cycle pumps from time to time, keep active for minimum windows, etc. I also have a property with geothermal plus auxiliary electric. Of things I can manage from Siri, Google, and Alexa, both (only?) Nest and ecobee 3 were able to support these custom/advanced configurations, though I’d argue Nest was better with the commercial/heavy needs, both in the installer options available, and in service support. I haven’t found others that support these options that are also supported by HomeKit (Homebridge) or Home Assistant.