Chowmain - Daikin SkyFi (Ducted & Cassette HVAC) Driver

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Chowmain - Daikin SkyFi (Ducted & Cassette HVAC) Driver 

HVAC installation in the United States is easy as thermostats all utilise a universal standard and as such can be replaced easily by a 3rd party thermostat such as Control4’s thermostat. Unfortunately HVAC manufacturers outside of the United States do not always utilise this standard and some countries like Australia and New Zealand have proprietary RS485 based bus’s that are specific to the HVAC manufacturer and model. 

This makes it extremely cumbersome for Control4 dealers to source a reliable HVAC product and in many countries Control4 dealers do not even bother with HVAC integration because it is just too hard. 

Luckily Daikin has released its SkyFi module for their Daikin Ducted, Sky Air and certain VRV indoor units (with P1 and P2 terminals). Unlike other solutions this unit is manufactured by Daikin and as such will not void the warranty of the HVAC system should you connect it to their bus. It is also extremely cost effective making integration of HVAC to Control4 so affordable that integration of HVAC becomes a no brainer. 

The Chowmain Daikin SkyFi driver integrates the SkyFi module and provides full 2 way control over temperature, HVAC mode, setpoint, fan speed, timer functions and zone control. Setup of hardware and driver should take you no more than 30 minutes once you get the hang of it. 

Features 

• HVAC Modes – OFF, AUTO, HEAT, COOL, DRY, FAN, HEAT/AUTO, COOL/AUTO 
• FAN Speeds – LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH, LOW/AUTO, MEDIUM/AUTO, HIGH/AUTO 
• Temperature Feedback 
• Setpoint Control 
• Zone Name import * 
• Zone On/Off (Open/Shut) * 
• Timer Function (Turn on system in x hours and off in x hours). 
• Outside Temperature Feedback * 
• Filter Clean Notification on Navigator. 

* If fitted to the HVAC system. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Why is this product exciting? 
In Australia and New Zealand (and other countries) HVAC integration has been hard because HVAC companies do not utilise the honeywell based wiring that most smart thermostats like Nest, Control4 and Honeywell use. In order to integrate HVAC you had to install commercial grade HVAC solutions and get additional modules. There was no definitive and easy way to know if a HVAC solution was going to work without consulting a HVAC installer. 

To put it simple it was just too hard and too expensive to integrate HVAC. 

Now with the SkiFi module installers can now easily integrate Daikin based Ducted and Cassette based HVAC systems into Control4. The module is extremely affordable and will not void Daikin's manufacturer warranty on the HVAC system. This module is even backwards compatible with systems dated back to 2003. So dealers can now revisit old customers with compatible Daikin HVAC systems to upgrade their home automation system and integrate their HVAC system. 

This really changes the HVAC game. 

What HVAC systems can i use the SkyFi with? 
The SkyFi module is developed by Daikin for their Ducted, Ducted with Zone Control and Cassette/Under Ceiling based HVAC systems. The SkyFi module will also work with VRV indoor systems with the P1-P2 terminals for a wired remote control. This should work with any of these systems that are manufacturered after 2003. Please contact Daikin to confirm if your HVAC system will be compatible if in doubt. 

NOTE. This module will not work with Daikin Split HVAC systems. For Split HVAC systems see our Daikin Wifi Driver. 

Can i control zones with this? 
This module will allow for zone damper open and close via the Extras tab with 2 way feedback. The driver will pull in the zone names on first setup. Please name the zones using the official Daikin SkyFi application prior to installing the driver. 

Can i get individual temperature readings per zone? 
The Daikin Skyfi unit provides a single temperature reading for feedback. It does not provide individual zone readings. This is a limitation of the hardware. 

Can i do schedule the HVAC system using this? 
The SkyFi module offers basic timer based on/off functionality. This functionality is included with the driver on the Extras tab in the driver's navigator interface and is designed to mimic the SkyFi smart phone application. You can also utilise Control4's wakeup agent or scheduler in Composer Home Edition. 

Where can i purchase this module? 

The module can be purchased from authorised Daikin dealers. The model number is BRP15A61. If you cannot source one easily then we recommend purchasing one online from Peninsula Air Conditioning 

Why do you only support OS 2.6 and above? 
OS 2.6 offers a superior security encryption algorithm and a new and improved driver format. We have decided to only utilise this new format to ensure that the integrity of this driver is not compremised and that we can provide the best dealer/user experience available. 

How do I find out more information about the driver? 
Please see the links below for more information about the driver. 

Chowmain Website

Download Installation Guide

How do I buy the driver? 
This driver is developed by Chowmain software & apps and is distributed and supported by Houselogix, Inc. 

Download Driver / Purchase Licence

Who do i contact for technical support? 
This driver is developed by Chowmain software & apps and is distributed and supported by Houselogix, Inc. 

Support

Do you provide trial licences? 
All Chowmain drivers for Control4 come with a 48 hour trial. This is activated once you add the driver to the project. No additional steps are necessary.