Power off vs Mode off

[Onepamopa]

Hello,

What is the difference between:
st.mode = stdAc::opmode_t::kOff and st.power = false ?

[crankyoldgit]

Some systems (e.g. HomeAssistant & Google Home) require an Off mode to exist.
Most AirCons have a power setting (on or off). Setting a A/C mode to 'Off' (which doesn't have an "Off" mode) will default to something else. Typically Auto.
e.g. 90+% of A/C's don't have an Off mode, so it does what ever it thinks is the default. Typically that is either Auto or Cool.

Here is an example in code:
(Note: there is no Off case, so it will use the default: code clause.

IRremoteESP8266/src/ir_Kelvinator.cpp

Lines 256 to 276 in 00b27cc

	/// Set the desired operation mode.
	/// @param[in] mode The desired operation mode.
	void IRKelvinatorAC::setMode(const uint8_t mode) {
	switch (mode) {
	case kKelvinatorAuto:
	case kKelvinatorDry:
	// When the remote is set to Auto or Dry, it defaults to 25C and doesn't
	// show it.
	setTemp(kKelvinatorAutoTemp);
	// FALL-THRU
	case kKelvinatorHeat:
	case kKelvinatorCool:
	case kKelvinatorFan:
	_.Mode = mode;
	break;
	default:
	setTemp(kKelvinatorAutoTemp);
	_.Mode = kKelvinatorAuto;
	break;
	}
	}

Ditto here:

IRremoteESP8266/src/ir_Kelvinator.cpp

Lines 400 to 411 in 00b27cc

	/// Convert a standard A/C mode (stdAc::opmode_t) into it a native mode.
	/// @param[in] mode A stdAc::opmode_t operation mode.
	/// @return The native mode equivalent.
	uint8_t IRKelvinatorAC::convertMode(const stdAc::opmode_t mode) {
	switch (mode) {
	case stdAc::opmode_t::kCool: return kKelvinatorCool;
	case stdAc::opmode_t::kHeat: return kKelvinatorHeat;
	case stdAc::opmode_t::kDry: return kKelvinatorDry;
	case stdAc::opmode_t::kFan: return kKelvinatorFan;
	default: return kKelvinatorAuto;
	}
	}

Setting a Mode of Off doesn't turn an A/C off unless it actually has a supported "Off" operation mode.
There is normally no reason you need to use a "Mode" of "Off", unless what ever you're trying to interface with needs one. eg. HA etc.

See some code with how I try to deal with it in the examples:

IRremoteESP8266/examples/IRMQTTServer/IRMQTTServer.ino

Lines 3074 to 3086 in 00b27cc

	} else if (str.equals(prefix + F(KEY_POWER))) {
	state->power = IRac::strToBool(payload.c_str());
	#if MQTT_CLIMATE_HA_MODE
	// When in Home Assistant mode, Power Off, means turn the Mode to Off too.
	if (!state->power) state->mode = stdAc::opmode_t::kOff;
	#endif // MQTT_CLIMATE_HA_MODE
	} else if (str.equals(prefix + F(KEY_MODE))) {
	state->mode = IRac::strToOpmode(payload.c_str());
	#if MQTT_CLIMATE_HA_MODE
	// When in Home Assistant mode, a Mode of Off, means turn the Power off too.
	if (state->mode == stdAc::opmode_t::kOff) state->power = false;
	#endif // MQTT_CLIMATE_HA_MODE
	} else if (str.equals(prefix + F(KEY_TEMP))) {

And also read:

IRremoteESP8266/examples/IRMQTTServer/IRMQTTServer.h

Lines 138 to 152 in 00b27cc

	// Use Home Assistant-style operation modes.
	// TL;DR: Power and Mode are linked together. One changes the other.
	// i.e.
	// - When power is set to "off", the mode is set to "off".
	// - When the mode changes from "off" to something else, power is set to "on".
	// See: https://www.home-assistant.io/components/climate.mqtt/#modes
	// *** WARNING ***
	// This setting will cause IRMQTTServer to forget what the previous operation
	// mode was. e.g. a power "on" -> "off" -> "on" will cause it to use the
	// default mode for your A/C, not the previous mode.
	// Typically this is "Auto" or "Cool" mode.
	// Change to false, if your home automation system doesn't like this, or if
	// you want IRMQTTServer to be the authoritative source for controling your
	// A/C.
	#define MQTT_CLIMATE_HA_MODE true