I have a Heat and Glo SL5 installed in 2019. Currently it has a RCT-MLT /-II remote control, which is not working. A service call is between $100 and $350, a replacement remote is also $300+. Making a replacement with a smart one appealing.
Oh and the fireplace works, I can switch the remote to on and it lights etc.
I want to convert this to a smart application, we use google home. Does anyone know what sort of controller/remote I need to replace it with?
Thanks
Dude, just use this:
You guys make this too hard. The fireplace is just a contact switch. Connect wires, fire on. Disconnect, fire off. Using Home assistant, Shelley relay and an ecobee and you can make it smart.
I have the same remote for my fireplace and have been trying to make it smart. Unfortunately I don’t think it’s going to happen.
I tried Bond remote system because it says the remote is supported but when I got the bond device setup it was able to record the button press from the remote but sending the command did nothing.
There used to be a service that would modify the stock remote in some way to allow WiFi control but they disappeared a year or two ago.
Another issue is that the remote sends a heartbeat with its status every 15 minutes if the receiver doesn’t get this heartbeat for 2 hours it will shutdown the fireplace.
Because of all these things I have come to the conclusion that the only way to do it is to replace both the controllers and the remote but it’s not the type of thing where there is consumer choices. I tried reaching out to Skytech (the company that makes the remote/receiver) to see if they have an upgrade but got no response.
I’ve considered using a Shelly relay because you can get a physical wall switch for the fireplace and there is a write up about doing this but the problem for me is that I would not be able to control the flame height or fan.
How does the remote work? RF or IR?
The standard approach would be to get a blaster for the same type of communication and have it learn the commands. But since the existing remote doesn’t work, this will be hard.
You will have to see if you can get a hold of the commands in a document that you can use to program your blaster.