ESPHome Acer Projector Component

A custom ESPHome component to control Acer H7550BD projectors (and potentially other compatible Acer models) via RS232 serial communication.

Features

• Power on/off control
• Lamp hours monitoring with efficient polling (only when projector is on)
• Lamp status monitoring
• 3D mode control with advanced two-phase activation sequence
• Hide and freeze display functions via button entities
• Keystone adjustment controls
• Model name detection (automatically refreshed each time projector turns on)
• Smart power state handling with interlocks

Installation

Method 1: Local Components

1. Create a custom_components directory in your ESPHome configuration directory if it doesn't already exist.
2. Copy the entire acer_projector directory into the custom_components directory.
3. Add the following to your YAML configuration:

external_components:
  - source: 
      type: local
      path: custom_components

Method 2: Direct Git Reference

Add this to your YAML configuration:

external_components:
  - source: 
      type: git
      url: https://github.com/SparkyDan555/ESPHome-Acer-Projector
      ref: main

Hardware Setup

Connect the ESP8266/ESP32 to the projector's RS232 port using an appropriate level shifter/converter (RS232 to TTL converter) as RS232 operates at different voltage levels than the ESP.

Typical connections:

• ESP TX → RS232 converter RX
• ESP RX → RS232 converter TX
• ESP GND → RS232 converter GND

Make sure to use a power supply that can handle the requirements of both the ESP and the RS232 converter.

YAML Configuration

# Configure a UART component for the RS232 connection
uart:
  tx_pin: GPIO1  # Adjust according to your ESP model
  rx_pin: GPIO3  # Adjust according to your ESP model
  baud_rate: 9600
  data_bits: 8
  parity: NONE
  stop_bits: 1

# Configure the acer_projector component
acer_projector:
  id: acer_projector_device

# Configure switches
switch:
  - platform: acer_projector
    acer_projector_id: acer_projector_device
    power:
      name: "Acer Projector Power"
    sync_3d:
      name: "Acer Projector 3D Mode"

# Configure buttons
button:
  - platform: acer_projector
    acer_projector_id: acer_projector_device
    hide:
      name: "Acer Projector Hide Display"
    freeze:
      name: "Acer Projector Freeze"
    keystone_up:
      name: "Acer Projector Keystone Up"
    keystone_down:
      name: "Acer Projector Keystone Down"

# Configure sensors
sensor:
  - platform: acer_projector
    acer_projector_id: acer_projector_device
    lamp_hours:
      name: "Acer Projector Lamp Hours"

# Configure binary sensors
binary_sensor:
  - platform: acer_projector
    acer_projector_id: acer_projector_device
    lamp_status:
      name: "Acer Projector Lamp Status"

# Configure text sensors
text_sensor:
  - platform: acer_projector
    acer_projector_id: acer_projector_device
    model:
      name: "Acer Projector Model"

See example_config.yaml for a complete configuration example.

Home Assistant Integration

After setting up the component and connecting to Home Assistant, you'll get these entities:

• Switch: Control power and 3D mode features
• Button: Control hide display, freeze, and keystone adjustment functions
• Sensor: Monitor lamp hours (only polls when projector is on)
• Binary Sensor: Monitor lamp status (on/off)
• Text Sensor: Show projector model (updated each time projector is powered on)

Special Features

Advanced 3D Mode Control

This component implements a specialized 3D mode activation sequence:

1. When 3D mode is turned on, it first sends IR code 056
2. After 8.5 seconds, it sends the follow-up IR code 062 (only if 3D mode is still enabled)
3. When 3D mode is turned off, it sends IR code 057

Smart Interlocks

• 3D mode cannot be enabled when the projector is off
• If 3D mode is on and projector is turned off, 3D mode is automatically disabled
• 3D mode switch will immediately revert to off position if attempted when projector is off

Efficient Polling

• Lamp hours are only queried when the projector is on
• Model name is automatically queried each time the projector turns on
• Reduced log verbosity for common status messages when projector is off

Command Protocol Information

This component implements the Acer serial protocol using IR command codes over the RS232 interface:

• Format: * 0 IR XXX\r where XXX is the IR code
• Lamp status query: * 0 Lamp ?\r
• Lamp hours query: * 0 Lamp\r

Key IR Codes Used

• Power on: 001
• Power off: 002
• 3D mode phase 1: 056
• 3D mode phase 2: 062
• 3D mode off: 057
• Hide display: 030
• Freeze display: 007
• Keystone up: 042
• Keystone down: 043
• Query model: 035

Troubleshooting

• No response from projector: Check your wiring, especially TX/RX connections (they might need to be swapped).
• Incorrect values: Make sure baud rate and serial settings match the projector requirements.
• Connection issues: Verify the RS232 converter is powered correctly and the voltage levels are appropriate.
• 3D mode not activating: Remember the 3D mode uses a two-phase activation with an 8.5 second delay between commands.
• Switch state mismatch: Power-state interlocks might be preventing certain functions; check if the projector is on.

License

This component is licensed under the MIT License.

Acknowledgments

• Based on the Acer H7550BD serial command protocol.
• Developed for integration with the ESPHome ecosystem.