Modular Intelligence
Keep the air conditioner.
Replace the remote.
A small ESP32 module joins your Wi-Fi and speaks the same infrared language your existing remote does. The air conditioner you already own becomes something you can run from your phone, put on a schedule, and actually see the usage of.
What you get
The things a split unit from 2015 was never going to do on its own.
Control from anywhere
Run the unit from a phone or computer, whether you are in the next room or not in the building. The physical remote keeps working too.
Schedules
Have it come on before you get home and go off after you leave, instead of running all afternoon into an empty room.
Live temperature and humidity
The module reports what the room actually is, not what the unit was last set to — which are often not the same number.
Usage insights
Trends over time, so consumption becomes something you can see and act on rather than something that arrives as a bill.
How it works
Place the module in line of sight
It needs to see the air conditioner's infrared receiver, the same way your handheld remote does.
Join it to your Wi-Fi
The ESP32 connects to your home or building network. No rewiring, and nothing inside the AC unit is modified.
Pair it with the web app
Create an account at smartac.modularintel.com and the unit shows up, along with the room readings the module is taking.
Plans
Priced per device, per month.
Home — $9 / device / month
Apartments and single properties.
Business — $19 / device / month
Multi-unit buildings and small commercial sites.
Enterprise — quoted
Hotels, campuses and multi-site operations.
Worth knowing
- The module controls the AC over infrared, so it needs line of sight to the unit's receiver.
- Remote control and scheduling run through the cloud app, so the module has to be online for them to work. Your ordinary remote is unaffected either way.
- It reads the room, not the unit's internals. It reports measured temperature and humidity, not compressor diagnostics.
Questions
Do I need to replace my air conditioner?
No. The controller sends the same infrared commands your existing remote does, so it works with the air conditioner you already own. Nothing inside the unit is modified.
What hardware is involved?
A single ESP32-based module that joins your Wi-Fi network and sits within line of sight of the air conditioner's infrared receiver. It also reports the temperature and humidity it measures in the room.
What can I do from the app?
Control the unit from anywhere using a phone or computer, set schedules so it switches on and off at preset times, read live room temperature and humidity, and review usage trends over time.
What does it cost?
The Home plan is $9 per device per month for apartments and single properties. Business is $19 per device per month for multi-unit buildings and small commercial sites. Hotels, campuses and multi-site operations are quoted individually.
Does it work if my internet goes down?
Remote control and scheduling run through the cloud app, so they need the module to be online. Your ordinary infrared remote continues to work regardless — the controller does not disable it.
Try it on one room first
One module, one air conditioner, and see whether the schedules alone change what the room costs you.