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5. Using Display and LED Modes on Omni, Awair r2 and Element

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Doug B edited this page Jan 22, 2025 · 16 revisions

v5.7.x of the plugin introduced control of the Awair device display content and LED brightness for Awair Omni, Awair r2, and Awair Element. This functionality is for the advanced user that would like to make use of the control functionality of their Awair device beyond monitoring of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) status. Awair device display functionality is enabled by setting enableModes to true in the config.json file. Alternately, this setting is accessible through the config-ui-x interface.

On these devices, device display control mirrors the functionality that is available through the iPhone iOS app. The following can be controlled:

  • Display Mode: (Awair) Score, Temp, Humid, CO2, VOC (Chemicals), PM25, and Clock
  • LED (Brightness) Mode: Auto, Manual, and Sleep

NOTE: Temperature units (C/F) and Clock format (12/24) will be the same as you have configured in the Awair iOS app.

iOS16 Screenshots

When Modes are enabled, 2 additional HomeKit accessories are added. In the example below for an Awair-Element, an Air Quality Accessory is added by default for monitoring of temperature, humidity, CO2, chemicals and dust. Additionally, Display Mode and LED Mode Accessories are added as shown below:

iOS16 Screenshots

The Display Mode accessory appears as an array of switches, one for each of the Display modes. When a new mode is turned ON the previous mode is turned OFF. You should see this change reflected on your Awair device display. If you try to turn OFF the currently active mode it will be returned back to ON after a short delay as at least one mode must be selected.

The LED (Brightness) Mode accessory also appears as an array of switches, one for each of the LED modes. The Manual switch also provides for adjustment of the display brightness. As you slide up/down on this switch you will note that the display brightness will change. The Auto mode adjusts brightness according to room light intensity. The Sleep mode is similar to Auto, however, when your room light level becomes sufficiently low the display will turn off completely.

When either the Display Mode or LED Mode switches are initially configured, all of the switches will be displayed as DISPLAY MODE or LED MODE. This is a limitation in HomeKit which but can easily be corrected manually as shown in the screenshot below.

  • For each switch array, select the setting gear.
  • In the Settings window, open the entry for Accessories.
  • Select one of the switches and open its settings.
  • The switch name will be displayed as either "Display Mode" or "LED Mode".
  • Select the "x" on this field and you will see the correct switch name grayed out.
  • Type in the correct switch name followed by RETURN and close the window.
  • Repeat for each of the switches.

iOS16 Screenshots

When compatible devices are initially added to Homebridge the Display mode will be set to Score and LED mode will be set to Auto. These initial setting as well as subsequent changes in modes are stored in the Homebridge cache for the accessory and will be restored to their previous value if Homebridge is restarted.

NOTE: Changes in Display and LED Modes through the HomeKit app will be reflected to the Awair iOS app Settings menu, however, changes in the iOS app will not update HomeKit although the device display will change. HomeKit will resynchronize when a new mode is selected or Homebridge is restarted.

So, what might you use the Mode functionality for? The most interesting is to make use of HomeKit Automations to set the display content and LED brightness according to a timed schedule or an event occurs. A simple example if you had your Awair device located in your bedroom is to set the display to show the Clock and dim the display at the normal time you go to bed and change back to Score and Auto brightness at the normal time your wake up. The Automation below shows the steps to enabling Clock mode at 10:00p.

iOS16 Screenshots

You would make a similar Automation for changing back to Auto at your normal rise time. If you wish to change the LED brightness just add the appropriate switch to the automation. For the LED Manual control, first add the switch, and select the switch to adjust the brightness level.

Additional examples:

  • Set up an automation which a high CO2 level condition changes the Awair device display to continuously show the CO2 level.
  • Set up an automation which Air Quality falling below 'Good' causes a HomeKit connected Air Purifier to be switched to high fan mode.
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