Need to check if Thermostat is in Emergency Heat mode

[gdstewart79]

I am using webCoRE to create some automation events for my Nest thermostats. In the automation events, I need to evaluate if the thermostat is currently in the Emergency Heat mode. If the thermostat is in Emergency Heat mode, this changes the events that need to occur.

Verify the following before opening an issue:

• [x ] You followed the Nest Developer documentation here? Nest Developer Account Creation
• [x ] That OAuth is Enabled for the SmartApp under the IDE.
• [x ] The SmartApps and ALL (5) Devices Handlers are using the latest code available.
• [x ] You have reviewed the NST Manager Wiki for potential fixes.
• [x ] That ALL SmartApps and Device Handlers have been Published for You in the IDE.

About Your Setup:

• How many Thermostats?: 2
• How many Protects? 0
• How many Cameras? 0
• Using the Nest Presence Device? Yes
• Using the Nest Weather Device? Yes
• iOS or Android?: Android
• Mobile App Version: SmartThings version 2.17.0, build 448328. Nest Manager version 5.6.0

Expected Behavior

Current Behavior

Steps to Reproduce (for bugs)

Context

Please include a copy of your log under the IDE if possible
The Thermostat API has a "is_using_emergency_heat". Would like to see this added to the current functionality of this application.

If you need someone to test code for this, I am happy to help.

[imnotbob]

Can you comment on these couple of articles (one suggests is does not work)?

Have you seen the variable set to true (all the variables are in state and in remote diagnostics)

https://nestdevelopers.io/t/is-using-emergency-heat-always-returns-false/585

https://nest.com/support/article/What-s-Emergency-Heat-and-does-Nest-support-it

[gdstewart79]

Thank you for the additional information from the articles. As far as the first article that you provided, I can't be entirely certain of this, but from the posts in the Nest Developer forum, the people posting that "it doesn't work" do not appear to understand what Emergency Heat actually is.

For a heat pump, there is the base heat for the system (runs the compressor backwards to inject heat into the house from outside). This would show as regular "heat" for a heat pump. Then you have the AUX heat, which is when an additional (usually electric) heat source is used in conjunction with the heat pump to provide heating. Then there is ALT heat, which is usually a completely different heat system that is turned on. The final one would be the Emergency Heat source. This is a feature that may or may not exist on a heat pump system. The Emergency Heat is electric heat and can only be turned on manually (for most thermostats, including the Nest thermostats that support it).

If the users from the forum don't actually turn ON the Emergency Heat (shows "Emer. Heat Set" when the heat is not running, but Emergency Heat mode is active or shows "Emergency Heat" when the heat is running). This could very well be why they always receive "False" when polling the is_using_emergency_heat API function.

And as far as the second article, I have a 3rd Gen Nest Learning Thermostat, which does support Emergency Heat for a heat pump system.

You ask me if I have seen the variable set to true and that all variables are in state and in remote diagnostics. I'm not exactly sure what you are asking me to look into. I am very new to the ST SmartApp world and am not a programmer by trade (electrical engineer). If you could point me to where I can view the variable states for my Nest thermostats, I'd be happy to provide that information.

[imnotbob]

Are you ST or HE platform?

[gdstewart79]

I am on the SmartThings (ST) platform.

[imnotbob]

I have created a fix for this. Will discuss with Tony on release.