LG VRF Zigbee Interface Specification

March 12, 2020

Interface overview
The LG VRF Indoor Unit (IDU) contains a Zigbee radio that hosts Zigbee attributes that allow external user interface devices (such
as a 3rd party thermostat) to read and write operational parameters such as operating mode, setpoint, and fan speed.

Attribute interface
The attribute interface takes advantage of Zigbee HA standard HVAC attributes where possible, and defines proprietary attributes
where necessary.

Further details, including data types and units, can be found in Rev 6 of the Zigbee Cluster Library Specification
(http://www.zigbee.org/~zigbeeor/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/07-5123-06-zigbee-cluster-library-specification.pdf).

IDU attributes
The following attributes are hosted by the IDU.

HVAC Thermostat attributes

The following attributes reside on the HVAC Thermostat cluster (cluster ID 0x0201).

Attribute
Attribute name Access Description
ID

LocalTemperature 0x0000 R Local temperature measured at the IDU.

AbsMinHeatSetpointLimit 0x0003 R Heat setpoint minimum value.

AbsMaxHeatSetpointLimit 0x0004 R Heat setpoint maximum value.

AbsMinCoolSetpointLimit 0x0005 R Cool setpoint minimum value.

AbsMaxCoolSetpointLimit 0x0006 R Cool setpoint maximum value.

OccupiedCoolingSetpoint 0x0011 RW Setpoint currently in use for cool mode.

OccupiedHeatingSetpoint 0x0012 RW Setpoint currently in use for heat mode.

Operating modes allowed in the current configuration.

0: Cooling only
ControlSequenceOfOperation 0x001b R
2: Heating only
4: Cooling and heating

Selected operating mode

0: Off
1: Auto
3: Cool
SystemMode 0x001c RW
4: Heat
7: Fan only
Note that it is not required that the LG controller support "Auto" mode. The
3rd Party thermostat will not select "Auto". It is included here for completeness.

Fan Control attributes

The following attributes reside on the HVAC Fan Control cluster (cluster ID 0x0202).

Attribute name Attribute ID Access Description

Selected fan mode

1: Low
2: Medium
FanMode 0x0000 RW 3: High
4: On
5: Auto
The On state is only valid for the single fan speed case.

Fan modes allowed in the current configuration.

2: Low/Med/High/Auto
FanModeSequence 0x0001 R
3: Low/High/Auto
4: On/Auto

LG Proprietary Attributes
The following attributes reside on the LGE Air Conditioner cluster (cluster ID 0xfc14).

Attribute name Type Attribute ID Access Description

Air conditioner error code

ErrorCode ENUM8 0x0000 R 0: No error
other: error code

Air conditioner lock code

Bit 0: Extraordinary Operation
Bit 1:Central controller all lock
Bit 2: Central controller Setpoint lock
Bit 3: Central controller Fan lock
LockCode BITMAP16 0x0001 R Bit 4: Central controller Mode lock
Bit 5: Central controller Setpoint Range lock
Bit 6: Group control in use
Bit 7: Dry contact lock
Bit 8: Central control in use
Bit 9: Defrost Operation

Air conditioner Celsius/Fahrenheit display setting

RemoteCfSwitch ENUM8 0x0002 RW 0:Celsius
1:Fahrenheit

3rd Party Thermostat Attributes

HVAC Thermostat attributes
The following attributes reside on the HVAC Thermostat cluster (cluster ID 0x0201).

Attribute name Attribute ID Access Description

LocalTemperature 0x0000 R Local temperature measured at the Telkonet thermostat.

The following attributes reside on the LGE Air Conditioner cluster (cluster ID 0xfc14).

Attribute
Attribute name Access Description
ID
 Local temperature measured at the 3rd Party thermostat, rounded to nearest
RoundedLocalTemperature 0x0003 R
0.5°C.

Zigbee network operations

The 3rd Party thermostat will be configured either as a router or sleepy end device. If the thermostat is battery powered, it must be
configured as a sleepy end device.
The LG VRF IDU must operate as a Zigbee Router. This configuration supports both a distributed network where the IDU forms the
network, and a centralized networks with the addition of a coordinator.

Before the 3rd Party thermostat can communicate with the IDU,

1. The IDU must form a distributed network or join an existing Zigbee network, and
2. The 3rd Party thermostat must join the network and then bind to the IDU

To support these operations, the IDU must support the standard Zigbee network formation and join operation. The 3rd Party
thermostat will automatically bind to the IDU when it joins the network.
Device binding will follow the finding and binding procedure outlined in section 8.5 (target - IDU), and 8.6 (initiator - thermostat), of
the Zigbee Base Device Behavior Specification.
http://www.zigbee.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/docs-13-0402-13-00zi-Base-Device-Behavior-Specification-2.pdf

In addition, the 3rd Party thermostat needs to be able to identify the joining device as an LG VRF IDU. The IDU will support the
following attributes in the Basic cluster (cluster ID 0x0000):

Attribute name Attribute ID Access Description

ManufacturerName 0x0004 R String identifying the manufacturer as LG

ModelIdentifier 0x0005 R String identifying the model of the IDU

The join operation should be able to be initiated via a user interface at the IDU (typically a pushbutton). The IDU should follow the
Procedure outlined in 'Figure 2–Top level commissioning procedure' in the Base Device Behavior Specification. The IDU should attempt
to join a network, and if unsuccessful, it should form a network. Next, it should enable joining and finding and binding for 90 seconds.
If the IDU is already on a network, then it will just enable joining and finding and binding for 90 seconds.

The 3rd Party thermostat will also have a UI that initiates the process at that side. The join process must be initiated in the 90 second
Window described above.

Thermostat endpoint
The thermostat cluster resides on endpoint 10.

Multiple master support

It is possible that multiple user interface devices will have the capability to write to the IDU's Zigbee attributes, either over the
Zigbee interface or via an alternate interface (such as IR or RS485) supported by the IDU. It is the responsibilty of each master device
to periodically read the attributes to detect any remote changes, and update its internal state accordingly.

Operation
When the thermostat joins the network and verifies that it is bound to the IDU, it will automatically configure the
RoundedLocalTemperature attribute to report to the IDU every 30 seconds.

The thermostat will read the HVAC and fan attributes from the IDU periodically (typically every 10 seconds).

The thermostat will read the LG proprietary attributes (error code, lock code, and CF switch) from the IDU periodically (typically

every 30 seconds).W hen the thermostat detects the IDU is in a lock state (Setpoint, Fan, Mode, or All), the thermostat will internally
lock its associated setting(s), preventing the user from making changes.

When a user changes the HVAC settings, the thermostat will write the new attribute values to the IDU.
When a user changes the HVAC settings, the thermostat will write the new attribute values to the IDU.

When a user changes the Celsius/Fahrenheit display setting, the thermostat will write to the RemoteCfSwitch attribute in the IDU.

On/offline Status
The thermostat will indicate offline if it does not receive a response to 3 consecutive read attempts. The IDU should adopt a similar
strategy by monitoring temperature attribute reports to determine if the thermostat is down.