TrolMaster ARS-2 AC Remote Station | Mini-Split IR Control for Hydro-X

TrolMaster ARS-2 Puts a Mini-Split on the Same Schedule as the Room

The ARS-2 is a universal infrared remote station that plugs into a TrolMaster Hydro-X, Tent-X or Green-X controller. It works with the HCS-1, HCS-2, HCS-3, TCS-1 and GCS-1 main units, connected through the DEVICE port. You teach it the IR signals from your air conditioner's original remote, and from then on the controller does the button pressing. Compared with the ARS-1, it can learn and send temperature values in AUTO, COOL and HEAT modes instead of just one. Power comes down the RJ12 cable at 12VDC and 0.1A, so there is no wall adapter to find an outlet for. The housing is rated IP20 and runs in rooms from 32 to 122°F at up to 90% RH. A micro-SD slot on the unit takes firmware updates. The box includes a 16 ft and a 4 ft RJ12 cable plus a T-shaped splitter, according to the manual. It ships in a 6.30 × 3.39 × 3.39 in package at 0.99 lbs. The emitter plugs into the jack on the top panel and gets fixed where it can see the AC's receiver.

Running Day and Night Setpoints Through a Mini Split Controller

Once it is paired, the controller reads its photocell and temperature sensor and decides which setpoint the room needs. The ARS-2 then sends the matching IR command, so lights-on and lights-out each get their own target without anyone touching a remote. That matters most at the transitions, when a room swings hard in the minutes after the lights change. You can also set one period so the mini-split effectively stays off. Plenty of flower rooms use that idle window at night when the lights are out and the heat load drops. Mount the station with its back-panel bracket on the wall near the unit, and aim the emitter straight at the receiver. Infrared needs line of sight, so a hanging duct or a light fixture in the path will block the signal. The housing is not built for wet locations, so keep it out of the splash zone around reservoirs and dehumidifier drains. It only drives air conditioners that take an infrared remote. A wired central system is a job for the TS-1 or TS-2 thermostat stations instead.

Key Features

• AUTO, COOL and HEAT Learning: Temperature values are learned for all three modes, which the older ARS-1 could not do.
• Day/Night Setpoints: The controller switches targets on its photocell, so each light period holds its own room temperature.
• Idle Period Option: One period can be set so the mini-split effectively stays off without anyone switching it by hand.
• Powered Over RJ12: The station draws its power from the controller cable, so no separate adapter or outlet is needed.
• Firmware by Micro-SD: Updates load from a card slot on the unit, which keeps it current as the Hydro-X platform changes.

Technical Specifications