FAQ: Amazon Echo: The Official SmartThings Integration is here! (Initial SetUp FAQ)

[JDRoberts]

Setting Up Virtual Switches for Echo to Use

First create the virtual switch in SmartThings

FAQ on creating a virtual switch:

FAQ: Creating a virtual Groovy Device [OBSOLETE]

Need a FAQ for the simplest version of this: a virtual on/off switch. Maybe even two FAQs, one for why you would want one with use case examples and one step by step how to for creating one in ST. Thanks! 2023 Update Since groovy will be going away soon, so will groovy virtual switches. See the new FAQ for on the replacements: FAQ: Creating Virtual Devices Without the IDE

This will now look like a physical switch to both smartthings and any third-party service that you have authorized to use smartthings devices. That includes echo, IFT TT, harmony, etc.

So you can toggle it on and off from the mobile app, use it in a routine, use it in a smart app, authorize echo to turn it on and off, etc.

Using the Virtual Switch to Change Mode or Run a Routine

To have a virtual switch change the mode or initiate a routine, you need to use a smartApp to recognize when the switch changes and then do what you want done.

@MichaelS Has created a very useful smart app called “Alexa helper” which will let you sign up to six switches (binary or momentary) in one pass to change the mode or initiate a routine. Perfect for echo.

Alexa Helper - Change mode or phrase with a switch toggle

There is a new version available that uses a Parent/Child structure. Search the forums for the official Re-Release of Alexa Helper All, Here is a variation on my “Switch changes mode/phrase” app published by SmartThings. Right now, this is just a re-packaged version of the app that was approved about a month ago…just with an Echo/Alexa icon and wording; however, I plan to expand on this app later. This app allows you to trigger a mode change or execute a Hello, Home Phrase with the toggling of a switch. For example, if you create a virtual switch called “good night”, and tie that within the app to a “good night” phrase that locks the doors, turns off all of the lights and sets the temperature, simply saying “Alexa, turn on Good Night” would activate that phrase, doing multiple actions a…

Once the Switch is Created and the SmartApp is Set Up in SmartThings to Use it, Just Authorize Echo to Control It

Once the switch is created and you have set up a smart app to do something when the switch is flipped, you can add The virtual switch to your list of authorized devices for echo to control just like any physical switch. See step 10 in the first post.

If you also want IFTTT to be able to access the new switch, you also need to update that authorization list.

TIP: Use the same Virtual Switch to trigger Multiple IFTTT Events.

@Will_Poirier pointed out in his hey Siri method that even though each IFTTT recipe can only have one “that”, you can use the same “If” in multiple recipes and they will all trigger at the same time.

So you could have the same smartthings virtual switch (turned on by Amazon echo) as the “if” in a recipe that triggered a SmartThings hello home action, A scout alarm action, an automatic car app action, a harmony activity, a Dropbox data collection action, A blink USB light, and an email, all with one Amazon echo voice command.

So using a virtual switch to trigger a Routine is great, because it lets you put together a bunch of different SmartThings events from the same trigger, but using IFTTT you can even go out to services that don’t have direct SmartThings integration and trigger them at the same time from the same switch.

One of my favorite things about smartthings is The IFTTT channel, especially when used with virtual switches, and this is just another example of how powerful that can be.