FAQ: Creating a virtual Groovy Device [OBSOLETE]

[JDRoberts]

Perfect, thank you!

Note that " simulated switch" is a binary on/off, like a regular light switch.

Use “momentary button tile” or one of the other momentary device types if you want something more like a classic doorbell button where it only goes on at the moment that you activate it, and then returns to the off state on its own.

Both are useful, but they serve different purposes.

Device ID

Also, when choosing a device ID for the virtual switch, you need to be careful not to choose one that a future Z wave switch will want to also use or that future device may not pair correctly to your network. The easiest thing is just to choose a virtual device ID that starts with a letter higher than “H.” I start all of my virtual devices with the V.

Virtual Switches ID conflicting while pair a zwave device

I have a handful of virtual switches and I set their Network Device ID by taking my last Z-Wave devices ID and incrementing it by 1. Just recently I was trying to pair a few new GE outdoor outlets (Zwave) and they would never pair. I finally realized that they were trying to use the same ID as one of my virtual switches. I changed all the virtual switches ID’s to start with 100 then the new devices paired right away. So apparently the new devices were not able to see the virtual switches and know the ID was already taken? Just figured I would post this in case it helps someone else out Scott

Virtual Dimmer

Also, for those who want a virtual dimmer, see the following:

How to create a virtual dimmer?

Hi can anyone tell me how to add a virtual dimmer. I don’t see “virtual dimmer” or “simulated dimmer” as an option for a device to add. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

2020 Update

At the time of this writing, the only virtual switch DTH that works with the new V3 app without requiring modification is the “virtual switch.“ None of the momentary options.

You can make a Virtual switch act like a momentary switch by first creating a virtual switch and then adding a separate SmartLighting automation to use the “power allowance“ feature and have the virtual switch always turn itself off after one minute.

(On the plus side, this specific DTH can run locally. As of this writing, Other virtual devices will run in the cloud.)

2021 Update

Since groovy will be going away soon, so will groovy virtual switches.

One community member has written a new virtual switch creator Edge Driver for the new platform called VEdge Creator. Since edge drivers themselves are still in Beta, so is this code, but it’s worth following.

Note also that while groovy virtual devices could be used without a SmartThings hub, Edge drivers will require one.

[ST Edge] vEdge Creator: a virtual device generator for end users