I know about several virtual devices and handlers and most of them are working well.
But I’ve never found a virtual device that can trigger an Alexa routine AND could be disabled automatically by SmartThings after a few minutes.
My scenario: If my door opens, the SmartThings Multipurpose Sensor if open and changes the virtual devices state AND(!) should change / close it automatically after a few minutes.
In the Alexa app that virtual device should trigger a routine to turn the lights on if the door opens and turn them off if the sensor closes after a few minutes.
If I understand what you’re asking, this should be very simple as long as you have the right DTH.
If you use the one in the community FAQ with is both A switch and a sensor, you should be able to set up the switch part of it with the regular power allowance feature of smartlighting so that it always turns itself off after the time you specify.
the FAQ section was the first I’ve read and searched so much around of the forums as well.
I was able to find different DTH but as far as I can see none of them are able to do both.
The default one by SmartThings is able to turn off automatically if I use it with the multipurpose sensor but isn’t able to trigger an Alexa routine because it’s not recognized by the Alexa app as a trigger.
The one in the FAQ is a very specific one: it is recognized by both smartthings and echo as both a switch and a sensor. At least in the US and the UK, the sensor can trigger an Alexa routine. And the switch can be turned on and off by any smartthings automation, including the power allowance feature in smartlighting.
I just don’t know if sensor-triggered Alexa routines are currently available in Germany or not, but if they are, you should be all set.
Yes, the link in the FAQ is exactly what I’ve tried.
Either it doesn’t work correctly for me or I’ve missed something.
You might want to take a look at the attached screenshots. They’re in german but you can see what’s missing (auto turn off after X).
The default switch (Virtual Device Creator) can be turned off automatically but won’t work as a trigger.
The virtual device from the FAQ link work as a trigger but cannot be turned off automatically.
I would turn it off with the “power allowance” feature of smart lighting instead. But someone else will have to help you because the new v3 app is not currently voice navigable.
I have both apps installed, but I don’t know how to add rules / routines within the classic app.
It seems that the Routines tab is missing for the the Hub v3.
You can do power allowance in the new app as well. There are no routines in the new app, they have been replaced with automations and scenes.
Again, though, someone else is going to have to help you with this. But to get to smart lighting you would use the three horizontal line menu in the upper left of the first screen. Then choose “smart apps” instead of automations. You should see smartlighting there.
Select it, and choose “new smart lighting automation.”
Now choose your virtual switch and say you want to turn it off, not on.
Then for the trigger, scroll down until you see “power allowance.“
