Virtual Dimmer Switch to control multiple lights through Alexa?

[TOMillr (Tom)]

I’m trying to control multiple lights sources through Alexa voice commands. Since ST’s native lighting groups still don’t seem to handed through to Alexa, I’m looking into using a Virtual Device instead.

I was able to add a Virtual Dimmer Switch over on the my.smartthings.com dashboard. However, I fail to understand how to add actually devices to this virtual switch.

[TapioX]

@TOMillr

However, I fail to understand how to add actually devices to this virtual switch.

You can use Rules API rules to control actual devices.

Here are examples:

@TapioX

Using these Rules API rules Virtual Dimmer operates as master Light and
every time Master Light is operated rules copies the master light state to slave Light(s).

[TOMillr (Tom)]

Thanks, does this also work with the “native” virtual dimmer switch or do I have to first install your Edge driver?

[TapioX]

@TOMillr

does this also work with the “native” virtual dimmer switch

It should work with “native” virtual dimmer. I’ve never tested this.
Are you using ST Hub and local virtual dimmer?

[orangebucket (Graham)]

You might also like to bear in mind that you should be able to use the ID of a device group as the -- ID Real Lamp Dimmer Device -- in a Rule.

[h0ckeysk8er (Bruce Pinsky)]

@TOMillr

I’m trying to control multiple lights sources through Alexa voice commands. Since ST’s native lighting groups still don’t seem to handed through to Alexa, I’m looking into using a Virtual Device instead.

I was able to add a Virtual Dimmer Switch over on the my.smartthings.com dashboard. However, I fail to understand how to add actually devices to this virtual switch.

There are several approaches that could be used to achieve at least basic on/off state for the Lighting Group or the devices in the group.

If you are trying to control them as a group, why not simply create a Manual Routine (formerly Scene) in ST instead of a Lighting Group? Those are available in Alexa for voice control. You can create separate Manual Routines for turning the lights on and one for turning them off.

Another option is using a virtual switch for voice control in Alexa to trigger ST Routines that turn on/off the ST Lighting Group. So, for example, you have a virtual switch callled “MyGroup” and create two ST Routines:

If MyGroup turns on
Then
Turn on Lighting Group "My Group of Lights"

If MyGroup turns off
Then
Turn off Lighting Group "My Group of Lights"

Then in Alexa you can say “Turn on MyGroup” or “Turn off MyGroup”.

And yet another option could be to use Smartlighting in ST to sync the state of the Lighting Group to the virtual switch.

Personally, I think all of those are simpler than dealing with the complexity of the Rules API.

[Zymeth]

Or you could create a room in Alexa and put all those lights into that room. Then you can use Alexa to turn the whole room on/off, set the brightness, or set the color/warmth.

[TOMillr (Tom)]

@h0ckeysk8er

And yet another option could be to use Smartlighting in ST to sync the state of the Lighting Group to the virtual switch.

Thanks, that was a good and easy suggestions. Never used the Smart Lighting option before. Going to give it another look what else can be done with it.

[h0ckeysk8er (Bruce Pinsky)]

@TOMillr

@h0ckeysk8er

And yet another option could be to use Smartlighting in ST to sync the state of the Lighting Group to the virtual switch.

Thanks, that was a good and easy suggestions. Never used the Smart Lighting option before. Going to give it another look what else can be done with it.

My Lighting Group is Foo. My virtual device is vEdge Placeholder which you can also see in the Alexa app.

[Peter-M (Peter)]

I simply build those same groups in Alexa itself. Saying “Alexa, [group name] off” will then work very much the same as turning everything in a room off by saying “Alexa, [room name] off”.