Unlocking the Power of SmartThings: A Comprehensive Guide to Creating and Applying Virtual Switches!
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- Опубліковано 4 лип 2024
- Virtual switches can be extremely useful. If you are not using them as part of your smart home setup you really should. In today’s episode I will tell you everything you need to know about using SmartThings virtual switches to unlock the power of SmartThings by controlling actions in third-party apps. I’ll cover where to get them. How to get them setup. Plus give you a real life example of how to use them to enhance your home automations.
🔵 Resource Links Referenced in this Episode:
~ TAustin’s Shared Projects Channel: tinyurl.com/mt6hs8mb
~ "Add an Echo Voice Assistant in the SmartThings App": tinyurl.com/34h5ampr
🔵 Bud's Smart Home Website Links - (One-time $10 Subscription Fee to Access over 30 Edge Driver How To Guides) **
🛒- TAustin's "Virtual Devices V2" app Edge Driver Guide: tinyurl.com/
🛒- Ring Alarm Door Contact Sensor" Edge Driver Guide: tinyurl.com/348x2m4x
🟢 Buy Todd Austin a Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/taustin
🟠 Source Edge Driver Info & Cost for SmartThings Compatible Devices:
🛒- Bud's Amazon Store: www.amazon.com/shop/budssmart...
🟡 Subscribe to my UA-cam Channel: / budssmarthome
🔴 Buds Smart Home Website: www.budshomeautomation.com
🔵 How to support Bud's Smart Home Automation:
🛒 - Shop my Amazon Store: www.amazon.com/shop/budssmart...
💳 - Buy me a Coffee via PayPal: paypal.me/BudsHomeAutomation
AMAZON ASSOCIATE DISCLAIMER: The links in this description are affiliate links. If you click on a product link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission. You will not incur any additional cost by using my affiliate links. Your purchase(s) will help support this channel. Thank you for your support!
** Edge Driver Article Access Disclaimer
I've introduced a nominal $10 subscription fee for accessing Edge Driver articles on my Bud’s Smart Home website. These premium articles provide clear and easy instructions for installing SmartThings Edge Drivers. Your subscription grants access to over 30 articles, each with detailed steps for sourcing and installing both custom and stock Edge Drivers.
This decision was not made lightly. I incur significant costs for maintaining a website and domain, and this fee helps to offset these expenses. Additionally, a great deal of time and effort goes into researching, writing, and providing links to various SmartThings Edge Drivers.
If the $10 fee is a barrier, please note that you can source some drivers directly from the device manufacturer. Alternatively, you are welcome to conduct your own driver research on the SmartThings Community website at community.smartthings.com
For a more convenient approach, you can access my comprehensive Edge Driver articles on my website at www.budshomeautomation.com
#VirtualContactSensor #VirtualSwitch #SmartThings #VirtualDevice #ringalarm #ringkeypad
00:00 Introduction
01:12 Virtual Switch Explained
01:48 Use Case Example for a Virtual Device
03:35 Downloading the Virtual Device Creator App
05:16 Update the Creator App to the Newest Version
05:56 Creating Your First Switch Device
08:23 Additional Virtual Switch Settings
10:09 Testing Virtual Switches in SmartThings
10:30 Adding Virtual Switches in SmartThings Routine
12:35 Testing the SmartThings Routine
13:26 Adding the Virtual Switch to a Third-Party App
14:54 Final Testing of the Automation Routines
15:12 Using Virtual Switch in Alexa to Trigger Actions in SmartThings
16:33 Conclusion - Навчання та стиль
Thanks for the update on this matter Bud, this info helped me a lot with my automations beetween smarthings and Alexa, they weren't working fine before this video, now they do.
Glad to hear that your Alexa automations are now working Alonso.
Thanks as always Bud for your informative videos! Since your video about the Ring keypad last year I now have a simple way for all of my smart home to interact with each other without having to rely on matter (assuming that is that the 'then' function is available in either Alexa or the Google Home...which sometimes it isn't!). This has made a world of difference to things. I.e. using a Smartthings window sensor to activate a VEdge Switch that turns off my Tado thermostat and my extractor fan in my ensuite bathroom. Means that I'm not having to think about wasting energy from the radiator being on or the fan running if the window is open. Total gamechanger really ☺
Thanks for your kind remarks Justin. I'm happy to hear that you're finding the content helpful.
Thanks for the great video Bud. That's really help clarify a few things for me!
That's great! Thanks for letting me know it was helpful.
Hey Bud, thanks for your clarification on virtual switches. I think going over your great explanation on this YT video will help to truly understand the power of using virtual switches!
Good to hear from you Dan. Thanks for commenting!
🟠 Source Edge Driver Info & Cost for SmartThings Compatible Devices:
🛒- Bud's Amazon Store: www.amazon.com/shop/budssmart...
Congratulations on the work. Unfortunately the project within your link is not available. Is there a possibility to share again so I can experience this wonderful work?
Dan. Very sorry about the broken link. I was not sure to which link you were referring. I checked and updated the link to "TAustin's Edge Driver channel". Is that the link you were trying to access? I have also listed a link to my website with instructions for installing the driver. If you have subscribed to my "Edge Driver Package" you will have access to these instructions. Otherwise, you can sign-up for a onetime fee of $10 for access to over 30 articles that provide edge driver instructions and edge driver channel links.
Hey Bud, I’m able to run voice alerts triggered by Ring door sensors directly to my echos. I have a bunch of them running for doors and gate. I do also use a bunch of virtual switches though.
Looking forward to your homey vids.
You need to trigger your Echo voice alerts via a virtual switch.
@@BudsSmartHome I do have them connected to SmartThings but have no virtual switches to run voice alerts for Alexa when they are triggered. Have about ten running this way without virtual switches. The alerts are created directly in Alexa app.
@@jharsh3376 Interesting 🤔. Good to know.
Thanks as always foe the video Bud, I use the smarthings switches built into the Lab section of the app, is there any benefit of doing it this way instead?
I think the main benefit of using the switch types described in this video is the reliability of functionality. If you have the same success with the switches from the Lab section, then there would be nothing gained by using the Alexa switch I recommend. Thanks for commenting Marc😉
Hey, how do I connect a smarplug which is only compatible to alexa to SmartThings. Pls do help, I have been trying this for long.
You set up a virtual switch in SmartThings. You then use that virtual switch in an Alexa routine. The Alexa routine will turn on the Smart plug whenever the virtual switch is turned on. So let’s say you have a lamp plugged in to the smart plug and you want the lamp to turn on when a door is opened. The SmartThings routine will be written to turn the virtual switch on when the doors open. The Alexa routine will be written so that when the virtual switch turns on, the smart plug will be turned on, which will light the lamp.
What specific smart plug are you using? (Brand name and Protocol?) Is is a Wi-Fi plug?
I am trying to access the Todd Austin channel but getting 403 Forbidden.
Please advise.
I was able to access thru ST community post
Thanks for letting me know about the broken link. I will see that it is repaired.
Now I know what I missed. Even though its kind of a lot of steps.
Virtual switches needed to evolve as a result of changes in the Alexa app. The important thing is that the changes that Todd Austin made to his vEdge Creator app have resulted in reliable automations with third-party apps like the Alexa app
@@BudsSmartHome well I got it to work properly in ST, but I cant verify in miss A because I removed the ST Skill because of all the doubles it was creating. Anyway thanks a lot.
@@philipperostin- You're welcome Philippe
@@BudsSmartHome to test, I did re-paired miss A and ST and yes it works like a charm, although Miss A did import both virtual things (ie the switch and the contact) and now I spent 3 hours removing the doubles or triples the association recreated ! But hey, it works !
Good 👍