Dimming Scenes with Echo

[interactii]

Hi there, it doesn't seem that at the moment dimming scenes is supported with Echo ("That command doesn't work on device x"). Does anyone have a way around this? I use scene dimming in all kinds of ways (each room of mine has 5-7 individual devices) and not having this is a real bummer. 

 

Thanks!

[stusviews]

I use light for the scene and ceiling for the device as in, "Alexa, turn the bedroom light on," or "Alexa, set the bedroom ceiling to 30."

 

BTW, you do not need to pronounce percent.

[Deane Johnson]

Hi there, it doesn't seem that at the moment dimming scenes is supported with Echo ("That command doesn't work on device x"). Does anyone have a way around this? I use scene dimming in all kinds of ways (each room of mine has 5-7 individual devices) and not having this is a real bummer. 

 

Thanks!

I don't know if it would be relative to your installation, but I'm dimming scenes using the Insteon hub and a couple of Insteon lamp dimmers.  I can say, "Alexa, make the bedroom lights 10 percent" and it happens.  At the same time, I can choose a single lamp and have Alexa dim it further to 5%.  It is indeed worthwhile to have Alexa handle scenes this way, so any progress in making it more universal will be welcomed.  

[stusviews]

How did you add a Hub scene to the Echo? I've been able to add only devices. Or did you create an Echo group?

[Deane Johnson]

How did you add a Hub scene to the Echo? I've been able to add only devices. Or did you create an Echo group?

I had to go look.  I forgot what I did.  It was an Echo Group.

 

That seems to be the easy way to control scenes and scene dimming, but of course, it has to be something controlled with a Hub native to Echo.  I use the Insteon Hub as well as a Philips Hue Hub.  I have the Smart Things Hub also, but I haven't had a reason to try anything with it.

[stusviews]

The Hub only allows primary devices to be controlled by the Echo. So you can't include KeypadLinc buttons except for the load button load nor can you control the motor part of a FanLinc. Easy, but limited.

Edited February 2, 2016 by stusviews

[madcodger]

I created groups of devices in the Alexa app, which are similar in concept to using scenes on the ISY. Works GREAT to dim or brighten.

[Teken]

I created groups of devices in the Alexa app, which are similar in concept to using scenes on the ISY. Works GREAT to dim or brighten.

 

I gather this is a good compromise until dimming scenes natively is supported. I honestly thought I was stupid in asking her to dim the lights and nothing was being done.

 

What are the different variations (spoken phrases) to initiate the dimming / brighten process?

[stusviews]

These are some commands I use for devices, not scenes.

 

brighten, brighter, raise, dim, dimmer, lower, set/turn x to 40 (percent is understood and set doesn't always work)

[accd]

Just my two cents,   I know there's an investment in the HUB for most, however the dimming control using the ISY is or has been better than the physical switches or dimmers for me.   Asking Alexa to set X to 10% gives me the exact illumination I wanted.    I'm using all LED lighting and LEDs seem to be a little more picky when trying to get the settings just right.  I use Echo native to turn on "blocks" or rooms of devices and then if needed go back and dim via ISY, as needed.

[stusviews]

Anything's better than manually manipulating a dimmer. most especially a KPL button that changes state with each press.

[madcodger]

I don't understand the comment about need to turn on a light with Echo and then dim with ISY. We just tell the Echo the level of dim / bright we want, and it tells the ISY where to set it. No "going back" needed. The thing just works!

[Teken]

These are some commands I use for devices, not scenes.

 

brighten, brighter, raise, dim, dimmer, lower, set/turn x to 40 (percent is understood and set doesn't always work)

 

Stu,

 

I will give those commands a whirl once I add in all the devices instead of the scenes.

[ScottAvery]

Ultimately we do need a reliable solution for this issue.  Most of my rooms have multiple lights and they need to operate together in scenes.  For what it is worth, my non-statistical sample of one failed when I tried to use the Alexa app to group the devices.  I set up two floor lamps from my scene as individual devices in the ISY Portal, then created a group in the Alexa app.  Asking Alexa to dim the group resulted in only one of the two dimming.  Something fishy between Amazon -> Portal -> ISY.  Was this feature tested?

[Teken]

Ultimately we do need a reliable solution for this issue.  Most of my rooms have multiple lights and they need to operate together in scenes.  For what it is worth, my non-statistical sample of one failed when I tried to use the Alexa app to group the devices.  I set up two floor lamps from my scene as individual devices in the ISY Portal, then created a group in the Alexa app.  Asking Alexa to dim the group resulted in only one of the two dimming.  Something fishy between Amazon -> Portal -> ISY.  Was this feature tested?

 

As I have stated many times in various threads / forums so long as expectations of the use of the cloud are realistic. Control of lighting and other various things can be used.

 

I already knew this whole thing would be a hit and miss affair given the hops, distance, and various integration with other servers.

 

For me this is a tool which I hope gets more developed and refined in the long run. I have no illusions that voice control is very much a fad that will go away at some point. The same thing was seen in 3D TV's and now the stupid idea of making curved TV's.

 

Anyone who has to ask a black box more than two times to turn something on will ultimately say f^ck it! I've already sent in some user feed back to the Amazon Support Team in asking that they consider more two way interaction, energy integration, and useful integration with services that are meaningful and practical.

[stusviews]

I don't understand the comment about need to turn on a light with Echo and then dim with ISY. We just tell the Echo the level of dim / bright we want, and it tells the ISY where to set it. No "going back" needed. The thing just works!

 

That works only with devices, not scenes. If you have more than one responder, then that won't work. And if you have more than one controller (e.g., KPL buttons, 3-way configuration), the controllers won't indicate the state of the scene.

[stusviews]

I have no illusions that voice control is very much a fad that will go away at some point..

 

Voice control may not reach the popularity of HA, but I don't believe it'll go away anytime soon. In fact, HA itself is seeing a surge in popularity. The problem with 3D TVs was that they required adding something to you body that you needed to then remove to otherwise function. Voice is built-in

[Michel Kohanim]

Hello all,

 

Unfortunately I have lost track of the issue. Is the issue not being able to dim a scene? i.e. Alexa, dim x where x is a scene?

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[Teken]

Hello all,

 

Unfortunately I have lost track of the issue. Is the issue not being able to dim a scene? i.e. Alexa, dim x where x is a scene?

 

With kind regards,

Michel

 

Yes, scenes can not be dimmed / brighten at the moment. Alexa simply indicates this command isn't available or couldn't be done.

[Michel Kohanim]

Thanks Teken!

 

Just so that everyone's aware, dimming and brightening scenes will only dim by 3% (or something like that defined by INSTEON) for every invocation. So, if you want to dim a scene to 50%, you will have to tell Alexa to dim about 17 times. Also, it's important to note that you cannot send a % dim to a scene. So, the main question is: what is everyone expecting dim/brighten do for scenes?

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[dywicked]

Funny, I just posted about this in the connected home thread. Right now with connected home and a device, I seem to be able to ask Alexa to set the device to a specific brightness level. For example, "Alexa, set the master bedroom to 50%." Ideally, I would like to be able to do the same with a scene, as more often than not, my scenes are just groups of devices I control together (vs. a fixed setting).

 

Best,

 

-David

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi David,

 

With INSTEON, that would be impossible unless:

1. We have logic in the portal that keeps calling ISY to dim 'n' times (not very efficient)

2. Have an ISY program that loops and dims 'n' times (ugly)

3. Create another scene with your desired dim levels and just turn on that scene (not practical)

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[ccclapp]

Thanks Teken!

 

Just so that everyone's aware, dimming and brightening scenes will only dim by 3% (or something like that defined by INSTEON) for every invocation. So, if you want to dim a scene to 50%, you will have to tell Alexa to dim about 17 times. Also, it's important to note that you cannot send a % dim to a scene. So, the main question is: what is everyone expecting dim/brighten do for scenes?

 

With kind regards,

Michel

 

Is a workaround to have a program which solely exists to invoke a scene dim level, e.g program "Evening 50" turns on the Evening scene at 50% dim?  One coule have 2-4 such programs for the critical scenes.  Then in Echo "Alexa, Evening 50 On".  Yes/No?

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi ccclapp,

 

See my previous post. Programs would need to iterate through and calling dim. This is ugly since each invocation will take 1 second ... less ugly solution would be to have a 50% scene instead.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[ccclapp]

Hi ccclapp,

 

See my previous post. Programs would need to iterate through and calling dim. This is ugly since each invocation will take 1 second ... less ugly solution would be to have a 50% scene instead.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

 

Do I correctly understand you are saying: Echo aside, due to Insteon, ISY programs can only din/brighten a scene by 3% per "call"?  Thus (Echo aside) dimming scenes via programs in not prudent?