How to set a program variable via Alexa portal?

[starmanj]

I don't see how to pass a program variable (light intensity) to a program.  Say "Alexa turn on kitchen lights to 50%".  The program contains several lights to adjust.

[stusviews]

If you want the Echo to control the intensity of a single dimmer, then add the dimmer to the portal and give it a unique spoken. BTW, then most expedient way to control a group of devices is with a scene, not a program. You can also vocally brighten and/or dim a scene, but not a program.

[larryllix]

I have a lot of MiLights and Hue bulbs mixed into my Gathering Room Insteon lighting so I found I could not used my scenes with Alexa.

 

After adding in spokens, for all my main SwitchLinc method programs, I found my scenes useless and removed them from Alexa control.

 

If you only have Insteon (and possibly Zwave), the Scene method is probably best. My programs just operate the scenes plus Network Resources  for the non-ISY-native lighting.

 

However, I do have a range of program for differing lighting levels that can be Alexa operated, same as from the SwitchLinc so I don't use the percent factor. I find the spoken commands for level clumsy.

Edited June 22, 2016 by larryllix

[NedB]

Echo will not accept a 'Set' command for a scene, however. It does allow turn on, off, brighten and dim for scenes. From what I can tell, only an individual dimmer will accept "Set XXX light to 50%".

 

I have a 4-way switch with three 2477D dimmers, one of which is actually controlling the light. They are combined in a scene, and work correctly - all control the light and the other two dimmers.

 

If I add the scene to Echo, I can only turn on, turn off, brighten and dim (about 1% a command by the way - pretty useless). If I add one of the dimmers that are NOT physically powering the light, only that dimmer will respond to the command, but the actual dimmer will not. If I only add the dimmer that is powering the light, I can then say 'Set XXX light to 52%" and the light will be set to 52%. The other two dimmers in the scene will not show that setting however - they remain at whatever the scene was set to locally. As soon as I use any of the dimmers in the scene locally, they sync.

[MWareman]

Echo will not accept a 'Set' command for a scene, however. It does allow turn on, off, brighten and dim for scenes. From what I can tell, only an individual dimmer will accept "Set XXX light to 50%".

 

I have a 4-way switch with three 2477D dimmers, one of which is actually controlling the light. They are combined in a scene, and work correctly - all control the light and the other two dimmers.

 

If I add the scene to Echo, I can only turn on, turn off, brighten and dim (about 1% a command by the way - pretty useless). If I add one of the dimmers that are NOT physically powering the light, only that dimmer will respond to the command, but the actual dimmer will not. If I only add the dimmer that is powering the light, I can then say 'Set XXX light to 52%" and the light will be set to 52%. The other two dimmers in the scene will not show that setting however - they remain at whatever the scene was set to locally. As soon as I use any of the dimmers in the scene locally, they sync.

Insteon does not support any command to turn a scene on to anything other than 100% of the scene - or off to anything other than 0%. This is not an Alexa limitation - but an Insteon one. Edited June 27, 2016 by MWareman

[larryllix]

Scenes are like presets on your car radio.

You set them and then use them. You don't press two and try to get a station between them.

 

I have about 6 difference scene levels for my Gathering Room lights. I don't need every percentage of level, or to adjust 15 lights each time. I have FullOn, Bright, Reading, TV, Movie, and Off.

 

For all Alexa controls  I operate programs, that operate scenes.

For the Off scene I control a program using the Else section to operate the scene. I named the program All Lights.

 

• Alexa....turn off All Lights!

Edited June 27, 2016 by larryllix

[stusviews]

Scene can be dimmed or brightened (thanks, Benoit), just not to a specific level. Each command to dim or brighten a scene changes the level by about 9%.