Fast on/off on scenes

[webminster]

Just got my Echo Dot set up and working.   I have a few lighting scenes that are set to start at not full brightness, but I can fast-on the scene (or double-click the light switch) to turn the scene full on.

 

Is there an utterance for the smart home skill V2 for fast-on?   Not seeing a likely choice in the command list.   Thanks in advance.

Edited June 6, 2017 by webminster

[bmercier]

Alexa does not have something like fast on utterances.

 

However, you could ask to turn on to 100%. That should work.

 

Alternatively, you could also create additional scenes, or even programs that would do a fast on on your scene. If the scene is complex, you may want a program instead of duplicating the scene.

 

Benoit

[webminster]

Thanks for the reply.   I just tried "turn on x to 100%", it replied "that command doesn't work on device x".

[bmercier]

My apologies, you're right, we can't set a value to a scene.

 

 

Benoit

[webminster]

I've read a thread or two about scenes and understand.  Is there possibility for an enhancement to allow a fast on/off command?   Or is that not possible with the Alexa side, and it'd have to be a program with a tricky name?

[bmercier]

It's not possible.

 

A smart home skill has a finite set of utterances which only Google can control.

 

You need another scene or a program with a "tricky" name.

[stusviews]

Add the device and the scene to Alexa. Give both a unique name that you won't ever use. Add the device to an Alexa group. Add the scene to the same Alexa group. Name the group a new desired name.

 

Ask Alexa to turn on the new desired name. The device will turn on at the chosen scene level. Ask Alexa to set (or turn on) the new desired name to, say 80%. Voila!

Edited June 8, 2017 by stusviews

[webminster]

Thanks.  That'll do what I need.

[rlebel]

Stuviews thanks for the hints but maybe can clarify so I don't have to experiment: why add both "the device" and a scene to the group? For example if I have a scene that I want to be able to set to a level can I just add the scene to the group? Or do I also have to add a device (perhaps one from the scene) in order to be able to use this workaround?

[stusviews]

Scene levels have no meaning. A scene is either on or off. That's because each member of a scene can have its own On-level. Consider a scene with two devices; the scene sets one device to 40% and turns the other device off. You want the scene set to 50%.

 

What does that mean? Should the first device be set to 50% or 20%? Should the 2^nd device remain off or illuminate to 50% of full on? You may know what you mean, but the ISY doesn't. Computers don't handle ambiguities well, if at all.

 

Benoit, in his wisdom, created a set of commands (brighten, dim) that raises or lowers each device in the scene three Insteon levels from what each device in the scene was at (each level is approximately 3%), but you cannot set a specific brightness level for a scene.

 

However a device can be set to a particular On-level. So, you can have a named scene (which includes more than one device) that sets those devices to a non-adjustable brightness and a named device that allows you to set a specific brightness. Or you can create an Echo group that includes both the scene and the device. The scene ignores percentage commands, the device responds.