TexMike Posted February 10, 2019 Posted February 10, 2019 I have a Z-wave multisensor (Temp, Humidity, Luminance) mounted outdoors and I would like to be able query the values via spoken. Is there a way to do this directly? The only workaround I can think of is to have a program update state variables for each of the three values whenever they change, then I can ask the "brightness" of the state variable. Is there another way without all the overhead? Thanks, Mike Quote
TexMike Posted February 11, 2019 Author Posted February 11, 2019 @bmercier can you chime in on this when you get a chance? Perhaps I should have posted in the Portal section since the same question applies to Alexa. Quote
Hurting2Ride Posted February 12, 2019 Posted February 12, 2019 (edited) In what sense are you trying to reduce overhead? How often are the sensors updating and do you need/want to query it before responding? Edited February 12, 2019 by Hurting2Ride Quote
TexMike Posted February 12, 2019 Author Posted February 12, 2019 The sensor updates when it changes temp by 1 degree, humidity by 5% and I forget the exact value for luminance, maybe 5%. The thresholds can be configured. By reducing overhead I mean not needing a program to update three state variables every time the values exceed the threshold and get updated. I guess my question could be simplified to - Is it possible to get a Z-wave multichannel devices values through the portal via a spoken? Perhaps I should have posted this in the portal section since the same question would apply to Alexa. I also shouldn't have used the word "query", what I meant is to ask Google assistant or Alexa to report the temp or humidity via a spoken. The sensor is battery operated so doing a Z-wave query while it's asleep is ineffective. Quote
Hurting2Ride Posted February 12, 2019 Posted February 12, 2019 If you're willing to inquire about each one separately there shouldn't (famous last word) be that much complication. A program to update the 3 state variables, 1 for each sensor. Link an Amazon spoken to each of the 3 state variables, set them up as lights. Then, in theory, you should be able to ask Alexa what level each of the "lights" are at. I'd love to know if the above works. I dont have a sensor like that or I'd attempt to test it myself but I'm going to be trying something similar in concept in the next couple of days. Quote
TexMike Posted February 12, 2019 Author Posted February 12, 2019 It works, instead of constantly updating the state variables, I'm taking another route for now. I say "turn on driveway sensor update" to populate the three state variables and then I can ask for the brightness of the driveway temp/humidity/luminance and get the correct values reported. If I find I use it often, I'll go back to updating the variables on every reported change from the sensor. It's actually the same program, the if just checks to see if the current reported values are different from the variables. I pretty much knew this method would work, but it's a bit convoluted so I thought I would ask to see if there was a better way to handle multi-channel devices. Quote
Hurting2Ride Posted February 14, 2019 Posted February 14, 2019 I had originally thought to suggest you do exactly as you're doing now, with the 2 programs, but then figured that was part of what you were trying to avoid. Is your concern with the overhead a general concern or have you experienced some particular issue? I like efficient code but FYI I had the 99i prior to recently moving to the 994i and I used to poll the heck out numerous sensors in my old home when trying to create algorithms around use & movement. Multiple programs running "every second" updating state variables and/or calculations and I never experienced any issues with performance. As I play with a similar scenario on my end I'll post if I come up with something that's closer to what you were looking for. Quote
TexMike Posted February 14, 2019 Author Posted February 14, 2019 I was probably overthinking it, the Z-wave traffic is occuring anyway and updating 3 variables is a trivial load on the ISY. I was just thinking that updating hundreds of times a day just so I could occasionally ask for the temp and humidity was not very efficient in general terms, but I probably should just not worry about it. The only time I maxed out my 994izw was preparing for the holidays. I made a deal with my wife that instead of hanging and removing Christmas lights I would put Z-wave RGB bulbs in the front porch and coach lights. I envisioned dancing red and green lights, but found that setting RGB color via Z-wave takes about 5 seconds per bulb, so I had to go to 1 minute changes to keep the ISY from being busy all the time. I'm sure most HA enthusiasts have experienced the spousal eye roll many times, but her reaction when I asked Google assistant "what is the brightness of the driveway temperature" and get the response "the driveway temperature is set to 60% brightness" and telling her that means it's 60 outside was unforgettable. Then I pushed too far and tried to tell her our HA is so powerful I can change the outdoor temperature "set the driveway temperature to 70" and of course it appears to comply, at least until the next update:-) Wife walks away shaking her head... 1 1 Quote
beninsteon Posted February 19, 2019 Posted February 19, 2019 You could use a routine on Google home to change the spoken. When I ask: What is the outdoor humidity? Google home should: What is the brightness of sOutdoorVar? The response would still leave something to be desired though. On 2/12/2019 at 4:00 PM, TexMike said: I can ask for the brightness of the driveway temp/humidity/luminance and get the correct values reported. 1 Quote
TexMike Posted February 19, 2019 Author Posted February 19, 2019 2 hours ago, beninsteon said: You could use a routine on Google home to change the spoken. When I ask: What is the outdoor humidity? Google home should: What is the brightness of sOutdoorVar? The response would still leave something to be desired though. Good idea, now at least the spokens make sense. Thanks Quote
adamthp Posted February 19, 2019 Posted February 19, 2019 (edited) the response does leave a little to be desired. Is there any way to spoof a thermostat with a variable?... either making the ISY believe that a variable is a thermostat... or making GH believe that a variable is a thermostat? In my case I'm trying to ask what my sauna temperature is... I can set the actual temp to be a variable... but the 'sauna temperature is set to x percent brightness' just doesn't quite do it for me. ... and unless I want the true Finnish sauna experience and learn to embrace the metic system.. I'll be over 100% brightness in a hurry. Edited February 19, 2019 by adamthp Quote
glacier991 Posted March 8, 2019 Posted March 8, 2019 On 2/19/2019 at 11:39 AM, adamthp said: the response does leave a little to be desired. Is there any way to spoof a thermostat with a variable?... either making the ISY believe that a variable is a thermostat... or making GH believe that a variable is a thermostat? In my case I'm trying to ask what my sauna temperature is... I can set the actual temp to be a variable... but the 'sauna temperature is set to x percent brightness' just doesn't quite do it for me. ... and unless I want the true Finnish sauna experience and learn to embrace the metic system.. I'll be over 100% brightness in a hurry. More than once I have pondered the exact notion you mention..making ISY or Alexa are a device as something you choose. E.g. A thermostat. Curious if some others may have cleverly managed this. Quote
glacier991 Posted March 8, 2019 Posted March 8, 2019 (edited) I should add that with wireless tags and polyglot you can get Alexa (and I assume GH) to report temperatures directly I have an outdoor probe with an extended sensor into my hot tub, when I ask Alexa what the temperature is in the hot tub, I get a reply telling me the hot tub temperature. Edited March 8, 2019 by glacier991 Quote
adamthp Posted March 8, 2019 Posted March 8, 2019 2 hours ago, glacier991 said: I should add that with wireless tags and polyglot you can get Alexa (and I assume GH) to report temperatures directly I have an outdoor probe with an extended sensor into my hot tub, when I ask Alexa what the temperature is in the hot tub, I get a reply telling me the hot tub temperature. well shucks... how does that work? I just poked around a little but not sure how to make this work with GH. Can you set this up as a thermostat in Alexa? Quote
glacier991 Posted March 9, 2019 Posted March 9, 2019 (edited) I should clarify. Alexa has a skill for wireless tag. Though via wireless tag skill the sensors do not show up on Alexa as devices, you can ask Alexa, " Ask wireless the temperature in the hot tub" and she will reply " The hot tub temperature is 103 degrees". Using Polyglot, ISY can incorporate sensors, and hence via the portal they can be disclosed to Alexa who sees them as "devices"(!). The downside is that Alexa does not have a device category for "temperature sensors" and you end up calling them something else, like a contact sensor etc, resulting in kind of stupid voice queries for values. Maybe that will get fixed along the way. Chris Edited March 9, 2019 by glacier991 Quote
adamthp Posted March 9, 2019 Posted March 9, 2019 It dawned on me after I posted there was probably an Alexa skill. Hopefully a GH is in the works. Quote
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