Alexa discovers switches as plugs or lights

Mike20878 · February 11, 2021, 4:35pm

Lights I have no problem with.

But why would it recognize a switch as a plug? I’m trying to group two switches and it’s not letting me. I think it’s because of this.

Does every switch have to have a unique name in order for this to work?

Currently my kitchen lights are “kitchen lights” and the kitchen table are “kitchen table lights.” I want to group that into “kitchen.” I guess that would cause a problem with “kitchen lights.”

Thanks.

ElCid · February 11, 2021, 6:30pm

I can not remember the sub categories that alexa will put as a plug, but you can change the sub-category of the device, in device>advanced>params in vera. This will change how alexa handles them.
look here for categories http://wiki.micasaverde.com/index.php/Luup_Device_Categories

I moved all my alexa commands to Node-red, as the response is faster and more reliable.

Mike20878 · February 12, 2021, 1:28am

The categories looks correct. My kitchen switch is dimmable and the category is 2. The other switch is a regular switch so its category is 3. Both subcategories are 0.

I don’t even see plug as a device type on this list.

ElCid · February 12, 2021, 11:52am

As i said if you mess with sub categories you will see alexa change type, give it a go, you can always revert sub category. Do not change the category though, just sub.

therealdb · February 12, 2021, 1:12pm

Category 2, any subcategory. Category 3, sub 1, 2, 3.

These should work.

Nameless · February 12, 2021, 5:04pm

Or just change it from within the Alexa app. Maybe this doesn’t work with Vera devices, but does with competing hubs.

I should say this only works to move it from a plug to a light.

therealdb · February 12, 2021, 5:21pm

Yes, it will change the type after you’re successfully paired them. The problem is that they’re searching for the exact categories and subcategories that I reported. Back in the days when I was using the skill instead of HA-Bridge, I had to change it, pair something else (ie: heater, dehumidifiers, virtual buttons), discover them with Alexa, and then change the subcategories back again, after changing the local skill code. So, subcategories are important and 0 is filtered out.