Ok all you Vera Geeks, I need a clever solution to an issue that may not be solvable.
I have a Alexa command that sets a virtual switch (master ac) for an airconditioner on or off which runs a scene that uses Mr Schaeffers Vera Concierge Broadlink Server that runs the AC IR On or Off commands.
However, should my wife turn the AC on via the handheld remote control, obviously the status of the virtual switch (master ac) is not in line with what is happening in reality - the airconditioner being on (no big deal actually).
EG:
IR Handheld and actual AC unit = On and running
Virtual Switch (Master AC)= Off
PROBLEM - if she says to alexa “turn off master ac” - because the virtual switch is already off, vera performs no action on the virtual switch - and therefore does not trigger any scene.
How have people worked around this problem?
Any clever ideas would be appreciated.
I can work around this if someone can come up with a solution that NO MATTER WHAT STATE A SWITCH IS IN
when I say “turn AC Off” an “off scene” is run
(I will turn the AC on and then turn the AC Off again so it wont matter the real state of the AC - it will turn off)
when I say “turn AC On” an on scene is run
(I will turn the AC off and then turn the AC On again)
Unfortunately Alexa wont recognize AC on and AC off as seperate scenes… 
The virtual switch needs set based upon the status change of the AC. You can do this via a scene or PLEG or the switch can be used to control the AC only.
As an example, I have a VS for my 3 exterior lights. On VeraMate if I turn on or turn off the virtual switch, all 3 lights gone on or off accordingly. The VS control is in a PLEG, where it watches the weather conditions and sunrise/sunset, to turn on and off the VS. So if I turn them on manually before sunset, they would stay on at sunset and back off at sunrise.
So my question is, if the VS is following a device, why not just use the device?s state as the condition?
I used to have a ?Guest Mode? VS that did various things until I realised that one device followed the VS. Admittedly the VS has a better name but it was essentially superfluous so now I just use the devices? state as the trigger. The advantage being that if the device is turned on or off manually the ?mode change? follows.
I guess I?m missing something though. (Which is typical for me!)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
In this case you cannot use the devices state as the device is the AC which is controlled by Broadlink.
Broadlink is only a IR/RF transmitter and as such cannot detect states, it only sends code to the AC.
In which case I wonder why a scene that sends the OFF code isn’t recognised?
I have a scene for closing sunscreens which works only in CLOSING, the reciprocal (OPEN) is not recognised by Alexa, seems to be a common factor as you can turn ON but not OFF[/font]
Ok so the solution to this problem is tuckeed away in a corner of the forum here…
YAY!!
http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,47377.msg313931.html#msg313931
In this case you cannot use the devices state as the device is the AC which is controlled by Broadlink.
Ah. Got it. Not familiar with broadlink.
Great end result.
[quote=“onepointbrewing, post:6, topic:198866”]Ok so the solution to this problem is tuckeed away in a corner of the forum here…
YAY!!
[url=http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,47377.msg313931.html#msg313931]http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,47377.msg313931.html#msg313931[/url][/quote]
Thanks for pointing me to that. Just need to get it working.