I have a Minoston mp20z. It's a dual outlet device. The child device type (which I can't change) is a "generic component switch". This same wording shows up in the Alexa app for " description".
I want this device to show up in Alexa as a plug. I can't switch the type in Alexa (except between a light or a switch). I think the driver device type is a mistake.
Anyway to fix this? This is a dual outlet device which might make this tricky?
If there is no alternative I would control it through a virtual device. Then make the virtual device visible to Alexa.
I don't think it really matters to Alexa. If you make it a light it will just come on if you tell Alexa to turn on a room as part of a group. If it is a switch it's really no different in how it would react in Alexa, I don't believe.
It does show up in different spots in the UI. Voice is not really that different.
Is there a virtual outlet? I don't see that in the list in hubitat.
SmartThings had the ability to manipulate the description. In Hubitat that translates into the device type it seems.
I tried it out and a virtual switch (seems like the only option) shows up in the switch area in Alexa.
I wonder if I can get the driver source and tweak the sub device type for this dual plug? Maybe just changing that name will solve it.
Yes, needs to be done through Virtual Switch (which operates as an outlet).
Right... But then Alexa thinks it's a switch not a plug and I am back where I started. The device type name, for the Alexa integration gets mapped in Alexa as "description". It seems that description is what decides if it's a switch or a outlet.
Oh, you are right.
Then the solution would be the HE devs to modify the virtual switch device and provide a virtual outlet, thing that I guess could be done with little effort.
Might I ask a silly question? Is this just a visual thing, or does it affect the usage of this device via Alexa?
I don’t think it effects the way Alexa controls it at all.
Voice actions change for groups. For example if I say lights on for "group" it skips the outlets. Which is what I want. Lights on apply to switches and bulbs
I thought it only applied to lights.
Ok, easy workaround. Don't use Alexa to do this, use Hubitat instead.
Go to Groups and Scenes, and form a group or scene. (there are advantages for each type, read more here Groups and Scenes - Hubitat Documentation)
Expose that Group or Scene to Alexa, and you are done. It makes setup a lot easier NOT using Alexa groups.
Well that is not a exactly workaround. By using Alexa groups you can walk into a room and say turn on the lights. You can't do that with HE, you must specify the group or switch name. I though that if you said turn on the light it only turned on devices set as lights. All other devices can be turned on or off by saying the Alexa group name.
I will have to check this when I get home this evening.
OP is correct, switches and lights are both used when you say turn on the lights. I stand corrected. I never really use that but I thought that is what I membered, but I was wrong. Plugs do not get turned on by the lights command.
I tried to find source code for the virtual switch but could not find it. Is that not open source? I am pretty sure a tiny tweak to say "plug" or "outlet" in the right spot will fix this.
Same goes with the Inovelli 2 plug driver that is built in.
I suppose you could also tweak the Alexa Hubitat app so that you can say what the description is you want.
Download the Hubitat app
