Ceiling Fans

[vmsman]

When I voice command Alexa to turn on a ceiling fan, I get "I'm not sure what went wrong". This happens both when turning on and turning off any fans. One of my fans is controlled by a GE Smart Fan controller wall switch and two others are controlled via Bond. In all three cases, I get the message above back from Alexa when either turning them on or off. All three fan devices are HE configured devices.

The command is always executed correctly, it is just that Alexa feels there has been an error. I had the same fans being controlled the same way before in ST and Alexa never responded this way. Since moving to HE, I am getting this message. None of my other many switches have any issue and Alexa controls them without any surious "I'm not quite sure what went wrong" messages.

So, the fans all work being turned on and off with Alexa, it's just the spurious message that I was curious about. I am using the "Amazon Alexa Skill" configured from HE. Absolutely no problems with my other device name commands. Any ideas?

[HAL9000]

• Known issue affecting drivers that use both fan control and level capabilities
• They are working on it
• Temporary workaround (if you need one) is to abstract the fan out of Alexa's knowledge. That is, don't use any kind of fan on the Alexa side, but instead have a routine triggered on speech on the Alexa side that controls a virtual switch on the Hubitat side, such as "Alexa, kitchen fan medium".

See this thread:

2.2.3.118 - GE Smart Fan Control and Alexa

It will take a few minutes to set up, but yes, there is a straight-forward workaround: I concur that this known issue has been going too long without being fixed or at least getting an update beyond that it is a known problem.

[672southmain]

For what it’s worth, I use the Lutron fan controller switches, work fine with Hubitat and Alexa. May just be a GE switch issue.

[marktheknife]

It’s not limited to GE switches only, occurs with Hampton bay zigbee fan controllers as well.

@HAL9000

Known issue affecting drivers that use both fan control and level capabilities

Pretty sure @HAL9000 is right about the underlying cause, from what I can recall reading in other threads.

[672southmain]

Ok, perhaps the reason I am not having issues is that the Lutron has its own hub, controlled over its telnet interface with Hubitat, and doesn’t use Z-Wave or Zigbee radios on the Hubitat hub.

[aaiyar]

Is your Lutron Alexa integration direct or through Hubitat?

[672southmain]

Alexa has an integration to Lutron as does Hubitat. Alexa control does not pass through Hubitat.

[marktheknife]

If you’re using Lutron’s Alexa integration, then presumably that explains why you don’t have the issue. I don’t believe it has anything to do with zigbee or z-wave, it’s related to Hubitat driver capabilities, as @HAL9000 explained.

[672southmain]

Ok, but the Lutron Fan Control driver does have those capabilities.

[aaiyar]

@672southmain

Alexa has an integration to Lutron as does Hubitat.

That's why it doesn't affect you. This is an issue with Hubitat's Alexa integration that is switch independent.

[marktheknife]

@672southmain

but the Lutron Fan Control driver does have those capabilities.

Could certainly test it out by adding the Lutron fan Hubitat device to Alexa and see what happens, if you’re bored .

[672southmain]

I think I will pass. I am still in recovery from migrating my devices from the C-5 to the C-7.

[mebejedi]

@marktheknife

It’s not limited to GE switches only, occurs with Hampton bay zigbee fan controllers as well.

Interesting. I was having issues with my Hampton Bays under ST...it's one of the major reasons I switched over to HE. I've had zero problems since I migrated over.

[marktheknife]

@mebejedi

I was having issues with my Hampton Bays under ST

Is this the issue you’re referring to?

@vmsman

When I voice command Alexa to turn on a ceiling fan, I get "I'm not sure what went wrong". This happens both when turning on and turning off any fans.

@vmsman

The command is always executed correctly, it is just that Alexa feels there has been an error.

[rick.guthier]

I get the same response from the IKEA blinds setting levels with Alexa. It works but says that response.

[mebejedi]

I'm trying to remember. I had to switch over to another Hampton Bay driver so it would work in the new ST app (this was before I decided to switch the HE), but getting it to work with Alexa with the new driver was problematic. I was getting the occasional "I'm not sure what went wrong", but I don't recall if that happened under both drivers. I was just so frustrated with the new app/driver that I stopped troubleshooting and bought a Hubitat. They've worked perfectly ever since.