{"id":4757,"date":"2017-07-19T08:06:53","date_gmt":"2017-07-19T12:06:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/24-7-home-security.com\/?p=4757"},"modified":"2022-02-07T21:20:59","modified_gmt":"2022-02-08T02:20:59","slug":"best-alexa-skills-home-automation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/24-7-home-security.com\/best-alexa-skills-home-automation\/","title":{"rendered":"Geek Guide: Best Amazon Alexa Skills for Home Automation"},"content":{"rendered":"
Looking for the best Alexa skills for home automation to add voice control to your smart home?<\/p>\n
It’s a bit of a task to figure out just what you can control with an Amazon Echo or Amazon Dot, so I wanted to consolidate all of the devices and commands you’ll want to use with your new smart home virtual assistant.<\/p>\n
Let’s jump right into the devices that you can control with your Amazon Alexa enabled device.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Whether you’re thinking about dipping your toe in the home automation water or already have your devices installed and making life easier, you’ll want to start by seeing what exactly you can control with your new Amazon Echo, Amazon Dot, or Amazon Dash Wand.<\/p>\n
Smart home hubs:<\/strong><\/p>\n Thermostats:<\/strong><\/p>\n Lights and Bulbs:<\/p>\n Entertainment and Media:<\/p>\n Those of you trying to follow our advice for marriage and home automation compatibility<\/a> will be excited to see such a long list of smart devices.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> I’m using SmartThings and Alexa to control my own home, and it’s been working well so far.<\/p>\n Here are the voice commands you can use with your SmartThings hub:<\/p>\n You can also run your routines using Alexa. But, you won’t be able to run routines with security related devices.<\/p>\n Here are the details from SmartThings.<\/p>\n<\/div> If you have a Wink hub, you can get a solid head start on controlling your home with your voice too.<\/p>\n Here are the commands available from your Amazon Echo or Dot:<\/p>\n The folks at Wink even go so far as to list every compatible device:<\/p>\n “The following Wink-compatible products are currently certified by Amazon as being compatible with Alexa: Commercial Electric (Smart LED Downlight), Cree (Connected LED Bulb), EcoSmart (Smart A19, Smart PAR20, Smart GU10, Smart BR30), GE (Link A19, Link BR30, Link PAR38), Leviton (Z-wave Scene Capable Dimmer, Z-wave Scene Capable Switch, Z-wave Scene Capable Receptacle, Z-wave Scene Capable Plug-In Module, Z-wave Scene Capable Plug-In Appliance Module), Lutron (Caseta Plug-On Lamp Dimmer, Caseta In-Wall Dimmer) (Lightly White-tunable Smart LED Bulb), Philips (Hue A19, Hue BR30), TCP (A19 bulb), Nest (Nest Learning Thermostat)”<\/p>\n You can check out the original list here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> With promises of energy savings subsidized by power companies and cranking up the AC from the couch, smart thermostats are finding places in many connected homes.<\/p>\n Now, control is possible without even pulling out your phone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Ecobee 3 is considered the “best of breed” thermostats by most home automation buffs. So, many of you will fall into this section.<\/p>\n Here’s what you can do with Alexa + Ecobee:<\/p>\n If you have a Nest Learning Thermostat, the controls are similar to those for the Ecobee:<\/p>\n If you have a Sensi, here are the Alexa commands that you can use:<\/p>\n Source: Sensi<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Here are the commands enabled for the Honeywell Lyric WiFi thermostats:<\/p>\n Most people that begin automating things in their homes start with lighting because it’s an every day need that is relatively easy to get right. Just set up a sunset and dawn timer for a lamp in your living room or lights on your porch.<\/p>\n Well, Alexa is trying to make lighting control even easier for those use cases that just don’t fit simple timers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Philips Hue bulb was the pioneer in the colored smart bulb space, and it makes sense that they took the time to build on an Alexa skill so that you could control your lights with the Amazon Echo.<\/p>\n Here are the commands that you can use:<\/p>\n Check out a decent review<\/a> here.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> For the movie buffs and audiophiles out there, the promise of a voice command to queue up your favorite tracks sounds pretty good, right?<\/p>\n Here’s a review of what you can currently do with Alexa and these popular video and sound devices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n While they are a bit pricey, the Logitech Harmony remotes are really the pinnacle of entertainment control. Here’s how you can use voice control with the Logitech Harmony remotes:<\/p>\n Check out the details<\/a> here.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Don’t think Google and Amazon will ever play nicely? You might be right. But, enterprising software developers are your salvation here.<\/p>\n You have two choices for your Chromecast-Alexa romance. The first is a Github project<\/a> that relies on Amazon developer access to integrate with Alexa. The second<\/a> also leverages Python and an Alexa skill via developer access.<\/p>\n Here’s what you’ll get after the initial setup:<\/p>\n If you have a Sonos, you’re out of luck for now. The Sonos Amazon Alexa is only in beta right now. You’ll have to connect the Sonos through a hub like SmartThings or a service like IFTTT<\/a> or Yonomi<\/a> that stitch together home automation gear.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n If you went (or plan to go for) the Fire TV over Chromecast, then you’ll have a tight integration (too obvious?) with the Amazon ecosystem and Alexa:<\/p>\n Source: Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div> I hope this was helpful for you (saved you a few minutes of searching). If so, I would really appreciate if you help me out by sharing this with your friends. Thanks!<\/p>\n If you’re new with smart home, I suggest you check out our post on the best home automation ideas<\/a> to help you get started!<\/p>\n<\/div> Will you help me out by sharing this?<\/p>\n
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SmartThings<\/h3>\n
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Note: At this time, Alexa will only support Routines that contain only thermostats (US only) and lighting devices. Your existing Routines may not work if they have an unsupported device. Unsupported devices include: door locks, garage door openers, security systems, security devices, cameras, and smart cooking appliances.SmartThings<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n
Wink<\/h3>\n
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Thermostats<\/h2>\n
Ecobee 3<\/h3>\n
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Nest<\/h3>\n
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Sensi<\/h3>\n
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Lyric T5<\/h3>\n
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Smart Lights and Bulbs<\/h2>\n
Philips Hue Bulbs<\/h3>\n
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Entertainment and Media<\/h2>\n
Logitech Harmony<\/h3>\n
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Using Alexa to Control a Google Chromecast<\/h3>\n
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Sonos<\/h3>\n
Fire TV<\/h3>\n
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