Question

Hello everyone, I am looking for some help with Virtual Switches. I currently use Virtual dimmer in ST to simplify automation and to give me one switch in Action tiles for fixtures with multiple bulbs. this also allows me to not have to redo all my automation if i change a bulb in a room, just update the smart lighting app which uses mirroring from the Virtual Switch to the bulbs. getting to my point I am looking to upgrade a set of bulbs to RGBW bulbs, I looked through the IDE looking for a device handler to change the virtual switch to allow for color control with no real luck. does anyone have any suggestions on how to make this possible without having to redo all my webcore pistons and automations? id like to be able to change the virtual dimmer device handler to something that will allow for everything is does today, but also add color control. thanks in advance.  

Answer 1

You tried using a simulated RGBW bulb? Never tried my self but worth a shot

Answer 2

Yeah i tried that throuh color coordnator. it changes the color fine but then reverts right back to white.  

Answer 3

There are some apps that allow you to link bulbs together to keep them the same color, but they won't change color simultaneously

Comments

Not really true, if you use trendsetter (i posted below) then all the bulbs change simultaneously (and without delay).  

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@silkweed419 I very much doubt that based on what I know

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@silkweed419 I suppose I could go and take a video of it, but since I get to see it happen all the time I'd suggest that instead you install it, then prove me wrong :-)

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@silkweed419 just installed it - it works much better than webcore and than I expected, but it's not always simultaneous. I'm going to keep it though - thanks!  

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I should have said "simultaneous enough" perhaps. Normally within a second all the bulbs are changed, it's down to how tight your tolerance is I suppose :-)

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@silkweed419 good enough for me - we will see what the wife says  Question though - I set the group up as color temperature bulbs but I don't see a way to adjust the temperature?  

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@silkweed419 gotcha. Not a big deal for me really, the color is far more important than temp

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@silkweed419 no I installed from the community installer

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Ah okay, I guess you should have the latest version then.  

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@silkweed419 it might be because im tired over here, but i cant for the life of me install this smartapp. ive tried copying the code and adding the repository to the IDE. no luck.  

Answer 4

I got it to work. color coordnator was messing it up. the simulated RGBW DH works great and then used smartlights to mirror the commands

Comments

Only issue is whenever the virtual switched is dimmed on the lights are only at 1%, even though the VS is at 100. manually dimming the VS from 100 to 1 and back to 100 fixes it

Answer 5

I'd suggest having a look at "trend setter", it lets you group bulbs into, well, groups. Which you can then add/remove bulbs to without that impacting your automations. It includes RGBW groups and the groups can be controlled just like a single bulb.  

Answer 6

What device handlers should I use for the virtual switch so I can change the color from AT

Answer 7

Normally installing an app to the IDE is easy as copying the repo from github and setting up the app. this is unreal.