Add effects and lock your doors using Virtual Switches and Smart Plugs in HomeKit

[@jay271190]

Been thinking about doing something with virtual switches for ages, but the idea seemed a tad too messy. But after watching this I finally pulled the trigger and installed Hoobs just so I can have a single switch to put the house into a "Night Time" mode rather than using arbitrary times to decide when lights should use their dimmer options, and I'm SO happy I did! No more going into that bathroom at 22:59 and getting blinded by bright light because I went to be early and didn't realise it wasn't late enough for dimmer lighting yet 😁

[@TheBradLloyd]

I can relate James, that has happened to me as well. I don't use Hoobs for a lot, but it's great for dummy switches. Glad this video helped!

[@jay271190]

@@TheBradLloyd aaannnddd now I’ve gone slightly mad with them 🙈 I’ve discovered that the auto off ones are particularly useful for toggling lights on overly sensitive cameras. The issue before was that a change of lighting could trigger motion on a camera, so turning a light on from motion on a camera would turn the light back on after it was turned off because that in itself triggered motion. But now when the light is turned off I turn on a switch and when motion is triggered I check that switch is not still on 😊

[@Polkster13]

Another great video. Very well explained. I have been using smart plugs as condition switches for a while now. I use three of my Aqara smart plugs to help trigger HomeKit scenes whenever my Aqara alarm goes off (intruder, water leak, and poor air quality) since the Aqara app can't control anything but Aqara products. Then in HK, if one of these three plugs turns on, I run the appropriate HK scene (which sends an alarm sound to one of my HomePod Mini's). Whenever the plug turns off, I run the All Clear scene. I use three Meross smart plugs for Away Mode, Guest Mode, and Sleep Mode. Away mode is pretty self explanatory so I'll skip that one. Guest Mode gets turned on manually if overnight guests are staying with us and gets turned back off when they leave. Then the scenes that run automatically that control the Guest Bedroom and Guest Bath Room, checks the status of this plug and will only do certain things if the Guest Mode plug is turned off. This way the lights, ceiling fan, et cetera can be controlled by the guests instead of HK. Since my wife and I have separate work and sleep schedules and my wife requires a minimum of 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep because of health issues, we use separate bedrooms. This way I don't wake her up at night. When her bedtime starts and she is at home, the Sleep Mode plug turns on. When her wake up alarm goes off in the morning, this plug is turned off. Then whenever my automations run that will turn certain lights on in the house, they check to see if this plug is turned on. If it is, then those lights (like the Master Bath Room ceiling light) don't turn on (which might wake my wife up).

[@TheBradLloyd]

Thank you Frederick. And thank you so much for sharing. Those are all really great examples of using virtual switches that help get those most of your smart home for your family.

[@hikeDiveEat]

Brilliant. First time learning about virtual switches. Tried method to open garage without manual confirmation and it worked first time.

[@TheBradLloyd]

Glad I could help Dustin!

[@iGageit]

I just got a smart door lock and was running into this issue where when I got home I had to confirm on my phone to unlock my door every time. this will help me a lot! thank you and great timing!

[@TheBradLloyd]

Yes, the confirmation message is inconvenient. Glad this could help!

[@fishingwithshawno]

Great idea! I look forward to implementing these ideas into my setup!

[@TheBradLloyd]

Thank you, best of luck with your setup!

[@Dr_Cole]

First, TBL, you are looking great. I love the svelte look. Second, although I have not gone down the paneled SmartHome lights as I think it won’t work with the rest of the home, I am admittedly jealous of the look you have created for your chill room - well done! These programming guides are provided at just the right time as I am readying a foray into some more sophisticated programming with virtual switches and some more if/then statements. thanks for helping ensure we’re all using the best programming tools.

[@TheBradLloyd]

Thank you so much Dr. Cole! The panelled lights aren't for everyone, or for sure everywhere, but they can look cool in the right space. Good luck with updating your programming. Virtual switches can really help and are worth the upfront time investment!

[@inelonwetrust9169]

Cool idea Brad

[@gregghayes6710]

I use homebridge dummy switches for a couple of the ideas that you talked about. However, you gave me a couple more really good ideas. Thank you.

[@TheBradLloyd]

Glad I could help Gregg!

[@michaelthompson657]

Some great uses Brad! Just a thought too, because you only get a limited number of scenes in HomeKit you could create dummy switches for your scenes!

[@TheBradLloyd]

Great suggestion Michael! I'm hoping Apple eventually increases the number of allowed scenes, until then, that could totally work.

[@michaelthompson657]

@@TheBradLloyd thanks! Keep up the good work!

[@mkbaharris]

Been using conditions and virtual switches for a while now! Awesome way of doing things. The holiday/seasons thing I have fully automated the virtual switches by using shortcuts, calendar events to determine when the switches are needed to control the conditions. I don’t have to flip anything on manually. Every Xmas/Halloween I get the lighting doing its thing! 😊

[@BMar1andonly]

Another thing to mention speaking of work arounds. I have an Aqara switch, but you can’t set it up to open my Meross garage door opener. I had to create an automation having a light turn on when the garage is open/off when closed. Then have the button run a shortcut that opens the door if the light is off/closes if the light is on. Keep this in mind for some of those work arounds you may need to think outside the box.

[@TheBradLloyd]

Great point Brian. I wish there were better ways in the Home app to complete these actions. Perhaps just providing a warning message before proceeding. Perhaps one day...

[@SusanMiddleton1]

I figured this out about two/three years ago when, although I had a geofence to open my August lock when I got home, it would not work without manual approval. So I plugged in a Hue smart plug and set a scene for the plug and for August lock. I also set to turn off the plug after 15 minutes which will then lock the door - just in case I forget to lock once I’m inside my home. I always manually lock when I leave. I don’t want any surprises and not have my home secure!

[@TheBradLloyd]

Hi Susan, smart idea! I agree with manually locking, too. I also try to do this, but the automation is more of a fail-safe.

[@ecoheliguy]

Love my idevices plug for this very reason. Both the included “nightlight” and the plug can be individually utilized. Bonus, the light color, brightness, ect, can provide a lot of situational options. For example, i can set the night light to different brightness levels based thoughout the evening. Then have automations for when any other lights “power state” changes to on, check brightness level of nightlight and adjust adjust accordingly. I like doing it this way, so manual brightness overrides in the kitchen after turning on the lights aren’t then automated to dim on the occupants. Or set colors for specific automation statuses like “service” “guests” “vacation” “deep clean” which you wouldn’t run multiple at the same time, so a color is appropriate. By mixing color and brightness, I can have one device signaling lighting and specific guests scene all at the same time. And the plug is still available for more scenes or to actual use as a plug

[@AlexManMe]

6:06 could you explain the point in this when scenes already migrated to the HomeKit app? Is it visually appealing because it’s a switch rather than a scene?

[@AlexManMe]

Could you do a video on how to use dummy switches alongside camera sensors? Right now lights will be triggered to turn on when it stops detecting movement, but as the infrared kicks in it thinks it detects movement LOL

[@AlexManMe]

Resulting in a disco show

[@TheBradLloyd]

@@AlexManMe I can see how that is a problem, especially if it's a pixel based motion sensor as opposed to a PIR sensor. Not sure I know of a work-around for that off the top of my head...

[@AlexManMe]

Someone did try to explain it to me Using dummy switches as variables

[@billzy9]

Great Video! I use a Meross 'dummy plug' to unlock my door and it works great. Now I can't figure out how to turn off my plug so when the next person arrives it unlocks? In the HomeKit automation it says 'turn off accessories' after a certain time but the plug isn't turning off? Any help?

[@michaelbalsamo3752]

I wish aqara had a virtual switch, it would make using scenes so much cheaper and easier than paying $250 for hoobs! Eventually I will buy hoobs. I have a meroos night light than when my garage door opens turns on and turns red. A virtual switch would be perfect to set up a scene to turn the light white so I could actually use it as a night light!, lover your channel

[@michaelbalsamo3752]

but also a great idea about using a HomeKit plug to set a virtual scene!

[@eamonocon]

Can’t you simply convert to a shortcut to avoid the confirmation?

[@TheBradLloyd]

Shortcuts are for sure an option as well for certain things like combining scenes into one command. I just find the virtual switch/scenes to be more reliable in my experience.

[@jonathanitin9065]

Great video Brad, however, I’m always afraid that Apple will patch this workaround if it gains to much publicity. Hope I’m wrong.

[@TheBradLloyd]

You never know... My guess is that eventually, more automation options will be allowed in the Home app to eliminate the need for virtual switches all-together.

[@jonathanitin9065]

@@TheBradLloyd that’s definitely the hope lol. And more conditions like the Eve app would be great. While we’re at it, throw in a pull down to refresh for those devices that don’t like updating.

[@monikaapostolidisz5412]

Cool video! Do you think it’s possible to use dummy switch to have a sound/ alert if the back sliding door left open for more than 2 minutes and the AC is on? (Smart thermostat)

[@TheBradLloyd]

Hi Monika, time delayed automations are tricky. A good option may be a notification you can setup in Controller for HomeKit. I’ve used it to alert me when my fence door is left open too long. controllerforhomekit.com/documentation/advanced-homekit-notifications

[@TheUnofficialMaker]

freakin' cool

[@bjackson1975]

Watched to see how you set up the security part. You didn’t really show that. You showed adding the dummy switch and then turning it on and your security working. You didn’t show how you mapped the dummy switch to the security so the dummy switch actuated the security. If I missed something let me know.

[@vizar1337]

Your door lock isn't mounted securely.

[@TheBradLloyd]

Yes - Fixed now - just need to be tightened up! I'm actually using a new long now anyways. Thanks for watching and passing along your feedback!

[@joshua1557]

pքɾօʍօʂʍ

[@Bridgemere92]

man i hate these clickbait thumbnails - just a dudes face and 'you need this'

[@absolutely1337]

hoobs is garbage