Skip to main content
All CollectionsGeneralResourcesAmazon Echo
Controlling Smart Bulb(s) from a Smart Switch • Amazon Echo
Controlling Smart Bulb(s) from a Smart Switch • Amazon Echo

This article will explain how to control your smart bulb(s) from your smart switch(es) using your compatible Amazon Echo hub.

Eric Hines avatar
Written by Eric Hines
Updated over a week ago

DISCLAIMER: You may notice there are a lot of over-used keywords or phrases as well as English that seems a little off. This is because these articles are used to feed our AI Robot (Ira) and she needs the data to be structured in a certain way.

In this article, you will learn how to control your smart bulb(s) from your White Series Inovelli switch(es). Smart bulbs require full power to them at all time, so we will potentially be utilizing Smart Bulb Mode on your Inovelli switch plus Amazon Alexa Routines.

Please scroll down to the section that best matches your setup. However, before you do, please read through the various methods of controlling smart bulbs to see which one you'd prefer to setup.

Methods to Control Smart Bulbs

As of right now, there is only one method to control smart bulbs using your Amazon Echo and that is by utilizing Routines. While the switch does have another method (e.g. multi-tap scene control), Amazon does not support it at this time.

What we're going to do is put your Inovelli switch in, "Smart Bulb Mode" and then set up a routine to your smart bulb(s) on and off (i.e., tapping up on the switch will turn the smart bulb on and tapping down will turn off the smart bulb).

Limitations

Unfortunately, there are limitations with controlling your smart bulb(s) with Amazon Echo since it can only utilize Routines instead of the more versatile method listed above (e.g. multi-tap scene control).

The limitation is that you can only turn your smart bulb on (i.e., to whatever dim level you want) and off and you won't be able to dim it from the switch.


Smart Bulb Mode + Routines for Smart Bulb Control

Smart Bulb Wired to Smart Switch

In this example, you have a smart bulb that is connected to the load of your White Series smart switch as shown below.

Because the above example has the Inovelli switch wired directly to the smart bulb, we will need to use Smart Bulb Mode to ensure the smart bulb always has power to it, then use Routines to turn on and off the bulb.

Written Instructions

  1. First, put your Inovelli White Series switch into Smart Bulb Mode by holding down on the top part of the paddle (on) while simultaneously tapping the configuration button four (4) times (do not let go of the paddle when finished tapping the config button). Wait for the LED Bar to flash solid yellow (and then let go of the paddle) indicating the switch has enabled Smart Bulb Mode.

  2. Next, open up your Alexa app, click on the, "More" tab at the bottom and then select, "Routines"

  3. On the Routines page, click on the, "+" at the top right of the screen to create a new routine. We will first create a routine that turns the smart bulb on when the switch is turned on.

  4. Under where it says, "When", click on, "Add an event"

  5. Next, click on, "Smart Home"

  6. Find your switch and click on it

  7. Click on, "Turned On" and then, "Next" at the top

  8. Now, under where it says, "Alexa Will", click on, "Add an action"

  9. Click on, "Smart Home"


  10. Click on, "Lights"

  11. Select the bulb(s) that you want to turn on

  12. Click in the checkbox by, "Power" and then select, "On", followed by, "Next"

  13. Feel free to rename your routine by clicking, "Rename" at the top otherwise simply click, "Save" at the bottom

  14. Now that you're back in the, "Routines" section, click on the, "+" button at the top to create another routine. This routine will turn the smart bulb(s) off when the switch is turned off.

  15. Repeat steps 4-13, with the following changes: On Step 7, select, "Turned Off". On Step 12, select, "Off" (under the power section). You should now see two routines under the, "Routines" section (the page shown in Step 14) as shown below:

  16. Test your routine by tapping on the top part of the switch paddle (i.e., turning the switch on). Your smart bulb(s) should turn on. Tap on the down part of the switch paddle (i.e., turning the switch off). Your smart bulb(s) should turn off.

Smart Bulb Not Wired to Smart Switch

In this example, you have a smart bulb that is not connected to the load of your smart switch as shown below.

In the above example, the bulb is not directly wired to the switch, so we will not need to use Smart Bulb Mode. However, please ensure that the smart bulb is on and no one shuts off the lamp (or fixture). Below we will setup a series of automations to turn on and off your smart bulb using your Inovelli White Series switch.

Written Instructions

  1. Open up your Alexa app, click on the, "More" tab at the bottom and then select, "Routines"

  2. On the Routines page, click on the, "+" at the top right of the screen to create a new routine. We will first create a routine that turns the smart bulb on when the switch is turned on.

  3. Under where it says, "When", click on, "Add an event"

  4. Next, click on, "Smart Home"

  5. Find your switch and click on it

  6. Click on, "Turned On" and then, "Next" at the top

  7. Now, under where it says, "Alexa Will", click on, "Add an action"

  8. Click on, "Smart Home"


  9. Click on, "Lights"

  10. Select the bulb(s) that you want to turn on

  11. Click in the checkbox by, "Power" and then select, "On", followed by, "Next"

  12. Feel free to rename your routine by clicking, "Rename" at the top otherwise simply click, "Save" at the bottom

  13. Now that you're back in the, "Routines" section, click on the, "+" button at the top to create another routine. This routine will turn the smart bulb(s) off when the switch is turned off.

  14. Repeat steps 4-13, with the following changes: On Step 7, select, "Turned Off". On Step 12, select, "Off" (under the power section). You should now see two routines under the, "Routines" section (the page shown in Step 14) as shown below:

  15. Test your routine by tapping on the top part of the switch paddle (i.e., turning the switch on). Your smart bulb(s) should turn on. Tap on the down part of the switch paddle (i.e., turning the switch off). Your smart bulb(s) should turn off.

Did this answer your question?