SmartThings and Amazon Echo – a smart couple!

If you already use Amazon’s Alexa to control your Smart Home and own an Echo Plus, Echo or an Echo Show 10, you can upgrade your Smart Home with the Zigbee devices from Aeotec SmartThings.

We checked it for you.

In some Amazon devices, you get an entire Smart Home Hub with Zigbee technology. This means that Zigbee lamps, smart plugs, motion detectors and much more can be connected directly, without the need of an additional Smart Home hub. Not only can they be controlled via the Alexa voice assistant, but they are also connected in Smart Home routines within the Alexa app.

So, do Aeotec SmartThings devices work with the Echo Plus? We have checked it and can confirm the compatibility. As well as the Zigbee Outlet, we tested the Motion Sensor and also the Aeotec SmartThings Multipurpose Sensor with the Echo Plus.

Our result:
The Aeotec SmartThings Motion Sensor reliably transmits detected motion to the Amazon Echo, so that it can be used as a trigger in routines without any problems. Very clever in combination with Zigbee lights, for example, to automatically switch on the light in the hallway when movement is detected – and to switch it off after a pre-defined time, or when there is no more movement.

Unfortunately, the integrated temperature sensor is not directly displayed in Amazon’s Smart Home app. However, the room temperature can be checked by voice command and is also available in routines. 

The Multipurpse Sensor could also be connected to Echo Plus and reports when a window or door is opened.

Great for security applications, for example to trigger a voice alert via the Amazon Echo speaker when a window is opened at night. 

To do this, simply create a scene in your Amazon Alexa App: IF Smart Home -> window sensor -> reports open

-> Between 10pm and 6am

THEN voice output: “ATTENTION, cellar window has been opened!”

The complete routine overview:  

IF Smart Home -> window sensor -> reports open -> Between 10pm and 6am THEN voice output: ATTENTION, cellar window has been opened!

The Aeotec SmartThings Multipurpose Sensor integrates three different sensors in one device:

  • Open contact
  • Temperature sensor
  • Vibration sensor

The vibration sensor of the Aeotec SmartThings Multipurpose Sensor is unfortunately not supported in Amazon Echo. This is actually a great feature that can spot burglaries at an early stage. It sounds an alarm as soon as the door is being manipulated. 

Furthermore, we were able to connect another Zigbee device directly to the Echo Plus. It’s not from Aeotec SmartThings, it’ s from POPP and it works via Zigbee. It’s a must-have for the colder months of the year.

The POPP Zigbee Smart Thermostat is what we’re talking about. 

Once connected to the Amazon Echo, it can not only heat the room to a comfortable temperature at the desired time, it can also regulate the temperature at any time.

“Alexa, set living room temperature to 23°C°!”

Your smart home experts say:

If you would like to start with simple routines in your Smart Home and enjoy controlling your home by voice, Amazon’s Echo devices with Zigbee are a great way to get started and the Aeotec SmartThings products are the perfect addition. Unfortunately, only the basic functions are supported by the Aeotec SmartThings devices. Functions such as measuring the room temperature via motion sensor or vibration detection as part of the Aeotec Multipurpose Sensor are not available in the Amazon Echo. In this case, it is recommendable to spend around 100 euros on the Works as a SmartThings Hub from Aeotec which, of course, can also be connected to Amazon Alexa and Google Home.