Hey Alexa, tell Rachio - Smart Home & API / Smart Home - Rachio Community

Hey Alexa, tell Rachio

post by mckynzee on Jan 8, 2018

We are looking for some feedback on Alexa, and we were hoping you could help!

How are you using Rachio with Alexa? What do you wish our integration would let you do? What fun and crazy things could we do by combining Rachio, Alexa, and your favorite smart home products?

We want to know what cool ways you use the integration now, and where we could go in the future. What better users to ask than our community super users, right?

post by a0128958 on Jan 9, 2018

Thank you for complimenting all of us here as ‘super users.’ With the case of Iro2 and Alexa, for me, you’re being too kind. I have two ‘Alexas’ in my smart home - one in the kitchen and one in the master bath. None ‘talk’ to my Iro2 yet.

My family uses the Alexa units a lot. So far the most used uses are:

If I look at my router’s list of IP addresses, my smart home has networked lighting, HVAC (including thermostats & fault detection), sprinkler control (obviously), gas hot waters, fire/CO/NG sensor monitoring, security monitoring, temperature monitoring, and various data logging. (Separate, not integrated systems include the solar panels and the swimming pool equipment control system.)

One of the things I’ve learned is that I don’t need repetition built into an Alexa. I don’t need it to duplicate thermostat functions, sprinkler control functions, etc. There are lots of safety safeguards and complexities built-in to things like tstats and sprinkler controllers such that it doesn’t make sense to duplicate them in something like Alexa.

You might say it would be nice to use Alexa for things like lighting control, setting thermostats, etc., and I agree, but often the technology at the moment is such that another ‘black box’ must be purchased/installed/programmed/maintained - adding another level of complexity that I have learned over time causes tediousness.

An example is my home’s real-time monitoring & automation system (HAI/Leviton OmniPro2 processor), that does the lights/fire/security/temps/audio-announcing/fault-detecting/etc. It’s network connected. So is Alexa. But the two can’t ‘talk’ to each other without purchase and programming of a network-connected black box (Homeseer) or a small PC running 7x24.

My hope is for an integration of the Iro2 (network connected) to Alexa (network connected) such that your ‘server in the cloud’ does all of the integration work. It’s doubtful I’ll ever purchase a 3rd device to integrate the two.

If I could ‘talk’ to my Iro2 via Alexa:

etc.

IMO, I would leave all of the complicated Flex Daily parameters, schedule details, configuration settings, etc. alone, in the computer/smart-pad/smart-phone interfaces.

It would be nice to do the kinds of things above while remote from the residence.

Hope this helps. Pretty much just thoughts that came to my mind for a few moments while typing.

Best regards,

Bill

post by Bill.Maupin on Jan 9, 2018

Alexa, drench that dog that’s sh*****g in my yard and it’s owner!

post by roybiv99 on Jan 10, 2018

I stuck an Echo Dot in my Garage so that I can turn on/off various zones if I am checking for sprinkler heads that are damaged or if I want to throw some extra water on a zone that might need extra. I find the IFTTT type interface kind of awkward at times. It is not integrated as well as my “Samsung SmartThings” where I can simply say “Alexa Turn on the lamp”. I would like to be able to use Rachio in a similar way. i.e. Alexa run zone 1 for 5 minutes. Minor, but it is quite wordy with the existing interface and sometimes takes a few tries. Thanks for asking!

post by a0128958 on Jan 11, 2018

Add two more examples to the suggestion list:

Best regards,

Bill

post by Pman2016 on Jan 11, 2018

I’m not sure what the other posts are referring to since Rachio does integrate with Alexa today. I have an Alexa echo and 5 echo dots. I have enabled the Rachio skill and I can say “Alexa tell Rachio to run zone 1 for 15 minutes”.

One feature would be to use the friendly name you have given a zone. I haven’t checked the Rachio skill lately as I have always asked it do things by zone so this may have been added. But instead of “zone 1” you could say “grass”. But that leads to another problem that I have found with the numerous devices I now control, is remembering all their names. So the Rachio skill should have the feature where I could ask Alexa give me a list of my zones and their names.

Some macro Rachio commands like “Alexa tell Rachio to skip watering for 2 days” or “Alexa tell Rachio to run all zones for 10 minutes in sequence” for when you want to see if all your zones are working. I assume some of the posters were referring to the extra two words you need to use “tell Rachio”.

I have WEMO light switches and I don’t have to say “Alexa tell WEMO to turn on master” I can say “Alexa turn on master”. I can understand the programming issues if you drop the “tell Rachio” part as you could have named one of your watering zones “master” and now if you tell Alexa to turn on “master” it doesn’t know if that is a light or a valve.

I have quite a collection of smart devices (Rachio, firestick, 19 wemo switches, 5 echo dots, ooma VoIP, HUE lights, Logitech TV remote with hub, smart TVs, 2 Ecobee3 thermostats, cameras & MagicHome LED lights). I was a believer in the glue to hold this all together is WiFi so I have an 8 POD Plume WiFi mesh network which covers the house and an Arystone WiFi on the roof for when I am outside.

post by scatspeak on Jan 11, 2018

That’s a great IFTTT idea leveraging Smart Camera or RING doorbell technology as the “sensor”!..

I love it.

post by ScottC_Woodlands_TX on Jan 11, 2018

Using just the basics - asking Alexa to ask Rachio to water a particular zone. Most often used to get extra water in flower bed we see while sitting at the dinner table. Makes it even easier than opening the app.

post by a0128958 on Jan 12, 2018

Guess I’m not smart enough (yet) to connect my Alexa to my Iro2.

I’d like to simply say: “Alexa, turn on Rachio zone 10 for 20 minutes.”

It looks like from above comments I can do this today. I sure would appreciate it if someone would comment here what the few steps I need to do are to accomplish this.

Thank you and best regards,

Bill

post by Raining2017 on Jan 12, 2018

I have three Alexa units including the newest Echo Spot with the screen. I have not found a reason to integrate Rachio into the Alexa skills, I find using my phone is just fine, I don’t see a benefit using the Alexa unit for that.

post by clinton222 on Jan 12, 2018

I have Alexa integrated with Rachio. My favorite thus far is the ability to water less than a minute for a specific zone. I usually use it for spraying the kids in the backyard as a joke. Fun for guests when they bring their kids over as well.

My favorite integration is actually with my Harmony hub; it controls all of my TV settings and HDMI ports, etc. but it can control almost anything as well. I love it and highly recommend it for any Alexa user.

post by a0128958 on Jan 12, 2018

So what do I need to do to be able to get action when I say:

“Alexa, turn on Rachio zone 10 for 10 minutes.”

(I feel kind of dumb now seeing that everyone else is doing it. I’m pretty sharp with some things but this subject’s failing me. All I’ve ever done with my Alexa unit is plug it into the power - my network Access Point found it just fine and connected it to my LAN with no fuss.)

Thank you and best regards,

Bill

post by piperrose on Jan 12, 2018

After you buy an Alexa device you can use this article.

How do I use Alexa with my Rachio

Enjoy!

post by macmoviemam on Jan 13, 2018

We have 8 Echo’s. Six of the new Echo2 units and two of the Echo Show’s. We use them for everything and have a connected home from the 5 big ass fans, front and side garage doors, all of the lights, Two nests, 8 Nest protects, the garage door, and the Rachio.

As far as Rachio, I use it to get the cat inside. Alexa, ask Rachio to turn on zone 2 for 1 min. Ok. Cat flies through the food at warp speed and then I close her in.

post by bobkopas on Jan 13, 2018

I have to agree with it would be awesome to have RACHIO skill recognize the “name” of the zone vice zone #. Alexa, tell Rachio to water Front Grass. would be ideal – I have 8 zones and half the time I can’t remember what zone number is which – which degrades the usability of the Alexa skill since I have to go into the Rachio app on my phone to figure it out…

post by majkman on Jan 15, 2018

Handle more than one RACHIO.

post by MichaelGarrison on Jan 21, 2018

Other than to play with the Rachio integration I haven’t used the Alexa functionality too much. If I’m going to consider watering differently than my schedule I usually check the app first to see why the lawn might be dry. At that point I’m in the app so I just start it there.

I’d like Alexa to be able to tell me ‘if Rachio watered today’ and ‘the next time Rachio is scheduled to water’. If you want to get fancy it would be nice to know that it didn’t water today because it’s supposed to rain, etc.

post by designzguy on Jan 30, 2018

I have connected my Rachio Second Gen sprinkler system to Amazon Alexa. The functionality to ask Alexa to tell Rachio to water individual zones is nice however I would like to be able to ask Alexa to tell Rachio to run one of my preset watering programs for a certain amount of time.

post by kgann on May 18, 2018

I TOTALLY agree with being able to start a zone by its Friendly name - “Alexa, tell Rachio to water the Front Bed for 10 mins” also - being able to tell Rachio to run Schedules. I use schedules since I cannot group zones into logical areas like Front Yard. So I setup schedules with different names aka Front Yard, Back Yard, Dry Zones – Being able to say "Alexa, water “Schedule Name".

post by SierraQ on Jun 1, 2018

Overall Alexa controls are pretty good with one exception: there is no way to pause watering. On the app, you have a pause button. But if I say to Alexa to pause watering I get a rain delay which effectively cancels the running program.

Basically, I want to say “Alexa, tell Rachio to pause watering for five minutes,” which would allow my dog to go out.

post by franz on Jun 1, 2018

@SierraQ On the roadmap for this year :)

post by DavidBQ on Sep 3, 2018

Yes I too wish to see…

X= 5 or 7 or 15 or 25 minutes, etc.

post by swtoll on Mar 24, 2019

Sorry to come in late to this thread - I’ve had my Rachio a while but just enabled the Alexa skill. I’ve seen other posts requesting a feature I would very much like to see added: the ability to give Alexa commands for a group of zones, such as “front lawn” etc. I also see this has been under consideration by development for a while. I’m hoping it can make it to reality soon!

post by tommyshelby on Mar 27, 2019

Alexa is not working through my iOS device as I am trying to get it connected but the connection is not getting established and I am not getting the access of that and it has also affected iTunes.

post by tjbritton on Mar 29, 2019

The only commands Alexa recognizes on my Dot are to water by a specific zone and start or cancel a rain delay. None of the other commands listed on the Rachio Skill work. I am most interested in having Alexa start a complete watering cycle or just have it water all zones.

post by swtoll on Apr 13, 2019

Same problem. Any solution?

post by tjbritton on Apr 13, 2019

Nothing.

post by hbreese on May 28, 2020

Even though this is “supposed” to work, I am still having trouble with friendly named zones. For instance, I have a zone named Back Yard. If I say, “Alexa, tell Rachio to water Backyard for 5 minutes”, Alexa gets stuck in a loop asking me which zone and for how long to run it. I have tried all the variations of “ask”, "tell’ and so forth in the command. None of them works. All of the zones work if I use “zone x” where “x” is the zone number. It’s just that Alexa has trouble with friendly named zones.

post by MyNameIsEj on Jun 9, 2020

Hey Product Manager, this is what I need to make Alexa more intuitive:

  1. I need to be able to set up a routine to start the quick run in the Alexa app. For example, I have a routine where I say, “Alexa good Morning!” Then my TV turns on, the lamps come on, Alexa tells me the weather, but I also want my quick run water schedule to run (or a preset schedule in the Rachio app).
  2. I want to be able to name my Rachio and have Alexa recognize it. What if I don’t want to say Rachio, what if I want to say “Alexa tell Sweet Water John to do a quick run.”
  3. I wish Rachio notifications could integrate with Alexa notifications. So when there is a rain delay, Alexa echo dots will show notifications. I say “Alexa what’s the notifications?” She says “Watering has been skipped due to the rain sensor being activated!”

Please feel free to offer me a job!