Google Home finally gets delayed commands

Dec 11th, 2020 11:13 am

#1

Scote64 [OP]: Deal Addict; Jan 21, 2018; 4596 posts; 4656 upvotes; Vancouver

Dec 11th, 2020 11:13 am

Google Home finally gets delayed commands

You can now add a delay or time to the end of verbal commands, such as "Hey Google, turn off the light in 15 minutes". You can even use sunrise and sunset.

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/google-home ... -to-do-it/

But don't get too excited. I tried it with my Christmas lights controlled by a TP-Link switch.

"Hey Google, turn on Christmas lights at sunset"... "Sorry, 'Christmas Lights' is not in a home, so I can't do that"

Ok. It is in a home, but not in a specific room, so I move it to "Garage".

"Hey Google, turn on Christmas lights at sunset"... "Sorry, for safety reasons I can't schedule actions for devices identified as socket switches"

Uh-huh. Every manufacturer of smart switches allows their operation to be scheduled. Google has more lawyers than are good for it!

Share:

Dec 11th, 2020 12:25 pm

#2

hurricane: Member; Jan 9, 2003; 458 posts; 275 upvotes; Ajax

Dec 11th, 2020 12:25 pm

Try setting up a room called Christmas Lights and put anything you want in there. I can say turn on the Christmas Lights and it turns on the 4 Globe devices I have in that room.

Last edited by hurricane on Dec 11th, 2020 5:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

+1

Dec 11th, 2020 3:13 pm

#3

BernardRyder: Deal Addict; Jun 16, 2009; 3491 posts; 3699 upvotes; GTA

Dec 11th, 2020 3:13 pm

Just tried this now, it turned on and off my Globe bulbs after a 10 second delay. Nice.

c'mon get happy!

Dec 11th, 2020 4:31 pm

#4

db9514022: Newbie; Sep 7, 2015; 31 posts; 16 upvotes; Ottawa, ON

Dec 11th, 2020 4:31 pm

Try changing device type from switch to light in the Home app. I have an electric fireplace that I control with a smart outlet (switch) and it works if I set it as light for device type.

+1

Dec 11th, 2020 5:55 pm

#5

Scote64 [OP]: Deal Addict; Jan 21, 2018; 4596 posts; 4656 upvotes; Vancouver

Dec 11th, 2020 5:55 pm

hurricane wrote: ↑ Try setting up a room called Christmas Lights and put anything you want in there. I can say turn on the Christmas Lights and it turns on the 4 Globe devices I have in that room.

Interesting idea, but I tried it and it didn't work. It still rejects turning on outlet switches with a delay, even if they are in a room group.

Dec 12th, 2020 9:31 am

#6

hurricane: Member; Jan 9, 2003; 458 posts; 275 upvotes; Ajax

Dec 12th, 2020 9:31 am

In Home, I have three Globe Outlets and one Globe Light (Switch) assigned to a Room called Christmas Lights. I have them on a schedule in the Globe app so that they come on at sunset. I've linked them to Home so that they show up there and I can use the voice command to turn them on and off. Are yours defined to Home differently?

Scote64 wrote: ↑ Interesting idea, but I tried it and it didn't work. It still rejects turning on outlet switches with a delay, even if they are in a room group.

Dec 12th, 2020 9:57 am

#7

Scote64 [OP]: Deal Addict; Jan 21, 2018; 4596 posts; 4656 upvotes; Vancouver

Dec 12th, 2020 9:57 am

hurricane wrote: ↑ In Home, I have three Globe Outlets and one Globe Light (Switch) assigned to a Room called Christmas Lights. I have them on a schedule in the Globe app so that they come on at sunset. I've linked them to Home so that they show up there and I can use the voice command to turn them on and off. Are yours defined to Home differently?

Those things all work fine. Now try "Hey Google, turn on Christmas Lights in 5 minutes". If the room contains a plug switch, you'll get a refusal to schedule an operation for that device.

Dec 12th, 2020 10:41 am

#8

astrotrain: Deal Addict; Sep 24, 2007; 1975 posts; 570 upvotes

Dec 12th, 2020 10:41 am

Tired it with plugs have same issue no delay on/off but with smart bulbs it works.. guess they don't want to get sued for fire issues..

Dec 12th, 2020 10:48 am

#9

hurricane: Member; Jan 9, 2003; 458 posts; 275 upvotes; Ajax

Dec 12th, 2020 10:48 am

Ok I see it's the delay command you're talking about sorry about that. I tried it and it will schedule the switch but it states right away that it won't do the outlets for safety reasons.

Scote64 wrote: ↑ Those things all work fine. Now try "Hey Google, turn on Christmas Lights in 5 minutes". If the room contains a plug switch, you'll get a refusal to schedule an operation for that device.

Dec 12th, 2020 12:07 pm

#10

BernardRyder: Deal Addict; Jun 16, 2009; 3491 posts; 3699 upvotes; GTA

Dec 12th, 2020 12:07 pm

Same issue with the delay command not working with the CE Smart plug switches I bought at Costco. That sucks because I like to leave devices charging for 3 hours, so I will have to still turn it off using the app's timer.

c'mon get happy!

Dec 12th, 2020 2:16 pm

#11

db9514022: Newbie; Sep 7, 2015; 31 posts; 16 upvotes; Ottawa, ON

Dec 12th, 2020 2:16 pm

Scote64 wrote: ↑ Interesting idea, but I tried it and it didn't work. It still rejects turning on outlet switches with a delay, even if they are in a room group.

Weird, It worked for me after I changed the device type to light. I say, for example, "hey google, turn on fireplace in 5 minutes" and it replies something like "OK will turn on fireplace at 7:45".

Also, I noticed that when I tried the command right after switching the type it told me that it was not setup yet. Tried again later, it worked. Synching delay I guess.

The version of the home app on my phone is currently 2.32.1.5 if it makes a difference.

Dec 12th, 2020 8:11 pm

#12

notchy: Jr. Member; Mar 7, 2006; 194 posts; 5 upvotes; Toronto

Dec 12th, 2020 8:11 pm

This is a great feature added and my devices work well with it.

Dec 12th, 2020 10:33 pm

#13

BernardRyder: Deal Addict; Jun 16, 2009; 3491 posts; 3699 upvotes; GTA

Dec 12th, 2020 10:33 pm

db9514022 wrote: ↑ Weird, It worked for me after I changed the device type to light. I say, for example, "hey google, turn on fireplace in 5 minutes" and it replies something like "OK will turn on fireplace at 7:45".

Also, I noticed that when I tried the command right after switching the type it told me that it was not setup yet. Tried again later, it worked. Synching delay I guess.

The version of the home app on my phone is currently 2.32.1.5 if it makes a difference.

Which brand and type of devices were you able to turn into light and then it worked? Maybe it has to do with brand.

c'mon get happy!

Dec 12th, 2020 11:05 pm

#14

db9514022: Newbie; Sep 7, 2015; 31 posts; 16 upvotes; Ottawa, ON

Dec 12th, 2020 11:05 pm

One of them is a CE Smart smart outlet I got from costco. Changed the device type from outlet to light

The other one is a Sonoff smart switch module (eWeLink) I wired into a cheap extension cord. Changed device type from switch to light.