Create Group

John Goughenour
November 27, 2023
Helpers
2953 Views

The Ultimate Smart Home Automation Cookbook

Creating a group is an easy way to control multiple devices at once. When you create a group, the hub will make a child device/entity, allowing you to manage all the group members with the child. In addition, they can be beneficial when creating automations as you only have to implement one device. Then when you add new devices, you only have to add them to the groups, and all automations are automatically updated. The most common group types are switches (on/off), dimmer (brightness control), and bulbs (color controls).

Automation Details

Required Devices

Group of Smart Devices

Triggers:

Group's Child Device

Actions:

Perform Group Actions on All Device Members

Beginner

Hubitat

Hubitat only allows for switches, dimmers and bulb groups, but when preforming an action you are able to select multiple devices.

Setting Up the Automation

First, go to Apps and press Add Built-in App button.
Please scroll down to you see Groups and Scenes and select it.
On the Groups and Scenes screen, select Create New Group.
On the Create New Group screen, fill out as follows:
1. Name the Group
2. Add the devices from the different types
3. Select the group device type. We only need on/off capabilities for our purpose here, so we’ll select Switch from the drop-down.
4. We will enable the Use group device to indicate if any members are on. This will make the child group on if any of its members are on.
5. We will also enable the Show group state in the group device. This will show us how many devices are on.
6. Then click the Done button.
Finally, click the Done button again to complete the group creation.

Success: That’s it! Now you can create as many groups as you like. You can create them for individual rooms, holiday light groups or any any other use case.

Home Assistant

Home Assistant allows for sensor groups, cover (blind) groups, fan groups, light groups, lock groups, media player groups and switch groups

Setting Up the Automation

First, we need to go to Settings and Devices & Services.
At the top of the screen, click Helpers, then the blue Create Helper button at the bottom.
In the Create helper pop-up window, select Group.
Then in the Add Group window, select Light group.
Name the group and select the Members. Then click Submit.
Finally, click Finish.

Success: That’s it! Now you can create as many groups as you like. You can create them for individual rooms, holiday light groups or any any other use case.

Amazon Alexa

Create Group Integration

Setting Up the Automation

From the home screen, click Devices.
At the top of the device screen, click the plus sign.
Select Add Group from the popup menu.
Select Create a room or device group.
In the Create a room or device group wizard, click Next.
On the Create group wizard, select Custom Name.
Type the name of your group and click the Next button.
Select all the devices you want in the group and click the Next button.
Since this is only a device group, we don’t need an Alexa device, so click the Skip button.
Finally, to finish the group, click the Done button.

Success: That’s it! Now you can create as many groups as you like. You can create them for individual rooms, holiday light groups or any any other use case.