# Thermostat items for voice control (Echo/Alexa and Google Assistant) **URL:** \ **Category:** Bindings\ **Tags:** echo, alexa, googleassistant\ **Created:** [January 28, 2019, 9:10pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/thermostat-items-for-voice-control-echo-alexa-and-google-assistant/65912 "2019-01-28T21:10:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/d2c977/32.png) [@Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/u/Tobi77)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 9:10pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/thermostat-items-for-voice-control-echo-alexa-and-google-assistant/65912/1 "2019-01-28T21:10:27Z")
I own the beautiful Spirit thermostat ([ZWave Thing | openHAB](https://www.openhab.org/addons/bindings/zwave/thing.html?manufacturer=eurotronic&file=spirit_0_0.html)) and I would like to set the temperature via Echo/Google Assistant voice commands. I found those recommendations from the Echo binding thread: > [@Official Alexa Smart Home Skill for openHAB 2](https://community.openhab.org/t/official-alexa-smart-home-skill-for-openhab-2/23533/1): > > Thermostat control is currently limited until we have a more complete ontology for tagging. There are a few caveats to keep in mind. First is that we assume temperatures are in Celsius unless the thermostat tagged group also contains the tag “Fahrenheit” (shown above). This is a temporary configuration and will hopefully change in the future. Second is that the Alexa skill expects the thermostat mode item (“homekit:HeatingCoolingMode”) to conform exactly to the strings “OFF, HEAT, COOL, AUTO, heat-cool” or “0,1,2,3”. … and from Homekit binding: > [@](#): > > homekit:HeatingCoolingMode - String - Indicates the current mode of the device: OFF, AUTO, HEAT, COOL. The string’s value must match those defined in the thermostat\*Mode properties. This is a homekit-specific term and therefore the tags needs to be prefixed with "homekit: What is the relation between the 13 modes the thermostat is able to run (see device page above) and the “homekit:HeatingCoolingMode” setting? And how will I use it? Will the user call these Homekit modes (how?) and I should translate it to the corresponding operation mode of my valve? Or what is the exact approach? Maybe someone has an example? Thanks for help! ---
**Author:** ![Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/d2c977/32.png) [@Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/u/Tobi77)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2019, 9:44am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/thermostat-items-for-voice-control-echo-alexa-and-google-assistant/65912/2 "2019-02-02T09:44:38Z")
Any hint would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/d2c977/32.png) [@Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/u/Tobi77)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2019, 12:54pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/thermostat-items-for-voice-control-echo-alexa-and-google-assistant/65912/3 "2019-02-02T12:54:46Z")
Same issue here: > [@HomeKit modes for Eurotronic Spirit Z-wave Thermostat Valves](https://community.openhab.org/t/homekit-modes-for-eurotronic-spirit-z-wave-thermostat-valves/58880): > > Hello all. I have some eurotronic spirit thermostats around my house.They’re working quite fine with openhab and I have now linked them with homekit as well. Within the settings of homekit you’re able to chose between different names of heating, cooling, auto and off. Does anyone in here have any expirences towards naming theese fields, to get something working in homekit? I have a link for the manual here: [https://youcontrol.dk/media/wysiwyg/Teknisk\_Brugermanual.pdf](https://youcontrol.dk/media/wysiwyg/Teknisk_Brugermanual.pdf) As far as i can see you ca… and here > [@HomeKit Binding with Homematic Thermostat](https://community.openhab.org/t/homekit-binding-with-homematic-thermostat/24641): > > Hey guys, this morning I tried to setup the homematic Thermostat (HM-CC-RT-DN) with the HomeKit binding. Everything just works fine except the control modes. In the Home App I see the modes: OFF, HEAT, COOL and AUTO. But these are not the modes my homematic thermostat knows. These are. AUTO-MODE, COMFORT-MODE, LOWERING-MODE and MANU-MODE. Is there a possibility to change the mode definitions? Or is this a unchangeable apple home kit thing? And the next question is regarding the setup of the mo… ---
**Author:** ![Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/d2c977/32.png) [@Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/u/Tobi77)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2019, 1:07pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/thermostat-items-for-voice-control-echo-alexa-and-google-assistant/65912/4 "2019-02-02T13:07:46Z")
And another point: Do I need to install the Homekit binding for this? Note, I don’t want to use Homekit itself but only Amazon Echo an Google Home. ---
**Author:** ![Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/d2c977/32.png) [@Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/u/Tobi77)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2019, 1:13pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/thermostat-items-for-voice-control-echo-alexa-and-google-assistant/65912/5 "2019-02-02T13:13:28Z")
I found this > [@\[SOLVED\] Configure Google Home with Homatic Thermostat](https://community.openhab.org/t/solved-configure-google-home-with-homatic-thermostat/52459/5): > > I configured the homekit.cfg like this, although i don’t know if it is really necessary (it doesn’t work without homekit as well): > > ```auto > # org.openhab.homekit:port=9123 > org.openhab.homekit:pin=031-45-154 > org.openhab.homekit:useFahrenheitTemperature=false > org.openhab.homekit:thermostatCoolMode=cool > org.openhab.homekit:thermostatHeatMode=heat > org.openhab.homekit:thermostatAutoMode=auto > org.openhab.homekit:thermostatOffMode= > > ``` Would that be the proper approach? As the homekit.cfg is edited, I would have to install the Homekit binding, but without actively using it, right? ---
**Author:** ![esbenuth](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/esbenuth/32/11351_2.png) [@esbenuth](https://community.openhab.org/u/esbenuth)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2019, 2:55pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/thermostat-items-for-voice-control-echo-alexa-and-google-assistant/65912/6 "2019-02-02T14:55:35Z")
I’ve started using node red to control ny thermostats. That works pretty well. Currently I only use the setpoint part. But I have plans to implement the option to turn them on and off as well. I can post a screenshot later tonight if you want? ---
**Author:** ![Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/d2c977/32.png) [@Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/u/Tobi77)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2019, 3:17pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/thermostat-items-for-voice-control-echo-alexa-and-google-assistant/65912/7 "2019-02-02T15:17:43Z")
Thanks, I’ll take any help 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Celaeno1](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/celaeno1/32/55724_2.png) [@Celaeno1](https://community.openhab.org/u/Celaeno1)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2019, 3:43pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/thermostat-items-for-voice-control-echo-alexa-and-google-assistant/65912/8 "2019-02-02T15:43:52Z")
@Tobi77 You also can use “dummy items” and rules. See here: [Link](https://community.openhab.org/t/alexa-control-heating/32066/4) ---
**Author:** ![Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/d2c977/32.png) [@Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/u/Tobi77)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 9:42pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/thermostat-items-for-voice-control-echo-alexa-and-google-assistant/65912/9 "2019-02-04T21:42:30Z")
Thanks for your help. Hmm. Is there no simpler way to “translate” the modes between Homekit and my specific thermostat? ---
**Author:** ![Celaeno1](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/celaeno1/32/55724_2.png) [@Celaeno1](https://community.openhab.org/u/Celaeno1)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 9:54pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/thermostat-items-for-voice-control-echo-alexa-and-google-assistant/65912/10 "2019-02-04T21:54:53Z")
> [@Tobi77](#): > > Is there no simpler way to “translate” the modes between Homekit and my specific thermostat? Sorry, I don’t know an other solution. ---
**Author:** ![Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/d2c977/32.png) [@Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/u/Tobi77)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 7:35am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/thermostat-items-for-voice-control-echo-alexa-and-google-assistant/65912/11 "2019-02-10T07:35:16Z")
I tried to get an overview. Must people follow the approach you proposed - @Celaeno1, thanks again! However, others modify a file called homekit.cfg, see [[SOLVED] Configure Google Home with Homatic Thermostat](https://community.openhab.org/t/solved-configure-google-home-with-homatic-thermostat/52459). But I don’t know if the file would be considered as I did not install the Homekit binding (I am on Android). Another approach seems to be to create a map file to “translate” from Homekit’s strings to the strings describing the valve mode. Not sure if this would allow me to avoid writing a rule? See [[SOLVED] MAP function or oder to connect Max! Thermostat "Mode" to Dummy item for Google Home interaction](https://community.openhab.org/t/map-function-or-oder-to-connect-max-thermostat-mode-to-dummy-item-for-google-home-interaction/67116) - in this example, map files and rules are used where I would prefer to use only the first and avoid the latter. Would that work? ---
**Author:** ![Celaeno1](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/celaeno1/32/55724_2.png) [@Celaeno1](https://community.openhab.org/u/Celaeno1)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 9:28am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/thermostat-items-for-voice-control-echo-alexa-and-google-assistant/65912/12 "2019-02-10T09:28:59Z")
@Tobi77 It’s up to you. I think you have a sitemap, too. There are mapped items. And you need a rule anyway. Choose the solution you feel most comfortable with. ---
**Author:** ![Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/d2c977/32.png) [@Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/u/Tobi77)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2019, 12:59pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/thermostat-items-for-voice-control-echo-alexa-and-google-assistant/65912/13 "2019-02-23T12:59:55Z")
I got it running. But I would like to switch the valve to the certain modes (Auto, off, …). What is the voice command to switch the HeatingCoolingMode? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/d2c977/32.png) [@Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/u/Tobi77)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2019, 2:21pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/thermostat-items-for-voice-control-echo-alexa-and-google-assistant/65912/14 "2019-03-16T14:21:51Z")
Here is my issue: “Alexa, turn the heating to 22 degrees” - \> “Thermostat heating is set to 22 degrees” “Alexa, switch the heating off” → “Thermostat heating does not support this” (from German) Can anyone help? Please check [Thermostat works well in Google Home, but not with Alexa](https://community.openhab.org/t/thermostat-works-well-in-google-home-but-not-with-alexa/70351) ---
**Author:** ![Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/d2c977/32.png) [@Tobi77](https://community.openhab.org/u/Tobi77)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2019, 10:35pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/thermostat-items-for-voice-control-echo-alexa-and-google-assistant/65912/15 "2019-03-23T22:35:58Z")
Okay, I used a workaround to set the modes. But I would need some programming support to simplify my rules: [Help for rule simplification](https://community.openhab.org/t/rules-simplification/70708) Thanks for help!