Using one button to toggle another device (approach 2)

Quite often you will find yourself in a situation where you would like to have the ability where you want to want to use one button to toggle another device between ON and OFF states. The best way to operate a device with 1 button on another device than the target device is to use scenes but you will discover that scenes don’t have a toggle feature (at least at the moment of writing this tutorial at February 28, 2021 and eWeLink 4.9.x). How do you solve that issue?

With thanks to the community we created our first “Using one button to toggle another device” tutorial. The original idea came from Anuar Ahmad who shared his idea and screenshots on Facebook.

Later on some people reported that the scenes caused some sort of loop rendering the target device to stay always on. That’s why Agisilaos Ignatiadis came up with another approach. This approach has as disadvantage that manual operating the target devices cause the scenes for the external button to get out of sync and so you will need to press the external button twice to get in sync again. There is a solution for that too but requires 2 additional scenes. In this Knowledge Base Agisilaos’ approach is described first followed by the 2 additional scenes for the synchronization solution.

This article assumes the button to control the target device with is a RF button but this could be a Zigbee button instead of you desire so. This article also assume that you already added the RF button as an Alarm to the RF bridge.

Index

We start with:

• In short

The order in which you create and modify the scenes is:

• Add Scene 1
• Add Scene 2
• Add Scene on
• Add Scene off
• Modify Scene 1
• Modify Scene 2

2 scenes are optional for synchronisation between manual operation of the target devices and the scenes of the external button:

• Add Scene auto on (optiponal)
• Add Scene auto off (optional)

And at the end:

• All steps completed

In short

You will need to create 4 scenes:

• Scene 1
  • Turn the target device on after an external button press.
  • Execute helper scene Scene off to disable this Scene 1 so that this scene doesn’t react on the external button press as the target device is already on.
• Scene 2
  • Turn the target device off after an external button press.
  • Execute helper scene Scene on to disable this Scene 2 so that this scene doesn’t react on the external button press as the target device is already off.
• Scene on
  • Enables Scene 1 so that Scene 1 will turn the target device on when the external button is pressed.
  • Disables Scene 2 so that Scene 2 doesn’t turn the target device off when the external button is pressed.
• Scene off
  • Disables Scene 1 so that Scene 1 doesn’t turn the target device on when the external button is pressed.
  • Enables Scene 2 so that Scene 2 will turn the target device off when the external button is pressed.

To get a correct synchronization between manual operation of the target device and the scenes that reacts on the external button presses you can add 2 additional scenes:

• Scene auto on
  • Shortcut to Scene on reacting on the target device state going to off.
• Scene auto off
  • Shortcut to Scene off reacting on the target device state going to on.

Add Scene 1

This scene will:

• Turn the target device on after an external button press.
• Execute helper scene Scene off to disable this Scene 1 so that this scene doesn’t react on the external button press as the target device is already on.

Because both Scene 1 and the helper scene will refer to each other we can’t complete this scene in one flow. We will modify Scene 1 later on.

Step 1

• Go to the Scene screen.
• Tap the + icon in the top right corner.

Go to the Scene screen

Tap the + icon in the top right corner

Step 2

• Tap Add right below If.

Tap “Add” right below “If”

Step 3

• Tap Smart Device.

Tap “Smart Device”

Step 4

• Select the trigger device.
  • If you want to use a Zigbee button you can tap the name of the Zigbee button and then choose the press type (single, double or long press).
  • In our example we use a RF button and so we select our RF bridge called RF bridge.

Select the trigger device

Step 5

• Select the correct RF alarm that represents your RF button.
  • In our case it is RF switch 3G - 2 (the middle button of a 3-gang RF switch).
• Tap Save in the upper right corner.

Select the correct RF alarm that represents your RF button

Tap “Save” in the upper right corner

Step 6

• Tap Add right below Then.

Tap “Add” right below “Then”

Step 7

• Tap Smart Device.

Tap “Smart Device”

Step 8

• Tap the target device.
  • In our case that will be Johnese filament lightbulb.

Tap the target device

Step 9

• Tap the button ON.
  • A blue circle with a white checkmark will appear before the word ON.
• Tap Save.

Tap the button “ON”

Tap “Save”

Step 10

• Tap Save.

Tap “Save”

Step 11

• Insert a name for the scene after Name.
  • In our case we entered Scene 1 as name.
• Tap Save.

Tap “Save”

Insert a name for the scene

Scene 1 is now complete.

Add Scene 2

This scene will:

• Turn the target device off after an external button press.
• Execute helper scene Scene on to disable this Scene 2 so that this scene doesn’t react on the external button press as the target device is already off.

Because both Scene 2 and the helper scene will refer to each other we can’t complete this scene in one flow. We will modify Scene 2 later on.

Step 1

• Go to the Scene screen.
• Tap the + icon in the top right corner.

Go to the Scene screen

Tap the + icon in the top right corner

Step 2

• Tap Add right below If.

Tap “Add” right below “If”

Step 3

• Tap Smart Device.

Tap “Smart Device”

Step 4

• Select the trigger device.
  • If you want to use a Zigbee button you can tap the name of the Zigbee button and then choose the press type (single, double or long press).
  • In our example we use a RF button and so we select our RF bridge called RF bridge.

Select the trigger device

Step 5

• Select the correct RF alarm that represents your RF button.
  • In our case it is RF switch 3G - 2 (the middle button of a 3-gang RF switch).
• Tap Save in the upper right corner.

Select the correct RF alarm that represents your RF button

Tap “Save” in the upper right corner

Step 6

• Tap Add right below Then.

Tap “Add” right below “Then”

Step 7

• Tap Smart Device.

Tap “Smart Device”

Step 8

• Tap the target device.
  • In our case that will be Johnese filament lightbulb.

Tap the target device

Step 9

• Tap the button OFF.
  • A blue circle with a white checkmark will appear before the word OFF.
• Tap Save.

Tap the button “OFF”

Tap “Save”

Step 10

• Tap Save.

Tap “Save”

Step 11

• Insert a name for the scene after Name.
  • In our case we entered Scene 2 as name.
• Tap Save.

Tap “Save”

Insert a name for the scene

Scene 2 is now complete.

Add Scene on

This scene will:

• Enable Scene 1 so that Scene 1 will turn the target device on when the external button is pressed.
• Disable Scene 2 so that Scene 2 doesn’t turn the target device off when the external button is pressed.

Step 1

• Go to the Scene screen.
• Tap the + icon in the top right corner.

Go to the Scene screen

Tap the + icon in the top right corner

Step 2

• Tap Add right below If.

Tap “Add” right below “If”

Step 3

• Tap Tap to perform.

Tap “Tap to perform”

Step 4

• Tap Add right below Then.

Tap “Add” right below “Then”

Step 5

• Tap Smart Scenes.

Tap “Smart Scenes”

Step 6

• Tap Enable/Disable auto scenes.

Tap “Enable/Disable auto scenes”

Step 7

• Select the scene that turns the target device on.
  • Earlier in this article we called that scene Scene 1.

Select the scene that turns the target device on

Step 8

• Tap Enable.
  • A blue check mark at the right on that row will appear.
• Tap Save.

Tap “Save”

Tap “Enable”

Step 9

• Tap the + icon on the right of Then.

Tap the “+” icon on the right of “Then”

Step 10

• Tap Smart Scenes.

Tap “Smart Scenes”

Step 11

• Tap Enable/Disable auto scenes.

Tap “Enable/Disable auto scenes”

Step 12

• Select the scene that turns the target device off.
  • Earlier in this article we called that scene Scene 2.

Select the scene that turns the target device off

Step 13

• Tap Disable.
  • A blue check mark at the right on that row will appear.
• Tap Save.

Tap “Save”

Tap “Disable”

Step 14

• Tap Save.

Tap “Save”

Step 15

• Insert a name for the scene after Name.
  • In our case we entered Scene on as name.
• Optionally you can choose an icon.
• Tap Save.

Tap “Save”

Optionally you can choose an icon.

Insert a name for the scene

Scene on is now fully complete.

Add Scene off

This scene will:

• Disable Scene 1 so that Scene 1 doesn’t turn the target device on when the external button is pressed.
• Enable Scene 2 so that Scene 2 will turn the target device off when the external button is pressed.

Step 1

• Go to the Scene screen.
• Tap the + icon in the top right corner.

Go to the Scene screen

Tap the + icon in the top right corner

Step 2

• Tap Add right below If.

Tap “Add” right below “If”

Step 3

• Tap Tap to perform.

Tap “Tap to perform”

Step 4

• Tap Add right below Then.

Tap “Add” right below “Then”

Step 5

• Tap Smart Scenes.

Tap “Smart Scenes”

Step 6

• Tap Enable/Disable auto scenes.

Tap “Enable/Disable auto scenes”

Step 7

• Select the scene that turns the target device on.
  • Earlier in this article we called that scene Scene 1.

Select the scene that turns the target device on

Step 8

• Tap Disable.
  • A blue check mark at the right on that row will appear.
• Tap Save.

Tap “Save”

Tap “Disable”

Step 9

• Tap the + icon on the right of Then.

Tap the “+” icon on the right of “Then”

Step 10

• Tap Smart Scenes.

Tap “Smart Scenes”

Step 11

• Tap Enable/Disable auto scenes.

Tap “Enable/Disable auto scenes”

Step 12

• Select the scene that turns the target device off.
  • Earlier in this article we called that scene Scene 2.

Select the scene that turns the target device off

Step 13

• Tap Enable.
  • A blue check mark at the right on that row will appear.
• Tap Save.

Tap “Save”

Tap “Enable”

Step 14

• Tap Save.

Tap “Save”

Step 15

• Insert a name for the scene after Name.
  • In our case we entered Scene off as name.
• Optionally you can choose an icon.
• Tap Save.

Tap “Save”

Optionally you can choose an icon.

Insert a name for the scene

Scene off is now fully complete.

Modify Scene 1

This scene will:

• Turn the target device on after an external button press.
• Execute helper scene Scene off to disable this Scene 1 so that this scene doesn’t react on the external button press as the target device is already on.

Because both Scene 1 and the helper scene will refer to each other we couldn’t complete this scene in one flow. That is way we now arrived at part 2: modifying Scene 1.

Step 1

• Go to the Scene screen.
• Scroll down until you see the Auto scenes.
• Tap Scene 1.

Go to the Scene screen

Scroll down until you see the Auto scenes

Tap “Scene 1”

Step 2

• Tap the + icon on the right of Then.

Tap the “+” icon on the right of “Then”

Step 3

• Tap Smart Scenes.

Tap “Smart Scenes”

Step 4

• Tap Perform manual scene.

Tap “Perform manual scene”

Step 5

• Choose the scene you have setup to disable the first scene (so that it doesn’t turn on the target device when the external button is pressed whilst the target device is already on) an to enable the second scene (so that it does turn off the target device on the external button press).
  • Earlier in this article we called that scene Scene off.
  • A blue checkmark will appear at the right on that row.
• Tap Save.

Choose the scene you have setup to disable the first scene

Tap “Save”

Step 6

• Tap Save.

Tap “Save”

Step 7

• You can change the name after Name if you want.
  • We recommend to leave the name untouched.
• Tap Save.

Tap “Save”

You can change the name after “Name” if you want.

Scene 1 is now fully complete.

Modify Scene 2

This scene will:

• Turn the target device off after an external button press.
• Execute helper scene Scene on to disable this Scene 2 so that this scene doesn’t react on the external button press as the target device is already off.

Because both Scene 2 and the helper scene will refer to each other we couldn’t complete this scene in one flow. That is why we now arrived at part 2: modifying Scene 2.

Step 1

• Go to the Scene screen.
• Scroll down until you see the Auto scenes.
• Tap Scene 2.

Go to the Scene screen

Scroll down until you see the Auto scenes

Tap “Scene 2”

Step 2

• Tap the + icon on the right of Then.

Tap the “+” icon on the right of “Then”

Step 3

• Tap Smart Scenes.

Tap “Smart Scenes”

Step 4

• Tap Perform manual scene.

Tap “Perform manual scene”

Step 5

• Choose the scene you have setup to disable the second scene (so that it doesn’t turn off the target device when the external button is pressed whilst the target device is already off) and to enable the first scene (so that it does turn on the target device on the external button press).
  • Earlier in this article we called that scene Scene on.
  • A blue checkmark will appear at the right on that row.
• Tap Save.

Choose the scene you have setup to disable the second scene

Tap “Save”

Step 6

• Tap Save.

Tap “Save”

Step 7

• You can change the name after Name if you want.
  • We recommend to leave the name untouched.
• Tap Save.

Tap “Save”

You can change the name after “Name” if you want.

Scene 2 is now fully complete.

Add Scene auto on (optional)

This scene will:

• Be a shortcut to Scene on reacting on the target device state going to off.
• This synchronize the automation scenes for the external button to the manual operation of the target device.

Scene on will:

• Enable Scene 1 so that Scene 1 will turn the target device on when the external button is pressed.
• Disable Scene 2 so that Scene 2 doesn’t turn the target device off when the external button is pressed.

Step 1

• Go to the Scene screen.
• Tap the + icon in the top right corner.

Go to the Scene screen

Tap the + icon in the top right corner

Step 2

• Tap Add right below If.

Tap “Add” right below “If”

Step 3

• Tap Smart Device.

Tap “Smart Device”

Step 4

• Tap the target device.
  • In our case that will be Johnese filament lightbulb.

Tap the target device

Step 5

• Tap the button OFF.
  • A blue circle with a white checkmark will appear before the word OFF.
• Tap Save.

Tap the button “OFF”

Tap “Save”

Step 6

• Tap Add right below Then.

Tap “Add” right below “Then”

Step 7

• Tap Smart Scenes.

Tap “Smart Scenes”

Step 8

• Tap Perform manual scene.

Tap “Perform manual scene”

Step 9

• Choose the scene you have setup to disable the second scene (so that it doesn’t turn off the target device when the external button is pressed whilst the target device is already off) and to enable the first scene (so that it does turn on the target device on the external button press).
  • Earlier in this article we called that scene Scene on.
  • A blue checkmark will appear at the right on that row.
• Tap Save.

Choose the scene you have setup to disable the second scene

Tap “Save”

Step 10

• Tap Save.

Tap “Save”

Step 11

• Insert a name for the scene after Name.
  • In our case we entered Scene auto on as name.
• Tap Save.

Tap “Save”

Insert a name for the scene after “Name”

Scene auto on is now fully complete.

Add Scene auto off (optional)

This scene will:

• Be a shortcut to Scene off reacting on the target device state going to on.
• This synchronize the automation scenes for the external button to the manual operation of the target device.

Scene off will:

• Disable Scene 1 so that Scene 1 doesnt’t turn the target device on when the external button is pressed.
• Enable Scene 2 so that Scene 2will turn the target device off when the external button is pressed.

Step 1

• Go to the Scene screen.
• Tap the + icon in the top right corner.

Go to the Scene screen

Tap the + icon in the top right corner

Step 2

• Tap Add right below If.

Tap “Add” right below “If”

Step 3

• Tap Smart Device.

Tap “Smart Device”

Step 4

• Tap the target device.
  • In our case that will be Johnese filament lightbulb.

Tap the target device

Step 5

• Tap the button ON.
  • A blue circle with a white checkmark will appear before the word ON.
• Tap Save.

Tap the button “ON”

Tap “Save”

Step 6

• Tap Add right below Then.

Tap “Add” right below “Then”

Step 7

• Tap Smart Scenes.

Tap “Smart Scenes”

Step 8

• Tap Perform manual scene.

Tap “Perform manual scene”

Step 9

• Choose the scene you have setup to disable the first scene (so that it doesn’t turn on the target device when the external button is pressed whilst the target device is already on) an to enable the second scene (so that it does turn off the target device on the external button press).
  • Earlier in this article we called that scene Scene off.
  • A blue checkmark will appear at the right on that row.
• Tap Save.

Choose the scene you have setup to disable the second scene

Tap “Save”

Step 10

• Tap Save.

Tap “Save”

Step 11

• Insert a name for the scene after Name.
  • In our case we entered Scene auto off as name.
• Tap Save.

Tap “Save”

Insert a name for the scene after “Name”

Scene auto off is now fully complete.

All steps completed