@morgan did u sort this.

Not sure if this is relevant or what you are looking for but you can group the lights by area /room.

We have Tapo smart lights I have 7 smart spot lights  on or landing so we just say Alexa landing lights on / off etc. Also same in each bedroom. Maybe you could group one or 2 lights from each room and maybe call it security so when you are away you could turn security on and off or over voice if your in the house. 

Hope that helps

@sand 

I haven't sorted it yet.  I can't get my head around it to be honest.  Tech has never been my strong point so your suggestion of grouping etc just goes over my head. 😕 

@morgan  no problem try this if you want

go to alexa app.

Tap devices at bottom

Tap + icon top right

Create a room or device group

Tap next

Select the pre made name or select a custom name

Tap next choose all your lights you want in that group 

So for example if you have a living room with 20 smart spot lights they can be all grouped together. Call it living room and ask Alexa to turn on on living room lights they should all come on at same time.

@sand 

I have 8 smart bulbs in 8 different rooms.  To simulate the house being occupied when I'm away there a number of routines to turn each of these lights on and later off at different times throughout a 24hr period.  So 4/5 or 6 routines per light per day at different times so they can't be a 'group' that activate all together.

@morgan ok get what you want to do now. You should be able to do this in your smart light app and set schedules, bypassing alexa  altogether. So for example if you want kitchen light to come on at 6pm schedule that in you smart light app. Then schedule your living room to come on at 7pm and schedule the kitchen light to go off etc. We do this when we go on holiday like I said we have Tapo smart lights part of tp-link, I find them easy to understand.

@sand 

Thanks for that. I have Hue lights but assumed it all had to be done via Alexa which is a proper PITA. I will give that a good look. 👍 

The mesh wifi in the house is via TP-Link.

Posted by: @sand

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@morgan ok get what you want to do now. You should be able to do this in your smart light app and set schedules, bypassing alexa  altogether. So for example if you want kitchen light to come on at 6pm schedule that in you smart light app. Then schedule your living room to come on at 7pm and schedule the kitchen light to go off etc. We do this when we go on holiday like I said we have Tapo smart lights part of tp-link, I find them easy to understand.

@sand

Eureka! As the result of your post I did some more research and.......................... Purchased a Philips Hue Bridge.  Set up with my Hue Ambiance Bulbs and job's a good un.

Within the Hue app there is a "Mimic Presence" setting which basically, when enabled whilst away from home, will switch lights on/off randomly during the hours of darkness.  The smart bit is it will properly mimic presence not turning lights on/off at the exact same time each day but also in a room by room manner that represents normal presence and movement about an occupied house.  Very clever.

If not for you I'd still be messing about with Alexa.  Now it's a couple of buttons and away we go.  Thank you!

@morgan  Thrilled you got it sorted.  People have really helped me with my knowledge of running our ashp on this forum so glad to help.