In the end of Alexa integration you will be able to control your BigClown projects using Alexa. Result of this article will be controlling LED strip.
You need to install plugin to Node-RED (functions). Open BigClown Playground on you computer. If you want use for this integration your computer, just open functions in menu. However if you want to use BigClown Hub, you have to see on main page available hubs like on following screenshot just click on one and it will open in your browser.
Now you have to install plugin which allow you to controlling BigClown with Alexa. Click on hamburger menu in top right corner > Manage palette > Install and search for node-red-contrib-alexa-home-skill. You should see alexa category with alexa home and alexa home response in nodes.
We will be using service Node-RED Alexa Home Skill Bridge where you have to register an account.
So now you have installed plugin on your Computer or Hub and registred account. However it is not all. Open Alexa app on your smartphone or use browser on your computer on desktop app. Navigate to Skills and install Node-RED skill. After installing you have to Sign in using account you have created.
Login in on Node-RED Alexa Home Skill Bridge and click on devices. Click add device and fill it with following parameters. Name it by yourself.
Then click Ok. Go to Alexa app or desktop app and click on Smart Home > Devices > Discover and you should see your device you've just added.
Now place an alexa home node to flow and double-click on it. You should see setting page. Click on little pencil next to the account and login in with account you've just created in Installing part.
If you click on refresh icon, you would be able to choose devices you added on Node-RED Alexa Home Skill Bridge website and click Done.
As I said in the beggining. We will be controling BigClown LED strip. Prepair MicroUSB cable, Core Module and Power Module with DC source. Now connect Core Module to the computer via MicroUSB cable and open BigClown Playground on your computer. In Playground navigate to the Firmware section and you should be able to see connected device. Choose bigclownlabs/bcf-radio-powe-controller and version depends on your LED strip you bought. I bought rgbw144 and click Flash firmware.
Now open your Devices (on BigClown Hub if you want have Alexa there) and Click start pairing. Assembly hardware like in following video, plug it in to electricity and plug in LED strip.
{% embed url="https://youtu.be/idxAoc2q6O0" %}
You should see connected device in device section on Hub or your computer. Do not forget to click Stop pairing!
Now click Functions and you should have placed alexa home from previous section.
Now click hamburger menu in top right corner > Import > Clipboard and copy there following code:
[{"id":"70cb2802.0f4e08","type":"switch","z":"3abb2073.f7b74","name":"color switch","property":"payload.hue","propertyType":"msg","rules":[{"t":"eq","v":"0x0","vt":"str"},{"t":"eq","v":"0x78","vt":"str"},{"t":"eq","v":"0xf0","vt":"str"}],"checkall":"true","repair":false,"outputs":3,"x":450,"y":260,"wires":[["1c18841e.37453c"],["e925ec80.33ace"],["53fd3cc4.1f87a4"]]},{"id":"1c18841e.37453c","type":"change","z":"3abb2073.f7b74","name":"red","rules":[{"t":"set","p":"payload","pt":"msg","to":"\"#ff0000\"","tot":"str"}],"action":"","property":"","from":"","to":"","reg":false,"x":650,"y":160,"wires":[["ccaf0313.3f267"]]},{"id":"ccaf0313.3f267","type":"mqtt out","z":"3abb2073.f7b74","name":"","topic":"node/power-controller:0/led-strip/-/color/set","qos":"","retain":"","broker":"29fba84a.b2af58","x":1190,"y":200,"wires":[]},{"id":"e925ec80.33ace","type":"change","z":"3abb2073.f7b74","name":"green","rules":[{"t":"set","p":"payload","pt":"msg","to":"\"#008000\"","tot":"str"}],"action":"","property":"","from":"","to":"","reg":false,"x":650,"y":220,"wires":[["ccaf0313.3f267"]]},{"id":"6beeac02.679194","type":"switch","z":"3abb2073.f7b74","name":"off switch","property":"payload","propertyType":"msg","rules":[{"t":"false"}],"checkall":"true","repair":false,"outputs":1,"x":440,"y":340,"wires":[["d0dbd430.16a4d8"]]},{"id":"d0dbd430.16a4d8","type":"change","z":"3abb2073.f7b74","name":"off","rules":[{"t":"set","p":"payload","pt":"msg","to":"\"#000000(00)\"","tot":"str"}],"action":"","property":"","from":"","to":"","reg":false,"x":650,"y":340,"wires":[["ccaf0313.3f267"]]},{"id":"53fd3cc4.1f87a4","type":"change","z":"3abb2073.f7b74","name":"blue","rules":[{"t":"set","p":"payload","pt":"msg","to":"\"#0000ff\"","tot":"str"}],"action":"","property":"","from":"","to":"","reg":false,"x":650,"y":280,"wires":[["ccaf0313.3f267"]]},{"id":"29fba84a.b2af58","type":"mqtt-broker","z":"","broker":"127.0.0.1","port":"1883","clientid":"","usetls":false,"compatmode":true,"keepalive":"60","cleansession":true,"birthTopic":"","birthQos":"0","birthPayload":"","willTopic":"","willQos":"0","willPayload":""}]
Connected with your node to functions you imported and deploy. You have to wait 5 seconds until alexa plugin connects to servers and than say "Alexa, turn [your device] to red". That's it!