How To Set Up the GE Outdoor Smart Switch with Samsung SmartThings and Amazon Echo

My backyard has a bunch of string lights that surround it.  In order to turn them on and off, I have to reach up and take a plug in and out.  This is a pretty good case for automation, but I was having a hard time finding a good outdoor outlet.

I’ve finally found one I liked, the GE Z-Wave Outdoor Smart Switch.

This outlet is controllable via Z-Wave, so I’ll have to use my Samsung SmartThings hub to control it.

Read More: Understanding Home Automation Protocols

Install is pretty straight forward.  Simply take it out of the box, mount it where you want, and plug it in.  Here is my setup.

The only thing I didn’t like about it is where the mounting hole is.  It’s right behind the actual wire that comes out.  That makes it very hard to get mounted.

To keep it up there, I used the mounting screw it comes with and some sticky outdoor mounting tape.  The instructions recommend that it hang, but I don’t see any reason why it can’t be horizontal like I have it.

Now that you have it mounted, it’s time to get it set up.  Rather than repeat myself, check out my guide on How To Set Up the GE Smart Switch with Samsung SmartThings and Amazon Echo.  It is the exact same process.  When it comes time to trigger your device, with the Indoor Smart Switch you toggled it on and off.  For the outdoor one, there is a button right on top that you press to turn it on and off.

 Here it is in my SmartThings app.  I called it Backyard Lights.

Good luck!