[APP][Pro] Virtual Drivers - Monitor anything with custom virtual devices

Apps
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Virtual Drivers is a utility app designed to help you track, visualize, and act upon data that isn’t natively exposed by your existing Homey devices. By creating virtual sensors, you can use Flows to “push” values into them, enabling you to see custom data directly in the Homey UI and track it over time in Insights.

Key Use Case

Have you ever wanted to monitor a value that your device calculates but doesn’t show? Or perhaps you want to aggregate data from multiple sources into a single “sensor”? Virtual Drivers allows you to create these missing links. Simply create a virtual device and use a Flow to update its value whenever your source data changes.

Available Drivers

• Virtual Number: A versatile sensor for any numeric value. You can customize the units (e.g., liters, lux, kg), set the number of decimals, and define min/max ranges.

• Virtual Boolean: A true/false sensor where you can customize the labels for each state (e.g., “Open/Closed”, “Active/Inactive”, “Locked/Unlocked”) to make the UI more intuitive.

• Virtual Power (W): Specifically for monitoring power consumption.

• Virtual Temperature (°C): For tracking custom temperature points.

• Virtual Battery (%): Monitor battery levels, useful for devices that only report status via third-party APIs.

• Virtual Button: A simple on/off switch for triggering flows or representing a state.
Main Features

• Flow Integration: Every driver includes “Set value” actions, “Value changed” triggers, and “Value is…” conditions.

• Insights Support: Because these are treated as standard sensors, all your virtual data is automatically logged in Homey Insights for beautiful graphing.

• Customization: Tailor the labels and units to match your specific needs.
How to get started

  1. Install the app and add a new device.
  2. Choose the Virtual Drivers app and pick the type of sensor you need.
  3. Configure any custom units or labels in the device settings.
  4. Create a Flow: When [something happens] → Then [Set value of Virtual Device] to the tag/value you want to monitor.
2

Is there a reason to use this app compared to Advanced Virtual Device in Device Capabilities?

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Yes.

4

:smiley: so which is it?

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Have you tried this app? It’s about 10x faster to use on your device because it’s already pre-defined. But no one is forcing you to do it, do what makes you happy.

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Hi Michal,

Can you add a Virtual String Driver? This would come in handy to send commands to my Android TV streamer (using MQTT from my TheHomeRemote tablet).

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In the meantime, you can do this with Advanced Virtual Devices from the Device Capabilities app. Just create an AVD and add (multiple) text field(s) :wink:

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Hello, sure, it is here:

Approval for release may take time, so you can use test version meantime.

9

Thanks Michal, it works indeed verrry fast! And 1.0.5 is already released as well! :tada:

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Indeed, AVD is very versatile, and I use it with great pleasure.
But templates provided by this app are more robust (you can recreate them on the fly).

I have the need for a virtual 3-phase breaker/power meter with on/off with the following attributes:

  • measure_voltage.L1, measure_voltage.L2 and measure_voltage.L3;
  • measure_current.L1, measure_current.L2, measure_current.L3;
  • measure_power.L1, measure_power.L2, measure_power.L3;
  • meter_power.L1, meter_power.2, meter_power.L3;
  • meter_power (would contain the total of the 3 phases)
  • measure_temperature
  • onoff (used as a breaker switch. Those devices tend to have a software button, so they do need a ‘real’ physical breaker with handle next to it)

The L1’s could be used for 1-phase meter, too. The L2’s and L3’s would only be valid for 3-phase meter.

Many thanks.

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I have created an AVD template for you:

Just goto the Homey app, create a new AVD and pick the “create from template” option.

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Now select the 3 Phase Breaker:
You’ll need to refresh the Templates since i just made it.

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Press Select:

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Perhaps change the name and press Use this Template:

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It might take a moment, but your AVD will be created with all the requested fields.
:partying_face:

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Now, you might need to setup the Total Energy Field by selecting the right device:

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Have fun! :wink:

(Oh, and first update the DC app to the current live version. The refresh button in the AVD templates was almost non-pushable).