def get_state(self, force_update=False):
        """
        Returns 0 if off and 1 if on.
        """
        # The base implementation using GetBinaryState doesn't work for Maker (always returns 0).
        # So pull the switch state from the atrributes instead
        if force_update or self._state is None:
            return(int(self.maker_attribs.get('switchstate',0)))
        return self._state