Animated lights template / rgb_color randomization

Configuration
1

@skalavala hi!

trying your animated lights on Hue, I wonder why this has another order than the ‘regular’ order for entity_id and data?

https://github.com/skalavala/smarthome/blob/master/packages/lights.yaml#L453

action:
  service: light.turn_on
  data:
    entity_id: light.master_bedroom
    transition: 5
    brightness: 150
  data_template:
    rgb_color: ['{{ "{0:d}".format(range(0, 255)|random) }}',
                '{{ "{0:d}".format(range(0, 255)|random) }}',
                '{{ "{0:d}".format(range(0, 255)|random) }}']

while usually I see this:

action:
  service: light.turn_on
  entity_id: light.master_bedroom
  data_template:
    transition: 5
    brightness: 150
    rgb_color: ['{{ "{0:d}".format(range(0, 255)|random) }}',
                '{{ "{0:d}".format(range(0, 255)|random) }}',
                '{{ "{0:d}".format(range(0, 255)|random) }}']

Ive tried that, but it won’t do anything…

second: is this a special notation for the rgb_color template? elsewhere I use it like this:

      rgb_color: ['{{ (range(0, 255)|random) }}',
                  '{{ (range(0, 255)|random) }}',
                  '{{ (range(0, 255)|random) }}']

just trying to understand the format, maybe you can explain what this does please?

thx,
Marius

2

Hi,

The attributes can be in any order. If the value of the attribute is “dynamic”, meaning it uses some sort of template code, you need to use data_template instead of just data. What that automation does is, it fires every 5 seconds, and it generates random RGB values and transition from the current color to the new color slowly (in 5 seconds). That way, every 5 seconds, the light will change to a new color gradually/slowly and it never ends. The only way to stop is to disable the automation is to turn off the input boolean animate_downstairs_lights.

The code was written long time ago, when the “effect” feature was limited. You might be able to use the effect feature to get the same functionality. I used a lot of light automations earlier when I was new to Home Automation, and I just don’t find that interesting anymore :smile:

Each color value is a whole number that is typically between 0 and 255. Either format should work.

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