FAQ - The Settings & Best Practice Guidelines
The below image of our settings shows you the main setup (trigger) for this blueprint. You will need to enter and adjust all the trigger settings for the automation to work.
The Trigger Settings
Power Sensor
Enter the power sensor entity that measures the current power consumption of your appliance. This entity enables notifications when the appliance starts or finishes. Smart plugs are the most commonly used devices for this purpose.
Setting Up Your Appliance Automation
To configure your automation settings, first run your appliance so Home Assistant can collect power usage data. Then, review the power sensor history to identify key points, such as when the appliance starts, its running cycle, and when it finishes.
The example graph below shows a full wash cycle for my washing machine. Red reference lines, labelled A and B, are used for this explanation.
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Start Trigger Settings
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Start - Appliance Power Setpoint:
At line A, the washing machine draws approximately 8.4 watts when first turned ON (selecting washing settings) and over 11.2 watts when the washing starts. Set the start setpoint to 10 watts, a value between idle and active power usage, to trigger the automation when it meets the start power time delay.
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Start - Power Time Delay:
Since the machine remains above 11.2 watts for at least 5 minutes, setting a delay of 1 minute ensures the cycle starts only when power stays above 10 watts for this duration. This prevents false triggers caused by brief spikes above 10 watts.
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End Trigger Settings
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End - Appliance Power Setpoint:
At line B, the washing machineâs power drops from 8.1 watts (idle) to 0.5 watts (OFF). Set the end setpoint to 5 watts to end the automation when it meets the end power time delay.
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End - Power Time Delay:
Since the machine remains below 5 watts for at least 1 minute only once during the cycle, setting a delay of 1 minute ensures accurate and reliable end notifications.
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Running - Dead Zone (Optional)
A dead zone helps prevent false end triggers caused by brief power dips during the cycle.
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When to Use:
If the power dips below the end setpoint after the start trigger but rises again⌠typically at the same point in the cycle.
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How It Works:
Configure the dead zone to extend from the start trigger through the cycle and beyond any dips, but before the actual endpoint. For example, if power dips for 10 seconds and your end time delay is set to 1 minute, no action will be triggered. However, if the power stays below the end setpoint past the end time delay at a consistent point in the cycle, setting a dead zone beyond this point will prevent false end notification.
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End - Repeat Count (Optional)
This option is useful for cycles with multiple brief dips below the end setpoint.
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How It Works:
If your appliance drops below the end setpoint (including the end time delay) multiple times, the Repeat Count ensures the notification triggers only after the specified number of occurrences.
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Example:
If dips occur twice per cycle and meet the end trigger settings, set the Repeat Count to 2. Youâll receive the end notification on the second occurrence. By default, the count is 1, meaning the end notification is sent on the first occurrence.
Fine-Tuning Your Automation
Once the start and end triggers are configured, your automation should work reliably. You may need to adjust setpoints, time delays, the dead zone, or the repeat count to match your applianceâs behavior. With fine-tuning, this setup will effectively track appliance cycles.
Below is a history graph of a wash cycle.
Notification Settings
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Use The Start Notify Options (Optional)
Select enable if you would like to be notified when the appliance starts.
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Start Notify - Devices Notified When Started - Select the devices to be notified when the appliance starts.
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Start Notify - Title - Enter in the notification title that you would like to receive when the appliance starts.
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Start Notify - Message - Enter in the notification message that you would like to receive when the appliance starts.
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Use The End Notify Options (Optional)
Select enable if you would like to be notified when the appliance finishes.
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End Notify - Devices Notified When Finished - Select the devices to be notified when the appliance has finished.
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End Notify - Title - Enter in the notification title that you would like to receive when the appliance has finished.
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End Notify - Message - Enter in the notification message that you would like to receive when the appliance has finished.
Enable Power Tracking Option
This feature can include power information in your end notify message, or you can choose to only update the start and end helpers for use in your custom actions. The end notify options are to receive either the total kWh used in the cycle or the total kWh used along with an estimated cost for the cycle
- Disclaimer - These values are estimates and should only be used as a guide. Please avoid relying solely on these estimates for accuracy and use them at your own risk. We cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies or resulting losses, damages, inconvenience, or anything else that may occur.
For more information on how to create a number helper please Click Here
Custom Action Options
You can add any action you would like to perform at the start and / or the end. This is normally used if you would like to play an announcement on The Voice (HA), Google, Alexa, etc when the appliance has started and / or finished.
Use The Time Options (Optional)
Use the âStart Timeâ, âEnd Timeâ and âWeekdaysâ values to only run the automation between the time periods. This can be useful if you ever run an appliance at night when you are sleeping and donât want to be notified.
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Start Time - Set the start time.
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End Time - Set the end time.
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Weekdays - Select the days of the week you would like the automation to run. You must select âEnable the time optionsâ above for the weekdays selections to work.
Global Conditions
- Enter any global conditions you would like to apply to the automation.
Hope this helps to explain some of the settings
Enjoy
Blacky
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