Automation doesn't work as excepted

Configuration
1

Hello, I am new here and I need help.
I want to turn off my TV power strip at night, if the TV is off. My TV power strip consumes about 100 watts in operation and 6 watts in standby.
I have configured an automation with following trigger configuration:
Switch off if power comsumption lower than 6 Watts.
Somehow it does not work. Have I made a logical error?

alias: test_SwitchOffTV
description: ''
trigger:
  - type: power
    platform: device
    device_id: 1234
    domain: sensor
    below: 5
    for:
      hours: 0
      minutes: 1
      seconds: 0
condition:
  - condition: time
    after: '00:00:00'
    before: '06:00:03'
    weekday:
      - sun
      - sat
      - fri
      - thu
      - wed
      - tue
      - mon
action:
  - type: turn_off
    device_id: 1234
    entity_id: switch.schrank
    domain: switch
mode: single

Thx for your support

2

Based on your trigger, it have to be below 5W for at least 1 min before triggering. If the standby mode is around 6W that won’t be easy to happen.

1 Like
3

I have an automation (controlled by the TV box) that switches a smart plug when starting & ending (with delay) watching TV, this is less complicated and works but don’t know if you can do that with your setup.

4

Hi Edward, you are right. Bad explained.
The example is for testing only (do nothing because TV is on). If I run the automation script, the plug will switch off, why?
Trigger is “under” 5 Watt but the current consumtion is 6 watt. This is my problem, currently. The automation switch my plug off, although the cosumption is higher.

5

If you run the automation manually it skips the triggers and conditions and just performs the actions.

If you use the trigger automation service in Developer Tools > Services you can choose not to skip the conditions,

Screenshot 2022-06-09 at 19-24-06 Developer Tools – Home Assistant
Screenshot 2022-06-09 at 19-24-06 Developer Tools – Home Assistant1594×618 30.1 KB

1 Like
6

Hi Tom,
Thanks for this cool tip, that’s good to know for testing purposes.
Unfortunately the automation script doesn’t work, so I guess I have to assume I have the wrong idea.
My idea is to turn off the power plug when the standby power is reached at night (less than 6 watts).
I turn on the power plug every noon via the scheduler.
Is this possible?

7

Try this:

alias: test_SwitchOffTV
description: ''
trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id: sensor.YOUR_POWER_SENSOR_HERE
    below: 20
    for:
      hours: 0
      minutes: 1
      seconds: 0
condition:
  - condition: time
    after: '00:00:00'
    before: '06:00:03'
    weekday:
      - sun
      - sat
      - fri
      - thu
      - wed
      - tue
      - mon
action:
  - service: switch.turn_off
    target:
      entity_id: switch.schrank
mode: single
8

Unless you actually turn your tv off after 00:00 and not before, this might work. But if your assumption is this will also turn off around 00:00 when the tv was already off, that won’t happen. This only checks at the 5 minutes after the tv was turned off. For that to work you need an extra trigger at 0:00 and an extra condition that the consumption must be low.

There’s also a lot of confusion on what is what in your example. Both the sensor and the switch belong to the same device. So for a moment I’m assuming the sensor is looking for the usage of the switched device.

You are saying the standby consumption is 6 watts, and you are testing for below that. So basically this test is saying, if it is already 5 minutes below standby usage (thus off) turn it off. I’m guessing you wanted: if it is on standby, turn it off. In that case you should test below 7 watts (above standby, below normal use), not below standby (off).

If the TV and the TV power strip are separate entities, maybe you should check your automation again. Use state checks on entities and the switch.turn_off service with entities to make it more clear.

And last but not least, I’m wondering what you usually do at the time between 6:00:00 and 6:00:03 :crazy_face: