Automation: ‘turn_off’ action not triggering from motion sensor off state

Configuration
1

Hi everyone,

I’m having trouble with a YAML automation that’s supposed to turn off the lights one minute after my motion sensor goes to the ‘off’ state, but the ‘turn_off’ service isn’t triggering reliably.

Here’s my setup:

  • I use a binary_sensor.motion_11_occupancy for triggering.
  • My automation works for turning on the light when motion is detected, but the turn_off part does not activate after the motion sensor goes ‘off’ for one minute.
  • My trigger is set with a for: condition to delay, and actions use templating based on trigger.id.

Here is the automation:

trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.motion_11_occupancy
    to: "on"
    id: "on"
  - platform: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.motion_11_occupancy
    to: "off"
    for:
      hours: 0
      minutes: 1
      seconds: 0
    id: "off"

action:
  - service: "light.turn_{{ trigger.id }}"
    target:
      area_id: trastero
    data: {}

What could prevent the turn_off action from running after the sensor has been ‘off’ for 1 minute?
Are there common issues with for: delays, triggers, or templating in the service field that I should check?

Thanks for any insight!

2

Hello Daniel Rodríguez Rivero,

Well on the surface it should work, at least I don’t see the issue.
I usually address light groups or individual entities though, not areas so I could be wrong. You could also make a label for those lights instead of area and I know that works.

It is the legacy syntax, so I would update that and see if it works then.
Action to actions, service to action, trigger to triggers, platform to trigger.

3

Thanks for your answer

You mean that ro convert it to the new syntax I should do that mapping?

4

Probably not required, but I would. It’s how the UI will be writing stuff for you now. and it’s easier to get help. (I had to convert that in my head). So not required, but I would try it and see if anything changes.

5

Actually doing that conversion made it work.
Thank you

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