Basic delay not working. pls advise

Configuration
1

i have a very basic automation to execute. when door opens, turn light switch on for 5 minutes, turn light switch off afterward. by using delay, here’s my code. light switch does turn on BUT turn off almost within 3 seconds

- id: '1570209701939'
  alias: auto light on after 7pm, front door open
  trigger:
  - entity_id: binary_sensor.front_door
    from: 'off'
    platform: state
    to: 'on'
  condition:
  - after: '19:00:00'
    condition: time
  action:
  - data:
      entity_id: light.zooz_zen22_dimmer_v2_level
      brightness_pct: 20
    service: light.turn_on
  - delay:
      minutes: 5
  - data:
      entity_id: light.zooz_zen22_dimmer_v2_level
    service: light.turn_off
2

The automation looks fine. Throwing a softball but make sure you reload automations or restart after it’s saved. Maybe try defining the delay as a string.

  action:
  - service: light.turn_on
    data:
      entity_id: light.zooz_zen22_dimmer_v2_level
      brightness_pct: 20
  - delay: '00:05:00'
  - service: light.turn_off
    data:
      entity_id: light.zooz_zen22_dimmer_v2_level
3

Don’t do this with a delay. If the automation triggers again while waiting in the delay the delay will be skipped and the rest of the actions will execute.

Do it with two automations like this:

4

i am very happy to say your suggestion works! so now my code looks like this:

- id: '1570209701939'
  alias: Turn on living room when there is movement or front door opens
  trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.motion, binary_sensor.front_door
    to: 'on'
  condition:
  - after: '10:00:00'
    condition: time
  action:
  - service: homeassistant.turn_on
    data:
      entity_id:
        - light.zooz_zen22_dimmer_v2_level
  - service: timer.start
    data:
      entity_id: timer.living_room

- id: '1570211808181'
  alias: Turn off living room 10 minutes after trigger
  trigger:
    platform: event
    event_type: timer.finished
    event_data:
      entity_id: timer.living_room
  action:
    service: homeassistant.turn_off
    data:
      entity_id:
        - light.zooz_zen22_dimmer_v2_level
1 Like
5

Here’s another way to do the same thing.

The first automation is nearly identical to the one you currently have except it doesn’t start a timer.

- id: '1570209701939'
  alias: 'Turn on living room when there is movement or front door opens'
  trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.motion, binary_sensor.front_door
    to: 'on'
  condition:
  - condition: time
    after: '10:00:00'
  action:
  - service: light.turn_on
    entity_id: light.zooz_zen22_dimmer_v2_level

The second automation turns off the light after it has been on for 10 minutes (and the current time is later than 10:00).

- id: '1570211808181'
  alias: 'Turn off living room 10 minutes after trigger'
  trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id: light.zooz_zen22_dimmer_v2_level
    to: 'on'
    for: '00:10:00'
  condition:
  - condition: time
    after: '10:00:00'
  action:
  - service: light.turn_off
    entity_id: light.zooz_zen22_dimmer_v2_level