Can't figure out how to use an ELSE statement to simplify automations

1

Hi team,
I’m just starting to wrap my head around more complicated automations, and I’m trying to build one that essentially only turns the light on when a. I am home, AND b. it’s between the hours of 06:00 and 23:00.

Based on one test, I think I’ve got something that works. But pretty sure I could simplify this if I could just wrap my head around how to use ELSE statements, i.e., IF user is home AND hours between 06:00 and 23:00 turn light on ELSE turn light off.

I have read pages and pages of documentation, and have managed to break (and restore) my Home Assistant a couple times already and just need someone to highlight what I’m missing.

Thanks in advance. Here’s the script I’ve got so far:

trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id:
      - person.user1
    to: home
    for:
      hours: 0
      minutes: 5
      seconds: 0
  - platform: state
    entity_id:
      - person.user1
    to: not_home
    for:
      hours: 0
      minutes: 5
      seconds: 0
  - platform: time
    at: "23:00:00"
  - platform: time
    at: "06:00:00"
condition: []
action:
  - if:
      - condition: state
        entity_id: person.user1
        state: not_home
      - condition: or
        conditions:
          - condition: time
            after: "06:00:00"
            before: "23:00:00"
    then:
      - service: switch.turn_off
        data: {}
        target:
          entity_id: switch.bad_light
  - if:
      - condition: state
        entity_id: person.user1
        state: home
      - condition: time
        after: "06:00:00"
        before: "23:00:00"
    then:
      - service: switch.turn_on
        data: {}
        target:
          entity_id: switch.bad_light
  - if:
      - condition: time
        after: "23:00:00"
        before: "06:00:00"
    then:
      - service: switch.turn_on
        data: {}
        target:
          entity_id: switch.bad_light
mode: single
2

I believe this should work:

trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id:
      - person.user1
    to: home
    for:
      hours: 0
      minutes: 5
      seconds: 0
    id: home
  - platform: state
    entity_id:
      - person.user1
    to: not_home
    for:
      hours: 0
      minutes: 5
      seconds: 0
    id: not_home
  - platform: time
    at: "23:00:00"
    id: time_off
  - platform: time
    at: "06:00:00"
    id: time_on
condition: []
action:
  - if:
      - condition: state
        entity_id: person.user1
        state: home
      - condition: time
        after: "06:00:00"
        before: "23:00:00"
      - condition: or
          - conditions:
            - condition: trigger
              id: time_on
            - condition: trigger
              id: home
	then:
      - service: switch.turn_on
        data: {}
        target:
          entity_id: switch.bad_light
    else:
      - service: switch.turn_off
        data: {}
        target:
          entity_id: switch.bad_light
mode: single
1 Like
3

Being home and the time is between 06:00 and 23:00 seem like conditions to me rather than a trigger?

What do you want to trigger the light coming on?

You arriving home or the time hitting 06:00 when you’re already home? Some other activity?

4

are you replying to me or the OP?

5

This worked and cleared up my confusion at the same time. Thank you very much!

Now to rebuild my many other automations with this new technique :slight_smile:

1 Like