Condition using a timer, how do I say when Not Idle

Configuration
1

I want to start a timer when I exit a Zone, but if I return with 10 Mins (because) i have forgotten something I don’t want my garage door to open.

So I want to check if the time is still running i.e. NOT idle.

Not sure of the correct syntax

Regards Dave

2

A running timer has “active” as the state.

syntax depends on how you are using it in the automation. Which you haven’t given us.

3

Why not just use for: ‘00:10:00’ ?

1 Like
4

Hi, many thanks for taking the time to reply

Here is my automation:-

- id: '1597055016189'
  alias: Bike Mode Door Garage Open when arriving home
  description: Open Garage Door when entering Bike Zone if Bike Mode On and Alarm
    Not Set
  trigger:
  - entity_id: device_tracker.gt_i9505
    event: enter
    platform: zone
    zone: zone.bike_home
  condition:
  - condition: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.bike_mode
    state: 'on'
  - condition: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.garage_alarm_set
    state: 'off'
  - condition: state
    entity_id: timer.garage_door_inhibit
    state: '?'
  action:
  - data: {}
    entity_id: switch.garage_door_open_2
    service: switch.turn_on
  mode: single

So its the timer.garage_door_inhibit that would be started with 00:10:00 when I leave the zone

If I come back after 10 Mins I want the door to open.

  • condition: state
    entity_id: timer.garage_door_inhibit
    state: “What do I put Here for when the times has finished”

Regards Dave

5

From

Possible states are ‘idle’, ‘active’ and ‘paused’
You want ‘idle’

2 Likes
6

D’oh, obvious.

Thanks

7

That’s not what this says…

It makes it difficult to help when you change requirements midstream.

8

Sorry I had not changed my requirements but just flipped the logic.

I was thinking that if the timer was still running i.e. “NOT Idle” then don’t allow the door to open, but of course thinking about it and seeing that reply I can allow the door to open when the timer is finished.

Very sorry for any confusion

Regards Dave

9

You do realize that those will both result in the exact same outcome, don’t you?

Unless you are in the habit of pausing your timer then “NOT idle == active”. And “NOT active == idle”.

and if you do pause the timer then all bets are off on when the automation will actually trigger and it would probably defeat the whole purpose of using a timer in this case.