Different sensors work different ways and there is a good reason for it. And it is the same in the ZHA implementation after some recent changes
A sensor is represented as a binary_sensor when it has defined states.Examples are
A Window/Door sensor is either open or closed. It remains open or closed as long as the door/window is open or closed. A Zigbee sensor can be queried. You can start up HA from cold and it will get the present state of the window from deconz. The cheap 433 sensors cannot do this. They can send an open or close state. Some can only send the open state. You cannot ask the sensor if the window is open or closed and the sensor is not updating its state. It is one shot and if you missed it you will never know. The beauty of the zigbee (and Z-wave) sensors is that they have two static states. They are open or closed. And this fits a binary_sensor in home assistant.
A remote control (a dimmer with 4 or 5 buttons or the small 1 or 2 buttons ones) sends a code when you press the button and a code when you release it. But you cannot afterwards say that the dimmer is in “on” mode or “off” mode. A button press or release is an event. If you have a groups of lights and two dimmer remotes and you turn on the light with remote A and turn light off with remote B you cannot say that remote A is still on and remote B is still off. They do not have a steady state. They send a button event and then it is over.
Motion sensors are binary_sensors. They go on when they sense motion. And they go off after a short time when no motion has been seen in a given interval. They have two states. Either there is someone moving and there is not. So they are binary_sensors
To trigger automations from binary sensors the trigger is the change of state from on to off or on to off. And you can add delays to that so it becomes a trigger when a motion sensors goes from on to off and has been off for say 2 minutes.
To trigger automations from remotes you use the events as trigger.
A little confusing for beginners but once you get the idea it is actually very logical and simple.
Yes, how have you added it, as a sensor or switch?
I have mine as a sensor but it doesn’t give out any events for me, tried to shake, drop tilt, nothing.
Can some please help me how to pair the new IKEA Fyrtur blind to deconz? I installed the blind which came with a remote and bridge-like something has to be plugged into AC. They were paired by out of the box. The remote can control the blind without any problem. I want to pair the blind to deconz to control it by HA. How to do that? I have 2 buttons on the blind. When I simultaneously press the two buttons on the blind a white led shows pairing mode but when I try to add a new switch in the Phoscon app nothing happens. I tried to pair the remote to Phoschon but it isn’t the way either. Can someone who already did it point me to the right direction? Thanks!
Is there a specific way to do that? I put the blind into pairing mode by pressing the two buttons meanwhile Phoscon app was searching for lights for 3 minutes but nothing shows up. I also tried to operate the blind when Phoschon is looking for lights. I don’t know how to pair this.
ConBee
Version 2.05.69 / 9/6/2019
Firmware 26330500
I am not sure about the blind. I just bought it and I don’t have an IKEA Gateway so I can’t use the IKEA Home smart app. Is there any other way to find out or upgrade the fw?
