'Entity' not available as automation trigger

Configuration
1

Hi
I am new here since a couple of weeks … and I hope someone can help me out understanding on how home assistant operates.

I want to create a simple automation for my solar panels (controlled by a SMA inverter).
The system and its ‘device’ was easily recognized by the ‘SMA solar’ Integration script.
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I would like now to get a warning (for example my ikea tradfri bulb turns red) if the inverter is in fault / error / defective … in other words, if its status is no longer ‘OK’

The device has about 38 entities … but I noticed that only a limit number of them are available as trigger in the automations section. But the ‘status’ of my inverter is a not available there.

I already noticed here … that the ‘status’ entity is not ‘disabled’ by the integration:

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Indeed, the status of the system in the garden shows well in the dashboard …
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Why is then not available as condition or trigger ?
Will I have to dive into YAML code to make this automation ?

Thanks in advance for your help.

2

Maybe show a screenshot of that, so we know what you are talking about.

3

You mean they cannot be selected under the State trigger?

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4

@koying
Thanks Chris … there are 38 entities known from my device but thus from only a 10 or so I can choose as a trigger when creating a new automation, as seen here

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@Troon
Troon , you seem to guide me in the right direction … I do not have this “when something changes” option; are you in the latest HA version ?
My trigger screen looks like this … and there I choose my solar device…

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But then as explained I cannot find the ‘Status’ entity, however it has not been disabled.

5

Try creating a trigger by “State” rather than by “Device”

6

Exactly that — note the icons:

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1 Like
7

That was it … many thanks both @Troon and @koying