HELP - Light automation not triggering

Hi all. I have two automations I run at night. one that turns on the lights once motion is detected (via Eufy 2k indoor camera).
The second one that turns off the lights once detection is clear.
However, once the lights are turned off - somehow the camera detects it as motion and run the first automation once again.
Any suggestion will be appreciated - to remedy this problem.

I was using the sun down condition but had to remove it since HA is telling me its sunny now 00:40:00 (Brooklyn, NY). I googled my elevation and set it - but she sun condition does not work for me overnight.

alias: 'Turn bedroom lights off (overnight) '
description: Turn the light off when motion is detected in Cardel's room (Overnight)
trigger:
  - type: no_motion
    platform: device
    device_id: 0a861f6a7f9c881b0a1540b689a2b53c
    entity_id: binary_sensor.indoorcam_2k_0d5f
    domain: binary_sensor
    for:
      hours: 0
      minutes: 0
      seconds: 0
condition:
  - condition: and
    conditions:
      - condition: state
        entity_id: light.5122860850029121dbd8
        state: 'on'
      - condition: and
        conditions:
          - condition: state
            entity_id: light.5122860850029120dcf7
            state: 'on'
action:
  - service: notify.mobile_app_s_iphone
    data:
      title: Automation running
      message: Overnight bedroom lights off.
  - type: turn_off
    device_id: e3255eb8cc0ea6722cb72902d36c2cd3
    entity_id: light.5122860850029121dbd8
    domain: light
  - type: turn_off
    device_id: 9a2de22ed2219d9821e096af4fa55e84
    entity_id: light.5122860850029120dcf7
    domain: light
  - wait_template: ''
    timeout: '00:00:30'
mode: single

That condition is a little wonky - it’s worth reading the condition docs to understand how it should have been formatted. Conditions are and by default anyway, so all you need is:

condition:
  - condition: state
    entity_id: light.5122860850029121dbd8
    state: 'on'
  - condition: state
    entity_id: light.5122860850029120dcf7
    state: 'on'

That final wait_template is doing nothing for you, you can remove it.

As mentioned in response to your Discord post, the simplest fix is to add a condition to the on automation (that you didn’t share) requiring the lights to have been off for a second, or 5 seconds, or whatever works.

The other option would be to have the off automation disable it when it turns the lights off. Add the following before the turn off actions:

  - service: automation.turn_off
    entity_id: automation.YOUR_TURN_ON_AUTOMATION

Then add the following at the end, where you have the wait_template just now:

  - delay: '00:00:01'
  - service: automation.turn_on
    entity_id: automation.YOUR_TURN_ON_AUTOMATION

Thank you so much… I will need to do some more reading on conditions.
I appreciate you taking the timeout to respond.
This is my first project to automate my elder mother’s home, will take a pause this weekend and do some more reading; before attempting the next project.

alias: Turn bedroom lights on (overnight)
description: Turn the light on when motion is detected in Cardel's room (Overnight)
trigger:
  - type: motion
    platform: device
    device_id: 0a861f6a7f9c881b0a1540b689a2b53c
    entity_id: binary_sensor.indoorcam_2k_0d5f
    domain: binary_sensor
    for:
      hours: 0
      minutes: 0
      seconds: 0
condition:
  - condition: and
    conditions:
      - condition: state
        entity_id: light.5122860850029121dbd8
        state: 'off'
      - condition: state
        entity_id: light.5122860850029120dcf7
        state: 'off'
  - condition: or
    conditions:
      - condition: sun
        before: sunrise
      - condition: sun
        after: sunset
action:
  - service: notify.mobile_app_kevins_iphone
    data:
      title: Automation running
      message: Overnight bedroom lights on.
  - domain: light
    entity_id: light.5122860850029121dbd8
    device_id: e3255eb8cc0ea6722cb72902d36c2cd3
    type: turn_on
    brightness_pct: 100
  - domain: light
    entity_id: light.5122860850029120dcf7
    device_id: 9a2de22ed2219d9821e096af4fa55e84
    type: turn_on
    brightness_pct: 100
  - wait_template: ''
    timeout: '00:00:10'
mode: single

Thanks again, I will revise the automation and test today with the advised you suggested.
I am thinking about getting a physical motion sensor - since I believe the camera one is not reliable.

@Tinkerer Thanks you so much. I was able to remedy the problem with your advice.

Daytime light automaiton

alias: Turn bedroom lights on  (daytime)
description: Turn the light on when motion is detected in Mom's bedroom.
trigger:
  - type: motion
    platform: device
    device_id: 0a861f6a7f9c881b0a1540b689a2b53c
    entity_id: binary_sensor.indoorcam_2k_0d5f
    domain: binary_sensor
condition:
  - condition: or
    conditions:
      - condition: sun
        before: sunset
      - condition: sun
        after: sunrise
  - condition: state
    entity_id: light.5122860850029121dbd8
    state: 'off'
  - condition: state
    entity_id: light.5122860850029120dcf7
    state: 'off'
action:
  - service: notify.mobile_app_kevins_iphone
    data:
      title: Automation
      message: Bedroom Lights on
  - type: turn_on
    device_id: e3255eb8cc0ea6722cb72902d36c2cd3
    entity_id: light.5122860850029121dbd8
    domain: light
    brightness_pct: 100
  - type: turn_on
    device_id: 9a2de22ed2219d9821e096af4fa55e84
    entity_id: light.5122860850029120dcf7
    domain: light
    brightness_pct: 100
mode: single

Daytime lights off Automation

alias: 'Turn bedroom lights off  (daytime) '
description: Turn the light off when motion is detected in Mom's bedroom.
trigger:
  - type: no_motion
    platform: device
    device_id: 0a861f6a7f9c881b0a1540b689a2b53c
    entity_id: binary_sensor.indoorcam_2k_0d5f
    domain: binary_sensor
condition:
  - condition: or
    conditions:
      - condition: sun
        before: sunset
      - condition: sun
        after: sunrise
  - condition: state
    entity_id: light.5122860850029121dbd8
    state: 'on'
  - condition: state
    entity_id: light.5122860850029120dcf7
    state: 'on'
action:
  - service: notify.mobile_app_kevins_iphone
    data:
      title: Automation
      message: Bedroom Lights off
  - service: automation.turn_off
    data: {}
    entity_id: automation.turn_bedroom_lights_on_daytime
  - type: turn_off
    device_id: e3255eb8cc0ea6722cb72902d36c2cd3
    entity_id: light.5122860850029121dbd8
    domain: light
  - type: turn_off
    device_id: 9a2de22ed2219d9821e096af4fa55e84
    entity_id: light.5122860850029120dcf7
    domain: light
  - delay: '00:00:20'
  - service: automation.turn_on
    data: {}
    entity_id: automation.turn_bedroom_lights_on_daytime
mode: single

1 Like

Everything working as it should so far with the automation - with the exception of the camera detection trigger.
I need to figure out a much better way to keep the lights on (once trigger, and person is presence). I have a elderly mother that say in the bed most of the time, however - the camera clears after 15 seconds and keeps on turning the lights on/off.
Will anyone suggest I invest in physical motion sensor, and if so what good wifi sensor will be recommended?

First off, you don’t have to turn the lights off immediately :wink: See this example that turns the lights off 10 minutes after motion ended.

WiFi and sensors … no. Battery life is generally poor to terrible.

Now, if you’re talking Zigbee or Z-Wave, that’s different. For Zigbee the Xiaomi Aqara sensors are cheep and work well enough. The Discord server has a #Zigbee channel that has pinned messages listing known working Zigbee hardware, and many people can help provide recommendations.

Thank you for the wealth of knowledge, truly appreciate it.
I will invest in some Zigbee devices after doing more research.

1 Like

Thanks again… That did the trick.