Help With checking for sensor group, state off to turn off switch

[harryfine]

I have a smart switch turning off and on a light. I have 2 sensors on the same room, it’s a large room. I want the light to turn on if either detects motion, and to turn off after 1 minute if neither detects motion. But I’m stuck.

I’ve created 2 automations, one to turn lights on and one to turn lights off. The condition should trigger if either or neither of the sensors detect motion.

I created a binary group called binary.sensor.office_two_motion sensors containing both sensor motion entities. I wanted to use this group to check for motion or lack of motion.

I’m trying to create something like this (for lilght off, similar for on):

alias: Office LIghts Off Both Sensors Test
description: ""
trigger:
  - type: no_motion
    platform: device
    entity_id: group.binary_sensor.office_two_motion_sensors
    for: 00:02:00
    platform: state
    to: 'off'
condition: []
action:
  - service: light.turn_off
    data: {}
    target:
      device_id: 96bc17037cdbad0bcd83c779c511b8d7
mode: single

When I save it, and go back into it, it has changed to:

alias: Office LIghts Off Both Sensors Test
description: ""
trigger:
  - type: no_motion
    platform: device
    device_id: fbc713c8f9ded91c11e84ee573bc83de
    entity_id: binary_sensor.office_tri_sensor_motion_detection
    domain: binary_sensor
    for:
      hours: 0
      minutes: 1
      seconds: 0
condition: []
action:
  - service: light.turn_off
    data: {}
    target:
      device_id: 96bc17037cdbad0bcd83c779c511b8d7
mode: single

Where binary_sensor.office_tri_sensor_motion_detection is one of the two sensors in the group.

So it’s not looking at the second sensor in the group. Could someone point me in the right direction?

[tom_l]

@harryfine

group.binary_sensor.office_two_motion_sensors

This does not appear to be a valid entity id. Check in Developer Tools → States. It is likely just group.office_two_motion_sensors.

Also some advice about device triggers and actions: don’t use them.

[harryfine]

@harryfine

trigger:
  - type: no_motion
    platform: device
    entity_id: group.binary_sensor.office_two_motion_sensors
    for: 00:02:00
    platform: state
    to: 'off'

Changed the group ID, same problem exists. Code gets changed. This is new automation:

alias: Office LIghts Off Both Sensors Test
description: "Test of combining sensors for off condition"
trigger:
  - type: no_motion
    platform: device
    entity_id: group.office_two_motion_sensors
    for: 00:02:00
    platform: state
    to: 'off'
condition: []
action:
  - service: light.turn_off
    data: {}
    target:
      device_id: 96bc17037cdbad0bcd83c779c511b8d7
mode: single

[harryfine]

Also tried this, automation won’t even save. I know there are many ways to get the same result, but nothing seems to be working for me:

alias: Office LIghts Off Both Sensors Test
description: ""
trigger:
  - type: no_motion
    platform: state
    entity_id: group.office_two_motion_sensors
    for: '00:01:00'
    platform: state
    to: 'off'
condition: []
action:
  - service: switch.turn_off
    data: {}
    target:
    entity_id: light.jasco_products_43080_light
mode: single

[tom_l]

Did you actually check the entity id like I said?

Or did you just copy what I guessed it might be?

[harryfine]

The entity is actually binary_sensor.office_two_motion_sensors according to the states page.

However, I notice that the state doesn’t change from off to on when I make obvious motion in front of both sensors.

[tom_l]

Did you create the group in the UI?

Can you take a screenshot of the group settings?

[harryfine]

I think you might have hit the nail on the head as I was having problems understanding groups. I created the group, went back to check which devices were included in the group, but couldn’t find it. The only thing I see in the group setting is this:

EDIT: I might add that under the group logbook, it seems to be triggering on and off on both sensors in the group.