How to get the duration an attribute has changed?

[hass]

I have a few template triggers based on some of the attributes on my home alarm keypad. Is there a way to get the duration the attribute changes state using a template trigger?

[danlucka (Dan)]

I’ve had good results with this:

data_template:
    message: "Switch was on for {{relative_time(states.switch.your_switch_name.last_changed)}}"

[RobDYI]

If you use it as a trigger, get the sensor to update based on time.

Relative_time template extension

@snizzleorg This has to be a bug or something might have to go over to github to report. I tried the setup you have and same result. The dev-tool shows the correct time but frontend never updates. "{{(as_timestamp(now())-as_timestamp(states.sensor_mysensor.last_updated)) | int }}"

[rabittn (Ryan)]

I have one for HA uptime.

ha_uptime:
  value_template: '{{ relative_time(states.input_boolean.ha_start_delay.last_changed)}}'
  friendly_name: 'HA uptime'
  entity_id: sensor.time

[hass]

Does relative_time() return value in minutes or seconds? I would like to do something like

{% if relative_time(states.switch.your_switch_name.last_changed) > 5 minutes %}

[hass]

None of these option work for the attribute I want to track.

I have

Entity ID: sensor.alarm_keypad

With a state attribute “ac_present”.

I am trying:

{% if relative_time(states.sensor.alarm_keypad.attributes.ac_present.last_changed|int > 5) ... %}

But the attribute does not have a “last_changed” value. Last changed seems to only be available at “states.sensor.alarm_keypad.last_changed”

[danlucka (Dan)]

relative_time gives you a string such as “5 minutes” or “2 days”

I’m sure there’s a more elegant solution, but to do what you want I would try:
{{as_timestamp(now()) - as_timestamp(states.switch.your_switch_name.last_changed)}}
which will return the total number of seconds since it changed.

I saw your last message too though. I don’t know how this works with attributes.

[RobDYI]

I am not sure last update works with state attributes but just with states. I would try making a new template sensor that monitors the ac present attribute. I think the new sensor will then have its own last update based on just the AC present sensor.

[hass]

@RobDYI

…
I would try making a new template sensor that monitors the ac present attribute. I think the new sensor will then have its own last update based on just the AC present sensor.

Brilliant! Then I can use a normal state platform with the ‘for’ option. Let me give that a try…

[hass]

@RobDYI your suggestion worked perfectly. I created a binary sensor that tracks the alarm attribute.

@danlucka and @rabittn thanks for the pointers.

Everytime I start messing with my HA config I get sucked down the rabbit hole. Now I’m finding automation that never actually work because these attributes return boolean values.