How to test if a time is within an interval of time (template)

Configuration
1

Hi,
I am a little bit lost with template…

I would like to set an input_boolean to on if the current time (i.e. now) is within [time1, time2] interval.

time1 and time2 are constants (e.g 15:30:00).

Thank you for any help.

2

Are the time constraints hard coded or set with an input_datetime ?

3

hard coded

4

If your values are hardcoded, this should work:

value_template: >
  {% set time = states('sensor.time') %}
  {{ '17:00' < time < '17:30' }}

Please be informed that you need to setup the time sensor in order for this to update the state of the binary_sensor on a regular basis (here every minute). If you use now(), the binary_sensor will not update.

3 Likes
5

I will try it asap. Thanks you !

6

Keep in mind, this won’t account for times before and after midnight in the same condition

(i.e. “23:00” < time < “00:30” }}

Also, keep in mind, Burningstone’s answer is to create a template binary_sensor, NOT an input_boolean. I would highly recommend their approach so you don’t have to create and maintain an separate automation to turn the input_boolean on/off.

Even if you really really wanted an input_boolean, I’d still create the binary sensor, then set an automation to follow that sensor. But I suspect the input_boolean will be redundant in this case…unless you really wanted a way to turn it off while it’s between that time.

1 Like
7

You are right, I need a template binary_sensor, not an input_boolean.

How can I configure several time intervals: [t1, t2] or [t3, t4], … ?

8

Here’s a tip that I think will help you a ton.

Open up Home Assistant, go to the Developer Tools, then click on Template at the top.

You can go crazy here trying it all out yourself!

template_test
template_test1255×730 38.2 KB

You are right with multiples:

{{ (“17:00” < time < “18:00”) or (“13:30” < time < “15:25”) }}

1 Like
9

Thank you for the tip !

10

Here is my solution.

11

You mean like this:

binary_sensor:
  - platform: template
    sensors:
      time_in_range:
        friendly_name: "Time is in one of the predefined ranges"
        value_template: >-
          {% set time = states('sensor.time') %}
          {% set t1 = '17:00' %}
          {% set t2 = '17:30' %}
          {% set t3 = '11:00' %}
          {% set t4 = '12:30' %}
          {{ (t1 < time < t2) or (t3 < time < t4) }}

If you want this hardcoded values to be adjustable, you should check out the post @AhmadK linked.
And create some input_datetimes to easily set your times in the frontend.

12

Well, thanks for all these answers.
Right now, I fail to configure sensor.time updated each minute.
I configured

sensor:
  - platform: time_date
    display_options:
      - 'time'

What I have to do to have sensor.time updated ?

13

Do you mean you have a sensor called sensor.time and it doesn’t show the current time? It automatically updates every minute and then shows the current time.

15

My binary_sensor is off with an interval time such as {{ '00:00' < time < '23:59' }} so I suppose that ‘sensor.time’ is not updated even I configured

sensor:
  - platform: time_date
    display_options:
      - 'time'

So, what I am missing ?
16

Sorry, I don’t understand.

The time sensor sensor.time updates every minute and it shows the current time.
This means if you use sensor.time in your binary_sensor, it will check every minute if the value template that you configure for the binary_sensor is true or not. If the template evaluates to true, the binary_sensor changes to ‘on’ and if it is false the binary_sensor changes to ‘off’.

17

My binary_sensor is off with an interval time such as {{ '00:00' < time < '23:59' }} ?!

My (test) configuration:

sensor:
  - platform: time_date
    display_options:
      - 'time'

binary_sensor:
  - platform: template
    sensors:
      test:
        value_template: >-
          {% set time = states('sensor.time') %}
          {{ '00:00' < time < '23:59' }}

sensor.test is alway off in UI.

18

you need to set your variable ‘time’ as per the example you were given

value_template: >
  {% set time = states('sensor.time') %}
  {{ '17:00' < time < '17:30' }}
19

I did it (see my previous post).

20

Ah ! you edited your post, it was not clear before as you just posted the print statement

When you goto DEVELOPER TOOLS --> TEMPLATE
What do you get when your write

{{ states('sensor.time') }}

in the box ?

21

I see unknown.