Input_datetime as offset for sun event trigger

Configuration
1

Fellow HA´ers,
As a last resort, I need your help on the below:
I am extensively using sunset and sunrise as triggers for various automations. I use the UI to configure automations, and have the offset for my automations “hardcoded” in the UI for automations. In order for my wife to change certain settings, I want the offset´s to be accesible by using a helper, which can be changed through a card on lovelace.

Here is my code in automation.yaml:

- id: '1590563700083'
  alias: TEST use Helper Input time for offset sun event
  description: TEST use Helper Input time for offset sun event
  trigger:
  - event: sunset
    offset: "{{ states('input_datetime.test_input_time') }}"
    platform: sun
  condition: []
  action:
  - data:
      message: Test Notification triggered by sunset with offset
    service: notify.mobile_app_iphone_john

The Developer Tools - Templates shows the correct value which was set:
-------------screenshot-------------
Capture
Capture909×300 28.4 KB

But when I do the configuration check, I get the following error:

Invalid config for [automation]: offset {{ states(‘input_datetime.test_input_time’) }} should be format ‘HH:MM’ or ‘HH:MM:SS’ for dictionary value @ data[‘trigger’][0][‘offset’]. Got None.

I am afraid I get either stuck in the Quote tombola, or offset for sun can simply not be given as an input like this.

Any help, much appreciated.
Kind regards,
John

2

You can’t do an offset from an event like that.

However, you can easily do an offset from the sun’s elevation. Using the elevation has the advantage of providing a consistent light level, which a time offset doesn’t.

3

@Tinkerer Thanks for superfast response. I will dig into using the elevation instead (as my automations are related to “darkness”, such might become more accurate.

Just as a confirmation, what I was trying to achieve, was to substitue the +/-HH:MM:SS value of offset with a “helper” value. The below code actually works, where the offset is a fixed value.
So, I cannot substitue the string of “-00:20:00” with {{states(‘input_datetime.test_input_time’) }} ?

- id: '1590563700083'
  alias: TEST use Helper Input time for offset sun event
  description: TEST use Helper Input time for offset sun event
  trigger:
  - event: sunset
    offset: -00:20:00 # WORKS OK
    # offset: "{{ states('input_datetime.test_input_time') }}" # DOES NOT WORK
    platform: sun
  condition: []
  action:
  - data:
      message: Test Notification triggered by sunset with offset
    service: notify.mobile_app_iphone_john

Thanks,
John

4

No you can not.

1 Like
5

Hello,

Sorry for using the thread but I actually tried to build something similar. Now I know why it doesn’t work, which is a pity because the sunset alone is not always enough but also other features like cloudy, partlycloudy or rainy. My consideration was more like this here.

offset: >
  {% if is_state('weather.homebase', 'rainy') %}
  -00:05:00
  {% elif is_state('weather.homebase', 'cloudy') %}
  -00:05:00
  {% elif is_state('weather.homebase', 'partlycloudy') %}
  +00:03:00
  {% else %}
  +00:00:00
  {% endif %}

Since this is not possible how can I manage this? Do I have to build in a script or what is the process for such cases.

Greetings
Odi

6

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