Light automation when motion detected with time out

Configuration Frontend
1

Hi,
I created an automation using UI, the code is as followed:

alias: Turn WC 1 light on
description: ''
trigger:
  - type: motion
    platform: device
    device_id: 8074edb539e8e478a32df9638e845e30
    entity_id: binary_sensor.motion_sensor_3
    domain: binary_sensor
    for:
      hours: 0
      minutes: 0
      seconds: 0
      milliseconds: 0
condition:
  - condition: state
    entity_id: light.toilet_light_1
    state: 'off'
action:
  - service: light.turn_on
    target:
      entity_id: light.toilet_light_1
  - type: is_no_motion
    condition: device
    device_id: 8074edb539e8e478a32df9638e845e30
    entity_id: binary_sensor.motion_sensor_3
    domain: binary_sensor
    for:
      hours: 0
      minutes: 2
      seconds: 0
      milliseconds: 0
  - service: light.turn_off
    target:
      entity_id: light.toilet_light_1
mode: single

The automated on working without any issues but the turn off cannot work. I need to turn off the light after no motion is detected during 2 mins, is there any wrong in my code?

2

Yes. As soon as that device condition in the actions evaluates to false the actions stop being run. Your light will never turn off.

Try this:

alias: Turn WC 1 light on
description: ''
trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.motion_sensor_3
    to: on
action:
  - service: light.turn_on
    target:
      entity_id: light.toilet_light_1
  - delay:
      minutes: 2
  - service: light.turn_off
    target:
      entity_id: light.toilet_light_1
mode: restart
3

The condition is incorrect. If you want to wait until the binary_sensor has been off for 2 minutes, you should consider using wait_for_trigger

alias: Turn WC 1 light on
description: ''
trigger:
  - type: motion
    platform: device
    device_id: 8074edb539e8e478a32df9638e845e30
    entity_id: binary_sensor.motion_sensor_3
    domain: binary_sensor
action:
  - service: light.turn_on
    target:
      entity_id: light.toilet_light_1
  - wait_for_trigger:
    - platform: state
      entity_id: binary_sensor.motion_sensor_3
      to: 'off'
      for: '00:02:00'
  - service: light.turn_off
    target:
      entity_id: light.toilet_light_1
mode: restart

EDIT

Replaced:

mode: single
max_exceeded: silent

with:

mode: restart
4 Likes
4

Ahh. That’s right, while the switch state is on, the automation stopped it self.

5

Thank you. I need wait_for_trigger when the sensor off after 2 minutes. The mode should be “restart” instead of “single”.

6

wait_for_trigger is not a good option. You cannot move your body continuously to keep the sensor on. Whenever you are stop moving, this automation start the timer and turn off the light in 2 mins after.
Have you got any other solution for that?

7

It is doing exactly what you asked for in your first post:

So how do you want it to work now?

8

Of cause I need it work. Wait for trigger start the timer when no motion is detected but I need another function to reset the timer if the sensor detect a motion again. Do you have any idea?

Thank you.

9

Replace this:

mode: single
max_exceeded: silent

with this:

mode: restart

Whenever motion is detected, the entire automation will be restarted (meaning the previous wait_for_trigger is cancelled).

NOTE

I updated the example to use restart.

1 Like
10

Thank you. I’ll try this!

11

May i ask why you need restart here? Doesn’t the wait_for_trigger already do everything you need in this automation?