Message malformed: extra keys not allowed

Configuration
1

Hi,

I tried to create the follwing automation:

This automation will trigger when the PIR sensor detects motion, it checks if it’s between sunset and sunrise (nighttime) and if the light is off. If these conditions are met, it turns on the light with the appropriate brightness. After 3 minutes of inactivity (no more PIR triggers), it turns off the light. If the PIR sensor is triggered again within the 3-minute delay, the automation continues, and the light remains on.

using this yaml, but got the following error : Message malformed: extra keys not allowed @ data[‘0’]

- alias: "PIR Sensor Light Control"
  trigger:
    platform: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.pir_sensor
    to: "on"
  action:
    - choose:
        - conditions:
            - condition: sun
              after: sunset
              before: sunrise
          sequence:
            - service: light.turn_on
              entity_id: light.your_light_entity_id
              data:
                brightness: 255
        - conditions:
            - condition: sun
              after: sunrise
              before: sunset
          sequence:
            - service: light.turn_on
              entity_id: light.your_light_entity_id 
              data:
                brightness: 25
    - delay: '00:03:00'
    - condition: state
      entity_id: binary_sensor.pir_sensor 
      state: "off"
    - service: light.turn_off
      entity_id: light.your_light_entity_id
2 
    - service: light.turn_off
      data:
        entity_id: light.your_light_entity_id

Or

    - service: light.turn_off
      data: {}
      target:
        entity_id: light.your_light_entity_id

The same goes for your turn on actions, entity_id needs to be in the “data” object or in a “target” object.

3

Thank you for your reply

- alias: "PIR Sensor Light Control"
  trigger:
    platform: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.pir_sensor
    to: "on"
  action:
    - choose:
        - conditions:
            - condition: sun
              after: sunset
              before: sunrise
          sequence:
            - service: light.turn_on
              data: {}
              target:
                entity_id: light.your_light_entity_id
                data:
                  brightness: 100
        - conditions:
            - condition: sun
              after: sunrise
              before: sunset
          sequence:
            - service: light.turn_on
              data: {}
              target:
                entity_id: light.your_light_entity_id
                data:
                  brightness: 15
    - delay: '00:03:00'
    - condition: state
      entity_id: binary_sensor.pir_sensor 
      state: "off"
    - service: light.turn_off
      data: {}
      target:
        entity_id: light.your_light_entity_id

This doesn’t work either, let me know if you meant something else, happy to change accordingly.

4

Try to make the service call in the HA developer tools.
When it works, then switch to YAML mode and look at the setup.
It will give you a hint to how the service call must be made in the script.

5

You’ve gone too far the other direction… :upside_down_face:

You need to use your entities’ actual IDs not the stand-ins like light.your_light_entity_id which I used because you did provide the real ones…

- alias: "PIR Sensor Light Control"
  trigger:
    platform: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.pir_sensor
    to: "on"
  action:
    - choose:
        - conditions:
            - condition: sun
              after: sunset
              before: sunrise
          sequence:
            - service: light.turn_on
              data:
                brightness: 100
              target:
                entity_id: light.your_light_entity_id
        - conditions:
            - condition: sun
              after: sunrise
              before: sunset
          sequence:
            - service: light.turn_on
              target:
                entity_id: light.your_light_entity_id
              data:
                brightness: 15
    - delay: '00:03:00'
    - condition: state
      entity_id: binary_sensor.pir_sensor 
      state: "off"
    - service: light.turn_off
      data: {}
      target:
        entity_id: light.your_light_entity_id
6

Hey, none of these worked, I will just try from the GUI…