No idea what i am doing. looking to have my light switch automation check dark sky for cloud cover

[Rdoull]

Hi All…

ok I have no idea what I am doing, but i think its possible.

i have an automation working that turns the lights on 45mins before sunset and off again at a predetermined time.

however when its cloudy/raining (and in Scotland its always raining) it gets duller earlier, so i’d like the lights to turn on earlier in this circumstance, also in the summer i dont need the lights, so need to stop them coming on at all at that time.

my problem, i dont know where to start. I’ve read the help pages, followed as best i could and got lost. I’ve got an API key for darksky and added it to my configuration.yaml (should i remove the default weather settings?)

any help is greatly appretiated. thank you

[gumbo]

Your first step is to create a sensor based upon dark_sky_cloud_coverage and use that to trigger an automation.

Here are a few older threads which discuss items similar to what you want to do:

Dark Sky Automation - Trouble w/ "for" command

I am attempting to create an automation that turns on some lights when it becomes overcast outside (only during the day). I am using the Dark Sky component and I am currently using the dark_sky_cloud_coverage sensor for the automation trigger. This attribute can have some odd peaks at times, so I want to only trigger when it has been above 70% for the last three polls (polling every 10 minutes). I have attempted to add a “for” statement in the trigger and in the condition. Both return errors in …

Dark Sky Based Automation - Issue with Trigger

I am trying to setup a very simple automation based on cloud cover obtained from the Dark Sky sensor. I am using the following code directly inspired from the “Rainy Day” automation example: - alias: 'Rainy Day' trigger: platform: numeric_state entity_id: sensor.dark_sky_cloud_coverage above: 70 action: service: light.turn_on entity_id: light.light_2 The action part works perfectly, the cloud cover is currently 99 percent, still the light does not turn on. If I use a d…

Virtual light sensor

How about this? It is true if the sun is below horizon and the hour is greater or equal to 16 or the visibility is Very Poor, Poor or Moderate. you could probably extend it to use the seasons sensor sensor: # True if sun is below horizon and time is greater than 16:00 or visibility is Very Poor, Poor or Moderate needlights: entity_id: - sun.sun - sensor.met_office_visibility friendly_name: Need lights value_template: "{{(states.sun.sun.attributes.elevation|float < 2 an…

[makai]

I use a binary sensor:

- platform: template
  sensors:
    dark_outside:
      entity_id: sensor.dark_sky_cloud_coverage
      friendly_name: Dark outside
      value_template: '{{ states.sensor.dark_sky_cloud_coverage.state|float > 60 }}'

I then I use this binary sensor in my automation:

condition:
  - condition: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.dark_outside
    state: 'on'

[Rdoull]

Thank you and sorry for my late reply.

I’ve been unable to get to my computer for some time though this has helped thank you.

[Rdoull]

Thank you and sorry for my late reply.

I’ve been unable to get to my computer for some time though this has helped thank you.

I’ll have a look through those links shortly and hopefully be able to better understand what I am trying to do.