Odd automation issue with light sensor

Configuration
1

Wondering if someone can tell me why the first automation is working fine but the second one doesn’t work?
I created the 2nd as a duplicate of the 1s so can’t understand why it isn’t working.
This one does work.
alias: Garden lights on at dusk
description: ‘’
trigger:

  • platform: numeric_state
    entity_id: sensor.sonoff_1000184024_light
    above: ‘9’
    condition:
  • condition: time
    after: ‘15:30’
    action:
  • scene: scene.garden_lights_on
    mode: single

This one doesn’t work.
alias: livingroom lights on at dusk
description: ‘’
trigger:

  • platform: numeric_state
    entity_id: sensor.sonoff_1000184024_light
    above: ‘8’
    condition:
  • condition: time
    after: ‘16:00’
    action:
  • scene: scene.living_room_lights_on
    mode: single

Other than changing the time, light level & target device they’re identical.
If I manually click “execute” it runs fine.
Any thoughts folks?

2

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In addition, the Numeric State Trigger will not trigger if the value is already above the threshold. It only triggers when the value crosses the threshold.

3

Please do as Taras suggested.
Are you sure your first automation works? I never seen a scene being activated like this.

It should be:

action:
  service: scene.turn_on
  entity_id: scene.xxxx
4

Apologies try again.
Working

alias: Garden lights on at dusk
description: ''
trigger:
  - platform: numeric_state
    entity_id: sensor.sonoff_1000184024_light
    above: '9'
condition:
  - condition: time
    after: '15:30'
action:
  - scene: scene.garden_lights_on
mode: single

Not working

alias: livingroom lights on at dusk
description: ''
trigger:
  - platform: numeric_state
    entity_id: sensor.sonoff_1000184024_light
    above: '9'
condition:
  - condition: time
    after: '16:00'
action:
  - scene: scene.living_room_lights_on
mode: single

Note I just changed the light level in the 2nd from 8 to 9 as a fault finding exercise.

5

The only significant difference between the two is the second automation’s condition checks a half-hour later.

If the light level rises and crosses the threshold value (9) just after 15:30, the first automation’s action will be executed but not the second one because it requires the time to be after 16:00.

Done. The second automation will no longer be triggered because of the way a Numeric State Trigger works. It only triggers when the value crosses the threshold.

6

I think that may well be the issue, the value is already above the trigger level by the time the time condition is met.
Any thoughts on how I would achieve this, I want the light to come on when it starts to get dark but not before say 4pm otherwise my living room lights are on for hours before I need them.
Yes I was just typing this as you replied.

7

This is one of those situations where the trigger and condition require equivalent tests.

trigger:
  - platform: numeric_state
    entity_id: sensor.sonoff_1000184024_light
    above: '9'
  - platform: time
    at: '16:00'
condition:
  - condition: numeric_state
    entity_id: sensor.sonoff_1000184024_light
    above: '9'
  - condition: time
    after: '16:00'

Now it can be triggered by either the light level or the time. The condition must check both light level and time because the trigger can be either one.

A Numeric State Condition, unlike a Numeric State Trigger, isn’t concerned about crossing the threshold, just if the value is above the threshold (or below if using the below: option).

8

Thank you for your help and yes makes sense.
I’ll give it a try and see how that goes tomorrow at dusk.
Cheers :wine_glass: