Prevent Automation triggering when sensor reconnects

Good day all! I was wondering if there is some setting that I can apply to prevent Automation triggering when sensor reconnects.

I have the automation set to trigger when the sensor value drops to zero for two minutes. It is usually at zero, ramps up to 100 for a period and then drops to zero which then triggers.

It seems that if the sensor disconnects and reconnects, the automation triggers.

Its scary Alexa saying “Your clothes are finished drying!” announced to the entire house at top volume at 2am :laughing:

When the sensor disconnects, does its state change to unavailable?

I believe it does. I’ll confirm when I get home later.

If it does, is there a way to proceed?

We might be able to use it to prevent the automation from triggering if the sensor just changed from unavailable to zero. However, I’m not sure how, just yet, because your trigger is based on:

trigger when the sensor value drops to zero for two minutes

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Ok so I have checked the output of the sensor. It periodically updates its state to “0” while no power is being drawn. The way the automation is setup, this will cause the automation to run every time the sensor updates (someone can correct me if this isnt true).

hence Alexa waking up the neighborhood this morning at 4am saying my clothes are dry. I checked back the logs and the last time it was updated was before I created the automation.

I just retested and same happened. I turned off the sensor and turned it back on. Value was zero before and after and the automation ran when it updated.

Any other ideas guys?

Change your trigger. Two minutes of 0 is clearly inadequate to distinguish between when the dryer is done and when the sensor has reconnected.

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