Random Trigger Time not working

Installation Home Assistant OS
1

Could somebody help me out with the following and why I get an error trying to create a random off time

- alias: Turn Off TV Simulator at random time
  initial_state: true
  trigger:
    platform: time
    at: "00:{{ range(0,5) | random | int }}{{ range(0,9) | random | int }}:00"
  action:
    service: switch.turn_off
    entity_id:
    - switch.sonoff_socket_6
  id: turntvsimulatoroffontimer
2

What error?

I’m guessing it’s because you’ve put in a template somewhere it’s not supported, but without the actual error, we’re just guessing…

3

It doesn’t get past the config checker

4

Well this will never work.
You are asking it to generate a random time AND fire at that time that it just generated (every minute)
So the chances of it actually being that time when the clock changes every minute is 1 in 60 for each minute.
But you are not actually passing a datetime value
What you need to do is generate a number at (say) 00:00 (midnight) or better still at 23:59 and then store that in an input_datetime location then feed that location to your trigger and Robert Is your Avuncular Relative
Read up on input_datetime and trigger templates
Mutt

1 Like
5

You definitely cannot use a template in the time trigger’s at parameter.

I’d do something like the following. (In fact, I have many automations that do this sort of thing.)

- alias: Turn Off TV Simulator at random time
  initial_state: true
  trigger:
    platform: time
    at: '00:00:00'
  action:
  - delay: "{{ (range(0, 60+1) | random) * 60 }}"
  - service: switch.turn_off
    entity_id:
    - switch.sonoff_socket_6
  id: turntvsimulatoroffontimer

Note that “range(x, y) | random” returns a random value between x and y-1. So:

delay: "{{ (range(0, 60+1) | random) * 60 }}"

Gets a random number from 0 to 60 (i.e., minutes), multiplies it by 60 (to get seconds), and then delays that number of seconds. I.e., it delays a random number of minutes from 0 to 60. Or to get a random number of seconds from 0 to the number of seconds in 60 minutes:

delay: "{{ range(0, 60*60+1) | random }}"
3 Likes
6

I understand now…Thanks Guys for all your invaluable help…
I will insert the delay timer now @pnbruckner and see how that works…
Cheers