♾ Sensor Light Add On - Media & Movie Lights - House Alarm Lights - Smoke Alarm Lights & Exhaust Fans + More

[Blacky]

Lights, Camera, Action! Get ready to grab the popcorn because it’s movie time with a touch of cinematic magic!

GitHub Link Click Here

Like this blueprint? Consider hitting the button below

Version: 2.3

You must be on Home Assistant Version 2024.6 or later.

Below are some examples on how the automation can be used:

• Media (Cinema Room): Turn on different lights when watching a movie.
• House Alarm: Turn on lights when your house alarm has been activated.
• Smoke Detector: Turn on lights and exhaust fans when the smoke detector has been activated.

Need help? See our FAQ: Click Here

The Automation Process:

The example below is suitable for movie nights or use in a cinema room. Additionally, it can be used to turn on lights when your house alarm has been activated or activate lights and exhaust fans when a smoke detector has been triggered.

• Movie Start (Playing):

  • Lights, switches, scenes and scripts are activated to a customizable movie mode when a movie starts.
  • You can also specify the app used in the media player (e.g., Apple TV, Netflix, etc.) and only activate the automation if these apps are used.
  • Optionally, you can select which lights and switches to be turned off at the start of the movie.
  • Optionally, you can also choose to create a snapshot of your lights and switches before the movie starts, allowing you to return them to their original state after the movie ends.

• Delay Time:

  • The delay time is a buffer period before the automation switches OFF or enters an intermission mode. It provides a grace period to rectify accidental actions, like mistakenly pressing the wrong button on the remote, which might unintentionally turn the automation OFF or trigger the intermission mode.

• Intermission:

  • Intermission allows for versatile lighting adjustments, including turning on different lights, adjusting brightness levels, changing colour temperature, RGB colour settings, or selecting specific scenes or scripts. It’s particularly handy for setting slightly brighter lights during an intermission break when pausing a movie.

• Movie End:

  • When the movie ends, all lights, switches, scenes and scripts are turned off. Alternatively, if you’re using the automation link option, your sensor light automation will be activated, returning your lights to your sensor light automation settings.
  • Optionally, you can select any lights, switches, scenes or scripts to be turned on after the movie ends.
  • If you have chosen to create a snapshot of your lights and switches at the start, they will be returned to their original state when the movie ends.

• Automation Link Option:

  • The ‘Automation Link Option’ seamlessly integrates with other blueprints, such as the ‘Sensor Light Blueprint’, allowing you to disable additional automations when a movie is activated. This feature takes control of the lights, switches, scenes, and scripts, ensuring a smooth movie experience. Once the movie ends, the other automations are re-enabled, restoring the lights, switches, scenes, and scripts to their normal operation.

• Manual Override:

  • Utilize “Bypass Options” for manual bypassing of trigger sensors, providing manual control and additional customization.

• Sun Elevation Options:

  • Implement “Sun Elevation” to restrict automation to darker conditions aligned with the sun’s position.

• Ambient Light Sensing Options:

  • Set up an Ambient Light Sensor for activation in low-light conditions, customizable with specified LUX values.

• Blueprint Add-On Integration:

  • Sensor Light: Illuminate your space with customizable lighting experiences. Discover how to customize it to perfection! Learn more.
  • Bathroom Humidity Exhaust Fan: Turns exhaust fans on when smoke detector is activated. Learn more.

CHANGELOG

• Version: 2.3 - 26 Dec-24 - Added Automation Link time delay. Fixed bugs. Update to Home Assistant YAML standards and coding practices.
• Version: 2.2 - 4 Aug-24 - Added RGB colour selection, use scripts and collapsible sections. Fixed bugs.
• Version: 2.1 - 26 May-24 - Update to description to show labels are excluded.
• Version: 2.0 - 17 Feb-24 - Intermission - Trigger State - added idle to drop down. Housekeeping APP option selections.
• Version: 1.9 - 15 Feb-24 - Added scripts to End Turn ON option.
• Version: 1.8 - 9 Feb-24 - Tidy up of transition sliders.
• Version: 1.7 - 8 Feb-24 - Added app selection. New design and some bug fixes.
• Version: 1.6 - 16 Sep-23 - Upgrade all of custom states. Update deprecated code.
• Version: 1.5 - 10 Aug-23 - Added 2 more features for the sun and ambient options. Fixed 2 bugs in by-pass.
• Version: 1.4 - 6 Aug-23 - Added 2 more by-pass options. Fixed a bug in transition.
• Version: 1.3 - 3 Aug-23 - Fixed major bug stopping the automation.
• Version: 1.2 - 23 July-23 - Added Sun as a condition.
• Version: 1.1 - 21 July-23 - Added turn OFF lights at start. Added Turn ON lights at end.
• Version: 1.0 - 15 July-23 - Initial release

MY OTHER BLUEPRINTS

Sensor Light - Motion Sensor - Door Sensor - Sun Elevation - LUX Value - Scenes - Time
Smart Light - Entity - Sun Elevation - Ambient & Time Triggers
Holiday & Away Lighting
Bathroom Humidity Exhaust Fan
Low Battery Notifications & Actions
Appliance Notifications & Actions - Washing Machine - Clothes Dryer - Dish Washer - ETC
Notifications & Announcements
Calendar Notifications & Actions
State Notifications & Actions
Manual Control Status Tracker
Bee In The Hive Sensor
Android Notification Channel Manager
Toilet Exhaust Fan with time delay
Entity - Run ON Timer
Trigger - Run ON Timer
Manual light control with auto OFF
Closet, Pantry, and Cupboard Lighting
Timer
Temperature Control Fan
Temperature Control Exhaust Fan - Inverted
Toggle Switch - Turn ON & OFF Entities
Press Button - Turn ON & OFF Entities
Switch - Turn ON & OFF Entities

Like this blueprint? Consider hitting the button below

[Blacky]

FAQ

Below are the FAQ question. A good starting point is to read “The Settings & Best Practice Guidelines” Click Here. A lot of the links form our FAQ are there and can help you easily find what you are looking for.

Q: How do I use the “The Automation Link Option”?

A Please follow these steps Click Here.

Q: How to create a Snapshot Toggle Helper

A: Please follow these steps Click Here.

Q: APP Option, how to add a app that is not listed?

A: Please follow these steps Click Here.

Q: How do you update the blueprint and not delete / recreate existing automations?

A Please follow these steps Click Here.

Q: How to use the “By-pass” without having a physical switch?

A: If you don’t have a physical switch you can create one in Home Assistant that will allow you to use the by-pass. If you would like to create a by-pass switch then follow the steps below.

How to create a By-pass switch

• First go to Settings / Devices & Services / click on the “Helpers” tab / click “+ CREATE HELPER” and select “Toggle”.
• In the name area, enter a name that best suits you. For this example we will put “Sensor Light By-pass”. Then click save.
• Go back into the automation and in the “Trigger By-pass - Switch” search for the name you created, in our case “Sensor Light By-pass”. Then click save.

How to add by-pass switch to a dashboard

• In a “Dashboard” click “Edit dashboard” then click “+ ADD CARD” click on “Button” or “Entities” and in the entity field again search for the name (entity) you created in our case “Sensor Light By-pass”. Then click save.
• Then click “DONE”.

You now have a “Sensor Light By-pass” switch to disable the trigger of your automation.

[Blacky]

FAQ - The Settings & Best Practice Guidelines

Trigger Sensor - Binary Sensors

This is the trigger sensor that will turn ON “Lights - Switches – Scenes” and “Intermission - Lights - Switches - Scenes” when it changes it state. You can enter your media player (Apple TV, PLEX, etc), your alarm system, smoke detector, etc.

Trigger - ON State

This is the state/s your trigger will be in to activate the automation. If your state is not shown in the list you can add custom states. To add a custom state just simply type the state you would like into the input and hit enter. To delete a state click on the “X” next to it.

• This is typical to find your trigger state: If you would like to find out what state your trigger is in then click on developer tools, then the states tab, in the search box type you trigger you are using to find it, then click on the link and it will display the state it is in. Then change the state, example play or pause a movie and click on the refresh, it will then show the changed state your in. You will then know what stat to select. If you find there isn’t a state for you to select in the automation them let me know and I will add it for you.

Trigger - OFF State

This is the state/s your trigger will be in to deactivate the automation. If your state is not shown in the list you can add custom states. To add a custom state just simply type the state you would like into the input and hit enter. To delete a state click on the “X” next to it.

Note: If you are using the “Intermission Option” then you can’t select the same stat that is also selected in the “Intermission - State”

Time Delay

This is the time delay before the automation turns OFF or goes to an intermission mode. It is used as a buffer. If you press the wrong button on the remote accidentally turning the automation OFF or going to an intermission mode, you will have time to correct your actions before your lights change.

Lights - Switches – Scenes

This is where you select what lights, switches or scenes you would like to turn ON. The automation only supports entities. Having the ability to select areas, devices and labels is a nice quick easy way to find your entities. When selecting areas, devices or labels, click the expand button “<>” as shown below. This will expand out your area, device or label so you can quickly find your entities. Your final selection should look all green and only have lights, switches or scenes entities.

Areas

Devices

Labels

Entities

Scenes To Turn OFF & Intermission - Scenes To Turn OFF

If you have selected a scene to be turned ON above in “Lights - Switches - Scenes” or below in “Intermission - Lights - Switches - Scenes” then you will need to create another scene. The scene must have all the lights you have used in scenes for this automation, with all the lights OFF.

Below example of using scenes in this automation.

• Lets say we are using 2 lights in this automation. Light 1 is used for watching a movie. Light 1 is in “Movie Scene - ON” and is set to 5 % brightness in the scene.
• Then if you are also using the intermission option. In “Intermission - Lights - Switches - Scenes” we are using lights 1 & 2 and they are in “Movie Scene - Intermission ON”. They are set to 35 % brightness in this scene.
• Because light 2 is not used in “Movie Scene - ON” we need to created another scene, I called it “Movie Scene - Intermission OFF”. In that scene I have put light 2 in there and have set it to OFF.
• Last thing we need to do is create the final scene. I have called it “Movie Scene - All Lights OFF”. In this scene we need to put all the lights used in this automation, they are lights 1 & 2 and set them to OFF.

You can call the scenes anything you like as this is just an example. Below is the screen shots of the example above.

Light Control Options

This allows you to select what option you would like to control in your light entity.

• Brightness – Your light must be able to support brightness control by being able to dim the light in Home Assistant.
• Colour Temperature - Your light must be able to support colour temperature by being able to adjust the colour temperature in Home Assistant. Some LED lights that can change colour may also support colour temperature.
• Transition – If your lights support brightness or colour temperature then this is the time it will take to transition to the next state. A state change can be from OFF to ON, from ON to OFF, from normal lights to night lights and from night lights to normal lights.

For each option you select you also have the ability to adjust the setting. More information is next to each setting.

If you have selected an option and your light doesn’t support it then the light will simply just turn ON.

The Start Turn OFF Options

The lights and switches to turn OFF when the automation first starts.

The Intermission Option

• Intermission - State
  This is the state/s your trigger will be in to activate Intermission. If your state is not shown in the list you can add custom states. To add a custom state just simply type the state you would like into the input and hit enter. To delete a state click on the “X” next to it.

  Note: The selection cannot be the same as in the “Trigger - OFF State” selections.

• Intermission - Lights - Switches - Scenes
  The lights that get turned on by the trigger sensor/s. You can also add switches and scenes. If adding a scene please read “Intermission - Scenes To Turn OFF” below.

  NOTE - You can only use entities. Areas and devices are not supported.

• Intermission - Scenes To Turn OFF

  If you have selected a scene to be turned ON above in “Intermission - Lights - Switches - Scenes” and your lights are different from “Lights - Switches - Scenes” above, then you will need to create another scene. The scene should include the different lights and the lights must be OFF. If your lights are the same as “Intermission - Lights - Switches - Scenes” then leave this blank.

  For an example on how to set scenes correctly see " Scenes To Turn OFF & Intermission - Scenes To Turn OFF" above.

The End Turn ON Options

The lights and switches to turn ON when the automation ends. You can select to create a snapshot of your lights & switches so they will return to the state they were in before this automation started. Or you can select to turn ON lights - switches - scenes.

• Note - If you chose to create a snapshot then you must enter a unique snapshot name and create a toggle helper for this option to work.

The Automation Link Option

This allows you to link your other automations so they will be automatically disabled. This is useful if you are using one of my other blueprints to control the lights, switches and or scenes and you would like to disable it when this automation is ON. For more information on the Automation Link Option Click Here

• Automation Link - By-pass Control

  Enter the other automations you would like to disable when this automation is ON. To do this your other automations must include a by-pass switch that you enter here.

Conditions

All the conditions are global and can work alongside with the other conditions. You can select one or all of them but if enabled each condition must pass for the automation to run.

• Sun
  This is used for adding a condition to only work when it is dark or below the “Sun Elevation” setting. I thought about “Sunset” and “Sunrise” but HA recommend using sun elevation as it works better throughout the year. So I took their advice and used the sun elevation.

• Ambient
  This is used for adding a condition to only work when it is dark or below the “Ambient Light LUX Value”. There are some extra settings to select when setting this up so it will function correctly. More information is next to each setting.

Trigger Sensor By-pass

This is to disable the automation.

Hope this helps to explain some of the settings

Enjoy

Blacky

Back to FAQ: Click Here

[Blacky]

FAQ - How To Use The Automation Link Option

Currently the automation link supports a toggle helper. To create a toggle helper follow these steps.

1. Go to setting > Devices & Services > click on the helpers tab, then click ‘Create Helper’ and select ‘Toggle Helper’

   

2. Add your name you would like to call the toggle helper and change the icon to your liking, then click ‘Create’.

   

3. You now will have a toggle helper you can use in both automations

Once we have a toggle helper we can add it to our automations.

Sensor Light Add On

1. Enable the automation link and add your toggle helper into ‘Automation Link - By-pass Control’

   

2. To ensure smooth operation between both automations, it’s important to configure the Lights ON at End options and potentially enable the automation link Time Delay option. When you stop watching a movie, there are two key reasons for setting this up

   1. It ensures that the same lights used in the other automation are set, preventing light flickers.

   2. It allows you to transition the light levels in two steps by enabling the Time Delay option, giving your eyes time to adjust. This creates a smoother shift from movie mode back to your usual lighting, eliminating harsh or sudden changes and enhancing the overall user experience.

      

   Note:

   • If you’ve opted to create a snapshot of your lights and switches, allowing them to return to their previous state before the automation started, this will still work. However, keep in mind that you may not get the two-step transition.
   • Additionally, be aware that the global conditions in your sensor light automation may affect the outcome. If the automation doesn’t behave as expected, check the global conditions in your sensor light automation to ensure they align with your setup.

   Below are the settings to adjust your lights back to 50%

   

3. Your done, click save

Sensor Light

Here are the light settings used in the Sensor Light Blueprint. These settings are identical to those configured in the Sensor Light Add-on Automation’s Lights ON at End options, except the brightness level is set to 100%.

Adding the automation link.

1. To add the automation link to your sensor light automation:

   1. Choose Option 3 - Enable the Bypass - Keep the lights current state.
   2. Enter the toggle helper used in your sensor light add-on automation into the field labeled Bypass Switch - Keep The Lights Current State.
   3. Set the Time Delay. This step is crucial because it determines what happens when you stop playing a movie and your motion sensor is OFF. The delay allows you to trigger the sensor light automation before turning OFF your lights, switches, or scenes.

• Tip: Set this delay to match the Time Delay input you use for your sensor light automation.

• Important: Ensure you do not enable the auto OFF option for this bypass.

  Below are all the settings required.

  

  Below is a guide if you were to used all the settings in the bypass.

  

2. Your done, click save

   Your lighting experience, your way – take control and customize it to perfection!

Now it is time to sit back and enjoy.

Lights, Camera, Action! Get ready to grab the popcorn because it’s movie time with a touch of cinematic magic!

Enjoy

Blacky

Back to FAQ: Click Here

[harryfine]

Very excited

[Blacky]

Initial release 1.0

New blueprint Hope you like it

This is an add on for my other blueprints. It can also be used as a stand alone blueprint if you prefer. If I have missed any “States” for the trigger or anything else then make sure you let us know and I will add them in.

Below are some use cases.

• Media - Cinema Room - Turn ON different lights when watching a movie.
• House Alarm - Turn ON lights when your house alarm has been activated.
• Smoke Detector - Turn on lights and exhaust fans when smoke detector has been activated.

The Automation Link Option is done through the by-passes that you will find in my other blueprints so you can take control of your lights if you are watching a movie etc. It then will return to normal once you stopped watching the movie.

If you like this blueprint? Consider hitting the button in the top post

If you like my blueprints, and would like to show your support or just say thank you? Click Here

Enjoy

Blacky

[sota (Pat Rooney)]

Would it be possible to have an option to create a snapshot scene of the lights which could then be restored when the trigger is cleared?
For example, I have a scene that I activate if the alarm is triggered which turns all the lights on. However, if the alarm is then cleared it would be preferable to just restore the lights to their previous setting rather than trying to guess what lights were on.
Thanks!

[edi023 (edwin)]

Thank you for this blueprint.

I had 3 automations running to do the same as your blueprint

Will test it out this evening

[edi023 (edwin)]

So far so good, when my emby intergration is playing nicely and stay connected .

The only thing i miss is when i turn of the movie and go back to idle again the light turns off, i rather have that also to go to a specific brightness.

Maybe when i have time i will look into it .

Thanks again!

[Blacky]

@sota

Hi Pat, firstly thanks for your feedback

I developed it to work with my sensor light blueprint that would return you lights to their previous state if the trigger is ON… but yes I agree this need to be resolved.

Remember I have just read this and thinking out loud.

This all need to work if you are using my sensor light, or another blueprint of mine… but we also need it to work if lights are not using my blueprint / automation. I have some ideas that I will need to consider but this will be on the list to resolve sooner than later.

Again thanks for your feedback, and it is nice to here from you again.

Blacky

[Blacky]

@edi023

Hi Edwin, thanks for your feedback

@edi023

The only thing i miss is when i turn of the movie and go back to idle again the light turns off, i rather have that also to go to a specific brightness.

This is very similar to what @sota Pat just said… so this realy needs to be resolved. If you are using my sensor light blueprint then the lights will return back but this is not always the case if you dont use it … I need to fix this sooner than later.

Again thanks for your feedback and stay tuned.

Blacky

[sota (Pat Rooney)]

@Blacky No problem, I appreciate your commitment to developing & supporting these blueprints

This was more of a feature request, so I will await developments patiently!

[edi023 (edwin)]

I applied just now your other light blueprint and will test them both.
Is it also possibly to turn the light off if the motion detection is not detection anymore instead of a timer:)
Again nice blueprints, real quality
When i have time i also will look into is, but iam a beginner but love to learn new things

[Blacky]

@edi023

Is it also possibly to turn the light off if the motion detection is not detection anymore instead of a timer:)

You will probably find my other blueprint is what your looking for.

Spoiler alert, I have done all the updates for this blueprint just going through testing before I release it. I have also added another thing to it that I thought was needed.

[Blacky]

FAQ - How to create a Snapshot Toggle Helper

1. First go to Settings / Devices & Services / click on the “Helpers” tab / click “+ CREATE HELPER” and select “Toggle”.
2. In the name area, enter a name that best suits you. For this example we will put “Movie - Snapshot Helper”. Then click save.
3. Go back into the automation and in the “End Turn ON - Snapshot Toggle Helper” search for the name you created, in our case “Movie - Snapshot Helper”. Then click save.

You now have a “Snapshot Toggle Helper”. In order for snapshots to work it must be OFF at the start of the automation.

Enjoy

Blacky

Back to FAQ: Click Here

[Blacky]

New Update - Version 1.1

New Features

• Added the ability to turn OFF selected lights and or switches at the start of movie.
• Added the ability to turn ON selected lights, switches and or scenes at the end of a movie. You have 2 options to choose from;
  1. Choose to create a snapshot of your lights and switches at the start of the automation that will be restored at the end of the automation.
  2. Choose the lights, switches and or scenes that you would like to turn ON at the end of the automation.

If you like this blueprint? Consider hitting the button in the top post

If you like my blueprints, and would like to show your support or just say thank you? Click Here

Enjoy

Blacky

[edi023 (edwin)]

damn blacky you are fast

I’m going to convert my light automations to your blueprint as it seems to work perfectly.

This evening i’am gonna test out the sensor light & the sensor light add-on both as i’am going to watch a movie after the gym time.

Thank you so much for your awesome and hard work hard work, if its working I’am buying you some beers

[edi023 (edwin)]

Still trying to figure out what the best settings are using both of the blueprints.

Will there also be the possibilty to only turn this blueprint on only after a cerain degree of sun elevation, would love this with the lux condition.

But so far so good

[Blacky]

@edi023

Will there also be the possibilty to only turn this blueprint on only after a cerain degree of sun elevation

Sure

@edi023

But so far so good

Sounds good

[Blacky]

New Update - Version 1.2

New Features

• Added the ability to use sun as a condition.

If you like this blueprint? Consider hitting the button in the top post

If you like my blueprints, and would like to show your support or just say thank you? Click Here

Enjoy

Blacky