Software switch to control smart plug on a timed basis

Configuration
1

So far, I’ve been using automation to control smart plugs but now have a use case to turn on an unswitched power outlet for a predetermined number of minutes using the HA app.

I’ve read through a lot of documentation and can do this by configuring and running an automation but not a way to create a switch icon on a dashboard for my wife that she can click on. Surely there must be one.

An example would be great.

Thanks

2

You can use the default button card and select automation.trigger as tap action.

3

Or you can create an input boolean to control the outlet and put that on the dashboard.

4

As other folks said, you can use automations to link a switch or input_boolean to the operation of the power outlet. The switch/input_boolean is what you’d show in your dashboard.
In addition, once you link the switch/input_boolean, you could use a variation of these are two automations I use along with a switch that turns on and off my outside tap (used for watering our gardens).

- alias: 'timing-Outside Tap off after 2 hours'
  trigger:
    platform: state
    entity_id: switch.outside_tap
    to: 'on'
    for: '02:00:00'
  condition:
    condition: state
    entity_id: switch.outside_water_valve_lock
    state: 'off'
  action:
    - service: switch.turn_off
      entity_id: switch.outside_tap
- alias: 'timing-Outside Tap lock off when Tap shut off'
  trigger:
    platform: state
    entity_id: switch.outside_tap
    to: 'off'
  action:
    - service: switch.turn_off
      entity_id: switch.outside_water_valve_lock
- alias: 'timing-Outside Tap on when Tap lock turned on'
  trigger:
    platform: state
    entity_id: switch.outside_water_valve_lock
    to: 'on'
  action:
    - service: switch.turn_on
      entity_id: switch.outside_tap
5

I’m going to try all these suggestions.

@finity Can one create an input Boolean through the GUI or does it have to be done in the YAML file?

Thanks, guys.

6

Yes UI, they are called “helpers” under configuration

7

Awesome! Created and used an input Boolean :slight_smile:

1 Like
8

So I created the Helper called recirculator_one_shot but this automation doesn’t seem to be triggered when I turn it on in a dashboard card. Can someone spot the bug?

The automation runs properly when clicking on Run Action so it seems to be the trigger

- id: '1633484613772'
  alias: Run Recirculator
  description: ''
  trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id: input_boolean.recirculator_one_shot
    from: 'Off'
    to: 'On'
    for:
      hours: 0
      minutes: 0
      seconds: 1
      milliseconds: 0
  condition: []
  action:
  - service: switch.turn_on
    target:
      device_id: b214e11401e711eb9899657fa58f2d1f
  - delay:
      hours: 0
      minutes: 10
      seconds: 0
      milliseconds: 0
  - service: switch.turn_off
    target:
      device_id: b214e11401e711eb9899657fa58f2d1f
  - service: input_boolean.turn_off
    target:
      entity_id: input_boolean.recirculator_one_shot
  mode: single
9

You need to change the states. most states are always lower case but you can check the actual states in the dev tools → states page. Case is important.

trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id: input_boolean.recirculator_one_shot
    from: 'off'
    to: 'on'
    for:
      hours: 0
      minutes: 0
      seconds: 1
      milliseconds: 0
10

@finity

Case sensitivity! That fixed it.

Thanks

1 Like