Solved: Node Red, how do I filter out "Unknown"?

Third party integrations Node-RED
1

Hi I have automated my exterior shades to open in the morning in tilt mode to reduce the morning sun; the automation checks the Darksky cloud-cover sensor every 15 minutes and if the value is <=75% the blinds stay closed. This morning the blinds fully opened even when there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and closed again 15 minutes later. When I look at my HA history, there appears to be a small gap in data for cloud cover at this time, looking at the HA logbook, Darksky changes to “unknown”, this unknown value appears to satisfy the <= criteria and triggers the automation.

a very simplified version of the flow is like this:
time > sun azimuth > cloud cover > open/close

Is there a way of filtering out “unknown”?
I was assuming that no data would equal zero but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

I’m new to NR so any help is welcome.

Thanks

2

How about doing an export of the node-red code and pasting it in? Hard to troubleshoot your flow when I cant see it.

3

usually no data would be null

4

I put a debug on the output,

msg.payload : string[7]

“unknown”

5

put a switch node after the cloud cover check, and tell it to send “unknown” to a second output and don’t wire it to anything

6

Here"s an export of the flow:

[{"id":"86b518d2.f28c68","type":"sun-position","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"","positionConfig":"3af7eead.b31292","rules":[{"valueLow":"60","valueLowType":"num","valueHigh":"148","valueHighType":"num"},{"valueLow":"148","valueLowType":"num","valueHigh":"260","valueHighType":"num"}],"onlyOnChange":"true","topic":"","outputs":3,"start":"","startType":"none","startOffset":0,"startOffsetType":"none","startOffsetMultiplier":60000,"end":"","endType":"none","endOffset":0,"endOffsetType":"none","endOffsetMultiplier":60000,"x":468.75,"y":294.2500305175781,"wires":[[],["c2a9589b.5ab16","61a33a75.284354","f87d2a98.40b31"],["903cba92.ebaf78","71ef9a3f.2d29cc","b12b8705.92346"]]},{"id":"d37b5349.a8f1e","type":"api-current-state","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"Home/Away","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","outputs":2,"halt_if":"off","halt_if_type":"str","halt_if_compare":"is","override_topic":false,"entity_id":"input_boolean.home_away","state_type":"str","state_location":"payload","override_payload":"msg","entity_location":"data","override_data":"msg","x":128.5,"y":205,"wires":[[],["4caeb769.61f53"]]},{"id":"c2a9589b.5ab16","type":"api-current-state","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"Cloud cover","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","outputs":2,"halt_if":"75","halt_if_type":"num","halt_if_compare":"gte","override_topic":false,"entity_id":"sensor.dark_sky_cloud_coverage","state_type":"str","state_location":"payload","override_payload":"msg","entity_location":"data","override_data":"msg","x":558.7500610351562,"y":84.25,"wires":[["4bca2ade.fec7d4"],["903cba92.ebaf78"]]},{"id":"d291e836.f8e658","type":"api-call-service","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"Side Closed","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","service_domain":"scene","service":"turn_on","data":"{\"entity_id\":\"scene.side_closed\"}","mergecontext":"","output_location":"","output_location_type":"none","x":1023.2500610351562,"y":58.25,"wires":[[]]},{"id":"4bca2ade.fec7d4","type":"api-call-service","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"Side Venetian","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","service_domain":"scene","service":"turn_on","data":"{\"entity_id\":\"scene.side_venetian\"}","mergecontext":"","output_location":"","output_location_type":"none","x":1025.2500610351562,"y":103.75,"wires":[[]]},{"id":"903cba92.ebaf78","type":"api-call-service","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"Side Open","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","service_domain":"scene","service":"turn_on","data":"{\"entity_id\":\"scene.side_open\"}","mergecontext":"","output_location":"","output_location_type":"none","x":1025.2500610351562,"y":150.75,"wires":[[]]},{"id":"f87d2a98.40b31","type":"api-current-state","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"Guest?","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","outputs":2,"halt_if":"off","halt_if_type":"str","halt_if_compare":"is","override_topic":false,"entity_id":"input_boolean.guest_mode","state_type":"str","state_location":"payload","override_payload":"msg","entity_location":"data","override_data":"msg","x":682.7500610351562,"y":598.75,"wires":[[],["5d405737.1033b"]]},{"id":"b12b8705.92346","type":"api-current-state","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"Cloud cover","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","outputs":2,"halt_if":"75","halt_if_type":"num","halt_if_compare":"gte","override_topic":false,"entity_id":"sensor.dark_sky_cloud_coverage","state_type":"str","state_location":"payload","override_payload":"msg","entity_location":"data","override_data":"msg","x":723.7500610351562,"y":418.75,"wires":[["84a38262.e35b4"],["28d31035.80876"]]},{"id":"8dadde44.412fa8","type":"api-call-service","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"Salon 1 Closed","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","service_domain":"scene","service":"turn_on","data":"{\"entity_id\":\"scene.poolside_closed\"}","mergecontext":"","output_location":"","output_location_type":"none","x":1028.2500610351562,"y":237.75,"wires":[[]]},{"id":"61a33a75.284354","type":"api-call-service","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"Salon 1 Venetian","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","service_domain":"scene","service":"turn_on","data":"{\"entity_id\":\"scene.poolside_venetian\"}","mergecontext":"","output_location":"","output_location_type":"none","x":1030.2500610351562,"y":287.25,"wires":[[]]},{"id":"ef033a48.01f048","type":"api-call-service","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"Salon 1 Open","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","service_domain":"scene","service":"turn_on","data":"{\"entity_id\":\"scene.poolside_open\"}","mergecontext":"","output_location":"","output_location_type":"none","x":1033.2500610351562,"y":354.25,"wires":[[]]},{"id":"522fffd0.7d1ff8","type":"api-call-service","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"Red Bed Closed","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","service_domain":"scene","service":"turn_on","data":"{\"entity_id\":\"scene.chambre_fermee\"}","mergecontext":"","output_location":"","output_location_type":"none","x":1025.2500610351562,"y":536.75,"wires":[[]]},{"id":"871114ed.454e78","type":"api-call-service","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"Red Bed Venetian","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","service_domain":"scene","service":"turn_on","data":"{\"entity_id\":\"scene.chambre_my\"}","mergecontext":"","output_location":"","output_location_type":"none","x":1021.2500610351562,"y":591.25,"wires":[[]]},{"id":"5d405737.1033b","type":"api-call-service","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"Red Bed Open","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","service_domain":"scene","service":"turn_on","data":"{\"entity_id\":\"scene.chambre_ouverte\"}","mergecontext":"","output_location":"","output_location_type":"none","x":1025.2500610351562,"y":645.25,"wires":[[]]},{"id":"4caeb769.61f53","type":"time-range-switch","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"Day/Night","lat":"44.1234","lon":"6.2345","startTime":"06:45","endTime":"sunset","startOffset":0,"endOffset":"+1","x":145.25,"y":260.5,"wires":[["86b518d2.f28c68"],["d291e836.f8e658","8dadde44.412fa8","44b402a7.d25914"]]},{"id":"6a26de65.6e203","type":"inject","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"","topic":"","payload":"","payloadType":"date","repeat":"900","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"x":95.75,"y":63,"wires":[["b8417c1d.760f4"]]},{"id":"71ef9a3f.2d29cc","type":"api-current-state","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"Cloud cover","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","outputs":2,"halt_if":"75","halt_if_type":"num","halt_if_compare":"gte","override_topic":false,"entity_id":"sensor.dark_sky_cloud_coverage","state_type":"str","state_location":"payload","override_payload":"msg","entity_location":"data","override_data":"msg","x":766.5000610351562,"y":329.5,"wires":[["61a33a75.284354"],["61a33a75.284354"]]},{"id":"b8417c1d.760f4","type":"api-current-state","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"BSO Auto on?","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","outputs":2,"halt_if":"on","halt_if_type":"str","halt_if_compare":"is","override_topic":false,"entity_id":"input_boolean.auto_bso","state_type":"str","state_location":"payload","override_payload":"msg","entity_location":"data","override_data":"msg","x":127,"y":141.74998474121094,"wires":[[],["d37b5349.a8f1e"]]},{"id":"28d31035.80876","type":"api-current-state","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"Guest?","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","outputs":2,"halt_if":"off","halt_if_type":"str","halt_if_compare":"is","override_topic":false,"entity_id":"input_boolean.guest_mode","state_type":"str","state_location":"payload","override_payload":"msg","entity_location":"data","override_data":"msg","x":680.7500610351562,"y":502.75,"wires":[[],["5d405737.1033b"]]},{"id":"84a38262.e35b4","type":"api-current-state","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"Guest?","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","outputs":2,"halt_if":"off","halt_if_type":"str","halt_if_compare":"is","override_topic":false,"entity_id":"input_boolean.guest_mode","state_type":"str","state_location":"payload","override_payload":"msg","entity_location":"data","override_data":"msg","x":682.7500610351562,"y":551.75,"wires":[[],["871114ed.454e78"]]},{"id":"44b402a7.d25914","type":"api-current-state","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"Guest?","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","outputs":2,"halt_if":"off","halt_if_type":"str","halt_if_compare":"is","override_topic":false,"entity_id":"input_boolean.guest_mode","state_type":"str","state_location":"payload","override_payload":"msg","entity_location":"data","override_data":"msg","x":679.7500610351562,"y":652.75,"wires":[[],["522fffd0.7d1ff8"]]},{"id":"8f6ec1ac.cde5b8","type":"api-call-service","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"Kitchen Venetian","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","service_domain":"scene","service":"turn_on","data":"{\"entity_id\":\"scene.cuisine_venetian\"}","mergecontext":"","output_location":"","output_location_type":"none","x":1024.75,"y":716.75,"wires":[[]]},{"id":"b8059319.7d27c8","type":"api-current-state","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"Home/Away","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","outputs":2,"halt_if":"off","halt_if_type":"str","halt_if_compare":"is","override_topic":false,"entity_id":"input_boolean.home_away","state_type":"str","state_location":"payload","override_payload":"msg","entity_location":"data","override_data":"msg","x":691.25,"y":722.5,"wires":[["8f6ec1ac.cde5b8"],["416bb57a.2414e4"]]},{"id":"c0309509.354438","type":"api-current-state","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"BSO Auto on?","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","outputs":2,"halt_if":"on","halt_if_type":"str","halt_if_compare":"is","override_topic":false,"entity_id":"input_boolean.auto_bso","state_type":"str","state_location":"payload","override_payload":"msg","entity_location":"data","override_data":"msg","x":422.25006103515625,"y":723,"wires":[[],["b8059319.7d27c8"]]},{"id":"78123c79.d80054","type":"time-inject","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"","positionConfig":"3af7eead.b31292","payload":"on","payloadType":"str","payloadTimeFormat":0,"payloadOffset":0,"payloadOffsetType":"none","payloadOffsetMultiplier":60000,"topic":"","time":"06:45","timeType":"entered","timeDays":"*","offset":0,"offsetType":"none","offsetMultiplier":60000,"property":"","propertyType":"none","propertyCompare":"true","propertyThreshold":"","propertyThresholdType":"num","timeAlt":"","timeAltType":"entered","timeAltOffset":0,"timeAltOffsetType":"none","timeAltOffsetMultiplier":60000,"once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"addPayload1":"","addPayload1Type":"none","addPayload1Value":"","addPayload1ValueType":"date","addPayload1Format":"0","addPayload1Offset":0,"addPayload1OffsetType":"none","addPayload1OffsetMultiplier":60000,"addPayload1Days":"*","addPayload2":"","addPayload2Type":"none","addPayload2Value":"","addPayload2ValueType":"date","addPayload2Format":"0","addPayload2Offset":0,"addPayload2OffsetType":"none","addPayload2OffsetMultiplier":60000,"addPayload2Days":"*","addPayload3":"","addPayload3Type":"none","addPayload3Value":"","addPayload3ValueType":"date","addPayload3Format":"0","addPayload3Offset":0,"addPayload3OffsetType":"none","addPayload3OffsetMultiplier":60000,"addPayload3Days":"*","recalcTime":2,"x":182.5,"y":718.75,"wires":[["c0309509.354438"]]},{"id":"416bb57a.2414e4","type":"api-call-service","z":"9b57b7dd.b7eba","name":"Kitchen Venetian","server":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","service_domain":"scene","service":"turn_on","data":"{\"entity_id\":\"scene.cuisine_open\"}","mergecontext":"","output_location":"","output_location_type":"none","x":1031,"y":779,"wires":[[]]},{"id":"3af7eead.b31292","type":"position-config","z":"","name":"","isValide":"true","longitude":"0","latitude":"0","angleType":"deg","timeZoneOffset":99,"stateTimeFormat":"3","stateDateFormat":"12"},{"id":"9fb50fc4.9bef78","type":"server","z":"","name":"Home Assistant","legacy":false,"hassio":false,"rejectUnauthorizedCerts":true,"ha_boolean":"y|yes|true|on|home|open","connectionDelay":true}]

7

OK, that sounds like a good solution, I’ll give it a try, thanks!

In the end I changed my criterion to =>75 and since then I’ve had no problems, perhaps there have been no “unknown” incidents since then. The switch node option looks like a great way to throw away junk data, I’m sure it’ll come in handy in the future. Many thanks to everyone who helped.