Template sensor takes 40 mins to update

Configuration
1

I have a template sensor that returns the lowest of two outdoor Huw Motion Sensor temperatures. I have this as they are located at the front/back of my house and the cooler one is the one out of the sun and therefore measuring ‘air’ temperature.

- name: "Outside temp"
  device_class: temperature
  unit_of_measurement: °C
  state: >
    {% if states('sensor.front_temp') <= states('sensor.patio_temp') %} {{ states('sensor.front_temp') |round(1) }}
      {% else %} {{ states('sensor.patio_temp') |round(1) }}
      {% endif %}

Today I noticed that before 08:52:20, sensor.patio_temp was marginally lower & sensor.outside_temp reflected that correctly at 9.9°C.

At 08:52:20, sensor.patio_temp became warmer but sensor.outside_temp did not flip. sensor.patio_temp continued to rise at a steady rate for the following 40 mins.

At 09:37:15 sensor.patio_temp reported 21.9°C

At 09:41:06 sensor.outside_temp finally flipped to report the cooler sensor.front_temp of 10.3°C

Can anyone help me understand the 40 minute delay given that both sensors update every 5mins and I have other template sensors that respond immediately?

2

Probably because you are comparing text values.
Make them floats when comparing and it will most likely work as expected.

You could also just make the state:

{{ [states('sensor.front_temp') | float, states('sensor.patio_temp') | float] |min }}
1 Like
3

thanks! I will give that a go and report back :slight_smile:

edit: I always thought that round(1) resulted in a number and not a text version of a number,

edit: got it - you are referring to the 1st line - thanks!

4

Perhaps it does…
But this is where you are comparing text:

{% if states('sensor.front_temp') <= states('sensor.patio_temp') %}
5

2 is less than 9, so it flipped when that happened. You aren’t comparing numbers, but strings like @Hellis81 said.

String comparision starts left and moves right. So the first character is 2 <= 9 is when it would have triggered.

1 Like
6

You are quite right - I realised it and added an extra edit to my original reply just as you posted this.

7

thanks, Petro.