This.entity_id and last_triggered template

Configuration
1

I am trying to limit an automation to running only once every 3 minutes
max (input_number.camera_cooldown)

condition:
  - condition: template
    value_template: >-
      {{ not state_attr('this.entity_id','last_triggered') or (now() -
      state_attr('this.entity_id','last_triggered') >
      timedelta(minutes=int(states('input_number.camera_cooldown')))) }}

When I run a trace, this seems to alwayts return true. Any ideas what I am doing wrong?

2

Remove the quotes around this.entity_id

3

Hi ohnoes4096,

You could also set the automation to single mode, and add a 3 minute delay at the end of it that it has to do before it’s done.

4

As Chris said, you need to remove the quotes. However, I’d also add that it’s not advisable to look up the object in the states table; instead the trigger object is already provided and you can access the parameter directly: this. attributes.last_triggered

I’m also not sure what the intention of the first not statement is.

This is the statement I recommend when someone wants a cooldown and doesn’t want to use a delay at the end of the automation (which is fine for short cooldowns).

{{ now() - this.attributes.last_triggered | default(0 | as_datetime) >= timedelta(hours=6) }}
1 Like
5

The not statement was to capture the first occurrence of the automation when it says “never” as last trigger time. Thank you mekaneck, I will use that.

6

@mekaneck has the correct answer. Lots of other examples have overly convoluted solutions as they mentioned. All you need is this.attributes.last_triggered with exactly the code in their example. It’s what I have as well and works perfectly.

- condition: template
  value_template: "{{ now() - this.attributes.last_triggered > timedelta(minutes=3) }}"
7

Just FYI, when it says “never” because it hasn’t been run, it means the last_triggered attribute is not defined. Using not this.attributes.last_triggered will generate an error, so instead you can send it to the default filter which will prevent the error. This is why default appears in the code I recommended.

8

Got it, thanks!