Time formatting

Configuration
1

I am struggling (as I often do) with time formatting in yaml. This time I am trying to convert the expression below as minutes only, i.e. as an integer telling me how many minutes my garagedoor has been open (or closed).

{{ (now() - states.binary_sensor.garage_door_detector_sensor["last_changed"]) }}

The expression returns the time string format: 1:44:38.073348

Also, is there a good guide to date and time formatting in yaml? I have googled a lot, but not been able to find anything that fits my needs.

Thanks!

2

I believe the now() function is a home assistant, JSON, or Jinja thing. I’ve looked up docs on JSON and Jinja and didn’t find anything on the topics that match NOW. The format of “last_changed” appears to be formatted in JSON, so maybe now() is a JSON function. Either way, yaml is just the framework for the information. It’s not what executes the code. Jinja is what executes inside the yaml. I’d look there.

3

Ok, so I need to find the format syntax for JSON then. I have already browsed through the Jinja documentation linked to from HA templates. I’ll try to find some documentation for JSON as well.

4

What are you trying to do? There may be an easy solution if I were to know your end game.

5

I want to know if my garage door is left open for more than say 15 minutes and then trigger a warning message so that I can close it remotely.

6

Ah ok, you should implement an automation using time. This is basically built in.

- alias: "notify if door open for x"
  trigger:
    platform: state
    entity_id: switch.garage_door
    to: 'on'
    for:
      minutes: 15
7

see: https://home-assistant.io/docs/automation/trigger/

8

Ok, I’ll try that. Thanks!

1 Like
9

It worked great, thank you!

1 Like