Visually make an Entity Sticky

Configuration Frontend
1

Hi,

Excuse the noob post - I’m just getting started with HA.

I have been able to get my DSC Alarm System to talk with HA using Envisalink and I have been able to configure the available entities to show up when there is activity. Specifically, a motion sensor shows the state of ‘Detected’ in HA as soon as the sensor reports it. Amazing!

Last night I had a false alarm, and when I checked HA I was not able to see what sensor was in the ‘Detected’ state… coz… well it took me a few seconds to open the phone up and get into the app. By then the sensor went back into the ‘Clear’ state so I had to speak to the alarm company to find out the Zone which was reporting the issue.

I was wondering about a couple of solutions to this:

  • Send a notification to my phone which reports the triggered Zone.
  • When HA shows the ‘Detected’ state, make it stay in that detected state for about 10-15 seconds so I have enough time to check my phone.

Implementing both solutions would be ideal. But I have no idea how to start with even one of them. I’m hoping someone here has done something similar that I can try to follow.

Thanks!

2

This reports low battery, but you get the idea:

alias: "[Batteries] [SMS] Sensors low"
description: ""
trigger:
  - platform: numeric_state
    entity_id:
      - sensor.bedroom_motion_sensor_battery
      - sensor.bathroom_motion_sensor_battery
      - sensor.hallway_motion_sensor_battery
      - sensor.kitchen_motion_sensor_battery
      - sensor.landing_motion_sensor_battery
    below: 30
condition: []
action:
  - service: notify.tablet
    metadata: {}
    data:
      message: "{{ trigger.to_state.name }} low: {{ trigger.to_state.state }}%"
mode: single

A simple way to do this would be to have the motion sensor turn on an input_boolean (toggle helper) - it would stay on until you switched it off. You would need one for each motion sensor, though.

2 Likes
3

Whoa! Variables in a message! Sorry I know everyone will laugh at that but I keep loving HA more everything I do with it!

I’ll give it a go as soon as I get home.

I hear they are going to push out an update tomorrow that may have some grouping to it. I hope that affects helpers - I have 20 sensors and it’s going to be a PITA to get helpers setup for each one but I’m down to do it! Hopefully the grouping thing affects helpers and helps organize the list.

Thanks for the info!!

1 Like
4

This is where the Logbook page comes in handy. It shows you all the past events. Most recent first. With context if it is available (e.g. which automation turned on the light).

3 Likes