Apple/Philips: Already Home + After sunset, turn lights on

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Apple/Philips: Already Home + After sunset, turn lights on

Aaroona

3204 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 169

#258536 8-Oct-2019 18:37

Hi Everyone- pretty new to the whole home automation deal. I have 3 hue bulbs and a hue bridge.
I've got them setup to turn on when coming home, turn off when leaving, turn on in the morning for 1 hour and off at night before I sleep.

What I'd really like is to turn on the lights when I am already home, but only if I am home, after sunset. Otherwise, don't turn the lights on.

Is this currently supported, either through Apple Shortcuts, ITTT, or something? Ideally I'd like to stay either within the Hue app or Apple Shortcuts/Automation, but I'm not seeing that as possible.I'd have thought this would have been a reasonably popular request?

Zorg2000

73 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 25

Lifetime subscriber

#2333152 9-Oct-2019 07:51

Hi there, the hue app has a basic location based function under ‘routines’ with a toggle for only after sunset under the arrive home function. I’m not sure if it works when you are already home though. Otherwise I would assume there would be a IFTTT function or write your own. Good luck.

Senecio

2851 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3159

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2333181 9-Oct-2019 08:47

You mention Apple and Hue but it doesn't sound like you're using Homekit? Homekit can do this but you need to have a hub (iPad, Apple TV).

I currently have an automation set-up through Homekit which is the reverse of this. Turn the lights on after dark if no one is home. Our 16yr old dog has poor eyesight, can't have him bumping into the walls in the dark if we're late home from work!

Aaroona

3204 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 169

#2490411 24-May-2020 11:51

Senecio:

You mention Apple and Hue but it doesn't sound like you're using Homekit? Homekit can do this but you need to have a hub (iPad, Apple TV).

I currently have an automation set-up through Homekit which is the reverse of this. Turn the lights on after dark if no one is home. Our 16yr old dog has poor eyesight, can't have him bumping into the walls in the dark if we're late home from work!

Thought I better post an update. Apologies, I thought i had replied.

After you pointed me in the direction on HomeKit, I ended up chatting to a friend who was off-loading a HomePod recently, as they've decided to be hooked in with Alexa instead.

so I purchased that off him, since I was needing a small speaker anyway.

HomeKit does indeed do exactly as I had wanted- Lights now power on if I am home and it's after sunset. Otherwise they stay off when i'm not home. Thanks for the pointer!