Home Assistant: What am I doing wrong?

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peejayw

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#271905 31-May-2020 19:52

I have a simple (I thought) requirement. I want to turn off a Sonoff wifi switch if it has been on for 5 minutes.

So, here is my config............

- id: '1590906894888'
alias: Switch Off After 5Min
description: ''
trigger:
- entity_id: switch.00343721dc4f225b74f8
for: 5 minutes
from: 'Off'
platform: state
to: 'On'
condition: []
action:
- device_id: 428fc41b503e4d2aa8aa0ec49821999f
domain: switch
entity_id: switch.00343721dc4f225b74f8
type: turn_off

The entity_id is the sonoff switch in question. Trouble is, the switch never turns off. If I manually execute, it does so at least I know the Sonoff is the correct one.

Any thoughts?

I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

hairy1

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#2495918 31-May-2020 19:56

To be honest I gave up on native automations and switched to Node Red... Amazing and much easier to debug.

Sorry this doesn't answer your question.

Cheers, Matt.

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hio77

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Lizard Networks

#2495923 31-May-2020 20:03

sonoff on a hotblanket... .now that's an idea...

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peejayw

1841 posts

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#2495924 31-May-2020 20:03

Thanks, will have a look at Node Red but I would still like to find out where I am going wrong with this setup, frustrating.

I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

hairy1

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#2495939 31-May-2020 21:42

There seems to be so many examples floating around of incorrect / outdated formats for automation. This is the problem. Even the ordering of elements in YAML is "fickle". I highly recommend Node Red for automation. I spent hours on native automations and found there was just no language consistency and ability to debug.

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muppet

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#2495950 31-May-2020 21:59

First of all, Node-Red is so much easier. You will honestly feel like a chump when you realise the hours you spent figuring out what's what with your YAML would have been 2 minutes of click and drop in Node-Red.

Regardless:

action:
- device_id: 428fc41b503e4d2aa8aa0ec49821999f
domain: switch
entity_id: switch.00343721dc4f225b74f8
type: turn_off

You don't seem to be calling a service? Usually to get a light to turn off you'd call a service:

From my old backed up before-i-moved-to-node-red autmational.yaml (gosh I just SO miss yaml)

- id: hallway_light_auto_on
alias: Hallway Light Auto On Mode
trigger:
- entity_id: binary_sensor.motion_sensor_158d0002274d4d
platform: state
to: 'on'
condition:
- after: sunset
before: sunrise
condition: sun
action:
- entity_id: light.gateway_light_7811dcfd599a
service: homeassistant.turn_on

See how I call a service of homeassistant.turn_on? I would guess you need to call some sort of service of turn_off. You have an action of turn_off, maybe that's a new way to do it? But that's what I used to have to do, call a service.

peejayw

1841 posts

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#2496000 1-Jun-2020 06:28

Thanks, looks like I should start learning Node-Red then. Any suggestions on a good place to start?

I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

hairy1

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#2496009 1-Jun-2020 08:34

Great choice. I offer a 100% money back guarantee. The thing about Node Red is that it is very intuitive. Either of these guides will get you going:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuoSXVqjyfc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYN1Lp-XYKA

Here is your flow to turn your blanket off after 5 minutes. The reason for the switch is that you only want to wait 5 minutes if the blanket is set to on.

More than happy to help with flows if required.

Cheers, Matt.

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

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peejayw

1841 posts

Uber Geek

#2496010 1-Jun-2020 08:37

Many thanks, will start bashing the brain cells into order 😄

I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

Nate001

640 posts

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#2496033 1-Jun-2020 09:48

This is what I use to turn off a fan after it has been on for 1 hour. Just as others have posted above.

muppet

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#2496153 1-Jun-2020 14:43

Nate001:

This is what I use to turn off a fan after it has been on for 1 hour. Just as others have posted above.

Yup, you're calling a service.

I suspect that's what's missing in OP's post.