Anyway to prevent lights coming on through the day?

SmartApps & Automations Automation Ideas
1

Have set rules and routines with ST iOS app and also SmartRules iOS app for lights.

Is there a way in case something gets triggered to prevent thug lights coming on at all until after a certain time or after sunset for example?

Thanks

2

It depends on each specific rule/routine/ Smart app, but almost all have a way to do this. Either with mode or with a specific time range. You just have to look at each one to see how it sets restrictions.

For example, I have a smart lighting automation which uses a motion sensor to trigger a light coming on, but only Between 3:15 pm and 10:26 pm.

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@obycode can say how to do this with smartrules.

It’s common for this kind of restriction to be at the very end of a rule set up, often under “more options,” but it’s usually there. You’ll just have to look at your rules/routines one at a time to see how it can be restricted.

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Thanks, I’m using the smartapp built in for lighting, “smart lighting” and do exactly that as an option, only allow during sunset and sunrise.

I was just wondering in case I’ve missed something in a routine or SmartRule to make sure they don’t come on somehow?

4

For a routine, you have to control it by mode. For example, at my house we use the mode “home” from 7 AM until sunset. The mode “night” from sunset until I go to bed, whenever that is. And the mode “asleep” from when I go to sleep until 7 AM.

My bedroom has a motion sensor, an overhead light, and a night light on the wall.

During the day when the mode is home, there are no routines that use that motion sensor.

In the evening when the mode is night, there is a routine that turns on the overhead light when the motion sensor detects motion.

Once I go to bed when the mode is asleep, if the motion sensor detects motion the ceiling light does not come on, and instead the night light comes on.

All controlled by mode.

So again, you just have to one by one go through anything that causes those lights to go on and make sure it is set up to only run at the time of day that you want it to run. But for routines that would be managed by mode.

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5

Thanks JD, excellent idea on mode use. Keep fitted getting about modes, think you could do a lot with your examples thanks.

I don’t have a day or night mode, only a “good morning” or “good night” routine. Think I’ll add a day and night mode definitely!

Cheers

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Modes are really useful in ST. My whole house is based on them .

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Do you change the mode manually, or does it change automatically based on time?

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The 7 am change set by a routine.
The sunset change is set by a routine.
The “asleep” mode is set manually by me as my schedule is variable. :sunglasses:

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Examples please! What modes and application, all info appreciated

Thanks

10

A quick rundown

Home Modes

Home-Day - SHM off, turns on at sunrise by routine
Home-Night - turns on at sunset by routine (Most automated lighting routines run during this mode)
Home Sleep - SHM stay on, turns on when things quiet down on certain motions by routine.

Notes: When home, all thermostats are bumped to a compromise comfort level. Not comfortable, but not far. When there is motion on a floor, then the thermostats are bumped to a comfortable level. I have the Enerwave ceiling modules, they see everything, so this works perfectly.

Away Modes

Away-Day - SHM on, triggered when we all leave during daytime
Away-Night - SHM on, triggered when we all leave during night

Notes: Nothing but security stuff runs during away. Thermostats all at energy saving settings

Misc Modes

Vacation - yay! Everything goes on energy conserving, vacation lighting director randomly turns lights on and off.
Maintenance - nothing runs in this mode, so I can change out filters on HVAC, etc.
Party - bump the thermostats to more comfy, only run certain automations

Basically almost everything in ST can be easily restricted only to run in certain modes. My modes allow me easily to set when things should run and when they shouldn’t. Other than the brief spell (a year ago?) when sunrise/sunset didn’t work (I put on backups using IFTTT), this has worked perfectly for all time for me. It’s how ST was meant to run.

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