Help with smart plug routines

SmartApps & Automations Automation Ideas
1

Hi,

I have recently had solar installed and would like to automate our pool pump and pool cleaner to prioritise running during sunny hours.

Essentially I would like it to run during the day when sun is forecast and if rain is forecast I would like it to return to its regular schedule of running overnight when electricity is at its cheapest.

I have some TP-Link Tapo P100 smart plugs which I am trying to use but have not had any luck yet with my trials.

I am trying to use a weather and time trigger in my routine. I have not yet found a way to have to return to a different overnight schedule when no sun is forecast so that will be the next step that I will need help with

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I have attached a screenshot of the main routine. I have another routine set to turn off the plug 1 hour before sunset if on, but this also does not appear to work.

The plug does work through the app in that I can turn it on and off, but the routines do not seem to work at this stage.

My geolocation has been set to my area.

Any help would be much appreciated.

2

Bit late here but in case it helps others, the trigger here is “when the pool plug turns off” with the condition that it turns off during “clear weather” and “between 10am and 5pm”.

In that case, if nothing is turning that switch off, this routine will never trigger.

I’m presuming you would want this to check every X hours/minutes during that time window so in that case, I would convert the Tapo condition to a precondition and add something else (anything) that will cause the automation to trigger periodically and check the conditions.

If you don’t have a device that you could use for the trigger and have a ST hub, you could use a “virtual switch” as the trigger (@TAustin has a good driver for this). Once the trigger is set up, just make another automation to toggle it on/off every hour or so and hey presto.

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