Need to automate an off-on-off-on sequence in under 3 seconds for an outdoor light

SmartApps & Automations webCoRE
1

I need some help getting a rule to work or an alternate method. I installed a flood light with a motion sensor on a GE zwave on/off switch and want to be able to put it in “manual” mode so it stays on indefinitely. I setup a core rule but it seems to fully execute, or at least the last step of notification happens immediately and it doesn’t do what I need it to do.

Here is what I have to do to get into manual mode:

  1. Light must be on for at least 60 seconds
  2. Within 3 seconds turn off -> on -> off -> on

Here is what I tried:

  1. Create a virtual switch that I will use to enter manual mode
  2. Setup a webcore piston to monitor the virtual switch for “on” then perform the sequence described above on the physical switch, and send me a push notification for the last step. (See screenshot)

What happens: light turns on, notification received immediately. Lights never turn off, or if they do it is many minutes later.

Any ideas how I can do this?

Screenshot_20180331-213727
Screenshot_20180331-213727.png1080×1920 166 KB

2

Webcore has their own forum and most of the experts hang out there, so I would ask over there and someone should be able to help you. :sunglasses:

https://community.smartthings.com/t/introducing-the-new-webcore-community-forum/96259

1 Like
3

Thanks. I just posted over there and have the link below in case it helps anyone else in the future. If anyone knows of a way to do this outside of webcore I would be interested in hearing those ideas as well.

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4

I think people may be confused by the use of the term “manual mode”, however, because “mode” has a very specific meaning in the smartthings platform and refers to the mode variable.

The other tricky thing for you will be that, if I understand it, this is a light that comes with its own motion sensor. If so, you will probably need to give us the brand and model of that light in order to get accurate answers.

5

The 3 second gap is going to be a challenge with a cloud based system and mesh network. Also, your screen shot looks like Core, not WebCore.

1 Like
6

You are right, it is CoRE not webCoRE. I will get this updated right now and will rebuild the rules tonight.

7

Just realized you’re talking about a “manual mode” On that particular motion sensor light. My bad. But it’s still going to confuse other people, I think.

Anyway, there have been some other people who have done this successfully, and webcore should be able to attempt it, but as @Automated_House said, with the cloud involved that’s really hard to accomplish in a three second window. So you may find that it works sometimes, but not others.