Open Close Sensor and Lights on only after Sunset

Devices & Integrations
1

Hi, I’m new to the Smartthings hub. Only had it a few days, and already confused by it.

I have a Smartthings Open/Close sensor on my rear doors, and an outside light plugged into a Smartthings Outlet.

I have set it up at the moment, that when the doors are open, the light/plug turn on, and when the doors close, the light/plug turn off.

This happens at all points of the day, even when it’s sunny outside which is ridiculous.

Is there anyway I can make it so that when I open my doors, the light only turns on if it’s after sunset, but doesn’t if it’s midday etc?

I know it’s probably a simple answer, but Smartthings app seems to make it unbelievably confusing.

2

If you are using smartlighting just scroll down the page
Which light
What to do
How to trigger

More options
Only during certain times
Only certain days
Only when mode is

3

Oh, can I have more than two boxes selected? So “When open” and “after sunset”, and then they will work together?

4

You can indeed. I have the same setup but to turn the hallway lights on when the front door is opened and after sunset.

5

Good news, I shall try that when I get home tonight.

6

Good luck. Events based on sunset/sunrise are broken at the moment.

1 Like
7

Oh, do events based on time at least work?

8

Mine are working, well unless they broke after sunrise this morning.

9

As long as you don’t use time and “only in these modes” where the mode is dependent on sun state ie: home night, home day, etc.

10

Agree with RLDreams, mine were working yesterday…

11

Working w/ V1 or V2?

Backend architecture on how ST receives / processes sun state changed during platform update. Apparently there is a fix that only support can do.

If V1 you are a lucky one. Mine has been broken for since platform update. I’ve placed a ticket but pretty sure V2 owners getting 1st dibs on support.

12

I am on V2…That explains why mine is working and not yours…

@Marty, if you are on V2 the events based on sun state should work.

1 Like
13

Mine didn’t work.

So I want them to come on when I open my rear door, but ONLY if after sunset, as having the lights turn on during the day is pointless and a waste of electricity.

I added a commend in “SmartLighting” that the light turns on when the rear door multi sensor opens, which works great, but the only option I could find for the sunset part was the “at sunrise or sunset” command, which when I selected it, didn’t work, as when I opened the doors at 5pm, the light still came on.

What am I doing wrong? I’m on V2. Any pointers?

14

keep scrolling down. under " more options" you will ( should ) see " Only during certain times" . That is where you select sunset and sunrise, any offset from them you want.

15

I am on v2 and no events based on sunset/sunrise work at all. I have a ticket open and all they suggested was to add an offset. That fixed the problem.

16

Maybe that’s why mine work. Set them up with a -30 minute offset to begin with.