topic Re: Scheduling devices to turn off no longer works in Home Automation

Scheduling devices to turn off no longer works

Automation009 — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 04:05:54 GMT

Something changed this week and I can no longer "Hey Google turn off the fan in 3 hours"

It is giving me a "Sorry because of potential risk to safety I can't schedule actions for devices configured as outlets".

My fan is hooked up through a TP Kasa smart outlet. I have the device configured as a "fan" within the app and was previously able to schedule events. Now it shows as a "fan (outlet)" device and this is action is no longer possible.

Is there a work-around? Some people are smart enough not to put space heaters and curling irons on their smart devices... @@

Re: Scheduling devices to turn off no longer works

davemad — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 08:59:06 GMT

Exactly the same is happening to me. Routines I've used literally for years suddenly don't work because of this (routine contains a "timed" command which GH can no longer execute). I have not made any changes to any of my GH environment, so I can only assume this is some random Google wisdom,

I don't want a work-around: the whole point of a smart socket is that you can control it in this kind of flexible way, turn something on in 5 minutes, turn something off at a specific time etc.

Devices are on sockets defined as "LAMPS" in GH.

Can we have this set back to the way it was, please?

Re: Scheduling devices to turn off no longer works

salbando — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 15:49:03 GMT

One reason why GH isn't allowing this is because the Assistant can misunderstand commands easily and if it misunderstood what it was supposed to turn on or off in the future, the consequences could be unwanted. A solution (and I don't believe it to be a "work around" because it is why scripts exist) is to use a script with a rather unique sounding starter. For example the following script works well for this purpose and starts with the less than usual phrase, "Take care of the fan":

metadata: name: Time event test description: Tests if a socket can turn off after a given time automations: starters: - type: assistant.event.OkGoogle eventData: query is: Take care of the fan actions: - type: time.delay for: 2 min - type: device.command.OnOff on: false devices: Fan switch - Family room

This is a good solution for two reasons. Firstly, if you used a starter like "Turn off the fan in 2 minutes" it may work or GH may trigger into "safety mode" because you chose a command similar (if not identical to) a known command. Therefore, chose a starter unique to your way of thinking. In our house we have a number of starters that begin with, "Hey Google, start..." For example, instead of "Hey Google, turn on the fan switch", we have "Hey Google, start the fan switch". This is only used when trying initiate a routine that does more than just turn on the fan switch. Secondly, this reduces the potentially dangerous error of GH turning something on or off unexpectedly because the starter is unique and the script is unambiguous.

Re: Scheduling devices to turn off no longer works

davemad — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 15:55:17 GMT

The script is an interesting idea. However, in my case, the problem is occurring when running a routine (so Google has to understand the routine run command anyway and therefore can't be an issue of misunderstanding).

Update: I can run the command "Hey Google: Switch on the bedroom lights in 5 minutes" on my Google Nest Hub (screen), but not on any of my other (speaker) devices.

Go figure.

Re: Scheduling devices to turn off no longer works

salbando — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 16:15:04 GMT

Oh, I agree that if GH still misunderstands the starter that you choose for your routine, then it could still turn on or off something unintended. The idea is that if it sounds unique enough, that it will minimize that potential. Additionally, it seems to be Google's compromise between safety and utility. If I were to imagine that I were Google, my thinking might be this:

If we let users just say, Hey Google turn off the fan in two minutes, then this could accidently be heard by the assistant anytime. Maybe someone said it, maybe it misheard something from the TV...

If we make them script it and put a warning that scripts can cause "unexpected behaviors" then we minimize this error and our liability.

However, it is also strange that it works on Nest Hub. Maybe I am just off base or maybe they haven't got around to disabling it on the Nest Hub yet.

Re: Scheduling devices to turn off no longer works

davemad — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 16:26:15 GMT

Personally I think this is the result of some tweaks Google has made and will probably end up working soon.

The same happened a year ago when "set a radio alarm" just stopped working and I had to use "set a music alarm" instead. "Set a radio alarm" works just fine now.

Re: Scheduling devices to turn off no longer works

Quercus — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 20:52:39 GMT

Similar problem for me - I have a routine that had been working for a long time and now I get the "safety" message. I just want the routine to set lights to a certain brightness, turn them off and then turn them back on at a specific time later. Now my smart outlet can't be turned on at a certain time even though it is set as "lights" - it still puts (outlet) next to "lights" and won't let it be turned on at the set time. Same with the light switch.

Re: Scheduling devices to turn off no longer works

Quercus — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 21:45:58 GMT

Here's what I got from someone on a help chat for Google Home support:

1:10:53 PM Eduardo: It appears that Google Home is currently restricting the ability to schedule routines that involve turning on or off outlets or switches, even if they are defined as lights. This could be due to safety concerns related to potential hazards associated with automatically controlling outlets or switches.
While it's understandable that you'd like to schedule your lights to turn on at a specific time, this safety measure is in place to prevent potential electrical issues or accidental activation of devices connected to outlets or switches.
For now, you may need to find alternative ways to automate your lights, such as using smart bulbs or other smart lighting devices that can be directly controlled through their respective apps or ecosystems. These devices often have built-in scheduling capabilities and may not be subject to the same restrictions as controlling outlets or switches through Google Home.

Basically, use something other than Google Home is the solution?

Re: Scheduling devices to turn off no longer works

Gsturner6386 — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 01:51:39 GMT

Mine worked fine 22 hours ago, so I assume they did an update and messed something up.

Re: Scheduling devices to turn off no longer works

Pyrephox — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 14:35:26 GMT

What's particularly galling is that it doesn't work to turn things OFF. I think if you stretch enough maybe you can come up with a reason that turning something on may be an issue but off? No. Similarly, outlets can be noted as specific devices like fan, heater, etc besides light so I can see why some might be restricted but the new restriction on them all is particularly annoying

Re: Scheduling devices to turn off no longer works

sealover1 — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 15:55:42 GMT

got the same problem has anyone found a work around this yet please, its a real pain and to me unsafe as I forget to turn off something now I cant set a timer

Re: Scheduling devices to turn off no longer works

Pyrephox — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 18:38:01 GMT

I called support and they said that they would have to send it up the chain. They could give no information about time lines, not even day, week, month, year, or years level of a timeline.

Re: Scheduling devices to turn off no longer works

WhiteElmo — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 03:56:58 GMT

any other alternatives to google home? to set these

Re: Scheduling devices to turn off no longer works

Pyrephox — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 10:46:01 GMT

Oddly it actually still works when you use Google Assistant through your phone

Re: Scheduling devices to turn off no longer works

sealover1 — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 13:46:07 GMT

It dont work on my phone

Re: Scheduling devices to turn off no longer works

Pyrephox — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 14:20:18 GMT

Does it give the same error or something else? Mine doesn't have an issue doing it from my phone and responds with the scheduled time

Re: Scheduling devices to turn off no longer works

sealover1 — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 14:42:53 GMT

yes mate says because of potential risk to safety I can't schedule actions for devices configured as outlets tried changing it to all sorts its a right pain I used it a lot

Re: Scheduling devices to turn off no longer works

Pyrephox — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 16:42:01 GMT

Interesting. It works fine on an old pixel of mine and my Samsung but not new or old Home/Nest devices

Re: Scheduling devices to turn off no longer works

photolarry1 — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 10:37:44 GMT

Same issue for me. It has been reported as firmware update bug. This has been ongoing for a few weeks yet google does not seem to care about fixing this issue

Re: Scheduling devices to turn off no longer works

photolarry1 — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 10:39:40 GMT

Same issue is happening for me after an update a month ago which no longer allows timed on or off for device. Example .... turn on device for 10 minutes gives error that it is security risk....which is BS. This worked for YEARS!!!!