topic Re: Need help with automation in Home Automation

Need help with automation

richj44 — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 02:31:56 GMT

I can't figure out why this isn't working so any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated. I am trying to set up an automation so that whenever my Nest camera detects motion after dark, it will turn on my floodlights. I named the automation "Floodlights Motion". The starter action I'm trying to make work is "whenever the camera detects motion." The actions are "turn on floodlights" and "turn on switch". I have floodlights in the front and rear of the house, the rear are smart floodlights connected to my Google home, and the front are regular lights, but they're controlled by a smart switch which is also connected to my Google home. Both floodlights and the switch respond perfectly to voice commands.

So anyway, the camera detects motion just fine. It does not turn on either of the floodlights. So I added a voice starter to test, "turn on floodlights". That works perfectly.

I can't figure out why it doesn't turn on automatically when the camera detects motion though. I originally set the parameter "Between sunset and sunrise", but when it didn't work, I tried removing the restriction and set it for any time of day. Didn't change the results though. Am I missing something, or is this another case of Google Assistant doing weird stuff?

Re: Need help with automation

OpethNJ — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 14:46:26 GMT

Have you tried doing the same from Script Editor?

home.google.com then select AUTOMATIONS from the left menu.
In the sample code library there is an example that does exactly what you are tryijng to do it , motion triggered lights.

https://developers.home.google.com/automations/example-scripts#motion_triggered_lights

Re: Need help with automation

richj44 — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 16:14:35 GMT

I have not tried that mostly because I didn't know script editor was a thing. But I will give it a shot this afternoon and let you know how it goes. Thanks for the tip!

Re: Need help with automation

richj44 — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 00:24:25 GMT

And now I know why it doesn't work. Apparently Nest cameras (including the doorbell camera) aren't supported. Unreal.

But seriously, thank you for pointing me towards the script editor. It took a few minutes to get the syntax right as I'm years out of practice, but I got through the validation for the syntax, then it threw an "unsupported device" error at me. I hunted that one down for a few more minutes before I found the supported device list, and lo and behold, I'm wasting my time trying this. I'm pretty surprised that you can't use their cameras to turn on lights, but then again, not really considering the source.

But again, thanks, I would have chased this down endless rabbit holes otherwise.

Re: Need help with automation

OpethNJ — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 03:22:47 GMT

Scenarios like that can be fun even if they dont end up how you want.

I find the script editor to be a great tool that I am surprised they dont push more. If you ever need help with it let me know.

Re: Need help with automation

Veronica222 — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 08:41:56 GMT

Same, I appreciate you for sharing your problems, issues with us because we might as well have them.

Re: Need help with automation

garrypen — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 18:56:42 GMT

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