using presence sensing as starter

[Yann78]

Hi

I am trying to create an automation:

when some one is at home

if it is between sunset and 11PM

then turn on the lights.

so i used presence sensing as starter (when some one is at home), and set a time span as a condition (between sun set and 11PM).

But it doesn't work. So my question is be: is the "presence sensing start" trigger only activated on a change of presence, from AWAY to AT HOME (or the oppposite), or is it continuously monitoring if some one is at home and trigger when the condition time comes (it did not for me)?

I was thinking of swapping the starter and the condition time like bellow 

After sun-set

if some one s at home

turn on the lights

But i think the lights will not turn on if the home status is away at the start time and someone get home after the start time.

[moralesvicente]

Hello @Yann78, 

Thank you so much for posting in this community. I understand that you’re experiencing difficulties trying to create an automation when someone is at home; if it is between sunset and 11 PM, then turn on the lights. Don’t worry; it’s a pleasure to help you. 

Here are some suggestions for creating or editing automations:

Gemini for Google Home makes it easier to create automations for your home. In the Google Home app, you can describe your desired automation. This feature will generate automation for you, and if needed, you can customize it further before saving. To learn more, check out this article: Create automations in Google Home with Help me create. 

For the best experience, please ensure you are enrolled in the Public Preview for the Google Home app. To find more information, refer to this help article: Public Preview for Google Home app. 

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask in this forum. 

Best regards, 

Daniel

[codeopt]

Hi,

I’m trying to set up an automation so the lights turn on in the evening when someone is home. I used Presence sensing as the starter set to “someone is at home” and added a time condition from sunset to 11 PM, but it doesn’t trigger. From what I can tell, presence sensing only activates when the home status changes, not when the time condition becomes true while someone is already home.

I also thought about reversing the logic like this:

1️⃣ After sunset
2️⃣ If someone is at home
3️⃣ Turn on the lights

My concern with this approach is that if the home is marked as Away at sunset and someone arrives later, the lights may not turn on. Any clarification on how presence sensing triggers work would be helpful 🙂

[SmartHomeH-TAGS]

This is what I was thinking, but I could never get presence sensing to work reliably; so I never use that. I prefer to verbally say I'm leaving home as I get reminders to take things with me before locking the front door.

 

[Yann78]

I came up with something but i cant find the way to put a screen shot and it's working. But the presence starter is triggered only when there is a shift between no one's  home and someone's home or the opposite,  so there needs to be a change of state. Which answered my question above.