Notification ala "Washer is done" via power draw, what's the best way?

[mellow musk]

Heya,

I've installed some power usage sockets on our washing machine and dryer to try and create an automation that sends a notification when either of them are done.
However I'm not quite sure how to proceed here now, I think my logic is not "logicing" quite as I think it should be... or maybe I'm just overthinking again :)

My idea is "check if power draw has been above X value for Y amount of time, if it falls back down below a certain threshold wait again and check if it goes back to X amount, if not send a notification".

However how would I properly implement this into a HA automation? I don't want to accidentally send out false notifications in case the washing machine is still, as example, tumbling for a few hours which would potentially always be above a certain threshold so it never sends out a notification then.

Has anyone by chance already automated something like this in a way I'm imagining it here and could share their experience or code?

Thanks already!

[alpine wraith]

Here's what I do. Have a power monitor plug on it...
To determine when it is on and off a template binary sensor:
https://github.com/SirGoodenough/Home-Assistant-Config/blob/121b652d8d73649f539d025253b2730a74995c28/templates/binary_sensor/binary_sensor_tmpl.yaml#L50
Automation to send the TTS and mp3 to the house:
https://github.com/SirGoodenough/Home-Assistant-Config/blob/121b652d8d73649f539d025253b2730a74995c28/automation2/Basement_A2.yaml#L73

You have to look at the power it used on the graph from the plug. I chose current as that seemed to have the best resolution. Get the wait time to match the device, the current level you know it's always off, and go.

Then in the blueprint exchange you have these...
https://community.home-assistant.io/t/appliance-notifications-actions-washing-machine-clothes-dryer-dish-washer-etc/650166
https://community.home-assistant.io/t/detect-and-monitor-the-state-of-an-appliance-based-on-its-power-consumption-v2-1-1-updated/421670

[mellow musk]

Maybe my overthinking is kicking in again, but what if someone were to choose another program on the washing machine then, it would throw off the automation I guess? We rarely use anything else anyways, but in the rare case someone might want to use a different program it could change the power draw and timings and sends out false notifications lol

[mellow musk]

Oh nice, honestly completely forgot to check blueprints... oof
Thanks, will check them out

[alpine wraith]

Pick a wait time that fits all. Think about it, if it tells you 5 minutes after it's done, it still works, tight? 5 minute downtime is a lot for a washer.

You can leave this open for a while to collect other ideas, but when you have a solution, would you be so kind as to select close from the 3 dots menu in the top and the Resolved tag if you have not already done so?

[mellow musk]

Hm, that wouldn't account for tumbling then, tho could fall under a specific threshold at that point

Will see what the usual power usage graphs is saying ^^

[alpine wraith]

The biggest problem with my sensor is it'a a wifi sonoff with an 8266 esp chip, and it goes rogue to stop responding occasionally. I'm resorted to restarting it daily to stop that.

The notification is awesome when the plug is working.

that wouldn't account for tumbling then
You have to find the current or power level when it is between loads, and go a little above that, enough to prevent falsies to know the off state. Then a time longer than it uses to rest between doing stuff in the cycle.

[queen seal]

I achive this using a power socket, I an input select that get's it's state from the switch:
https://pastebin.com/FsuERLQH
then use the input select to make an announcement and send notifcations to our devices.
https://pastebin.com/2rGvEQEw
This works for the most part. I do the same with the tumbledryer, the dishwasher and my son's 3d printer too.

i'm using the gosund power monitors flashed with tasmota. spent some time looking at teh power graphs after doing our regularly cycles and then worked out the thresholds.

[raven gate]

I use power socket and door sensor. Also i created input_select with Idle, Running and Finished states. This allows me to pause notifications, say, for the night time, and resume in the morning without huge delays in automation.
Then automation is pretty easy:

• set running, if door is closed and power consumption is above 10W
• set finished if was running and power is below 10W for 5 min
• set idle, if door was opened.

Then i can base my notifications on that input_select, regarding current time, people presence and stuff...

[nimble zinc]

damn. I have pretty much that same setup. door sensor and input_select

[mellow musk]

For now I set up a threshold helper which turns on when its above 4-6 Watts and turns off when its below, then just made an automation watching if its been on for 5 minutes and off for 5 minutes and just sends out notifications then.
Will update if this works properly or not 👀

[trim owl]

That’s pretty much how I do it myself. Works pretty flawlessly.

[mellow musk]

The sad thing on my part is I always forget helpers exist... and HA has added a ton in recent months/years that I never realize exist, then I struggle to automate stuff lol

By now I could make so many of my automations easier by just using helpers 💀

[trim owl]

Yeah… I use a TON of helpers, but generally I just template all the things and use those. I have some pretty complex templated binary sensors that make automations dead easy. I have one that determines if my curtains/blinds should open that uses time of day, outside average temp, inside average temp, if I’m in or out of bed, and presence of both the room and the house in general.

[raven gate]

Why temperature and not illuminance? 0_o

[trim owl]

I don’t use lux monitoring because I Ike the blinds and curtains open during the day. But, if it’s extremely hot or cold, then I don’t want them open. I open and close them based on sun elevation, so this is merely a check to see if they should open or not.