#Thermostat automation - looking for advice for presence/timing/threshold automation

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

placid geyser
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Hi there, I'm looking for some advice.
I'm looking for smart way to trigger the thermostat. Last winter I used the Scheduling card with scheduler and is quite convenient, I'd like something more advanced this year.

Assuming the temperature is below the threshold:

  1. if we are not home, no need to start the heating unless temperature is -1° below the threshold. That's to avoid to get the room too cold, a sort of "floor".

  2. if one of use is at home, heating should start if threshold is reached

  3. if we are coming to home AND threashold is reached heating should start

Two things make me think:

  • which one should be the first trigger? I think should be the temperature, and then the others
  • how does HA know if me or my wife are coming home? Is we can set "work zone" and when leaving but even when we go to a dinner after work will be flagged as "leaving work" and not "coming home".

In addition to that, I should replicate this automation for each thermo I have, in total five.
Thanks for your help!

EDIT: just realized I could do something - maybe - simpler:
If Temp < Threshold - 1° then
heat otherwise
if Am I at home OR I left work then

heat otherwise
no

flint locust
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Honestly, a lot of this could be done with Versatile Thermostat - you can set away temperatures that are switched to when a thermostat is in a preset mode and a defined presence sensor is off
So you could set comfort = 20, comfort_away = 19 to get the performance you want

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Then all you have to do is worry about the presence sensor. I have a bit of a mess of one that checks for a bunch of stuff - am I in the home zone, have I pressed the override switch, you could modify it easily to turn on when heading home for 5 minutes

placid geyser
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Of corse someone already did something better of my idea 😄 I love internet for that. thanks, I didn't know it. So bad I was not able how to sear for it. Go reading all the documentation on github

placid geyser
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Seems I cannot use it because my thermostat do not provide the current temperature as a sensor but only as a state 😦 Looking if I can get a sensor from the attribute. However Versatile Thermostat is extremely powerful but also intimidating for the amount of settings you have to setup

flint locust
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Yeah, you can use a template sensor to pull out the internal sensor

golden trout
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I did all my smart heating manually with native automation and a few helpers. Took me a bit of time but in the end nothing was really complex.

I have modes, presence detection, manual override, threshold. All of this per room.

In case you are interested by an « answer » to your question that is not really an answer but more of some inspiration on how to build something complex by doing lots of small easy things chained together… I can show you.

placid geyser
placid geyser
golden trout
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Ok when would you be available? I think the best would be to hop on a video chat to show you a bit how I approach that problem

placid geyser
golden trout
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ahah I'll see if I can take some time to write that down yeah

flint locust
placid geyser
placid geyser
flint locust
placid geyser
golden trout
placid geyser
placid geyser
# golden trout Alright I did the thing. Enjoy this 20 minutes philosophical essay on thermostat...

Just did the first reading, first of all thanks for sharing also the process of thinking of it. Is something I'm used to but I do not know little details of HA like helpers so sometime I struggle. I have definitely to look into it.
I'll read and re-read your post to maybe make the same concept for me, putted in this way I do not need to use scheduler or Versatile Thermostat. I could substitute your presence detection with being at home or away.

golden trout
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Yeah it’s all depends on what you want to achieve.

placid geyser
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Hi @golden trout I'm deep looking into your system, I think I'll give it a try. I have a couple of question if you don't mind.
In your automation to drive the target temperature I see your Choose between 3 action says Confirm office mode is [mode]. I didn't get the same ouput (see screenshot) but it seems I got the same behaviour, just with a little delay when I change mode or temp. Can you explain to me which action you choose in the UI? I tried with the code but I'm not so good at YAML.

I'd like to add also the trigger of workday or weekend, because I'd like to have a mode - boost - in the office when I'm at home and is workday (meaning I'm working at home), I think this can be achieved with a new if on top of everything after the window open

CleanShot-2024-10-29-at-23.png image.png
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That would be my scheme, similar to your but with one more mode

image.png
golden trout
golden trout
golden trout
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I like this way of thinking because you can quickly add stuff without blowing in complexity.

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For example on mine I have guest mode that also drives the mode selection.

I simplified in my blog post.
It's not only if I am present that a room can be Present, it's also if Guest mode is active.

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But you are clearly on the right tracks to build something great!

placid geyser
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You're right I can simplify the decision tree grouping togheter the Present and Workday! Yes the way of thinking is really schematic and suits my need and way of working. I'm not so used to helper that's why I didn't see this before. Thanks to you for sharing

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can you elaborate on guest mode?

golden trout
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Sure

IN the blog post I said that the automation to pick the mode was

  • If windows open > Vent
  • If presence in the office and Home Occupied > Present
  • Else > Absent

In fact at home it's more like this

  • If windows open > Vent
  • If presence in the office and EITHER( Home Occupied or Guest mode) > Present
  • Else > Absent
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Sorry for the french names but that's my condition to switch to Present

      - conditions:
          - condition: state
            entity_id: binary_sensor.capteur_presence_bureau_occupancy
            state: "on"
          - condition: or
            conditions:
              - condition: state
                entity_id: input_select.modes_de_presence_de_la_maison_v2
                state: Occupée
              - condition: state
                entity_id: input_boolean.guest_mode
                state: "on"
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Well .. french ... FrenchGlish 🤣
MY entitiy naming is a freaking mess

placid geyser
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Thank, I got what you mean. And how do you trigger Guest mode? you have a switch?

placid geyser
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And sorry, another question while I go ahed with my setting. Is it correct that after setting up the automation that drives the target temp based on my conditions I have no options into the drop down menu?
It's like this automation "overrides" the list options of my helper. Makes sense to me, because the manual ovverride would not be on the mode but I was wondering if this is the intended design

image.png
placid geyser
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Maybe I got it, I used "set option" and not "select option" in the automation

golden trout
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Yeah correct you did not use the correct action.

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But it’s confusing to say the least

trail kiln
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@golden trout I’m curious if there’s a reason you’re using an automation to set the Office Target Temp helper rather than using a Template Sensor? Does it end up being more efficient for this kind of thing?

I was going to embark on something similar when I came across this thread and your blog post.

golden trout
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Nope. Similar. I was actually using a template, and decided to use an input number for the peppers of the blog post. Same!

tired sinew
golden trout
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YOu added a badge.

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Add a cardm a tile card.

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Then add a feature on the tile card.

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(The only one that will be available)

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(Numeric Input)

tired sinew
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Thank you very much 🙂

golden trout
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NO pb

tired sinew
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But how do you get the unit? Now I only have "19", not "19°C" (sorry if this is a stupid question)

trail kiln
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Tap on the entity and tap on the gear icon. You should see unit of measure or something.

tired sinew