OK daddd (or mommm) it probably is time for me to test my backups haha

Yes this is in addition to the normal alarm. The light is incase I’m sleeping, as I may not hear the basement alarm going off. The notification is if I’m not home.

Me: Hovering mouse over the update button Click it!!

Also me: No no, it says right in the changelog that this is one of biggest releases ever, wait for a point release

Me again: but you can make the “sleep time” automation say Goodnight after it runs!!!

click

The problem with a good running automation is you end up used to them, I forget they’re even there most if the time.

I end up appreciating my once-in-awhile automations more. A couple times a month I need to get up extra early, skip my normal routine and go straight to work. But I’m American, this can’t be done without coffee. The night before I prepare the coffee maker and scan an NFC on the top that turns off the plug and waits for my next alarm, then turns it back on. Once it runs it disables the automation, so I dont accidently burn the house down. Worth a million bucks

In the summer in the northeast US most evenings are cool enough to sleep with just a fan in the window. For the nights that stay too warm past bedtime I scan an NFC on my AC that triggers an automation to shutoff the AC and turn on the window fan at a specified outdoor temp. Saves on electricity and who doesn’t love fresh air??

Yes! Especially automations! I would rather have tags than folders, so an automation could fit into more than one category (eg. Location, action) but I’d take anything over alphabetical!!

Maybe click on that lux entity in the dashboard and see if it has been consistently transmitting its data (on the history graph)? I’m pretty sure you’ll get this warning if the state reads “unavailable” which could be a reception issue or a dying sensor.

I recently saw this happen to an animation of mine and I think this was the cause

I would spend the money on smart switches before smart outlets. I personally find that I want smart control over almost all of my lights/ fans but only some of my outlets.

Another reason for my avoidance of smart outlets is they are much more expensive than smart plugs and it’s rare that you want to control both plugs in an outlet anyways.

As far as wiring if you want window/ door sensors or motion sensors you might consider running power to those locations. Much better than changing button batteries constantly.

Use conduit to future proof any network cables you run…

That’s all that comes to mind at the moment

Should be able to just do it with automations and include “choose” action. 2024.1 looks like it makes it easier building blocks.

Richmond would be perfect for this