Hello everyone, I’m thrilled to share my recent success in setting up custom modes in Habpanel for my home automation setup. As a newcomer to openHAB and Habpanel, I wanted to create a seamless experience with predefined modes for different times of the day—morning, night, and evening. This feature has transformed how I manage my smart home, and I’d love to walk you through my journey.### My GoalI aimed to automate my home lighting and devices based on the time of day. The idea was to have specific routines for morning, night, and evening. For instance, waking up to a gradually brightening room or dimming lights in the evening for a cozy atmosphere.### Setup Steps1. Understanding Habpanel Modes: I started by researching how Habpanel handles modes. It turns out you can create custom modes and assign actions to them, which was perfect for my needs.2. Defining Modes: I created three modes: Morning, Night, and Evening. Each mode would trigger specific actions, such as turning on lights, adjusting their brightness, or activating other devices.3. Assigning Actions: For each mode, I assigned actions using rules. For example, in the morning mode, I set the bedroom lights to turn on at 70% brightness and the bathroom lights to full brightness. In the evening mode, I dimmed the living room lights to 30%.4. Testing: I tested each mode to ensure everything worked as expected. It was exciting to see the lights adjust automatically when I switched modes!### Challenges Faced- Overlapping Actions: Initially, I faced issues where some devices didn’t respond correctly when switching modes. I realized I needed to ensure each action was clearly defined and didn’t conflict with others.- Timing Issues: Timing the actions correctly was another hurdle. I used the built-in time-based triggers in Habpanel to schedule mode changes, which worked smoothly once configured.### ResultsThe outcome exceeded my expectations! Now, waking up to a gradually brightening room is a luxury I didn’t know I needed. The evening mode creates a relaxing ambiance, and the night mode ensures everything is powered down safely. This setup has made my home feel more connected and efficient.### ConclusionCreating custom modes in Habpanel was a rewarding experience. It not only enhanced my home automation setup but also made managing my devices more intuitive. I encourage anyone looking to streamline their smart home routines to explore Habpanel’s mode features. If you have any questions or need help setting something up, feel free to reach out—I’d be happy to assist!Cheers, [Your Name]