I recently acquired a Google Nest Cam (Outdoor, Battery) to monitor my driveway, and I’m excited to share my journey in setting up a smart lighting automation. My goal is to have the porch lights turn on when motion is detected at night, but only if they’re already off. This setup should complement my existing routine, which turns the lights on at sunset and off at 9 PM.
Here’s what I’ve figured out so far:
- Motion Detection: The Nest Cam detects motion, which is the trigger for the automation.
- Time of Day: I need to ensure the lights only respond to motion during nighttime.
- Light Status Check: The automation should only activate if the porch lights are off to avoid overriding the existing sunset-to-9 PM schedule.
- Timer Functionality: After detecting motion, the lights should stay on for 5 minutes before turning off automatically.
I’m using the Smart Home app for this automation, but I’m open to exploring other platforms like IFTTT or Google Assistant if they offer more flexibility.
One challenge I’m facing is ensuring the light status check works seamlessly. If the lights are already on, I don’t want them to turn off prematurely. I’m also curious if there’s a way to integrate this with other smart devices, like my Philips Hue bulbs, for a more cohesive system.
If anyone has experience with similar setups or tips on optimizing this automation, I’d love to hear your insights! Let’s make this driveway monitoring both efficient and unobtrusive. 