Have you ever wondered how to set up automation for your lights to turn off after a certain period? I recently faced this challenge and wanted to share my experience and solution with the community.A few weeks ago, I noticed that I often forget to turn off the lights in my garage or bathroom. This not only wastes energy but also adds to my electricity bill. I decided to set up an automation that would turn off the lights if they were left on for more than 2 hours. While this seems straightforward, I encountered a few hurdles along the way.I started by exploring Hue Essentials, as it houses all my automation rules. I found a feature that allowed me to set a timer based on the light’s state. However, there was a catch: the automation would trigger regardless of how many times the light was turned off and on within that 2-hour window. This wasn’t exactly what I needed, as I wanted the automation to only kick in if the light remained on for the entire duration without any interruptions.After some research and trial and error, I discovered a workaround. By adjusting the automation settings to monitor the light’s state continuously, I could ensure that the timer only started when the light was turned on and remained active until it was turned off manually. This meant that if I forgot to turn off the light, it would automatically shut off after 2 hours, saving me both energy and money.I’d love to hear from others who have successfully implemented similar automations. Do you have any tips or tricks for setting up reliable time-based automations? Sharing your experiences could help the community troubleshoot common issues and discover new possibilities for smart home automation.Remember, the key to effective smart home automation is experimentation and customization. Don’t hesitate to tweak your settings to suit your specific needs. Happy automating!