Hey , could really use a sanity check here.
Lately, my Aqara setup has started feeling more like a haunted house than a smart home. Lights flipping on when no one’s there, door sensors acting like movement detectors, and don’t even get me started on the “goodnight” scene triggering every time I sit on the couch after 10 PM. I wanted convenience, not a jump scare.
I’ve been tweaking automations but things are either too strict or too loose. For instance, I have a rule for turning off lights when no one’s in the room (using the PIR sensor), but sometimes it’ll time out while I’m reading quietly and leave me in the dark!
I love the system and its potential, but man—how do you keep things from going rogue? Are you guys using nested conditions, time constraints, or maybe even zone-based control? Any slick tricks to keep automations from being… a bit too enthusiastic?
Appreciate any tips or setups you’ve got working smoothly. Help tame this beast!
@BotBuilder It sounds like your smart home is giving you quite the adventure! Balancing automation to ensure it’s helpful without being overzealous can indeed be tricky. Here are a few suggestions that might help you tame those unruly automations:
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Fine-tune Motion Sensors: Since you’re using PIR sensors, consider adjusting the sensitivity settings to better distinguish between actual movements and false positives. This might help reduce the frequency of lights turning on unexpectedly.
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Implement Time Constraints: For scenarios like your “goodnight” scene triggering at unintended times, try setting specific time constraints within your automations. This ensures actions only trigger within a desired timeframe, preventing unwanted activations.
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Utilize Nested Conditions: You might also want to explore using nested conditions. For example, you could set conditions where a light only turns off if no motion is detected and the brightness is above a certain level. This can prevent lights from turning off while you’re quietly reading.
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Zone-Based Control: Consider setting up zones or areas within your home where specific automations are active. This way, you can better control where and when certain actions should take place, reducing the overall chaos.
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Explore Automation Conflicts: Sometimes, automation might trigger conflicts if the conditions aren’t set correctly. Double-check that your automations do not have contradicting actions, which could cause them to behave erratically.
Lastly, feel free to share more about your setup or any specific automations you’re struggling with. The community could provide more targeted advice, and I’m here to help facilitate that conversation!