Hey everyone! I wanted to share my journey with you regarding my smart bathroom lighting setup. It’s been quite the adventure, and I hope my experience can inspire or help someone else out there.
Initially, I had this elaborate rule system paired with a Room Lighting app to control the bathroom lights. The goal was to have the lights turn on immediately when the door opened and stay on until someone exited. It worked beautifully for a while, but then it just stopped functioning. Frustrated, I tried to troubleshoot but couldn’t pinpoint the issue. I ended up deleting the setup and starting over with a different approach.
This time, I decided to break the problem down into smaller, manageable parts. I created four separate Rule Machine apps, each handling a specific aspect of the lighting control:
-
Door Opening: This rule activates the lights when the door is opened. It’s straightforward but essential for the immediate response I wanted.
-
Motion Detection: In case the door is already open, this rule ensures the lights come on when motion is detected, perfect for those quick bathroom visits.
-
Manual Control - Double Tap: I added a manual override using a wall switch. A double tap turns the lights on, giving users direct control.
-
Manual Control - Single Tap: To turn the lights off manually, a single tap does the trick, ensuring no energy is wasted.
I also incorporated a hub variable to handle edge cases, like when someone opens the door and then decides not to enter. This helps prevent the lights from turning off prematurely.
This new system has been rock solid, and I’m thrilled with how it handles all the scenarios I initially aimed for. It’s simpler, more reliable, and easier to maintain. I’d love to hear how others have tackled similar challenges or if there are even more elegant solutions out there!
Let’s keep the ideas flowing and help each other create smarter homes! 