Hey everyone! I wanted to share my recent success in setting up an alert for when my washer finishes. It’s such a small thing, but it really adds convenience to my daily life. Let me walk you through how I did it and hopefully help someone else along the way!
The Goal:
I wanted to receive an alert whenever my washer cycle was done. Sounds simple, right? But getting there wasn’t without its bumps. I’m using a VeraLite UI7 with a Z-Wave Smart Energy Switch connected to my washer. The idea was to monitor power consumption and trigger an alert when it drops below 1 watt for 5 minutes.
The Process:
I started by researching online and found some helpful threads. The main challenge was getting the PLEG (Power Level Event Generator) to work with VeraAlerts. After several attempts, I realized I needed to use the LUUP command instead of Immediate actions. Here’s what my final setup looks like:
Trigger: t_washer_off = Whenever the energy usage for Washer goes below 1 Watts
Condition: c_washer_finished = t_washer_off and (t_washer_off; Now > 5:00)
Actions: c_washer_finished = luup.call_action(“urn:richardgreen:serviceId:VeraAlert1”, “SendAlert”, {Message = “Wash is done!”, Recipients = “%myname%”}, 33)
The Challenges:
- PLEG Configuration: I struggled with getting PLEG to trigger alerts. Testing with “Do it now” didn’t work initially, but switching to LUUP commands made all the difference.
- Debugging: The error message “ERROR:Module not found:cgi-bin” was frustrating, but focusing on the LUUP command structure helped bypass this issue.
The Outcome:
After tweaking the settings and ensuring the VeraAlerts device was properly configured, it finally worked! Now, I get a timely notification whenever my clothes are ready. It’s such a small feature, but it’s made my mornings so much easier.
Tips for Others:
- Test VeraAlerts First: Confirm that VeraAlerts is working by using the “Send Alert” test function.
- Use LUUP Commands: If Immediate actions aren’t working, try using LUUP commands for more reliability.
- Double-Check Settings: Ensure all triggers, conditions, and actions are correctly configured and saved.
I’d love to hear how others have set up similar alerts or if you’ve encountered any unique challenges. Let’s keep sharing our experiences to make home automation even smarter!
Cheers,
[Your Name]